Dieting & Weight Loss

[Bryn]

I think the obsession with calories is a bit of a falsehood, you can consume as many calories as you want as long as you burn them off, I think you need to be more aware of the amount of fat you consume, that is really the problem, being too fat, I know calories lead to fat, but so does fat, I get pissed off when I see low calorie options that are actually very fatty.

I'm currently trying to shift a couple of pounds, but by changing my habits, such as stopping snacking on cheese and bread, and eating smaller portions and cooking more from scratch and doing more exercise.

I think your practical advice here is quite sound, your theory not so much. Counting calories can be useful if an individual has a poor relationship with diet and exercise and requires help to adjust their behaviour. And ultimately, running a sensible calorie deficit will lead to weight loss, even if its not at maximal efficiency. Low calorie products are often crap, not necessarily due to fat content though. As I've said, fat is not the enemy as long as you understand it.

[indierich06]

Lost another 2lbs this week. In Janaury so far I've done 7lbs, 3lbs and 2lbs - slipped off a bit this week. Only need two next week to make it 1 stone in January though, that would be tremendous.

[The People's Hero]

Lost another 2lbs this week. In Janaury so far I've done 7lbs, 3lbs and 2lbs - slipped off a bit this week. Only need two next week to make it 1 stone in January though, that would be tremendous.

Well done. I wish I could match that sort of progress. I think 2lbs a week is about as much as I can do.

I seem to be gravitating around 13 stone, but its early days and realistically I've only been doing this a short while. Need to step up the CV a little.

[FoxesAreBlue]

Is this why everyone on the World's Strongest Man just looks fat?

Could be one of a few reasons but its more likely that it's because training for a miximal lift develops muscle in such a way that makes you appear fat.

I work with a power lifter who is a British record holder at junior and senior level but if you walked past him the the street you would never think that he is a pt. He is properly strong though.

[Unabomber]

Could be one of a few reasons but its more likely that it's because training for a miximal lift develops muscle in such a way that makes you appear fat.

I work with a power lifter who is a British record holder at junior and senior level but if you walked past him the the street you would never think that he is a pt. He is properly strong though.

It's mainly because generally the heavier you are the more weight you can shift. That's why competitive powerlifters often look fat as they need to eat shit loads of calories in order to get as big as they can. However due to the heavy lifting they will also have considerable muscle underneath the fat.

[Alexikokopops]

Could be one of a few reasons but its more likely that it's because training for a miximal lift develops muscle in such a way that makes you appear fat.

I work with a power lifter who is a British record holder at junior and senior level but if you walked past him the the street you would never think that he is a pt. He is properly strong though.

It's mainly because generally the heavier you are the more weight you can shift. That's why competitive powerlifters often look fat as they need to eat shit loads of calories in order to get as big as they can. However due to the heavy lifting they will also have considerable muscle underneath the fat.

Ta for the answers guys. Bang goes my plan of parking myself at KFC and hoping to lift the title in a year's time.

[indierich06]

Well done. I wish I could match that sort of progress. I think 2lbs a week is about as much as I can do.

I seem to be gravitating around 13 stone, but its early days and realistically I've only been doing this a short while. Need to step up the CV a little.

Cheers man. I always seem to get a good loss the first week that I start back after I've not done the diet for a while - I knocked it on the head for the run up to Christmas halfway through November haha.

2lbs a week is a good, healthy weight loss though. If you can manage that every week then that's fantastic. You don't want to lose it too quickly - just keep it consistent, if you're losing a little bit each week, it soon adds up.

[The People's Hero]

Cheers man. I always seem to get a good loss the first week that I start back after I've not done the diet for a while - I knocked it on the head for the run up to Christmas halfway through November haha.

2lbs a week is a good, healthy weight loss though. If you can manage that every week then that's fantastic. You don't want to lose it too quickly - just keep it consistent, if you're losing a little bit each week, it soon adds up.

I've pushed myself quite a bit recently, since I've also given up biting my nails, which seems pathetic for a 29 year old man, but its a habit I've always had.

I'm also trying to break other habits, like getting home from work and then after feeding my son, collapsing in to my armchair and watching whatever is on TV. I have study to do that doesn't get done so this week I've been good on that front.

I've also given up midweek drinking and on beer altogether.

Its been a month of a few changes and I'm hoping I can make a few of them stick a little longer term.

February's possibilities are giving up on facebook and on foxestalk as although I enjoy both, they are time-thieves!

[Guest Col city fan]

Be careful if you stop smoking!

I stopped a fortnight ago and have literally put on 8lbs since.

This is in spite eating/training exactly as much as I did before.

One of mi pals (a girl) stopped at the same time as me and has also gained 8lbs.

One thing at a time I guess

[stix]

This is in spite eating/training exactly as much as I did before.

Surely you stopping smoking hasn't made you gain 8lbs all on its own.

You must be sleep-scoffing!

[Unabomber]

Surely you stopping smoking hasn't made you gain 8lbs all on its own.

You must be sleep-scoffing!

The only way to gain weight is to eat more calories than you burn. Maybe he walked around more while smoking

[indierich06]

Be careful if you stop smoking!

I stopped a fortnight ago and have literally put on 8lbs since.

This is in spite eating/training exactly as much as I did before.

One of mi pals (a girl) stopped at the same time as me and has also gained 8lbs.

One thing at a time I guess

I'm not calling you a liar Col, but are you sure your calorie intake has been exactly the same since quitting smoking? Because as far as I can see, there's no way you can put weight on without upping the amount of calories you're taking in.

My brother quit a while back and he put a fair bit of weight on, but that was because he was snacking a lot more and eating more in general.

[Guest Col city fan]

Surely you stopping smoking hasn't made you gain 8lbs all on its own.

You must be sleep-scoffing!

Genuinely mate.

The only difference in my 'diet' is chomping on sugar free gum instead of smoking tabs!

I'm also eating more fruit... Apples and satsumas.. Perhaps it's that?

To be clear, I'm not overly bothered at the moment cos not smoking for me is a biggie.

I'm gonna keep going on that, then start looking further into the weight gain thing.

[Alexikokopops]

Be careful if you stop smoking!

I stopped a fortnight ago and have literally put on 8lbs since.

This is in spite eating/training exactly as much as I did before.

One of mi pals (a girl) stopped at the same time as me and has also gained 8lbs.

One thing at a time I guess

Smoking suppresses appetite, which is why people tend to put on weight when they quit smoking. I did when I quit before (a few years ago) and the only reason I didn't when I quit last August was because I was training for a half marathon. Are you sure you're not eating more?

Either way, I agree with the "one thing at a time" - trying to quit smoking AND watch your eating at the same time is an absolute nightmare.

[indierich06]

Genuinely mate.

The only difference in my 'diet' is chomping on sugar free gum instead of smoking tabs!

I'm also eating more fruit... Apples and satsumas.. Perhaps it's that?

To be clear, I'm not overly bothered at the moment cos not smoking for me is a biggie.

I'm gonna keep going on that, then start looking further into the weight gain thing.

Well that is strange. Increased amount of fruit shouldn't be having that kind of effect. Still - good work with quitting so far, keep it up man! It's always easier to lose weight than it is to give up the fags.

[Webbo]

Fruit is full of sugars. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's not fattening.

[Charl91]

Fruit is full of sugars. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's not fattening.

^ That.

I absolutely nailed the gym today. I feel like jelly.

One day, I will start doing cardio again.

[Unabomber]

^ That.

I absolutely nailed the gym today. I feel like jelly.

One day, I will start doing cardio again.

Good work, are you on set routine?

[Leicfox]

I've been eating salads with various foods like mackerel, prawns, mussels, pastrami, chicken and stew/soups & around 3 pieces of fruit a day, and in 8 weeks I've lost 2 stone and that's with very little exercise apart from a brisk 2 mile walk twice a week around the park.

I also been drinking Yakult every morning and cut down to one cup of coffee a day and have been drinking pukka's herbal teas (especially the 3 mint) instead and must say I'm feeling great for it.

I was considering trying them T5's I keep hearing about, anyone had them??

[Charl91]

Good work, are you on set routine?

Going to the gym about 4 days a week, on a 3 day split routine, with Chest + Tri's one day, Shoulders a second, and back + biceps a third. I also do legs and abs on alternate sessions. I really should be doing legs on a seperate day, but I seem to have dodgy knees so can only use light to medium weights, and can't dedicate a whole session to doing them It's a pain, because it means I can't do squats!

[Unabomber]

Going to the gym about 4 days a week, on a 3 day split routine, with Chest + Tri's one day, Shoulders a second, and back + biceps a third. I also do legs and abs on alternate sessions. I really should be doing legs on a seperate day, but I seem to have dodgy knees so can only use light to medium weights, and can't dedicate a whole session to doing them It's a pain, because it means I can't do squats!

I am currently doing a legs/push/pull split so it is pretty similar. I also know that feeling with legs as I have just started them again after taking 2 months off due to my knees.

[The People's Hero]

I've been eating salads with various foods like mackerel, prawns, mussels, pastrami, chicken and stew/soups & around 3 pieces of fruit a day, and in 8 weeks I've lost 2 stone and that's with very little exercise apart from a brisk 2 mile walk twice a week around the park.

I also been drinking Yakult every morning and cut down to one cup of coffee a day and have been drinking pukka's herbal teas (especially the 3 mint) instead and must say I'm feeling great for it.

I was considering trying them T5's I keep hearing about, anyone had them??

Don't take anything un-natural if that makes sense.

I've heard good things about the Grenade fat burner, best used in conjunction with plenty of exercise (and obviously a decent diet)

[Captain...]

Ok, so my healthy January has been going well, cutting down on fatty foods, red meat and alcohol, doing more exercise and snacking on nuts and berries instead of cheese, crisps and biscuits, I've lost some weight as my trousers are noticeably looser, and a few people have commented that I'm looking better...

...but this week I have had no energy, my stamina in the gym was down, my muscles feeling tight and I just had no energy playing football last night despite planning my pasta meal 4 hours before kick off and having energy drinks ready, I think I have had at least one nap every day this week.

What can I do to keep the energy levels up whilst still losing weight?

[The People's Hero]

Ok, so my healthy January has been going well, cutting down on fatty foods, red meat and alcohol, doing more exercise and snacking on nuts and berries instead of cheese, crisps and biscuits, I've lost some weight as my trousers are noticeably looser, and a few people have commented that I'm looking better...

...but this week I have had no energy, my stamina in the gym was down, my muscles feeling tight and I just had no energy playing football last night despite planning my pasta meal 4 hours before kick off and having energy drinks ready, I think I have had at least one nap every day this week.

What can I do to keep the energy levels up whilst still losing weight?

Might be worth looking at that grenade stuff, loaded with some natural stimulants to give you the energy to work out.

I don't advocate its use as I know nothing about it - but its just something recommended to me.

[Haydos]

Ok, so my healthy January has been going well, cutting down on fatty foods, red meat and alcohol, doing more exercise and snacking on nuts and berries instead of cheese, crisps and biscuits, I've lost some weight as my trousers are noticeably looser, and a few people have commented that I'm looking better...

...but this week I have had no energy, my stamina in the gym was down, my muscles feeling tight and I just had no energy playing football last night despite planning my pasta meal 4 hours before kick off and having energy drinks ready, I think I have had at least one nap every day this week.

What can I do to keep the energy levels up whilst still losing weight?

Your body needs a bit of time to adapt to a lower calorie diet. Eating 4 hours is probably a bit too much as well. Around 2 should be fine.