****Official Weight Loss and Exercise Thread****

[luv]

I know that TinyE has the CP Weight Loss Challenge thread, but this is a new beginning for me. No losing weight for prizes, as that motivation ended on July 1st. This time I'm doing it for me. My goal is 75 lbs. Slow and steady wins the race. This time, the prize will be a whole new me.

Anyone else still battling the bulge? Here, hopefully, you can find more encouragement and tips on diet and exercise. Feel free to talk about discouragements, setbacks, frustrations, etc as well. We're here to help...at least I am.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

Originally Posted by Silock

Here's a little something for those that called low-carb diets "****ing idiotic."



Let's see, highest retention rate, best improvements in overall health, including blood pressure, better insulin resistance, higher HDL cholesterol (that's the good cholesterol), lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind).

While it's true that a lot of the people couldn't stay at the ultra-low carb level, and bounced up in weight a bit, they still overall lost twice as much weight, and it was just as difficult to stay on the ultra-low fat diet. The ultra-low-fat diet performed exactly the same as the "balanced" diet.

I don't like the editorializing he does regarding saturated fats, especially after he quoted a study that showed the kind of fat didn't matter. Plus, he admitted he's a vegetarian at the beginning, so no wonder he's pimping veggies so much. Not that that's a bad thing, but taking in lots of unfermented soy has been shown to have negative effects, especially on men. At least he admits his bias at the 55 minute mark. He also says he we get more protein than we need, and says that high-protein may be bad in the long-term, but has no data for that. Editorializing, and there's no scientific evidence of that. I've read a lot of studies that show most Americans get TOO LITTLE protein. But, again, dude's a vegetarian.

Oh well. Clearly the best diet is low-carb, high fat, even if you can't stick to ultra-low carbs. I admit that sticking to ultra-low carb is hard, simply because there's so much high-carb stuff that is almost too good to resist, like pecan pie or something. At least attempting to get to ultra-low carbs for as long as possible results in much greater weight loss and overall health improvements.

Our ability to eat protein instead of vegetables is what catapulted our species over the neanderthals. Yes, we can eat anything, but high protein, high fat and low carb is clearly the best for weight loss and health.

I must admit, that I am still skeptical. Now, granted, I am specifically limiting my carbs. I am increasing my protein as well. If I snack, it is usually on yogurt, nuts, or pickled eggs.

All that said, I think the body needs proper nutrition and that includes fiber. That includes other vitamins and minerals that are found in fruits and vegetables.

I just don't believe in ultra low carb diets. I am going to look that video up on youtube though, and listen to the whole thing.

I appreciate what you bring to the table. Whether we all agree is not important. I like the fact that we can have discussion and different points of view.

I do wonder if there will be any long term side affects of low carb diets..... just my own curiosity.

[NewChief]

Contemplating taking a 3 hour kettle bell intro at the gym this weekend. All of the hard cores at my gym seem to be on the kettle bell kick, and I admit that I like the looks of the full body workout combining strength and cardio that you seem to get out of it. A little worried I might jack my back, though.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

I must admit, that I am still skeptical. Now, granted, I am specifically limiting my carbs. I am increasing my protein as well. If I snack, it is usually on yogurt, nuts, or pickled eggs.

All that said, I think the body needs proper nutrition and that includes fiber. That includes other vitamins and minerals that are found in fruits and vegetables.

I just don't believe in ultra low carb diets. I am going to look that video up on youtube though, and listen to the whole thing.

I appreciate what you bring to the table. Whether we all agree is not important. I like the fact that we can have discussion and different points of view.

I do wonder if there will be any long term side affects of low carb diets..... just my own curiosity.

My wife and I following this book ( http://www.amazon.com/dp/0967005701/...l_38qd1e8u30_e ) for a time last year and got really good results. We didn't follow it 100%...mainly the low-carb suggestions. And about fiber...the dietary fiber content isn't counted in the net carbs since it isn't absorbed by the body. I easily lost 15 pounds within a couple months and felt much better.

[SenselessChiefsFan]

After watching the presentation.... I think the speaker was very fair and objective. I don't think he demonstrated any bias.

I also think that there are many ways to lose weight. The key is adhering to the diet you choose. And, if you are constantly conscious of what you put in your body, that is the first step.

Mindless eating is where 'most' people get into trouble.

Additionally, he mentioned at the end that there has been a study about groups of people that have lost 35 pounds or more and kept it off...and the key to their loss was exercise.

So, to me, my take away is: If you elimate refined sugars and carbohydrates. If you cut your caloric intake, and if you excercise.... you will lose weight.

Yes, you can lose weight faster by doing specific diets. But, if you just watch what you eat and limit the sugars... you will lose weight. Especially, if you exercise.

[rockymtnchief]

I just started back up again yesterday. I can't believe how bad I let myself go after giving up chewing.

The only problem is that I'm reduced to cardio only. I mangled my shoulder and have been putting off a trip to the doc. Rubbing dirt on it doesn't seem to be helping.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

After watching the presentation.... I think the speaker was very fair and objective. I don't think he demonstrated any bias.

I also think that there are many ways to lose weight. The key is adhering to the diet you choose. And, if you are constantly conscious of what you put in your body, that is the first step.

Mindless eating is where 'most' people get into trouble.

Additionally, he mentioned at the end that there has been a study about groups of people that have lost 35 pounds or more and kept it off...and the key to their loss was exercise.

So, to me, my take away is: If you elimate refined sugars and carbohydrates. If you cut your caloric intake, and if you excercise.... you will lose weight.

Yes, you can lose weight faster by doing specific diets. But, if you just watch what you eat and limit the sugars... you will lose weight. Especially, if you exercise.

I just like the extreme approach, personally. If I'm going to be eating 1200 calories per day, I want the quickest results I can get. That way, I can get back to eating normally when I reach the BF levels I desire.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by NewPhin

Contemplating taking a 3 hour kettle bell intro at the gym this weekend. All of the hard cores at my gym seem to be on the kettle bell kick, and I admit that I like the looks of the full body workout combining strength and cardio that you seem to get out of it. A little worried I might jack my back, though.

Do it. Kettlebells are awesome.

It won't jack your back. They're not THAT heavy.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

No. The one meal per week helps out tremendously.

The third week is tough but when the fourth week hits you can see the finish line.

How much did the diet end up costing you....money wise?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

How much did the diet end up costing you....money wise?

Um...I ordered everything at once. It was about $500.

That was everything I ate for a month + the two-week transition and I had some left over for post-workout nutrition afterwards...about a month's worth....so it wasn't that bad.

I am considering doing it again next year because it worked so well.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Um...I ordered everything at once. It was about $500.

That was everything I ate for a month + the two-week transition and I had some left over for post-workout nutrition afterwards...about a month's worth....so it wasn't that bad.

I am considering doing it again next year because it worked so well.

How much weight did you drop?

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

It's been over a year now and a good 30+ pounds later and I'm still going. 30 pounds in a year may not sound like much to some, but I've been at it long enough now with just a few minor adjustments that this is something that has been more of a lifestyle change than quick drop.

Dr asked me this spring how the golfing for excercise was going, then tells me he wants me to up it to 3x a week. I love you Doc!

Congrats Mike!!! But, how much pay off did you give you doc??? Hehehehe!!!

Keep up the good work ... you're doing good!!!

Originally Posted by mlyonsd

Burn more calories than you consume on a daily basis.

It isn't rocket science.

Yep!!!

Originally Posted by rockymtnchief

I just started back up again yesterday. I can't believe how bad I let myself go after giving up chewing.

The only problem is that I'm reduced to cardio only. I mangled my shoulder and have been putting off a trip to the doc. Rubbing dirt on it doesn't seem to be helping.

Thumbs up for getting back into it. Cardio is good ... main thing is to "exercise" or do something.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

How much weight did you drop?

20 lbs, and most of that is pure FAT loss.

And it stayed off. But that's not really anything to do with the diet. That's just me continuing to work out and eat at my daily caloric need.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

20 lbs, and most of that is pure FAT loss.

And it stayed off. But that's not really anything to do with the diet. That's just me continuing to work out and eat at my daily caloric need.

I may do that at the end.....to get me over the hump per se. I want to get down around 185-190......which is about 40-45 pounds. I think that if I can get down to 205-210 with regular diet and exercise....that I might do that to lose the last 20.

[Manila-Chief]

Originally Posted by luv

Back on track. Yep, still been eating junk more than I should. That ended yesterday. Done very well today. I'm going to do this for one week to see if I can any difference without weighing. Weighing in starts Sunday.

Light workout tonight. 20 minutes of getting the heart rate up, but nothing too strenuous.

Anyone know of any exercises for working out the neck? I've heard that putting your head back and stretching your jaw is good.

Good news! Proud of you young lady!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"... but nothing too strenuous." Just a reminder (sure you know this already) ... be careful making the "exercise" a chore ... gotta be fun. Our last year in Manila, I was walking (slowly) with my wife ... about an hour each day, but I thought it was doing nothing for me ... but, was surprised that it got me in better shape and help me lose weight.

Point ... just do something everyday (or so) even if it is not that heavy workout you were doing. Yeah, one accomplishes much more if there is very strenuous effort involved, but gotta be something you like doing or there is great temptation to stop.

[NewChief]

I'll brag on the wifey. She's always been in shape, because she's run 3-5 miles a day for the last few years. That being said, she finally switched over and started going to Body Pump. Holy shit. She's a freaking 30 year old hard body. Lighter than she's been since she was a teenager and seriously built.