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Ask HN: Any weird tips for weight loss?

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

#751

Post by honkdaddy »

alexander_singh wrote: post #664
honkdaddy wrote: post #586

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an anecdote, I’ve been happily somewhere between skinny and sufficiently toned (depending on how much I’m working out) my whole life, and I largely attribute that to the fact I hated my mother’s cooking growing up (sorry mom), so finishing my meals often didn’t happen. I got used to only eating until the hunger signals stopped, not until the full signals started. Fast forward 20 years later, I almost never finish…

Weight gain and loss is much more about biology that "just eating less". There are significant genetic and metabolic factors that contribute to each individuals' appetite and ability to control that appetite. The stigma around weight gain has been reliant on this argument of overeating for so long, while the research has indicated that there's a lot going on behind the scenes that has to be considered. "obesity is in…

I don't doubt that there are genetic and biochemical factors which rule how much we desire food and how often we'd like to eat. I'd go as far as to say nearly every impulse we have can be traced back to a genetic predisposition, one of our greatest gifts as humans is our ability to fight our genetic impulses.

I really love recreational drugs, cannabis and cocaine especially, and I'd hazard to say that part of the reason I enjoy them so much is due to a genetic predisposition. It takes a tremendous amount of willpower for me to control when I use and how much I use, while other people I know can smoke or party once a year and never feel an inclination to otherwise.

I don't think coddling overweight people and telling them that they're only overweight because of genetic and metabolic factors is anymore beneficial than telling an alcoholic they're only addicted for the same reason. Everyone has a cross to bear, and while some are heavier than others, I think it's defeatist to tell people that their obesity (or their addiction) is an innate part of who they are, not a challenge they can overcome.

Obviously I'm no expert, these are just my individual thoughts.

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

#753

Post by chunkles »

The one thing that actually causes weight loss is: caloric intake So you need to either intake fewer calories or increase expenditure of calories. For the best outcome do both.

One easy way to increase caloric use is to dirnk ice water. Your body has to heat it up to body temperature which takes a not insignificant amount of energy.

As mentioned in other posts, walking is a low impact activity that is an easy way to expend more calories.

Be careful experimenting with oxygen ratios, you can die in a pure oxygen environment.

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

#755

Post by entropie »

birksherty wrote: post #745
StevePerkins wrote: post #513

Lift weights two or three times per week, and walk just barely enough to avoid being completely sedentary. Nothing crazy, I'm talking about using the weight machines at a gym, and walking just ~8k steps per day with a pedometer watch to gamify it. I'm a naturally obese person, and I've read a thousand of these threads over the years. Nearly every comment is either: * Telling you to "hack your body", with keto or what…

> They are so adverse to exercise, that suggesting exercise seems offensive to them. They emphasize that it's entirely about diet. Disagree completely. Exercise does not lose weight. The amount of exercise one needs to lose the calorie gained from a burger is not possible to achieve on daily basis. Weight does not just come from air. It's all about what you eat. That's the science. Exercise helps to build muscle and…

I really wondered why this was the top comment on HN. Its just wrong. (And you are right - "Exercise does not lose weigh"). In fact, the body adapts to your lifestyle. And while running can burn alot of calories at the beginning it gets less once the body adapted.

Its simple to lose weight. Eat less. Lots of "people" advertise their programs but at the end its simple as that. Eat. less.

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

#758

Post by Octabrain »

After years of experimentation, here is the list of things that I do and I think might help others:

(from easier to harder)

1 - Reduce the amount of food you consume on every meal. A trick I use is to drink plain sparkling water while eating. It’s a healthy drink and helps you to feel full.

2 - DO NOT eat between meals. Only allow yourself to have water, tea or coffee (these last two only if you have them without any sugar nor cream)

3 - Avoid sugar as possible. Do not add sugar to something unless it’s strictly necessary.

4 - Consider doing intermittent fasting. I personally do 16 - 24 hours fasting one or two times per week. Every three months I also do a 72 hours one. Be careful and read about the topic because depending on your metabolism you might need a different program.

5 - Do cardio regularly. You don’t need to go outside for running. In my case, I have a stationary bike I bought on Amazon and use it for 30-45 minutes three days a week while watching some stuff in YouTube.

6 - Do muscular training. It doesn’t need to be on a gym lifting weights. Me personally do climbing and callisthenics.

Hope it helps.

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

#759

Post by [deleted] »

coldtea wrote: post #651
StevePerkins wrote: post #513

Lift weights two or three times per week, and walk just barely enough to avoid being completely sedentary. Nothing crazy, I'm talking about using the weight machines at a gym, and walking just ~8k steps per day with a pedometer watch to gamify it. I'm a naturally obese person, and I've read a thousand of these threads over the years. Nearly every comment is either: * Telling you to "hack your body", with keto or what…

> Nothing crazy, I'm talking about using the weight machines at a gym, and walking just ~8k steps per day with a pedometer watch to gamify it. This is a little crazy if you work in an office though. It's like over 1 hour of walking per day. Where do people find the time?

[deleted]

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

#760

Post by 21eleven »

birksherty wrote: post #745
StevePerkins wrote: post #513

Lift weights two or three times per week, and walk just barely enough to avoid being completely sedentary. Nothing crazy, I'm talking about using the weight machines at a gym, and walking just ~8k steps per day with a pedometer watch to gamify it. I'm a naturally obese person, and I've read a thousand of these threads over the years. Nearly every comment is either: * Telling you to "hack your body", with keto or what…

> They are so adverse to exercise, that suggesting exercise seems offensive to them. They emphasize that it's entirely about diet. Disagree completely. Exercise does not lose weight. The amount of exercise one needs to lose the calorie gained from a burger is not possible to achieve on daily basis. Weight does not just come from air. It's all about what you eat. That's the science. Exercise helps to build muscle and…

Was it weight training or cardio? I suspect they are not equal when it comes to weight loss. I do a lot of cardio and while it makes me feel good, it doesn't trigger much weight loss. Weight training in my experience does help.
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