# Eating less but not losing weight **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356 "2006-12-08T16:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/21 "2006-12-08T17:59:22Z")
To lose weight by not eating I usually throw everything out and live on: 1. Two fingers of orange juice and one Special K bar in the morning, every morning, no matter how unhungry I am. 2. Beef or buffalo jerky for lunch followed by a vigorous walk of not less than 30 minutes. 3. Unlimited black coffee throughout the day. 4. More jerky for dinner if I want it. Decaff coffee or hot tea before bed for the psychological comfort factor of something warm in the stomach. 5. No more than 2 cans of diet soda a day. 6. If I cheat, I cheat all at once. If I have to go out for dinner, I just order what I want with all the trimmings. I find cheating once a week or so doesn’t cause problems. Once I get this system going I find the weight sheds off at about a half to a full pound per day, and I just keep going until I reach the weight I want. Cottonmouth and general weakness set in at first but fade quickly after my body adjusts. But that’s just what I do, I wouldn’t necessarily advise that everyone try this. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/22 "2006-12-08T18:06:30Z")
[QUOTE=SanVito] Okay. Cheese = bad. Cheese is pure lard, one of the most fattening things you can eat. White bread if fattening, you need to switch to some kind of granary bread or wraps which, while still fattening, are considerably better. … Mayo is very fattening. . [/QUOTE] Cheese- although fairly high in calories- has much stuff in there very good for you. It’s an excellent source of calcium and protiens. There is _no_ lard in cheese. :rolleyes: White bread is no more fattening that other breads, although most white bread doesn’t have much fiber, which fiber is found in most whole grain breads. Mayo is very fattening. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/23 "2006-12-08T18:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=Clockwork And Candy] Mmm, you may want to check out the [BMI caculator](http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/). It would beg to differ. [/QUOTE] I wouldn’t. BMI doesn’t account for body composition. [The man](http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/nfl/specials/preview/2005/08/02/nfl.workout.barber0808/) pictured here, at 5’ 10" and 210# is borderline obese. I certainly was not as strong or as lean, but when I played racquetball and volleyball competitively, I was 6’0" and ~200#, and I can guaran-damn-tee you I was not overweight. Just about anyone who does moderate weight training will be overweight by the measure on that site. We won’t talk about what the numbers say about me today and whether they might be an accurate reflection, though… ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/24 "2006-12-08T18:30:50Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] White bread is no more fattening that other breads, although most white bread doesn’t have much fiber, which fiber is found in most whole grain breads. [/QUOTE] I’ve read (Dr. Bob Arnot, if memory serves) that a slice of white bread is equivalent to a packet of sugar and 1/4 of a multivitamin. Don’t know if he was speaking in rhetoric or what he believes are truths, but any way you slice it, whole grains are better for you. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/25 "2006-12-08T21:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Cheese- although fairly high in calories- has much stuff in there very good for you. It’s an excellent source of calcium and protiens. There is _no_ lard in cheese. :rolleyes: White bread is no more fattening that other breads, although most white bread doesn’t have much fiber, which fiber is found in most whole grain breads. Mayo is very fattening. [/QUOTE] I was just about to come galloping to the defense of cheese, but I see that the good Doctor has beaten me to it. Cheese is essentially concentrated milk, with all the good (lots of calcium and protein) and bad (realtively high fat content) that entails. In moderation, quality cheese (i.e. does not come out of squeeze tube or spray can) is entirely healthy. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/26 "2006-12-08T22:06:24Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] I’ve read (Dr. Bob Arnot, if memory serves) that a slice of white bread is equivalent to a packet of sugar and 1/4 of a multivitamin. Don’t know if he was speaking in rhetoric or what he believes are truths, but any way you slice it, whole grains are better for you. [/QUOTE] Well, he’s a little right, but he’s disingenuous. The Complex Carbs in in even white bread are different than the simple carbs in sugar. Brown bread isn’t any better than white bread. Real Whole grain bread does have significant fiber, which is good for you. However, real whole grain does seem to have other benefits: [http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/70/3/412](http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/70/3/412) \*The lower risk associated with higher whole-grain intake was not fully explained by its contribution to intakes of dietary fiber, folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin E. Conclusions: Increased intake of whole grains may protect against CHD. \* [http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/78/3/383?ct](http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/78/3/383?ct) _Background: Recent epidemiologic study results showed that subjects who had high intakes of whole-grain foods had lower risks of death and heart disease than did subjects who had low intak_es. [http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v55/n2/abs/1601133a.html](http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v55/n2/abs/1601133a.html) _Conclusion: Protection by whole grain intake against chronic disease is suggested in Norway, where four times as much whole grain is consumed as in the United States._ But note we are talking about \*real whole grain \* breads, not just “brown bread”. And, it’s not like white bread is _bad_ for you, just that whole grain is slightly better. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/27 "2006-12-08T22:26:26Z")
[QUOTE=flurb] I was just about to come galloping to the defense of cheese, but I see that the good Doctor has beaten me to it. Cheese is essentially concentrated milk, with all the good (lots of calcium and protein) and bad (realtively high fat content) that entails. In moderation, quality cheese (i.e. does not come out of squeeze tube or spray can) is entirely healthy. [/QUOTE] I too was about to clarify my own post (wherein I compared a cheese and mayo sandwich to a Snickers bar). In moderation, cheese is very good for you. I like a slice in the morning as brain food. Moderation is the key. A single 1oz. slice of cheddar has about 7 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat (roughly 6 grams of that is saturated fat). A slice at breakfast with an apple and oat a bit of oat bran is a heathly meal. A cheese and mayo sandwich every day for lunch is a bit rich. Although the true culprit there would be the mayonnaise. One table spoon of mayonnaise has the same calorie content as one ounce of cheddar and _eleven_ grams of fat and does not have the good stuff like calcium. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/28 "2006-12-08T22:28:52Z")
Breakfast idea: A small bowl of cereal, maybe 1/2 - 3/4 cup. Cheerios, not Frosted Flakes. (Frosted Mini Wheats are good, though.) With skim milk. And a piece of fruit with the skin on. It’s filling and nutritionally sound, and it tastes pretty good. [QUOTE=DrDeth] But note we are talking about \*real whole grain \* breads, not just “brown bread”. [/QUOTE] Hint: Look for the words “whole grain” on the ingredients list. If it says “whole grain” on the from of the package, that might just be advertising. Bakeries are very dishonest that way. As I understand it (and I may be wrong), whole grain bread converts to sugar more slower than white, and that can help with hunger and metabolism. As well, whole grain makes you feel fuller, so you can be happy eating less of it. And one slice of bread per meal (as your only carb) is plenty. Two is twice what you need. Bagels are right out – one bagel today equals about 4-5 slices of bread. That’s calorie city. You need some fats, but not much. And not all fats are created equal. From much needed to pure evil, they are omega 3, omega 6, vegetable, animal, and trans. (I’m missing something, I’m sure.) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/29 "2006-12-08T23:26:59Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Hint: Look for the words “whole grain” on the ingredients list. If it says “whole grain” on the from of the package, that might just be advertising. Bakeries are very dishonest that way. [/quote] I’m under the impression that packaged breads that say “whole grain” or “whole wheat” must actually be so. > [@](#): > > As I understand it (and I may be wrong), whole grain bread converts to sugar more slower than white, and that can help with hunger and metabolism. As well, whole grain makes you feel fuller, so you can be happy eating less of it. Concur, that’s what I’ve read. Same book as before; if I remember I’ll look for it tonight. > [@](#): > > You need some fats, but not much. And not all fats are created equal. From much needed to pure evil, they are omega 3, omega 6, vegetable, animal, and trans. (I’m missing something, I’m sure.) Rather than vegetable and animal, it might be better to say mono unsaturated, poly unsaturated, and saturated. Coconut and palm oils, and avocados, are high in saturated fats, whereas wild salmon is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/30 "2006-12-08T23:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=SanVito] Your eveing meal should really be the lightest meal of the day, as you’re about to go to bed and all that stuff will just sit heavily in your stomach while you sleep. Carbs are high energy, and you aren’t doing anything in the evening to burn them off. [/QUOTE] [A widely believed yet erroneous diet myth:](http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/newspub/releases/020106myth.cfm) > [@](#): > > PORTLAND, Ore. - Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University believe they have helped dispel the myth that late-night eating causes weight gain. The research is published in the current edition of the journal Obesity Research. > > "We’ve all been told at one point in our lives that we should avoid eating meals late at night as it will lead to weight gain. However, our research in rhesus monkeys, which are considered an excellent model for studying primate (man and monkey) obesity issues, showed that eating at night is no more likely to promote weight gain than eating during the day. Of course this research does not suggest that snacking at night after eating your normal daily ration of calories is a good idea, " said Judy Cameron, Ph.D., a senior scientist in the Divisions of Reproductive Sciences and Neuroscience at the OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/31 "2006-12-08T23:50:56Z")
[QUOTE=D\_Odds] I’m under the impression that packaged breads that say “whole grain” or “whole wheat” must actually be so. [/QUOTE] Your impression would be wrong, though. Arnold “Whole Grain Classic” bread, for instance, lists bleached flour as the first ingredient. And it has 1g of fiber. Stop and Shop stoned ground whole wheat also does not contain whole grains, but has 5g of fiber. The claim “whole grain” on the front is about as meaningful as “Fresh and Tasty.” It’s a deception that really pisses me off, and is almost worthy of a Pit thread. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/32 "2006-12-09T00:06:01Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] Your impression would be wrong, though. Arnold “Whole Grain Classic” bread, for instance, lists bleached flour as the first ingredient. And it has 1g of fiber. Stop and Shop stoned ground whole wheat also does not contain whole grains, but has 5g of fiber. The claim “whole grain” on the front is about as meaningful as “Fresh and Tasty.” It’s a deception that really pisses me off, and is almost worthy of a Pit thread. [/QUOTE] Whole wheat is a whole grain. From [The Wheat Foods Council](http://www.wheatfoods.org/Great-Grains-The-Denver-Post-Article.24.3.htm) > [@](#): > > Read beyond the hype > > Packaging on bread that says 100 percent whole wheat means the bread is whole grain, and manufacturers will normally put that on there, Scheideman says. > > But they don’t have to - so you may be missing out. On the other hand, you might think some products are better than they really are. Labels often feature such terms as “seven grain” or “multigrain,” which makes them appear healthy. > > The proof is in the ingredient list. It’s not enough that “wheat flour” be listed, or “enriched wheat flour,” because that flour has been milled to remove the bran and germ of the wheat grain, elements that contribute significant fiber, vitamins and minerals in each slice. > > So what do you look for? The first ingredient listed should be whole wheat flour or a whole grain. > > But read closely. Breads made with other whole grains, such as rye or oats, may not be 100 percent whole grain because the first ingredient typically listed is enriched wheat flour and the other grains fall farther down on the list. That explains the Arnolds’ labeling. It needs to say 100% Whole Wheat to actually be whole grain. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/33 "2006-12-09T01:36:36Z")
Interesting. I was under the impression that whole wheat had the germ but not the brand. It appears I’ve been misinformed. That is indeed good news. I’m still getting 5 times the fiber from S&S brand, though. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/34 "2006-12-09T01:39:59Z")
A thought, however – does it have to say “100%”? None of the brands I saw said that, IIRC. The one I brought home doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/35 "2006-12-09T02:18:30Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] [A widely believed yet erroneous diet myth:](http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsuedu/newspub/releases/020106myth.cfm) [/QUOTE] The Lit Review portion of the study has a good summary of the current research: > [@](#): > > Several studies find that increased nighttime eating is associated with an increased likelihood of weight gain, but other studies do not support this conclusion. In a group of 15 women, greater weight gain over a 2-week period was reported in those who ate more at night (16) . Additionally, several studies find that night shift workers gain more weight and are heavier than individuals who work during the day (17) (18) (19) . People with nighttime eating syndrome, defined as consuming more than 50% of one’s daily calorie intake at night, have been reported to gain weight more easily than individuals who consume the majority of their calories during the day (20) . However, a 10-year study of \>7000 people showed no correlation between nighttime food intake and weight gain (21) , and several other studies have reported no correlation between obesity and nighttime consumption of calories (23) (24) . Thus, more research is needed to determine whether consuming calories at night actually leads to greater weight gain than consuming the equivalent number of calories during the day. > > Additionally, several studies report that obese individuals eat a higher proportion of calories at night than lean individuals (22) (23) (24) . However, in the Waxman and Stunkard study (23) , the obese group had a higher total daily calorie consumption, and in the Beaudoin and Mayer study (22) , the authors raised concerns regarding possible under-reporting of caloric intake in the obese group. In addition, other studies have not found an association between obesity and nighttime consumption of calories (25) (26) , and one study found that nighttime eating was associated with leanness (27) . Thus, the association between obesity and nighttime food intake is unclear and warrants further investigation. But the actual study itself seems rather dubious. The actual claim was that there was not sufficient evidence to _support_ the claim that nighttime eating causes weight gain. However, the reported a p value of 0.34 with a sample size of 16 but they didn’t bother to compute any power figures so I’m dubious as to whether the study even had sufficient power to detect anything. Yes, they were doing studies on rhesus monkeys but on post-ovariectomized female rhesus monkeys who were suddenly switched from a low-cal to a high-cal diet so who knows how generally applicable this data is. Additionally, every rhesus monkey was fed the same number of calories. One of the main hypotheses for late-night weight gain is that it affects the number of calories that you consume because either a) the foods you eat late at night tend to be more high-calorie and high fat and that b) your hunger signals are different which causes you to eat more food. The [Kant study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=9152744&dopt=Abstract) seems to be much better evidence as it involved 7000 people over a 10 year period and found no evidence. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/36 "2006-12-09T04:17:12Z")
I just read a study that show boiled potatoes as having the very highest “satiety” rating. Having “whole wheat” on the label does mean it has to contain _some_ whole wheat. But you have to see “whole wheat” first on the ingredients. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/37 "2006-12-09T07:01:20Z")
[QUOTE=Hello Again] Another thing is, as we age, our metabolisms slow down. At 18 I weighed 105lb, had the metabolism of a spastic hummingbird and ate literally _whatever_ I wanted with no negative effects. Now that I am 31, I am struggling to maintain at 130, paying lots of attention to what I eat. Consider that what was not “too much” in the past may simply be “too much” now. IF you can afford you might want to focus your diet more on high-fiber, high-nutrition vegetables (which incidentally are astoundingly low in calories) and less on low-fiber starches. [/QUOTE] And most unfortunately of all, our appetites don’t seem to diminish with our metabolism, and eating from a brown bag at your desk is way less invigorating than going out someplace. Eating at your desk is like not taking a break at all. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/38 "2006-12-09T07:08:50Z")
[QUOTE=Grossbottom] To lose weight by not eating I usually throw everything out and live on: . [/QUOTE] You call yourself **Grossbottom** , and are handing out diet advice?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/39 "2006-12-09T09:40:47Z")
[QUOTE=Grossbottom] To lose weight by not eating I usually throw everything out and live on: [/quote] A horribly unhealthy combination of foods :eek: People have come up with all sorts of hideous ‘diets’ only to regain the lost weight. The only solution to attaining and maintaining a healthy weight is to change one’s lifestyle and eat for health. And exercise of course. I’ll put a good word in for hummus which was condemned by another poster as being too fatty. It’s actually not that high in fat at all and is very good for you because it’s made of chickpeas. The olive oil used to make it is a ‘good’ fat. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2006, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356/40 "2006-12-09T10:36:38Z")
Hard to imagine a worse “diet”: No breakfast Fat sandwiches for lunch varied by adding extra fat Majority of calories consumed in the evening. Study dude. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-less-but-not-losing-weight/383356.md?page=3)