300 pounds to 200 pounds, one year, suggestions?

Factual Questions
41

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Epimetheus *
It is actually better to get into the habit of eating the same thing every day.

Why on earth SHOULD you eat the exact same thing every single day? There is a variety of stuff out there, I don’t care HOW “healthy and balanced” the meals are, the same thing day in and day out is a setup for boredom and failure. We are made for variety, OP. Don’t listen to Epi.

Training yourself to eat at certain times and certain amounts.

Why would you want to do this? The body knows when it needs to eat and how much it needs to eat. This is why our stomachs growl, and then we eat a certain amount. After that certain amount is reached, the hunger signal is shut off. One day you might need to eat at 7am. The next day you might not get hungry for the first time that day until 1pm. The clock should not dictate when you eat, your body should.

One should eat for pleasure only once or twice a week, IMO.

How about never? Eating is a bodily function just like sleeping or going to the bathroom. You would never try to take a leak “for pleasure” so why should you eat only for the sake of pleasure? It’s okay to enjoy eating, but why should anyone do it if they don’t need to? That’s how people (including me) get fat to begin with: they eat to be entertained, or pleasured, or comforted.

42

Just a note of encouragement - I’m a 24Y0 female and I have been able to go from 315 to 235 in 10 months. I should hit 100 lbs gone in a year. I accomplished this by following the Atkins plan and doing regular exercise.

You already have the basics - a goal and a motivator. You will do well.

Everyone has given great advice. Read their posts and see what fits your lifestyle best. Make it your NEW lifestyle.

43

I’m obese and I’m always gaining if I’m not on a diet. I went on the DASH diet due to borderline hypertension and found that for the first time in my life I didn’t gain weight. I’ve been sitting at the same weight for over two months and eating all I want literally, just within the parameters of DASH (developed at Harvard for hypertension). My blood pressure has dropped 20 points dias/syst both, so far, even though I haven’t lost weight. To lose weight eliminate nuts and whole grain bread (just eat whole grains instead). And eat low-fat dairy. Today I ate: 1 avocado, 4 slices of ww toast with butter, 1/2 lb. halibut, green beans. 3 oranges, 1 lemon, 1 lime, 1 grapefruit (in fresh juice), 3 whole wheat tortillas, swiss cheese, romaine lettuce, dates, plain whole milk yogurt with some no sugar jam mixed in, chunky peanut butter, and V-8. Lest you think, so I could eat a lot more than that: you don’t get hungry. You go to bed full and wake up full. And it’s not like Atkins where you think you will barf if you have one more egg or cheese. this is a high carb diet (just low glycemic carbs). You are a man so you can eat pretty much what you want that’s in the guidelines and lose weight. Click on Heart Health and then on DASH diet here: www.drmirkin.com I just want to say that I know what you mean about being driven to eat. After this experience I think that part of it was eating high glycemic carbs, like white flour and sugar. I have read that obese people have insulin resistance and now I believe it.

44

People can list all the diet solutions that they want, untill you actually follow through on one…they’re all moot. “You” personally, will never, ever, lose the weight that you want to untill you deal with the mental issues that hold you back. This is truth.

45

Well at one time I weighed 335 lbs. and now I am down to 235. My problem was simply eating too much and eating the wrong things. Before I ever got that large I was in pretty good shape. I only weighed about 210. For my frame that still gives me a 32-33 inch waist because I’m 6’1 and have short legs and a long torso (30 inch inseam is not very long for someone that is 6 ft. +).

There really are no secrets to it. I eat healthier and I exercise regularly. There are still times when I may stop by Wendy’s or some other food-o-crap outlet (although most of them do offer something healthy) but I don’t make a habit of it anymore. And I put in a few more minutes of exercise when I do (most times). Home cooked food always taste better IMO. And I have to have my veggies. I love them. I also found by taking a mens multi vitamin it seems to curb my apetite. Perhaps that’s just perceived though. I’m not really sure. If you do have to eat out often though try to pick things that are healthier.

One of my biggest downfalls has always been breads. I love them. I also used to indulge in quite a bit of ice cream and sweets but I seem to have lost my sweet tooth and hardly ever have a craving for sweets. I still love breads though but I try to stick to multi grained and whole wheat.

Your goal though seems to be way too ambitious and you may be setting yourself up for a big disappointment. I went through many of those before I finally got it right. Just remember if things don’t work out like you want don’t give up! Give yourself a break and just try and stay focused.

Don’t over do excercising and don’t starve yourself. I know from experience those things are bad. Just think a little bit at a time and eventually you will reach your goal.

I want to get down to 190-200 and then I can finally go shopping! Yeehaw! I look pretty stupid wearing these clothes that fall off me, and they make me look pretty fat (okay, 235 is still fat, but I’ve done good and I’ve went from a 48 inch waist to my most recent 36.) I buy 1 or 2 things every time I lose another 2 inches. You also must not focus so much on the amount of weight you lose and instead focus on the inches you lose. Exercise promotes muscle gain. Muscle is heavier then fat and even though you may lose 5 pounds of fat, you could easily gain 5 pounds of muscle. Providing you do exercise. I also agree that lifting weights is one of the best things you can do. But walking, stair climbing, bicycling & any aerobic exercise can be equally as rewarding as lifting because it promotes stamina, muscle gain and fat loss too.

I work nights and have a flight of stairs I run up and down when I work out at work. I also use an ab wheel and love it because of all the upper body it works. I remember 3 years ago it killed me to just walk up that flight one time. Now I can easily go up and down 20-25 times. And that was just by gradually working up to that. Within a month or 2 I bet I can get to 30-35 times. I realize that isn’t like running up 20 flights because half the time I’m going down, but not bad for a fat old man like me. :stuck_out_tongue:

Going out once a week to get hammered though is a poor choice. If it’s just a drink or 2 then I don’t see much wrong with that but you do make it sound as if you normally drink more often then that. If not, then cool.

You really, really, really must consult a doctor first. He/She may want to run some tests on you first.

Did anyone mention that you really should see a doctor first???

Good luck and don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip a time or 2.

btw- I had no problem getting my wife pregnant when I was that heavy so I don’t see what that has to do with it. IANAD though.

46

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by SnoopyFan *
**

My advice is for somebody trying to build up the discipline to lose weight. If you have nothing to add, or are large and unable to lose weight yourself you have no leg to stand on. This is the forum for factual information, not for your opinion.

My advice is sound for the purposes I gave it for. Your advice, however, is useless.

47

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by SnoopyFan *
**

No, we are not MADE for variety. Americans THINK they are, perhaps. That is why America is so fat in the first place.

Look at other cultures and see how much variety there is. Many Mexicans eat a diet of the same thing, with only a little variation in preperation. Beans and rice with a bit of meat now and again. Many other cultures have similar base foods that they use in small variation. Spices, differing types of vegetables and such are all the ‘variety’ one really ‘needs.’

The OP is talking about losing weight, not entertaining his taste buds. I think it was that in the first place that contributed to his current weight problem. If it was a medical issue, this post would no doubt be a moot point since diet isn’t going to help him.

Don’t listen to this guy OP, he doesn’t know what he is even talking about.

48

ET Bass, I’ve recently started a fitness regime, and you really have to put exercise into the equation. I hate exercise, but I’m hating it less each day. I’ve been at it almost 3 weeks now, and the key for me is to have someone to do it with (your wife can do barbell curls with you while you’re watching TV). And don’t overwhelm yourself. I’m doing a simple routine that takes 20-30 minutes (while my tub is running). I rest and smoke between exercises (quit throwing stuff!!!)

10 curls, each arm
10 presses, each arm (10 lb. weights – I’m rather spindly)
(I do up to 20 reps if I’m in the mood or have the time)
2 sets of 30-40 crunches
15 “chicken wing” exercises that help strengthen my upper back
15 shoulder shrugs w/10 lb. weights

Cut down on your carbs and sugar, i.e., don’t drink pop! You can cut so much out just by cutting down to one soft drink a day.

Good luck!!

49

I meant “dumbbell” curls. Barbells are too much right now.

50

From my own experience, as well –

The first half of this year I was on a plan to shed 30 lbs. in 6 months, which included time for slippage and a goal cushion; the hard goal was 25 lbs. I made it (I shed 26 lbs.), on a plan of increased exercise and carb control.

A weight loss goal of 2 lbs. per week requires a net burn of 500 kcal per day, every day. I don’t have a hard cite for this factoid, though I suspect it was in the diet book I used.

100 lbs. in 52 weeks is, conveniently, 2 lbs. per week for the entire year. This is highly achievable.

The key, of course, is the critical phrase “net burn of 500 kcal per day.” Whatever diet plan you use, your objective is an activity level that burns 500 kcal more than you consume, each and every day, including all snacks, and energy used on the basics of just breathing.

Isosleepy’s advice at the end of eir post is very good. Start by having a talk with your doctor this month, so you can start your new plan at the beginning of next month.

Joining a gym is a good idea, for sufficiently vague values of “gym.” Choose an activity that you currently enjoy, and make a personal commitment to take part in that activity through the gym. (In my case, it was increasing my tae kwon do training to include tournament practices; I was in the dojang three times a week, plus tournaments about once a month.)

So the key points, mine and everyone else’s, are:

  1. Talk with your doctor and work out a plan that accomodates your current physical condition.
  2. Make this weight-loss program a priority.
  3. Stick to your diet plan.
  4. Stick to your fitness, exercise, and activity program.
  5. Vary things enough to keep your interest.
  6. Let us know your progress every few months!
51

This month’s Consumer Reports has a lot of good information on weight loss. In addition to the recommendations above, consider the following:

  1. CR mentions that beverages are a big part of the problem. Many people (and I know I’m one of them) simply don’t process liquid calories to equal satiety. I always do better when I limit my beverages to coffee, water, and diet drinks. Juices tend to be incredibly caloric and lack fibre. CR suggests limiting them to a single glass a day, e.g. for vitamin C.

  2. Alcohol is highly caloric, too. For me, beer is often a better choice because it fills me up. That usually means I drink less.

  3. Fibre is very important, helping to moderate the insulin reaction of eating sugars. I notice that if I eat a bran muffin with lunch, I don’t get tired in the afternoon - even though it’s fairly sweet. But if I eat a lemon poppy muffin, which has no fibre, I start lagging. This spike of sugar followed by an equally sharp drop is often what drives people to more eating.

  4. Keeping fat in check is important - lots of calories there - but the kind of fat is important, too. Monounsaturated oils and fish oils seem to be pretty beneficial, and more worth the calories.

  5. Vegetables don’t have to be dull. For some reason, people got the idea that vegetables only counted if they were plain and steamed. Dreadful. Try roasting them with garlic and olive oil, or (if steaming them) tossing them in soy, hoisin and sesame oil. It adds a few calories and salt, but that’s a worthwhile investment if you’re eating more of antioxidants, vitamins and fibre.

  6. Find a gym that’s not full of gym bunnies. If you have a Y in your area, that’s a great start - usually all shapes and sizes go there, and even the people who are buff tend to be much more supportive. If you have joint troubles that make traditional impact aerobic exercise difficult, choose a place that offers water aerobics - my Y does.

52

My advice is for somebody trying to build up the discipline to lose weight. If you have nothing to add, or are large and unable to lose weight yourself you have no leg to stand on.

Your advice, though, is bogus, and I suspect you’ve never had a significant weight problem.

I’ve lost 60 pounds following my own advice. How about you?

And FWIW, I’m a woman.

53

Being heavy in and of itself isn’t the problem. But if one is heavy AND has low libido/difficulty in climaxing, those symptoms together are signs of possible low testosterone levels. In men, low testosterone commonly contributes to weight gain.

From my own experience, it’s worth getting checked out. The test is simple, and the treatments made a world of difference. Others’ MMV after a chat with their doctor.

54

well i never lost 100 pounds cuz i never needed to lose that much but i lost 40 pounds in about 5 months 2 years ago.

2 pounds per week is a sustainable rate of weight loss, so 100 pounds in a year, yeah.

basically 2 pounds = 7000 calories and that in 7 days. you need to create 1000 calories per day of caloric deficit. doesn’t not freaking matter what you eat, as long as you create that 1000 calories deficit.

this is not rocket science, very simple.

however 200 pounds is still a lot. when you will be 200 pounds you will look like sh1t. you will still only have about 130 pounds lean body mass and the rest fat. trust me. thats cuz out of the 100 pounds that you will lose, not all will be fat, but some will be muscle. do not make the mistake of thinking that if you have 100 pounds of fat now than after you lose 100 pounds you will not be flabby - you will. because in effect you will have lost about 70 pounds of fat and another 30 pounds of muscle.

so what should you do ? diet AND exercise. diet to lose weight and exercise to keep the muscle.

steroids are great too. the more muscle you manage to keep ( or even gain, if you use steroids ) the less total weight you will have to lose before you’re lean. after all you could be a lean 130 or a lean 230, up to you.

55

in fact Ronnie Coleman is 297 pounds shredded, at 2% bodyfat. of course he was lifting hardcore and using steroids for about 20 years …

but the point is, as always, you should know the difference between weight loss and fat loss, its very important.

56

My doctor recently introduced me to a pill that was originally developed to treat convulsions. One of the side effects is that it inhibits compulsive behaviors, so it is being used now to treat compulsive eating disorders. It certainly works! I keep Power bars and Slim Fast bars around just to have something easy to eat since I am always forgetting that I need to eat.

I have already had a gastric bypass which has been terrific, but I had regained thirty pounds over the last six years. The medication put a stop to my gaining further, but I am very sedentary and it is going to take walking to get it off and keep it off. (Walking is one of the best all-round exercises you can do!)

When you drink, stay away from sweet drinks. Bailey’s was part of the thirty pounds I put back on.

Some stores like Wild Oats prepare healthy foods that are so tasty that you should treat yourself with their take home products from time to time if possible.

Go for it!

57

ok i actually read his post this time around, so he doesn’t want to exercise and he doesn’t want to be hungry.

in this case, i just dont want to help you :slight_smile:

58

you can lose weight without feeling hungry. I lost 45 lbs and 10" on my waist without feeling hungry or anything more than mild deprivation.

59

The easiest way that I’ve found to lose weight is Weight Watchers. (Full Disclosure: Not a WW employee nor stockholder.)

Spend $100 on the WW @ home program. (No stupid meetings where someone is crying because he/she doesn’t understand how he/she gained 3 pounds but stuck to the plan. (If he/she gained 3 pounds, he/she didn’t stick to the plan.))

I lost 30 pounds in around 3 months. (from 200 to 170). The good part is guys lose weight much more quickly than women (which pissed my wife off, because it took her about 4 months to lose 20 pounds.) The first week or two, you might lose a pound or two each week, but after that if really kicks in. At the peak (probably the second month, I was losing between 3-5 pounds a week.)

You can eat or drink whatever you want, you just have to do it in moderation. (You can save up points to splurge on beer night.)

The first two weeks I ran out of points before I ran out of hunger, but after that I was fine. In fact, we got to the point where we had enough points left over at the end of the day to enjoy some (Healthy Choice) ice cream every night.

My top suggestions for cutting points:

Only drink diet sodas. I hated them at first, but got used to them after about a month. (A regular 20 oz Coke would be 5 points – and you’d probably be allowed 35 points a day. So, that Coke would take up 1/7 of your daily intake!) Diet sodas are 0 points, so drink up. (They are also very filling.)

Avoid eating out and, if possible, take your lunch to work. (Yeah, you kinda feel stupid at first.)

Finally, invest in measuring devices (measuring cups and a kitchen scale), if a meal is 8 points, but you eat two servings, you’ll be the one crying at the end of the week.

It’s 1.5 years after I first started and I stay within 170-175 with minimal effort. (I don’t really count points anymore, unless I nudge above the 175 mark.)

60

The fact that I have never had as serious a weight problem as you has nothing to do with my argument. Through my advice, however, a friend of mine lost 50 lbs last year.

You keep saying my argument is bogus, yet you have yet to provide evidence or a cite to support your claim that humans need a variety of food to survive.

This is GENERAL QUESTIONS, not MPSIMS, I know you are no doubt used to that forum, but here we provide factual information, and cites when necessary.