Weight loss advice!?! - join in the fun

[Jay Aitchsee]

Three that stand out and I follow:
1. Don't eat refined carbs, 2. Protein is OK, and 3. Saturated fat is OK.
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/1 ... 00466.html

[Janknitz]

I had bariatric surgery back in Dec, and after the recovery period I was told to eat in a way that turned into essentially a Paleo diet. The nutritionist told me to always start my meals with protein in large quantities, and then to have good veggies as sides. If I really wanted I could have a small amount of things like potato, bread, nuts, etc. if I really wanted. For all intents that is the Paleo diet.

It's good to hear that the bariatric surgery was successful for you. I know there are people who find the surgery essential because without the physical limits to the amount they can eat they just cannot get on top of the weight monster.

Other people find they can go straight to adopting a Paleo lifestyle without the surgery and still lose all their excess weight. http://www.marksdailyapple.com has Primal/Paleo success stories every Friday and the results are truly amazing--always an enjoyable read.

[Beckah54]

I enjoy a high fat, low carb diet too. If I had to put a name to my eating plan, it would be Atkins. I usually don't eat over 20 carbs a day and don't get hungry between meals. I am not, and have never been, a breakfast eater. I usually eat lunch around 3 PM and dinner between 7:30 and 8 PM.

Before I went low carb, all I wanted to eat was sweets. People tell me that Atkins is unhealthy but I am eating a much healthier diet now than I did before. The only vegetables I used to eat were on pizza. I craved Ice cream, donuts, pies, cakes, anything sweet before. After the first week or so, the carb cravings were gone.

I don't feel deprived on this WOE. If I am truly cravings something, there is usually a way to create a substitute in a low carb version. I don't get tired of the food I eat because there are so many varieties to choose from. I cook more now than I ever have so I always have something prepared for super busy days.

I have lost 21 lbs since June 2013. I know it will take some time but I am determined to reach a weight that is healthy for me. Different people lose weight on different plans. I'm not saying low carb is for everyone, but it sure works for me.

[sleepinow]

@above


The reason why you were craving all those foods was not because of carbohydrates, it is because you were addicted to wheat products without even knowing it. Wheat contains exorphins which act like opiate drugs do in the brain. Wheat in effect is a appetite stimulant. Carbohydrates are not the problem.

[Beckah54]

@ above

That may very well be true. All I can verify personally is that lowering the carbs has helped me lose weight for whatever reason.
Wheat could very well have been the culprit.

[CoastalSun]

My 'food philosophy' is the following:
Buy only the very basic foods from the central aisles in the grocery store: ie: oats, brown rice, whole grain cereal with very little if any sugar added, whole grain crackers with just the minimum ingredients ....
Never go shopping when you're hungry, and go with a list in hand.
Choose the majority of your food stuff from the outer aisles: good quality meats (not processed, no antibiotics fed to the animal), good quality chicken and fish (same regarding no antibiotics and no farmed fish!), eggs, milk and other dairy (plain yogurt is the best and add your own fruit and if you need it, real maple syrup of honey) and produce. Lots and lots of produce. Shop at your local farmer's market if you can.
For that matter, don't buy anything with more than 5 ingredients listed ... use your own fresh herbs for seasoning and go easy on the salt.
But my main criteria is this:
- eat WHOLE foods or REAL food that your grandmother (in my case) or maybe your great grandmother would recognize as food! Most of the stuff sold as food is anything but.
I keep my weight stable and my blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc are well within normal limits.
Happy eating!

[sleepinow]

Why would you recommend dairy? You are recommending things to do without any brief or even sophisticated explanations

[sleepinow]

@ above

That may very well be true. All I can verify personally is that lowering the carbs has helped me lose weight for whatever reason.
Wheat could very well have been the culprit.

I am not sure if this is true, but you probably followed the guideline to eat more "Healthy Whole Grains" That guideline will bring you to obesity because too much carbohydrates is indeed correlated with weight gain. I choose wheat specifically because it has an addictive substance and it raises blood sugar levels more than PURE table sugar does. But yes a lower carbohydrate intake does indeed lower weight. Elimination of carbohydrate = bad idea due to the ketosis effect on the body.

[Janknitz]

So, curious: everybody who has their weightloss advice here, how much weight have you lost and how long have you stuck to your diet/lifestyle?

[RestedRebel]

I have lost 74.7 lbs. on a low carb diet since February 11, including time off for gallbladder surgery. I shall continue on with this way of eating because I no longer crave carbs like I used to. Protein keeps me full, and I need a little fat, but I don't need a ton of carbs. I also exercise.