Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#621

Post by JKCalhoun » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:44 PM UTC

StevePerkins wrote: post #561

JKCalhoun wrote: post #547

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exercise is great, but I found it was not enough. I looked for low-hanging fruit in my diet (example: soft drinks) and cut those (lost 10 pounds just losing the lunchtime soft drinks). Even with the exercise (have "closed all three rings" since COVID) I hit a wall below which I am not losing weight. From experience though I know I need to cut the portion size of my meals. Years ago when I was preparing to undergo sur…

> Exercise is great, but I found it was not enough. I just want to reach through the screen and shake you while screaming. This is what I'm talking about, with every mention of exercise being dismissively pivoted back to diet hacks! Exercise is not a substitute for eating better, it is a tool for helping you eat better. Of course you should cut out sugary soft drinks and eat smaller portions! It's just that a minimum…

I'm, sorry I came across as dismissive of exercise, I did not intend to be. Like you, I think both are important — exercise and diet.

Your comment seemed (to me) to be too dismissive of diet.

The benefits of exercise for me were better, more restful sleep, more energy, improved emotional well-being, time afforded for setting my priorities for the day, etc. But weight loss was not one of the benefits, nor did I see a significant change in my dietary habits.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#622

Post by roomey » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:44 PM UTC

rootlocus wrote: post #366

roomey wrote: post #264

Anyone saying just eat less is full of shit. Sorry man. I went from 18st to 12st (and back up to 15st). I found a few key things. 1. Decide you want to loose weight. 2. Up your plain flat water intake... Like a ton. Your body will get used to it after a day or two and you'll start feeling naturally thirsty. You notice all these skinny fit people are always drinking? That's plain water they are drinking. Seriously if…

As someone who lost 20kg in 5 months by eating less, I don't appreciate being called full of shit. First, too much water can cause hyponatremia. Drinking 2 to 3 litters of water / day is fine, but reach 5L and it's getting dangerous. And one of the main advantages of drinking water is it keeps your stomach full, meaning you don't feel hunger, and thus eat less. Second, what's the purpose of your 3rd point if not to r…

I get the sense that some emphasis has been lost here.

I lost a load of weight and did it by 'eating less'.

What I was saying was anyone saying _just_ eat less, like it is some simple solution is full of shit.

I mean, if your overweight you have food control issues already like? It's not like you don't already know that eating more leads to more weight.

Op is talking about getting an oxygen tank ffs. You (the royal you) don't think they know that eating less will help them loose weight already?

What I think op is asking how do I loose weight. One could read that as, how do I eat less.

Imagine an alcoholic asked on this forum saying how do I stop been drunk all the time, can I huff some oxygen? And the top response was: just drink less.

I hope this is making sense here.

And to be clear I suggested they replace existing fluid intake with water not drink enough water to die.

Drinking a ton of water is what one might call hyperbole. I am not actually suggesting they consume a ton of water.

And regards to the weight loss it helps reduce water retention. It's not fat you will loose in three days but you will see it on the scales and you will feel better.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#623

Post by insta_anon » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:44 PM UTC

What really helped me: - getting a kitchen scale, weighting all the food and tracking it with Yazio (https://www.yazio.com/) - intermittent fasting - a healthy mixture of cardio / weightlifting - stopped eating bread everyday and replacing it with oats (+ seeds)

Nothing revolutionary, however tracking everything that I eat really makes a big difference because otherwise I tend to overeat as tend to be always hungry.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#624

Post by justshowpost » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:45 PM UTC

Be cold. Your body burns more calories to keep your temperature.

Note, this is different from freezing. If you’re too cold, you’ll run into different problems like getting slow, getting weak, not being able to sleep, or getting ill.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#625

Post by joeman1000 » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:46 PM UTC

It’s just an energy balance. Change in energy (fat) = energy in (food) - base body energy usage - energy used in exercise

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#626

Post by yonaguska » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:48 PM UTC

flexie wrote: post #246

Just eat less. Much less. And don't drink alcohol, juice, milk, ice tea, or soft drinks. Drink water. My suggestion: Skip breakfast. Take a cup of black coffee. A lunch consisting of a salat made of half a cucumber and a medium sizes tomato and either 1) a can of tuna (in brine, not oil) or 2) smoked salmon (100 gram), will make you quite full without adding more than 200 calories. Afternoon snack: Lots of chewing gu…

For me, skipping breakfast is a no go, because I'll binge lunch. I like to make sure that I have some sort of protein in my breakfast, usually eggs- and I find that I'm less hungry by the time lunch rolls around. But then even more importantly, I try to eat lunch at a set time, even if I'm not totally hungry yet, this way I don't eat too much.

This advice may not be for everyone though, as I usually engage in around 14 hrs of strenuous exercise weekly. So without breakfast, my ability to train is impeded.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#627

Post by inops » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:49 PM UTC

One major thing for me was just sticking to three --appropriately sized-- meals a day (and perhaps a snack later in the night). Doesn't really matter what the meals are. Grazing is a substantial reason why I gained a fair amount of weight.

That and switching from sugar in my teas and coffees, and getting diet when I occasionally drink pop.

I'm lucky enough that my walk commute to work is enough exercise for me.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#628

Post by pc86 » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:49 PM UTC

flexie wrote: post #246

Just eat less. Much less. And don't drink alcohol, juice, milk, ice tea, or soft drinks. Drink water. My suggestion: Skip breakfast. Take a cup of black coffee. A lunch consisting of a salat made of half a cucumber and a medium sizes tomato and either 1) a can of tuna (in brine, not oil) or 2) smoked salmon (100 gram), will make you quite full without adding more than 200 calories. Afternoon snack: Lots of chewing gu…

A couple nits from someone who has owned multiple gyms, done nutrition and weight loss counseling for various specific populations, etc.

1. This is overly prescriptive advice ("eat this exact thing", "no tea!", "no breakfast!", "no dessert!") that isn't appropriate for everyone, and will set a lot of people up to fail.

2. I don't have a problem with chewing gum specifically, but it's a crutch. There's nothing wrong with being hungry and just not eating. Everyone is capable of doing it, we just tell ourselves we're "starving" because we haven't eaten in three hours. Like actual crutches, use them if you absolutely need to, but the sooner you get rid of it the better.

3. Two hours a day is more than most people have the time or willingness for.

4. Calorie intake is irrelevant. Calorie deficit is the key. If you have a very physical job, you can eat more than the person who works at a desk, and lose weight faster than them. Some people will find achieving this deficit easier if they ramp up the frequency, intensity, or length of their workouts. Some people will find it easier by just eating less. The healthiest option is almost always somewhere in the middle.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#629

Post by unfocussed_mike » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:50 PM UTC

The other thing aside from my other comments is that I think the first problem is considering weight loss to be a "remedial" step always.

If your weight loss is remedial -- you have serious back or circulation problems, you need to lose weight for surgery, etc. -- then you have to follow the remedial steps you are given.

But apart from that, people always say "the problem is I lose weight and then when the diet stops it goes back on".

So skip the weight loss step entirely. Focus your attentions on not putting it back on, and you will lose weight over time even without doing more exercise.

This means focussing on your mood, your general habits, ways to avoid being thwarted by issues with lack of willpower.

I've said elsewhere -- avoid shopping for food when you're hungry; it's much easier to make good decisions and plan meals when you're not hungry. But also: cook for yourself as much as you can, eat less meat and more vegetables.

I am at a healthy weight (have been over the long term) and part of that is that I used to be underweight due to ARFID. Part of it also is not having a car; I walk everywhere.

But I do gain weight and have done at bad times. I have terrible willpower and an enormous capacity to eat sweet things. My main strategy to avoid putting on weight is to never buy more biscuits (cookies) or chocolate than I will eat in a single sitting. Never store it in the cupboards. Never stock up on stuff like that -- stock up on vegetables and fruit and try to consume them instead.

And just don't go down those aisles in the supermarket. Especially when hungry.

But I have also stopped buying loaves of sliced bread and started buying bread I have to part-cook myself. And I avoid ready meals of all kinds, if I can, apart from soups.

Unless you're seriously overweight and it has direct short term health implications, I think it's better to stop trying to solve weight loss for the short term, and instead aim to solve weight gain for the long term. And try to like yourself while you do it.

Re: Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

#630

Post by galangalalgol » Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 1:51 PM UTC

pc86 wrote: post #604

galangalalgol wrote: post #549

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also prefer 2-3 lifts per week for health, but it amplifies my already prodigious appetite to rediculous levels. I can and have eaten 6000kcal in a sitting. I usually end up gaining fat when I start lifting and haven't ever managed a cut. I always lose weight by not lifting and restricting calories. Right now the intermittent fasting is working well for me. I'm curious how that will work when I start lifting again.

Eating 2-3 days worth of food in a single sitting is not normal, and well beyond the realm of "prodigious appetite." You need to see a doctor if that's true.

That was an exceptionally large meal. But I never got a full feeling until food was pressing on my esophagus. Even if waited 20min between helpings. The intermittent fasting has shrunky stomach somewhat and being pleasantly full was a novel feeling. It also ended my carb cravings. I don't do keto or anything, but I also don't bake and eat whole loaves of bread at once anymore.