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Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

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Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#131

Post by kingnothing »

wanorris wrote: post #82
justindz wrote: post #42

Be vegan and don't snack or drink soda. I graduated college at 5'10" and 140lbs. ;-) Actually, here's what I would recommend: - Stop drinking soda. Drink less beer and more wine and whiskey. Hoooyah. - Don't snack and do get in to things like organic dark chocolate instead of Snickers for dessert. - Set a goal to do something like 100 sit-ups and 25 push-ups a day, no matter what. - As much as possible, eat locally-g…

> don't snack I have often heard the exact opposite advice: eat smaller meals and have more between meal snacks, though obviously with a focus on healthy snacks. Why do you find this to be a more effective approach?

More recent research has shown that it doesn't make much if any difference as to the number of meals you eat. I don't have the journal link right now, but it's out there. I'm most comfortable not eating much for the first 3-4 hours of the day so that I can eat more in the afternoon and evening to get that nice, full feeling at dinner. If you prefer eating 5-6 meals a day, go for it. Anything is better than eating like the masses.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#132

Post by attack »

kingnothing wrote: post #130
rob wrote: post #97

Find BMR: http://tinyurl.com/2uc7ps Use BMR info to find daily calorie needs: http://tinyurl.com/yxrujb Subtract the total daily calorie amount by 250-500 and eat that many calories per day. Yes, you'll have to count calories. Make sure to get enough protein (at least 1g per pound of bodyweight) and healthy fats (olive oil, peanut butter, nuts, etc) and a moderate amount of carbohydrates. Do weight lifting 3 days a w…

You're advising too much protein: One to one and a half grams per kilogram is enough for almost anyone except the most devout lifters (read: those who compete). As for determining calories, most people eat a similar amount every week, so all they need to do is track their calories for a week then subtract from there until they're losing one to two pounds per week; not counting the first one or two weeks where they'll…

Protein digestion causes your body to produce more heat. This thermal effect causes greater idle calorie loss.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#133

Post by kingnothing »

attack wrote: post #132
kingnothing wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're advising too much protein: One to one and a half grams per kilogram is enough for almost anyone except the most devout lifters (read: those who compete). As for determining calories, most people eat a similar amount every week, so all they need to do is track their calories for a week then subtract from there until they're losing one to two pounds per week; not counting the first one or two weeks where they'll…

Protein digestion causes your body to produce more heat. This thermal effect causes greater idle calorie loss.

Excess protein intake puts significant stresses on the kidneys and is unnecessary.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#134

Post by kingkongrevenge »

kingnothing wrote: post #120
kingkongrevenge wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Go look at the actual research I can and have lost eight pounds (not water) in three days. I could do it right now. I call BS on whatever research.

I'm not going to say you haven't lost eight pounds in three days, but I will say that most of that was water weight and the rest was probably muscle. A pound of fat is roughly 3500 calories. In order to lose eight pounds of fat in three days, you would have had to induce a caloric deficit of over 9000 calories per day. A note to everyone: The most weight you can healthily lose is about two pounds per week. More than…

When you cover huge distances all day the weight/calorie arithmetic is not linear. Your body rapidly sheds large amounts of weight to become more efficient.

I specifically said it was not water.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#135

Post by kingkongrevenge »

optimal wrote: post #25

Move more, eat less. It really is that simple. If you want to lose weight you need to include both exercise and proper nutrition in your life (I don't like the word "diet"). Running, weights, PT, biking, swimming, etc. Brisk walking is great. Just do something! My best advice regarding exercise is to make it a habit by including it in your daily routine. At first you'll feel worse when you do exercise than when you d…

> Move more, eat less. It really is that simple.

It's probably not quite "that simple." How else to explain the epidemic of obesity? Lifestyle hasn't changed that much since the 70s. It's dietary changes, most conspicuously much lower fat intake. Composition of calories matters a whole lot. So many people have difficulty executing on weight loss because they are malnourished in various ways.

I hate this guy and think he's a self promoting huckster, but he does an adequate job of making the point on calories here: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/02/25/the-science-...

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#136

Post by WilliamLP »

kingkongrevenge wrote: post #117
WilliamLP wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Go look at the actual research about raised metabolism after training, and about the increase with more muscle mass. You'll find it's actually pretty tiny. However, excercise does have other effects, possibly including reducing cravings and changing hormone levels and maybe (over the long term) gene expression.

> Go look at the actual research I can and have lost eight pounds (not water) in three days. I could do it right now. I call BS on whatever research.

You body stores about 1 pound of glycogen (a quickly available starch energy source) in the muscles and the liver. With it is about 5 pounds of water. When you eat a low carb diet, the first thing your body does is burn that off. That, plus dehydration, means you can expect to lose about 6-8 pounds in a few days. I can and have done that many times. And then I can gain it back in two more days with a couple of big plates of pasta. Competitive athlethes like wrestlers who need to make weight can routinely cut and gain a temporary 15-20 pounds in less than a day.

In other words, sorry if you don't believe me, but much of what you lost was water.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#137

Post by attack »

kingnothing wrote: post #133
attack wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Protein digestion causes your body to produce more heat. This thermal effect causes greater idle calorie loss.

Excess protein intake puts significant stresses on the kidneys and is unnecessary.

Excess, significant -- numbers? I'll tell you what puts stress on your body, being fat.

Huge numbers of people have being-fat related diseases. Never have I heard of someone succumbing to this protein myth.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#138

Post by kingkongrevenge »

WilliamLP wrote: post #136
kingkongrevenge wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Go look at the actual research I can and have lost eight pounds (not water) in three days. I could do it right now. I call BS on whatever research.

You body stores about 1 pound of glycogen (a quickly available starch energy source) in the muscles and the liver. With it is about 5 pounds of water. When you eat a low carb diet, the first thing your body does is burn that off. That, plus dehydration, means you can expect to lose about 6-8 pounds in a few days. I can and have done that many times. And then I can gain it back in two more days with a couple of big pl…

I know all this. But when the weight stays off, and you in fact continue to lose weight in the following weeks, then it is not water loss. A lot of muscle, yeah.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#139

Post by attack »

WilliamLP wrote: post #36
scott_s wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your math doesn't work because it's not that simple. The effects of exercise - strength training or cardio - do not stop once you stop. Your metabolism is raised for hours after, and your body has to start repairing itself. Also, please note there is more to exercise than cardio.

Go look at the actual research about raised metabolism after training, and about the increase with more muscle mass. You'll find it's actually pretty tiny. However, excercise does have other effects, possibly including reducing cravings and changing hormone levels and maybe (over the long term) gene expression.

No, in fact you are wrong for exercise like intense weight lifting.

Of course proper diet does have a huge effect in weight loss though.

Re: Ask YC: How do you lose weight?

#140

Post by kingkongrevenge »

rob wrote: post #97

Find BMR: http://tinyurl.com/2uc7ps Use BMR info to find daily calorie needs: http://tinyurl.com/yxrujb Subtract the total daily calorie amount by 250-500 and eat that many calories per day. Yes, you'll have to count calories. Make sure to get enough protein (at least 1g per pound of bodyweight) and healthy fats (olive oil, peanut butter, nuts, etc) and a moderate amount of carbohydrates. Do weight lifting 3 days a w…

> healthy fats (olive oil, peanut butter, nuts, etc)

Saturated fat is healthy fat. It's a lot easier to eat properly once you understand butter and suet are great.

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