Crash dieting, exercise, and losing weight

Re: Crash dieting, exercise, and losing weight

• Nebb member

  

  August 2009

  Im not reading that. The very thought that a crash diet is a better idea than maintaining a healthy lifestyle is laughable. Garbage.How long have you been trying to lose weight? What are you eating when you choke down 2200 cal a day? What type of excersize are you doing? There are a lot of factors that could be contributing to you not seeing the results you want.I have been watching what I eat strictly and ensuring I get the proper amount of carbs, proteins, fats and calories. I cut processed food mostly out of my diet, and eat a lot of lean meats and whole foods from my local region. I do high intensity cardio work outs paired with heavy weight strength training. I have noticed an incredible change in my body shape and size, in almost 4 months. Hard work, dedication and proper actions is what is going to get you into the body you want, not a crash diet that could adversely affect your health.

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• dvshaw member

  

  August 2009

  Since you won't read the article, I'll summarize it for you. It doesn't say that hard work is bad, and exercise is bad, but it does say that most of weight loss is do to calorie restriction, NOT exercise. Which is something people on here say all the time (70% diet, 30% exercise). And there are some scientific studies that have been done on rapid calorie restriction vs slow dieting, with interesting results. As far as what I do. I do work extremely hard. I do about 2 hours of strenuous weight training a week. And as far as cardio, I go to group fitness classes including spinning, step aerobics, kick boxing, etc. I have been going to the gym for 8 months, and I have been tracking what I've been eating for about 4 months. I have been tracking my calories, fat, carb, and protein intake on spark people. Like many people on here. When I need more calories, I snack on almonds. I eat a lot of low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, veggies.... I'm not trying to discourage people from exercising. I love exercising, it does make me feel good about myself, and I feel healthier. Has it been making me skinnier? Not really. Not everything that says something other than "work out!" is garbage. It is an interesting article, and I just thought I would share it.

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• anmllwyr

  

  August 2009

  Towards the end of the article, it actually does say that "crash diets" are mostly snake oil.  I think the only different thing this article is saying is that you probably have to cut calories lower than most diet plans would suggest.  To be honest, I've found that to be true.  Sparkpeople is telling me to eat 1450-1800 calories a day, which from experience, I know is too high for me.  If I eat that high, I will gain, not lose.  I have to eat at about 1100-1200 calories a day to lose, which is in keeping with what the article suggests. 

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• annakatebride

  

  August 2009

  dvshaw, I've been working out for about as long as you have (since last December) usually for about an hour or an hour and a half a day. I generally burn 500-900 calories per workout. My eating has been good since at least March, but maybe closer to February. For a couple of weeks I would try not following your calories so closely. I know net calories are important and I know counting calories is important, but I would try to listen to your body for a couple weeks and see what happens. I never ever "choke down" food just to hit a number if I'm not hungry. Yes, this means sometimes my net calories is far under 1200, and I know that's not ideal, but other days my net is more like 1800-2000 because I'm hungrier. It's been working very well for me, and I am much less stressed when I don't have to worry about hitting an exact number of calories every day.

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• soontobeklg member

  

  August 2009

  I agree with pp.  Don't force yourself to eat if you aren't hungry.  IMHO, I think sparkpeople (which I use) grossly overestimates your calorie burn.  Weight lifting is great, but it doesn't actually burn that many calories, and it is probably giving you more muscle mass which means more weight (but not in a bad way).  Weight loss (and having a healthy lifestyle in general) definitely depends on diet and exercise.  For me personally, I think exercise is more important.  After a childhood in which I was massively underweight but couldn't run around the track once, I have to say I am so much healthier now at a normal weight and running 25 miles a week, and it's the running that has done it, not my diet.

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• spacey281 member

  

  August 2009

  I also agree with  pp.  I exercise anywhere from 1 - 2 hours a day depending on what I'm doing and my energy level that day.  Some days I'll burn a 1000 calories and only net around 800 (I've got daily plate set to lose 2 pounds a week).  Some days I net 1400 if I've exercised less.  I eat small, regular meals and I will add food depending on how hungry I am.  I'm not advocating only netting 700 or 800 calories, but I also won't force myself to eat more if I'm not hungry at the end of the day.  Some days I am ravenous, and I know it's not dehydration so I eat more.  It's important to listen to your body and not be overly concerned with the numbers.  Are you eating enough protein?  Do you take measurments?  When I first started really losing weight, I went about a month without losing anything and I was so depressed, but when I took my measurements I'd lost 2 inches in my waiste and three inches in my hips.  Sometimes the inches go first and the weight follows.  Good luck!

  

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• Knottie_22387735

  August 2009

  That Time article is a load of garbage that is not supported by the VAST majority of medical research.  So he cut out a couple of desserts a week and stopped exercising and lost weight so clearly exercise is worthless?  Maybe he should find a less calorie laden dessert.  Calories in need to be less than calories out to lose weight.  It's not rocket science.  If you're not losing weight or inches (because inches count too when you're gaining muscle) then you are taking in too many calories.  I question your estimate of 2 hours = 1000 calories too.  Especially when part of those 2 hours are spent weightlifting.  Weights are great, the increase your muscle mass which increases your overall metabolism, but in and of themselves they do not burn a ton of calories.  If you're running 7+ miles in the one hour then weightlifting in the second hour, then I could see how 1000 calories would be burned.  Otherwise I really think you are overestimating your calorie burn.  Which means you can stop forcing yourself to eat the extra calories, which will probably help you lose weight. 

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