Dieting advice

[gmwise]

Brad,
I think this helps in answering your question.
I have to be honest more study has to be done, along with genetics and other health considerations before I start eating just a slice of bread.
lol


Eat Less, Live Longer, New Study Says
The Secret To Living Longer and Staying Healthy? - Newsweek.com
Eat Less, Live Longer? Gene Links Calorie Restriction To Longevity
Never Say Die: Eat Less -- Live Longer

[Of Sound Mind]

Brad,
I think this helps in answering your question.
I have to be honest more study has to be done, along with genetics and other health considerations before I start eating just a slice of bread.
lol


Eat Less, Live Longer, New Study Says
The Secret To Living Longer and Staying Healthy? - Newsweek.com
Eat Less, Live Longer? Gene Links Calorie Restriction To Longevity
Never Say Die: Eat Less -- Live Longer

I wasn't clear in what I was puzzled about... Here's a little clarification...

I'm not specifically disputing this statement...

If you can learn to eat less for the rest of your life, that would be optimal. There was a study not long ago that showed those who eat less live longer.

After reading the original NY Times article and reading the links that you provided, gmwise, I can't find anything within those articles to support this specific statement...

What happens is that your metabolism slows down (good thing,) and people with slower metabolisms tend to live longer.

And I certainly didn't find anything in those articles to support these declarations...

Skinny people have slow metabolisms while fat people have fast metabolisms. Your size determines metabolism - NOT the other way around.

I'm always amazed at those infomercials touting their product that speeds up metabolism. I just sit there in wonder knowing that it's the opposite of what is healthy.

I don't claim to be a scientist or a doctor or a nutritionist, which is why I rely on what they — the paid experts — tell me. And what they tell me seem incongruous to the ronronnie's statements. I don't claim to know what is actually true or to have the right answer. But, something about her statements just doesn't make sense to me. I'm certainly open to being educated to what is scientifically proven and sound.

What I do know is that eating a 1500-1800 calorie diet is certainly not impossible because I've been doing it for over a year now. It wasn't just about cutting calories, but choosing healthier food options that happen to also be lower-calorie and/or lower-fat and/or simply better kinds of calories to consume. I'm healthier and I feel a lot better. THAT part of the study I don't dispute. The metabolism part of the original statements is what I'm wrestling with.

[gmwise]

I wasn't clear in what I was puzzled about... Here's a little clarification...

I'm not specifically disputing this statement...



After reading the original NY Times article and reading the links that you provided, gmwise, I can't find anything within those articles to support this specific statement...


And I certainly didn't find anything in those articles to support these declarations...


I don't claim to be a scientist or a doctor or a nutritionist, which is why I rely on what they — the paid experts — tell me. And what they tell me seem incongruous to the ronronnie's statements. I don't claim to know what is actually true or to have the right answer. But, something about her statements just doesn't make sense to me. I'm certainly open to being educated to what is scientifically proven and sound.

What I do know is that eating a 1500-1800 calorie diet is certainly not impossible because I've been doing it for over a year now. It wasn't just about cutting calories, but choosing healthier food options that happen to also be lower-calorie and/or lower-fat and/or simply better kinds of calories to consume. I'm healthier and I feel a lot better. THAT part of the study I don't dispute. The metabolism part of the original statements is what I'm wrestling with.

My insecurity about the "studies" is my desire for chocolate and a nice steak..lol
I hope I didnt muddle it too badly.

[rcjunkie]

Brad,
I think this helps in answering your question.
I have to be honest more study has to be done, along with genetics and other health considerations before I start eating just a slice of bread.
lol


Eat Less, Live Longer, New Study Says
The Secret To Living Longer and Staying Healthy? - Newsweek.com
Eat Less, Live Longer? Gene Links Calorie Restriction To Longevity
Never Say Die: Eat Less -- Live Longer

You might want to skip the bread and try some "Brain Food"

[PennyQuilts]

By the way, I made my 2009 weight loss goal just before Christmas. 106 pounds lost since Jan. 1, 2009. Still working on another 35 by the end of this year. And it wasn't because I got my metabolism to SLOW DOWN.

Brad, that is incredible! Congrats - but don't lose too much. And RR, I think you've got that metabolism thing switched around.

[Of Sound Mind]

Brad, that is incredible! Congrats - but don't lose too much. And RR, I think you've got that metabolism thing switched around.

Thanks for the congrats! But I'm not in danger of losing too much... at least not yet.

[ronronnie1]

Congratulations on the weight loss, Brad. Being thin is so much fun.

I have a friend who lost a lot of weight, so whatever works for you.

Good luck!

[rcjunkie]

Congratulations on the weight loss, Brad. Being thin is so much fun.
I have a friend who lost a lot of weight, so whatever works for you.

Good luck!

Shouldn't it be "Being Healthy is so much fun".
Just because your thin does not mean your healthy or in shape.

[gmwise]

Congratulations on the weight loss, Brad. Being thin is so much fun.

I have a friend who lost a lot of weight, so whatever works for you.

Good luck!

RR,
Be careful before some damn fool would take exception to the word thin.

[Wishbone]

Here is an update on myself. As of today I have dropped 10 pounds. I have taken the advise of some of you and apprecitate it. But I am only half way to my goal. I bought a treadmill and have started running. Man that is much harder than what I thought! I can't jog a whole mile without walking a bit too but with a little walking in between the fatique of jogging I am making that mile in 12 minutes. Hope to eventually get that down to 10 minutes then go a mile and a half on the treadmill.

I can tell you I feel great. I don't miss the extra food and when I do eat a meal it doesn't take much for me to feel full. I will keep pushing.....

[bandnerd]

Good for you for getting the treadmill!

Some things you might try: sometimes High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) can help you push through a weight loss wall.

Instead of running the whole time at the same speed, jack up the incline a bit and run uphill for a while, then bring the incline and speed back down and do that for awhile. Your body is less likely to get used to the training since you're always changing it up. It's also amazingly good for your heart and can help ease any boredom you might get from doing the same thing for a long time. People who train for competitions do this kind of work--they will alternate long run days with sprint days and strength days.

You seem awfully focused on the scale--the number on that scale is the WORST indicator of health. You could be "skinny fat" at the right weight but have no muscle tone and your organs can be unhealthy, just like someone who might be overweight on the scale might actually be in tip-top shape because of muscle mass! Put the scale away for awhile and find a different indicator of success--how your clothes fit, how much energy you have, how soundly you sleep at night, etc.

Also, be careful in cutting back too much on the food. If you start working out really hard, you have to eat! Your body will respond better if you treat it right, instead of just starving and pushing, which will cause you to crash. Focus on more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day and always combine a protein with your complex carb (apple and peanut butter, chicken and brown rice with veggies, for example). I know if I'm working really hard, like I did with a trainer a couple of years ago, I wouldn't be able to complete a good, solid workout (especially on heavy-weight days...the most hated day of the week) if I hadn't eaten properly that day. My legs and arms would shake, I would get dizzy...if I didn't work out that day, sure, I'd had enough food but with the workout on top of it, it just wasn't enough!

Continue taking care of yourself--looks are one thing, health is another. Focus on your health and how you look physically will follow. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon!