# Advice Wanted: Speeding Up Slow Weight Loss **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869 "2015-01-15T02:57:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/41 "2015-01-15T22:54:51Z")
> [@InsomniaMama](#): > > I recommend swimming. It burns a lot of calories in a shorter amount of time, doesn’t stress the joints, etc. if you can swim laps for 30 minutes, that’s quite a workout. As you get faster, of course, you’ll burn more calories. > > Sadly, swimming laps is horribly boring. Still, she can get a much more efficient workout in. And some people find a zen-like zone. [Waterproof iPod Shuffle.](http://www.amazon.com/Waterfi-Waterproof-Apple-Shuffle-Headphones/dp/B009LIPVMY) Best fucking thing ever. ---
**Author:** ![JLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/977dab/32.png) [@JLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLynn)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/42 "2015-01-15T23:03:44Z")
> [@simster](#): > > There’s alot of woo in there - > > ph balancing water drops? > > hcg, hgh, dhea? > > what the hell are you ‘detoxing’ from? Depends. A lot of people out a lot of crap in their bodies. Even just pollutants or toxins like hair products lotions and make up can cause toxicity of your system ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/43 "2015-01-15T23:14:28Z")
> [@JLynn](#): > > Depends. A lot of people out a lot of crap in their bodies. Even just pollutants or toxins like hair products lotions and make up can cause toxicity of your system Our bodies have a naturally, really great detox mechanisms. Several of them actually: liver, kidneys, skin. How do lotions and hair products contribute to weight gain? What, precisely are the “toxins” involved and how and why do they contribute to “toxicity”? What, exactly, is “toxicity” anyhow? Cites would be helpful, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/44 "2015-01-15T23:20:30Z")
> [@JLynn](#): > > Even just pollutants or toxins like hair products lotions and make up can cause toxicity of your system This is not true. It’s commonly said by people who are selling things and repeated by those who haven’t looked at the data. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/45 "2015-01-15T23:24:36Z")
By the way, “toning” is a load of crap, too. In addition to the detox stuff. You lose fat, you gain muscle. You don’t “tone” muscles, or “lengthen” them, or whatever fancy new words they come up with to entice “bulk”-shy women to start resistance training. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/46 "2015-01-15T23:30:43Z")
> [@simster](#): > > most people are rarely 4-6 hours from thier last meal - so, in your scenario, they would never get to take the walk. > > Got a reference that all the muscle glycogen would be depleted BY SITTING ON YOUR ASS? Did you read the earlier posts related to what burns first? Did you read my post? Obviously not. How is walking for 45 minutes equal to **SITTING ON YOUR ASS** I said in my post that these are my personal recommendations and my personal theory, nothing more. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/47 "2015-01-15T23:36:26Z")
> [@vomit\_comet](#): > > Did you read my post? Obviously not. How is walking for 45 minutes equal to **SITTING ON YOUR ASS** > > I said in my post that these are my personal recommendations and my personal theory, nothing more. You said - > [@vomit\_comet](#): > > Walking is crap exercise if you don’t do it for more than 45 minutes. I personally wouldn’t recommend more than 90 minutes though. > > \*\*I would also recommend walking no sooner than at least 4 - 6 hours after your last meal, that way your muscle glycogen should be sufficiently depleted \*\*and once you get past the 45 minute mark you should be burning pure fat. That’s my theory anyway. (bolding mine) - sitting on your ass for 4-6 hours is going to do NOTHING to help deplete the glycogen any faster once you start to walking. This is akin to ‘waiting an hour before swimming’ nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/48 "2015-01-15T23:39:40Z")
> [@simster](#): > > You said - > > (bolding mine) - sitting on your ass for 4-6 hours is going to do NOTHING to help deplete the glycogen any faster once you start to walking. > > This is akin to ‘waiting an hour before swimming’ nonsense. I guess you are free to read a sentence in any way that makes you happy. BTW, Are most people on diets, someone eating responsibly and wanting to lose weight may have a different meal schedule than “most people”. ---
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/49 "2015-01-15T23:51:21Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Our bodies have a naturally, really great detox mechanisms. Several of them actually: liver, kidneys, skin. How do lotions and hair products contribute to weight gain? What, precisely are the “toxins” involved and how and why do they contribute to “toxicity”? What, exactly, is “toxicity” anyhow? > > Cites would be helpful, thanks. It’s all woospeak - key words in the quack product shills including ‘toxin’, ‘cleanse’, ‘chakra’, ‘homeopathic’ and such are used nebulously to legitimatize the garbage products that only cause your wallet to get much lighter. Betcha those cites would have the Quack Miranda Warning included somewhere on their webpages. [quack Miranda warning - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com](http://skepdic.com/quackmiranda.html) [Quack Miranda Warning - RationalWiki](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Quack_Miranda_Warning) Consult with an actual physician (NOT a homeopath, naturopath, osteopath, microscopist, herbal consultant, supplement expert, woo master…) before trying any dubious products, ‘supplements’ or lifestyle changes. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/50 "2015-01-15T23:56:58Z")
> [@vomit\_comet](#): > > I guess you are free to read a sentence in any way that makes you happy. > > BTW, Are most people on diets, someone eating responsibly and wanting to lose weight may have a different meal schedule than “most people”. alot of diets mention eating much smaller meals more frequently vs eating bulks of meal “twice” a day. in any event - 3 meals a day - 16 hours (assuming 8 hours of sleep) - 5 hours between. your 4-6 hour crap is nonsense - live with it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/51 "2015-01-15T23:57:21Z")
> [@JLynn](#): > > Try hcg drops > > Try hgh > > Try dhea Here are some better supplements for her to try: pus hups squ ats lun ges ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/52 "2015-01-16T00:01:00Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Here are some better supplements for her to try: > > pus hups > squ ats > lun ges Ha, love this! 😃 True, too. Going back to the OP’s friend…I can’t figure out what health conditions would allow walking 60+ miles per week, but absolutely no weight or resistance training? That makes utterly no sense at all. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/53 "2015-01-16T00:11:00Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Ha, love this! 😃 > True, too. > Going back to the OP’s friend…I can’t figure out what health conditions would allow walking 60+ miles per week, but absolutely no weight or resistance training? That makes utterly no sense at all. I’m a healthy 32 year old male and my doctor told me not to lift weights either. Working hard to improve your own health is not how doctors think. Until they can charge $200 to prescribe a set of barbells, and avoid liability from the absolutely idiotic and dangerous things people manage to do with them, they won’t. There’s also a [class issue](http://www.psmag.com/navigation/health-and-behavior/half-lifts-workout-says-social-class-85221/) as well. Doctors are usually in a higher income class and tend to value cardiovascular endurance over strength. ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/54 "2015-01-16T02:06:09Z")
> [@simster](#): > > alot of diets mention eating much smaller meals more frequently vs eating bulks of meal “twice” a day. > > in any event - 3 meals a day - 16 hours (assuming 8 hours of sleep) - 5 hours between. > > your 4-6 hour crap is nonsense -\*\* live with it\*\*. No problem, bud. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/55 "2015-01-16T04:17:11Z")
There are several ways she could try to boost her metabolism. Her doctor has said no weight training, but what about bodyweight exercises? The more muscle she builds, the more calories her body will burn. Things like push ups, squats, planks, etc could do her a world of good. Lower carb (cutting out sugars, starches, and fruits) can boost the metabolism. So can some form of High Intensity Interval Training, but that might be ruled out by the lung problems (what lung problems does she have?) ---
**Author:** ![vomit\_comet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/73ab20/32.png) [@vomit\_comet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vomit_comet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/56 "2015-01-16T05:32:40Z")
One of my girlfriends introduced me to “doing lightposts”. Jogging between a set of lightposts, or whatever elevated speed you want to do, fast walking, faster walking etc. and taking a break for 1, 2 or whatever you’re comfortable with, sets of lightposts and walking those; repeat as desired. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/57 "2015-01-16T08:12:19Z")
It could be she’s hit one of the plateaus everybody hits. I have a friend who started walking to work, a 45-minute walk, every day. She was diligent about walking to work but sometimes took the bus home. She lost a pound a week for 26 weeks and then leveled off. She had wanted to lose more, but she was stuck there. However, she didn’t gain it back. Some years later she started losing weight again, and lost until she got down to about 104 lbs. and people were wondering if she had cancer or something. She hadn’t done anything different that time except, oh yeah, she stopped drinking alcohol. Not that she drank that much, but she stopped. (Note that I think she drank more than she thought she was drinking. People don’t generally stop unless they perceive a problem, I think.) So if your friend is still losing weight, that’s good. I wonder what her dr objects to in weight training. It’s a good way to lose weight\*, plus it makes you stronger and ultimately makes you feel better. You know, not while you’re doing it, but later. There must be something she could do. \*Except of course that if you develop muscle, it weighs more than fat. Or takes up less space, however you want to look at it. ---
**Author:** ![JLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/977dab/32.png) [@JLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLynn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/58 "2015-01-16T11:21:34Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Here are some better supplements for her to try: > > pus hups > > squ ats > > lun ges I assumed a person asking for MORE weightloss was already doing cardio and calisthenics. ---
**Author:** ![JLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/977dab/32.png) [@JLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLynn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/59 "2015-01-16T11:23:08Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > This is not true. It’s commonly said by people who are selling things and repeated by those who haven’t looked at the data. I have definitely studied the data as has my father who is a doctor and assisted me in losing 117 lbs so far. [http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/16/826424ff1ddcd762252b7fb64f4d273c.jpg](http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/16/826424ff1ddcd762252b7fb64f4d273c.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/977dab/32.png) [@JLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLynn)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869/60 "2015-01-16T11:24:31Z")
Later today when I am at my PC with more info I will share cites and more detailed info as it’s hard to do all of that on my phone. Thanks for your patience [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-speeding-up-slow-weight-loss/709869.md?page=4)