How I Lost 7.4lbs in 8 Days without Counting Calories

[impaul99]

Well, I'm on day 8 of my diet plan (Day 13 of my exercise plan), and in the last 8 days I've lost 7.4lbs so far. Not that it's a competition or anything, but I've lost more weight in 8 days than Steve lost on his extreme Raw diet in 13 days.

Of course Steve's diet trial may not be aimed at losing fat, whereas mine is.

Here's what I've been eating if anyone's interested: I lost 7.4lbs in 8 days | HealthyFitGuy.com

[Angela]

How are you feeling, Paul?

P.s. I've read that any loss over 2.5 lb in a week is not fat loss, but water/lean tissue loss. Are you ok with that?

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Angela

How are you feeling, Paul?

P.s. I've read that any loss over 2.5 lb in a week is not fat loss, but water/lean tissue loss. Are you ok with that?

I'm feeling great. Here's what I've hard from different people over the last year regarding diet and muscle gains:

- "There is no healthy way to lose more than 1lb/week. If anyone loses more it's due to water loss."
- "A weight loss of 0.5-1lbs/day is healthy if the body has lots of toxins and fats to lose."
- "Any more than 2.5lbs/week is not fat loss, but water/lean tissue loss."
- "If you lose too much weight too quickly, you'll just gain it all back and more."
- "Diets don't work."
- "You can't gain more than 5-10lbs of muscle per year, it's impossible."
- etc. etc. etc.

This is from books, doctors, naturopaths, as well as regular people who tell me this stuff with good intentions. I really don't believe any of them because none of them are consistent.

Here's my point of view on it.

Right now, in the last 8 days, I've drank MORE water that in the last 2 years on a daily basis. Also, I've eaten MORE water rich foods than ever in my life. If what I'm losing is water weight, then I am ok with my body making that decision. It must have a good reason for it. I know I've giving it enough water, in fact more than ever before, so I really doubt I'm losing water weight.

Secondly, I really don't think I'm losing lean tissue because I can FEEL my muscles growing underneath my fat when I do my workouts, and I've been able to push more weight during my strength training. I've worked out before and I know what it feels like to build muscle. There is a certain weight different and a tightness that you feel when building muscle.

I am certain that my weight loss will slow down at a certain point as my body sheds itself of toxins, having less and less to get rid of, but in the beginning I am not worried one bit about losing 7.4lbs in 8 days.

Think of it this way. I read somewhere that average adult on the SAD diet carries around something like +10lbs of fecal matter (toxins) in their colon stuck to the walls of the colon. If you provided your body with the resources necessary to get rid of that fecal matter, why wouldn't the body want to get rid of it as fast as possible. If it did, then you would lose that 10lbs as quickly as it took the body to get rid of it. So how can it be unhealthy to lose more than 2.5lbs/week?

Long term, I agree. If I average it out over the next 3 months for example, I bet it will come out to something like that. In the short term though, I'm absolutely not worried. I'm giving the body healthy, nutritious foods and plenty of water. I'm not starving it, I eat however much food I want, whenever I want it.

I really doubt that my body would need me to eat junk foods like McDonald's or Chocolate bars to maintain it's weight.

[Angela]

That's great. Have you considered getting a body composition scale, just for scientific purposes? I've got one and I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it's good for seeing trends in water, fat, visceral fat, and bone density (along with weight, of course!)

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Angela

That's great. Have you considered getting a body composition scale, just for scientific purposes? I've got one and I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it's good for seeing trends in water, fat, visceral fat, and bone density (along with weight, of course!)

I've got one that measures body fat %, but it doesn't measure that other stuff. Do you have a link for the one you got that does all that?

[mochamajesty]

Paul,

Your results are impressive. Are you getting any protein? I looked at the list of foods and did not see a protein source.

[cmr924]

You more than likely lost a combination of fat, muscle, and water weight, with the majority being water weight.

"Right now, in the last 8 days, I've drank MORE water that in the last 2 years on a daily basis. Also, I've eaten MORE water rich foods than ever in my life. If what I'm losing is water weight, then I am ok with my body making that decision. It must have a good reason for it. I know I've giving it enough water, in fact more than ever before, so I really doubt I'm losing water weight."

The more water you drink, the less your body retains. The body is simply not capable of losing 7.4 pounds of fat in 8 days.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by mochamajesty

Paul,

Your results are impressive. Are you getting any protein? I looked at the list of foods and did not see a protein source.

There's plenty of protein in the vegetables I eat, like the broccoli, spinach, as well as almonds, etc. Just search for protein myth on the internet or even just on Steve's site and you'll see that there is plenty of protein if you eat veggies.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by cmr924

The body is simply not capable of losing 7.4 pounds of fat in 8 days.

I do not believe your statement to be true at all. Can you provide any proof that it is impossible for the human body to lose 7.4lbs of fat in 8 days?

With proper nutrition, I believe it's not only possible but totally achievable to lose 0.5-1.0lbs per day. You start out quick (around 1lb / day) and as you get closer to your ideal weight you get closer to about 0.5lbs/day or so.

For example, take a look at this woman:
http://www.phmiracleliving.com/elaine/

She lost 50.5lbs in 12 weeks (84 days). That's 0.6lbs/day in average weight loss.

Her total loss later on was 90lbs in 8 months (240 days) which is 0.38lbs per day average.

As you can see her body started out fast and slowed down towards the end as she came closer to her ideal weight.

In any case, it really doesn't matter to me. I'm simply eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and exercising daily. Regardless whether some of the loss I experience is water weight or not, I'm just reporting my results. People can make their own judgments on where the weight is coming off. All I know is that my jeans are already easier to button up than they were a week ago.

Well, off I go to do my workout.

[impaul99]

Just wanted to add a bit more info about losing fat for those who don't believe it's possible to lose more than 1lb of fat / week.

Here's some data from "The pH Miracle for Weight Loss" by Dr. Robert O. Young. Published May 2006.

In a 12 week study, which is 84 days, here are some weight losses recorded in the study:

Male 52, Start: 435lbs, End: 344lbs, Loss: 90lbs
Male 48, Start: 273lbs, End: 202lbs, Loss: 71lbs
Male 29, Start: 200lbs, End: 145lbs, Loss: 55lbs
Female 46, Start: 239lbs, End: 149, Loss: 91lbs
etc.

The list goes on. The losses reported range anywhere from 20lbs to 98lbs. There are 27 different study cases presented in the book.

[cmr924]

No one is saying you can't lose more than 1 pound a week, but you can't lose 7.4 pounds of fat in 8 days.

The study you showed just listed weight loss. There were no mentions of body fat percentage loss at all. The key being: what percentage of your lost weight is fat, and what isn't? Most isn't.

Also, with Elaine, she lost a certain number of pounds per week. This isn't to say all those pounds were fat.

This is not to say that is a bad thing. It is normal, when going on a new diet, to drop a lot of weight at first. You are losing a lot of water weight.

Anyone can lose 7.4 pounds in a week. 3,500 calories is one pound. 3,500 * 7.4 = 25,900 calories. 25,900 / 7 days of the week = 3,700 calories.
If you eat 3,700 calories under your maintenance levels, the amount you can consume without weight gain or weight loss, you would lose 7.4 pounds that week. This is NOT considering water loss. This goes to show how impossible it would be to lose 7.4 pounds of muscle/fat in a week. Most of it would have to be muscle, and you would have to be eating quite a lot to be able to dip that far below maintenance.

[cmr924]

Originally Posted by impaul99

I do not believe your statement to be true at all. Can you provide any proof that it is impossible for the human body to lose 7.4lbs of fat in 8 days?

With proper nutrition, I believe it's not only possible but totally achievable to lose 0.5-1.0lbs per day. You start out quick (around 1lb / day) and as you get closer to your ideal weight you get closer to about 0.5lbs/day or so.

I think the burden of proof sits squarely on your shoulders. If time persists, I am willing to crack out the references. It will not be a difficult search.

[dancer]

I'm an underweight, but am curious if the mind has an effect on body weight. Are you doing visualisations, LOA, affirmations, or anything else to support your diet?

I recall reading something on your blog re. thinking like a thin person and thought it was really interesting. Kind of inline with your wealth programme except with weight. Have wanted to ask someone with a weight problem what they think/feel when they are eating something good and creamy, but felt uncomfortable.

Btw. Congrats on the weight loss.

[Angela]

Paul, the body composition analyzer I have is:

Innerscan Scales. It's pretty nice -- it shows body fat percentage rather than pounds, but it does show the weight of your muscle mass and bones, so that's easy to keep track of.

This year my resolution is to never worry about losing weight and never to go on a diet. I am focusing on building strength and suppleness, and this little machine will help me with some of my specific measurable results as far as muscle and bones go.

Good luck!

[VacMan]

Think of it this way. I read somewhere that average adult on the SAD diet carries around something like +10lbs of fecal matter (toxins) in their colon stuck to the walls of the colon.

Just my personal opinion,

I think that this is a huge myth designed to sell colon cleansing supplements.

I've seen testimonials from nurses who work in clinics that do colonoscopies (looking inside your colon with a video cam) all day, and they've never seen any fecal matter stuck to the walls of anyone's colon.

Also, just watch Discovery Health, or TLC, etc. You'll eventually see a few colonoscopies yourself, and even in "unhealthy" people, you never see anything but normal tissue...

That is not being covered by fecal matter.

My personal opinion is that your body can clean itself, and you don't have a bunch of toxins stuck in your colon.

That's what the toilet is for.

[seeker5]

Originally Posted by impaul99

Well, I'm on day 8 of my diet plan (Day 13 of my exercise plan), and in the last 8 days I've lost 7.4lbs so far. Not that it's a competition or anything, but I've lost more weight in 8 days than Steve lost on his extreme Raw diet in 13 days.

Congrats!

I lost 12 pounds last month without trying to when I went on a 30 day trial with no coke and candy bars. I ended up eating so little and so light because I was so concern about being able to stay awake at work without caffein and sugar highs. I'm not sure how much of that 12 pounds I lost involves muscles but I'm sure some of it is. I know I started feeling week by the end of 2nd week and when I measured my calories intake by the end of the third week, it was too low - around 1400 calories.

Anyway, keep it up! I'm about to start a 30 day Vegan trial so while it's not aimed at losing weight, it'll be interesting to see if I do lose weight.

[NotesMaeve]

Originally Posted by VacMan

I think that this is a huge myth designed to sell colon cleansing supplements.

I've seen testimonials from nurses who work in clinics that do colonoscopies (looking inside your colon with a video cam) all day, and they've never seen any fecal matter stuck to the walls of anyone's colon.

Also, just watch Discovery Health, or TLC, etc. You'll eventually see a few colonoscopies yourself, and even in "unhealthy" people, you never see anything but normal tissue...

That is not being covered by fecal matter.

My personal opinion is that your body can clean itself, and you don't have a bunch of toxins stuck in your colon.

Lots of people are bloated and filled with unnecessary crap. I gained and lost ten lbs. over the holidays eating more animal products and drinking more and then stopping.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by cmr924

No one is saying you can't lose more than 1 pound a week, but you can't lose 7.4 pounds of fat in 8 days.

The study you showed just listed weight loss. There were no mentions of body fat percentage loss at all. The key being: what percentage of your lost weight is fat, and what isn't? Most isn't.

Also, with Elaine, she lost a certain number of pounds per week. This isn't to say all those pounds were fat.

This is not to say that is a bad thing. It is normal, when going on a new diet, to drop a lot of weight at first. You are losing a lot of water weight.

Anyone can lose 7.4 pounds in a week. 3,500 calories is one pound. 3,500 * 7.4 = 25,900 calories. 25,900 / 7 days of the week = 3,700 calories.
If you eat 3,700 calories under your maintenance levels, the amount you can consume without weight gain or weight loss, you would lose 7.4 pounds that week. This is NOT considering water loss. This goes to show how impossible it would be to lose 7.4 pounds of muscle/fat in a week. Most of it would have to be muscle, and you would have to be eating quite a lot to be able to dip that far below maintenance.

1) I titled the thread "How I lost 7.4lbs in 8 Days.." not "How I lost 7.4lbs of fat in 8 days..."

2) I'm just reporting my weight loss as the numbers shown on my scale, and I provide Body Fat % according to my scale as well on my blog. People are free to interpret the #'s as they choose.

3) The reason I don't believe statements like "The body is simply not capable of losing 7.4 pounds of fat in 8 days." and will always argue them is because I don't believe in limiting my beliefs. That is a belief you have based on your research, but I don't have that belief. My belief is that it is possible. I'm not saying I've done it, I'm just saying it's not impossible.

For example, early on in my life, I had people I trusted tell me things like "If you want to make more than $30k/year you must got to collage or university, otherwise you'll be a bum." Others told me "You have to have money to make money.", while others still told me "While the Rich get richer, the poor will always be poor." etc. These were all beliefs they had, which kept them in poverty, but they were not facts.

I had to work a long time on cleaning my beliefs of these BS beliefs. Now that I have, I have been making a six figure income for years now, and I never had any money to start (was in huge debt actually), I wasn't rich to start, and I never went to collage or university even though I was an A student in highschool. I just didn't want to go to post-secondary, I wanted to make money in business on my own.

The funny thing is that the people who told me that you can't make any more than X unless you go to school, went to school and they go their diplomas and certificates and degrees and stuff and they do make more than 30k/year..... they make 40k/year or 45k/year... because that's what their professors told them they should ask for, and I still hear those people talking about how the rich get richer and the poor stay poor, and how it's impossible to get ahead in life, etc. etc.

I guess what I'm saying is that I am not argueing that you believe it is impossible to lose 7.4lbs of fat in 8 days. I'm just saying it's not a fact, simply because you believe it, and I do not choose to accept your belief at this time.

4) Would you be offended if I offered a different perspective on you belief? What if you were hired as an actor to play the role of a crazy scientist who believed that IT IS possible to lose 7.4lbs of fat in 8 days. This is not you, you're just acting. To prepare for the role you decide to do research into how it really IS POSSIBLE to do this, even if the real you doesn't believe it. What if you did that? What if you looked for proof that it is possible. How would you go about doing it?

For example, you could look at the statement and you could say that a REALLY LARGE person, like someone who weighs 800lbs might find it easier to lose 7.4lbs of fat in 8 days than someone that weighs 120lbs and is already their ideal weight, right? Maybe there is some really large person out there that eats like half a cow each day to maintain his 800lb weight, and if he went on a fast for 8 days, he might actually lose 7.4lbs, right?

Another example would be, lets say looking into getting rid of fat WITHOUT burning it. You talk about calories of fat and burning 7.4lbs of fat would be a lot of calorie burn, but what if the body was able to excrete the fat without burning it. Is that possible? Is it, for example possible that the body could eliminate fat through urination? Sweating? Through feces? Or is the only way the body can get rid of fat via burning it for energy?

I'm not saying you have to do this. All I'm saying is that you have a belief that something is impossible, but you wont' really know if your belief is true or not until you actually try looking at it from the other point of view.

This is what I did when I decided to build wealth. I took the belief "You have to go to school to make more than 30k/year." for example and I said to myself "If it was possible for someone to make more than 30k/year without going to school, how could that possibility exist?" and I came up with answers like:
- The person would have to be in a profession that doesn't have mandatory restrictions of going to school in order to make money. For example, professions like doctor or lawyer are out because you have to get a degree before the government allows you to practice. But, for example, programming is not affected by that. THere are plenty of self-taught programmers that never went to collage that are excellent at their craft.
- The person would have to be really smart. Way smarter than even the people who went to school.
- etc.

Once I figured out what would need to happen for it to be possible, I went out and did those things. I began self-study, became a programmer, etc.

Once I was a programmer and I was making $36k/year I began asking myself what would a person need to do in order to make more then that? Like lets say 100k/year. The answer I got was that the person would have to take on more responsibility, be more valueable, become a manager of other people, become a leader and a motivator, etc. So then I became that.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by dancer

I'm an underweight, but am curious if the mind has an effect on body weight. Are you doing visualisations, LOA, affirmations, or anything else to support your diet?

I recall reading something on your blog re. thinking like a thin person and thought it was really interesting. Kind of inline with your wealth programme except with weight. Have wanted to ask someone with a weight problem what they think/feel when they are eating something good and creamy, but felt uncomfortable.

Btw. Congrats on the weight loss.

Yes, I do this almost naturally all the time nowadays, but here are some specifics I can provide.

In front of my face, when I run on my treadmill I started a vision board. On there right now I have a picture of the new James Bond guy (name escapes me now) where he's walking on the beach with his big muscles. He looks like he's in his 40's or 50's in the picture and I want myself to look like that when I'm in my 40's and 50's playing with my kids, not like the typical overweight, belly over the belt 40 year old dad. I also have a picture of Brad Pitt from fightclub where he was super cut, and also another picture of Justin Timberlake from the movie "Alpha Dog" where he's got his shirt off and he's totally cut, 6 pack abs, nice pecs etc. When my wife saw the pictures there she laughed and said "You should pull those off, people are going to think you're gay having a picture of Justin Timberlake on the wall." to which I replied "Pffft...I don't give a f*#& what people think. I'm not ashamed to say I want a body like his."

Also, launching my blog allows me to leverage my plan. My friends know about my blog, my co-workers know about it etc. They all go there every day or two to see if I've fallen off my plan. Secretly they all want me to fail so that they can have an excuse not to start their plan. The ones who are healthy cheer me on. THe ones who are lazy, sit quietly and wait, getting more and more uncomfortable every day. It helps to drive me knowing that people are watching my blog.

Also you guys on here help to drive me as well. Which is why I post on here. Blogging your weight loss is an awesome leveraging tool.

Short answer to your question. Yes, definitely use visualization.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by VacMan

Just my personal opinion,

I think that this is a huge myth designed to sell colon cleansing supplements.

I've seen testimonials from nurses who work in clinics that do colonoscopies (looking inside your colon with a video cam) all day, and they've never seen any fecal matter stuck to the walls of anyone's colon.

Also, just watch Discovery Health, or TLC, etc. You'll eventually see a few colonoscopies yourself, and even in "unhealthy" people, you never see anything but normal tissue...

That is not being covered by fecal matter.

My personal opinion is that your body can clean itself, and you don't have a bunch of toxins stuck in your colon.

That's what the toilet is for.

I really don't know what the truth is because I haven't researched it myself. I do know someone who had to go get a colon cleansing done because he had to go for another test in the hospital and they made him do this first. When he went they did the whole colon cleansing where they shove tubes up there and fill you with water and flush out all the crap in there, and he said it was really disgusting how much stuff came out. I don't know how much it was, but he was thoroughly disgusted by it.

Then he said for like the next week or two he felt like 500 times better than he ever felt in his life, having tonnes and tonnes of energy and stuff. Since he eats a regular SAD diet, he said that slowly though all that faded and like 6 months later he felt the same way again.

Then like a couple years later he wanted to get that feeling back so he went back to do another one of these things, but this time there wasn't as much stuff that came out and he was kind of disappointed. So I dont' knwo what that means really.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by impaul99

In any case, it really doesn't matter to me. I'm simply eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and exercising daily. Regardless whether some of the loss I experience is water weight or not, I'm just reporting my results. People can make their own judgments on where the weight is coming off. All I know is that my jeans are already easier to button up than they were a week ago.

Paul, your results are very impressive - and inspiring!

Thanks for sharing.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Alexander

Paul, your results are very impressive - and inspiring!

Thanks for sharing.

Not a problem. Knowing people are watching me, inspires me to work out even when I don't want to. For example today after work I had to go to my old place to move about 20 sheets of 8'x4' plywood and move them from the garage to my brother's place. Also, I had to bring over some boxes to my new place. I was there for about an hour and the stuff was pretty heavy, so it actually feels like I already did a workout today. So it would be really easy for me to justify skipping my workout, but I decided right from the start that the only time I'm allowed to skip a workout is if I go to my martial arts training instead, since the two hour workout there is way tougher than my run on the treadmill.

Anyway... off to do my workout I go!

[mochamajesty]

Paul,

Your answers on this thread are very inspiring!

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by mochamajesty

Paul,

Your answers on this thread are very inspiring!

Thank you. I just finished a workout. Man, my triceps are on fire and my arms feel like Jello.

Here's what I strive for - "Teach through the clarity of your example." - Abraham/Hicks

I'd love to offer some more words of wisdom, but I stink so I gotta run have a shower now.

[impaul99]

As the graph on my site will show, my weight has been varying slightly from day to day, going up and down a bit each day, but as of today, Day 13 I hit a total loss of 8lbs so far.

So I'm down to losing about 0.6lbs/day for those of you who were worried that there must be something wrong with my diet if I lost 7.4lbs in the first 8 days. Looks like my body is adjusting.

[Amandaaa]

i read the entry you posted about your weight loss, and it sounds like a pretty good plan.

i'm glad it's working for you.

[Amandaaa]

p.s: just out of curiosity, do you have any idea how many calories you're averaging per day?

what are you using to gauge your portions? (or are you just judging by hunger?)

[Amandaaa]

p.p.s.-

I had to work a long time on cleaning my beliefs of these BS beliefs. Now that I have, I have been making a six figure income for years now, and I never had any money to start (was in huge debt actually), I wasn't rich to start, and I never went to collage or university even though I was an A student in highschool.

^thank you sooooo much for posting that. coincidentally, i've been looking for someone just like you for the past few months. (...i was trying to find an example of someone who didn't go to college, but turned out to be extremely successful.)

i'm a college student right now, but there have been times where i've considered dropping everything and trying to start a career now (instead of waiting a few years). and everyone says things like, "yeah, college dropouts get really far in life..." but i know that there are ways to get around it if you have the right mentality and the determination to make it happen.

sooo, anyway... thanks for letting me know that there are more people like that out there. you just proved my point, so thank you.

[Scipio]

Originally Posted by impaul99

Well, I'm on day 8 of my diet plan (Day 13 of my exercise plan), and in the last 8 days I've lost 7.4lbs so far. Not that it's a competition or anything, but I've lost more weight in 8 days than Steve lost on his extreme Raw diet in 13 days.

Of course Steve's diet trial may not be aimed at losing fat, whereas mine is.

Here's what I've been eating if anyone's interested: I lost 7.4lbs in 8 days | HealthyFitGuy.com

I usually lose 15lbs in the first week of dieting. It's from glycogen/water loss, because I have a large amount of muscle. It's normal for anyone who reduces calories to a significant degree to lose what you lost.

What is my secret? Eat less. On any type of diet whatsoever, just eat less and exercise more. I've done it on all sorts of diets.

[impaul99]

Originally Posted by Amandaaa

p.p.s.-

^thank you sooooo much for posting that. coincidentally, i've been looking for someone just like you for the past few months. (...i was trying to find an example of someone who didn't go to college, but turned out to be extremely successful.)

i'm a college student right now, but there have been times where i've considered dropping everything and trying to start a career now (instead of waiting a few years). and everyone says things like, "yeah, college dropouts get really far in life..." but i know that there are ways to get around it if you have the right mentality and the determination to make it happen.

sooo, anyway... thanks for letting me know that there are more people like that out there. you just proved my point, so thank you.

Here's something that might help. Let's say, for example, you want to make a six figure income.

Take all the people who you know what offer you advice. Everyone from friends, to family, to teachers etc. Now, eliminate anyone who doesn't make six figures.

Now, take anyone left over (if anyone) and eliminate anyone who makes six figures or more but doesn't do it in a way you'd enjoy.

Who are you left with? Anyone? If you're like most people, chances are probably not.

I realized a long time ago that I'm not going to become wealthy and make millions of dollars listening to the advice of people who are not wealthy and who don't make millions of dollars. It doesn't mean they don't love me, it doesn't mean they aren't my friends, it doesn't even mean they are bad people or that they don't have my best interest at heart. All it means is that they are offering advice for me to be just like them, and I didn't want that so I didn't listen.

98% of the population is in debt or broke. If you don't want to be in debt or broke, you've got to be prepared to do what 98% of people are not prepared to do. Just my opinion, but that's what worked for me.