Lose weight by eating less?

[TaylorLord]

Now I am not one for diets, I think they are short lived and not very unstable but I figured out a way to loose weight that works for me. I started this new "diet" and so far I have lost about 6 pounds, I know that doesn't sound like much but it’s only been about 2 weeks since I started. It’s not really a diet per say, its more like a conscious lifestyle adjustment. It’s a way to get back to eating like we were intended to. For the soul purpose of energy and nutrition. Nothing more nothing less.

The diet in theory is easy. There’s no exercising involved and you can eat whatever food you want, it doesn't cost anything (it actually saves you money). The only thing is you have to do is watch your portions and be conscious of when your body is hungry and when your body is satisfied. Now I will tell you, you have to have self control if you want to try this. Don’t even consider it if you can’t control yourself. I will tell you after the initial week it gets easier.

I posted up a detailed article on my blog last night all about it if you want to find out more. Read it and then leave some constructive feedback on your thoughts of the diet and let me know if you are going to take on the challenge with me. You can find a link to the article in my signature below or you can go here.

[this is fun]

I've read your article and in my opinion this could be a good start for someone who overeats regularly, so psychologically it wouldn't represent such a drastic change in terms of cutting out all your favourite foods.
Ifsomeone eats only hamburgers (okay, I'm exaggerating) or junk food, cutting their food intake by 50% could be a good start, but then they should move on to other changes as well. If you want to adopt a healthy lifestyle and not 'only' lose weight quickly
From what I know it's not only about how much calories you take but what kind of food these calories come from.
You lose weight if you burn more calories (consume less food), muscles burn calories, so I think exercise would benefit you here as well. And you should have 5 or 6 smaller meals to speed up your metabolism.
But I guess your strategy depends on what your goal is.

[DoctorB2B]

Is exercise taboo on this forum? This is the second post in less than a week talking about exercise not being needed for health .... you can't talk about eating how we were intended to and then in the next breath talk about not exercising which we were also intended to do. We are fully mobile creatures with exponential energy stores waiting to be used, so for gods sake ... use your body in the way it was intended!

Calorie restriction is not always key to losing weight ... you have to be careful not to enter a state of starvation due to lack of nutrients. Should this happen, you're body will utilize whatever muscle you have before it lets go of it's fat stores. You're 6lb loss was water, which is always the first big drop people experience when a shift in diet occurs, especially one where calories are deprived. Muscles are full of water, when you restrict calories, you lose muscle and the water that was in them as well ... I promise within a month, if you choose not to exercise, you will hit a huge wall and get frustrated and return to your old ways.

Feel free to eat, but EXERCISE ... in time you can even add a few more calories to supplement the loss of nutrients lost in exercise.

[TaylorLord]

Very interesting takes on this, thanks for the feedback!

This is fun; I completely agree with you, this is a perfect thing for people starting out. I noticed from doing this, ive already kind of strayed away naturally from even eating junk food so that’s a plus! I believe it takes time but if you stick with something you are bound to get some results.

Thanks Doctor, in no way do I condone to no exercising that’s for sure . I guess the reason I stated no exercising because I meant not at first just to show that this works without doing so. Especially if you are one to really over eat like I am.

This diet isn't about not eating it’s about not stuffing your face and so far I’ve had great results. And one other thing to note this is an experiment the results could be mediocre but if they work they work. If you read the article fully you will realize near the bottom of the article I state that after the initial weight loss I consider exercising if desired. I know I will be doing so. Thanks guys/gals!

[chrisrushton]

I like the theory. Sits nicely with my current 6 meals a day "diet". As with anything though, just because you don't HAVE to exercise, doesn't mean you shouldn't.

I should probably write up my diet + theory to my blog.

[ginkgo]

I think that you meant to say sole (only) purpose instead of soul purpose like your spirit or soul food. I think that most people can benefit from eating less. This is the only proven way to live longer. This is the most common spelling mistake. You lose weight so your clothes will be loose, not loose weight so your clothes will be lose.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by DoctorB2B

Calorie restriction is not always key to losing weight ... you have to be careful not to enter a state of starvation due to lack of nutrients. Should this happen, you're body will utilize whatever muscle you have before it lets go of it's fat stores. .

This is a myth that people hear and then repeat. Hereward Carrington, M.D. wrote a book called Vitality, Fasting and Nutrition. He says "fasting is a scientific method of ridding the system of diseased tissues, and morbid matter, and is invariably accompanied by beneficial results....The whole secret is this: fasting commences with the omission of the first meal and ends with the return of natural hunger, while starvation only begins with the return of natural hunger and terminates in death."

Natural hunger is the body saying that it is time to stop the fast. In starvation of animals and people (in real life, not in imagination) the adipose tissue (fat) stores are lost first before the body starts to consume the lean tisssue (muscle). This is the purpose of extra fat on the body. It is a source of concentrated energy.

[TaylorLord]

See I believed this to be true aswell gingo, that is what I was going for in this diet. To eat less that way my body goes after my fat that has been stored over the years.
Gingo, Have you undergo any sort of eating less in your personal life? And if so what was your results?

Oh btw thanks for those spelling corrections I need to remember those

[this is fun]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

In starvation of animals and people (in real life, not in imagination) the adipose tissue (fat) stores are lost first before the body starts to consume the lean tisssue (muscle). This is the purpose of extra fat on the body. It is a source of concentrated energy.

But I don't think TaylorLord was actually talking about fasting, he says he's just eating less. If by fasting you mean only consumption of water/liquid etc not solid food? So if someone is eating let's say 800 calories a day, do you think in that case as well the fat cells are the first to go? Because I've seen many people on such restrictive calorie intake, they seem to lose weight in terms of pounds/kilos, but they lose a lot of muscle as well. And more often than not, their metabolism slows down and they have this yo-yo effect.

[Daffy Duck]

When the body enters "starvation mode," it starts eating proteins, muscles, and eventually organs. If the body is using fat, it's not in starvation mode yet.

Either way, starving yourself is NOT the healthy way to lose weight. A sensible diet and exercise is best. Most Americans need to "eat less," indeed. Less crap. Less McDonalds. Less KFC. Less microwave 1-minute dinners.

[TaylorLord]

amen to that daffy, starving yourself is not the way, being conscious of what you eat and how much is much more effective as well as a good start.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by TaylorLord

See I believed this to be true aswell gingo, that is what I was going for in this diet. To eat less that way my body goes after my fat that has been stored over the years.
Gingo, Have you undergo any sort of eating less in your personal life? And if so what was your results?

Oh btw thanks for those spelling corrections I need to remember those

Well I read a great deal. That is why I have quotes from 19 different MDs on my site on fasting. I have always been thin and muscular, but I have fasted for 21 and 18 days on only water. Also I eat very little food compared to others. They found that the average American eats 7 times as much food as the average Chinese person. Fat people in China is a rare thing.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by this is fun

But I don't think TaylorLord was actually talking about fasting, he says he's just eating less. If by fasting you mean only consumption of water/liquid etc not solid food? So if someone is eating let's say 800 calories a day, do you think in that case as well the fat cells are the first to go? Because I've seen many people on such restrictive calorie intake, they seem to lose weight in terms of pounds/kilos, but they lose a lot of muscle as well. And more often than not, their metabolism slows down and they have this yo-yo effect.

Well with water fasting, it is perfect. There are no variables no matter how many people do it. On juice fasting, the same thing happens. If someone ate an 800 calorie a day diet with very healthy foods, like raw foods, the same would happen since this is what a healthy body does.

My site on fasting explains that your body is not out to screw itself. It does what is best for the body, but it is you that screw up the body. Most of the time the body is overfed and undernourished. Now if you get 800 calories from food made by man (junk food) that is designed to make you fat and sick, then your body will not operate the way it is supposed to. It may lose muscle, keep fat, become diabetic and grow cancerous tumors on this diet.

Say you ate 800 calories a a day from only bacon or from only gummy bears. Who knows what will happen, but it will not be good even if you are limiting calories.

[James81]

Originally Posted by DoctorB2B

Is exercise taboo on this forum? This is the second post in less than a week talking about exercise not being needed for health .... you can't talk about eating how we were intended to and then in the next breath talk about not exercising which we were also intended to do. We are fully mobile creatures with exponential energy stores waiting to be used, so for gods sake ... use your body in the way it was intended!

Calorie restriction is not always key to losing weight ... you have to be careful not to enter a state of starvation due to lack of nutrients. Should this happen, you're body will utilize whatever muscle you have before it lets go of it's fat stores. You're 6lb loss was water, which is always the first big drop people experience when a shift in diet occurs, especially one where calories are deprived. Muscles are full of water, when you restrict calories, you lose muscle and the water that was in them as well ... I promise within a month, if you choose not to exercise, you will hit a huge wall and get frustrated and return to your old ways.

Feel free to eat, but EXERCISE ... in time you can even add a few more calories to supplement the loss of nutrients lost in exercise.

Lol So true.

People act like losing weight is some mystery. And it's not. It's VERY simple:

Calories in < Calories out

Voila! You lose weight! It really is that simple.

Your body needs a certain amount of calories in a given day to function, so you can only cut out so many calories (that is, eat less) before you start doing actual damage to your body.

So, the key, then, is exercise.

Thing is, people don't want to hear that. They don't want to hear that they need to work out for an hour a day to lose weight and get into shape. Why? Because their beliefs aren't congruent with that lifestyle.

At some point, you have to decide that in order to healthily lose weight, you're going to have to get up off your butt and exercise. And to make that experience enjoyable, you have to have a shift in your beliefs.

Nutrition has very little to do with weight management. Nutrition has more to do with health and vitality, the functioning of your body. Weight management comes from exercise. Period.

[ginkgo]

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

When the body enters "starvation mode," it starts eating proteins, muscles, and eventually organs. If the body is using fat, it's not in starvation mode yet.

Either way, starving yourself is NOT the healthy way to lose weight. A sensible diet and exercise is best. Most Americans need to "eat less," indeed. Less crap. Less McDonalds. Less KFC. Less microwave 1-minute dinners.

There is no such thing as a starvation mode in medical literature. It was just made up by somone and kept spreading. A business sent out a notice that if you see someone driving at night, with their lights out, do not flash them. They will then follow you and kill you. I saw this notice, but it is an urban myth. Someone made it up. People do not get their information from reading a book by a medical professional.

They just pick it up from a friend or on a forum. If you are not getting enough calories then the body will get it from fat. Then when the extra fat is used up it will consume muscle from the least crucial areas. Then when that is gone, the body goes after vital organs. But it is not a mode. The body is still in it normal mode which is survival.

The myth also states that by not eating enough food and calories, then you hold on to your fat and will get fatter and fatter. The body stores fat just for the situation when it cannot get enough food or calories. Each gram of it has 9 calories whereas carbs and protein have only 4 calories per gram. It is just like putting away money for a rainy day. It would then be stupid that when that rainy day comes you do not use that money when that is what it is there for. Extra fat is for when there is a famine. It gets the extra fat when there is a feast.

[craftyjake]

This sounds very similar to Paul McKenna's weight loss system.
I truly believe that one must listen to their body to achieve maximum results. That means not attempting to restrict anything, and that includes carbs, water, or fats!

Paul's steps are simple
1) Eat when hungry
2) Eat what you want
3) Enjoy your food
4) Stop when full

Too many people don't listen to their bodies! Your feelings and sensations are your body's messages to you! Listen!

[James81]

Originally Posted by craftyjake

This sounds very similar to Paul McKenna's weight loss system.
I truly believe that one must listen to their body to achieve maximum results. That means not attempting to restrict anything, and that includes carbs, water, or fats!

Paul's steps are simple
1) Eat when hungry
2) Eat what you want
3) Enjoy your food
4) Stop when full

Too many people don't listen to their bodies! Your feelings and sensations are your body's messages to you! Listen!

My body seems to enjoy smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Thanks to Paul McKenna, I think I'll keep doing it.

[DoctorB2B]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

There is no such thing as a starvation mode in medical literature. It was just made up by somone and kept spreading. A business sent out a notice that if you see someone driving at night, with their lights out, do not flash them. They will then follow you and kill you. I saw this notice, but it is an urban myth. Someone made it up. People do not get their information from reading a book by a medical professional.

They just pick it up from a friend or on a forum. If you are not getting enough calories then the body will get it from fat. Then when the extra fat is used up it will consume muscle from the least crucial areas. Then when that is gone, the body goes after vital organs. But it is not a mode. The body is still in it normal mode which is survival.

The myth also states that by not eating enough food and calories, then you hold on to your fat and will get fatter and fatter. The body stores fat just for the situation when it cannot get enough food or calories. Each gram of it has 9 calories whereas carbs and protein have only 4 calories per gram. It is just like putting away money for a rainy day. It would then be stupid that when that rainy day comes you do not use that money when that is what it is there for. Extra fat is for when there is a famine. It gets the extra fat when there is a feast.

You're right ... there isn't a medical term known as starvation mode, however it should be noted that I spend 12-15 hours a day within the realm of a medical textbook or two and/or a hospital and did not acquire my knowledge from a friend or the interwebz so the information I do have is relevant and correct.

To say that the body enters starvation mode is incorrect on my part, however this isn't a medical forum full of doctors or medical personnel so it's easier to put things in layman's terms so forgive me.

During a period of drought/starvation/famine whatever you want to call it, the body WILL utilize muscle tissue first. This is fact, not urban legend. Never will I be quoted as saying that you will get fatter and fatter during a period of starvation however you will not drop an exponential amount of fat during a short period of severe calorie restriction ... over time yes and this condition will be then diagnosed as anorexia nervosa.

The human body wants to retain fat ... it provides warmth, shock absorption, and energy properties that muscular tissue doesn't provide. Yes, per gram it has a higher energy output however it is for this reason that the body will retain it ... for the long haul. The body doesn't recognize potential length of drought/famine/starvation, it only recognizes that it is in the state currently and needs energy from something immediately which comes from muscle.

What I have said is that calorie restriction is an awful idea for the above reasons. Fasting however is a wonderful idea and necessary for the elimination of accumulated toxins. However, during a prolonged liquid fasting period, the body will take the same actions as a period of starvation. It will utilize muscle before fat. Yes, some fat is burned during each of the processes but more muscle more so.

Also, please leave personal examples out as they don't really pertain to the population as a whole, i.e. most on this forum. To say that you fast for periods of time, eat little compared to most and are thin and muscular doesn't say much due to the many factors to name in play ... namely metabolism and genetics.

[Lena Carpenter]

I agree with this approach. Over the last couple of weeks of keeping a food journal, I realized that I overeat on regular basis. There is a point, where I feel satisfied, but will keep on going until I feel like I've had a little too much. I'm not overweight by any means and it's certainly not astronomical amounts that I consume, but I can still feel that my body is nourished before I stop eating. I think eating slowly is also a good idea, so you can listen to what your body is telling you. I focus more on eating my fruits and veggies, but I suppose this approach will lead you to eat more healthfully, since it leads you to be more conscious of the way you are eating. You DO feel better or worse, depending on what you just ate, and if you pay attention, it's inevitable that you start eating healthier, as a result.

[DoctorB2B]

Originally Posted by Lena Carpenter

I agree with this approach. Over the last couple of weeks of keeping a food journal, I realized that I overeat on regular basis. There is a point, where I feel satisfied, but will keep on going until I feel like I've had a little too much. I'm not overweight by any means and it's certainly not astronomical amounts that I consume, but I can still feel that my body is nourished before I stop eating. I think eating slowly is also a good idea, so you can listen to what your body is telling you. I focus more on eating my fruits and veggies, but I suppose this approach will lead you to eat more healthfully, since it leads you to be more conscious of the way you are eating. You DO feel better or worse, depending on what you just ate, and if you pay attention, it's inevitable that you start eating healthier, as a result.

Ding ding ding ... we have a winner. Again ... it's not calorie restriction it's taking time to listen to a body that will talk to you and let you know what's going on.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

My body seems to enjoy smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Thanks to Paul McKenna, I think I'll keep doing it.

Listening to your body and listening to your addictive voice are two different kinds of listening.

[Kaybee]

I think losing weight by eating healthier - mixed with physical exercise- is the best approach.

I've tried a few 'fad' diets in my day and they are not good for sustainable progress. Granted, implementing a exercise routine can be difficult but here is how I did it. Breaking Bad Habits


Good luck with progress.
Kim
Self Improvement and Motivation

[James81]

Originally Posted by Angela

Listening to your body and listening to your addictive voice are two different kinds of listening.

To the overweight person, food IS an addiction.

[TaylorLord]

Wow I am overwhelmed with the feedback from this thread! Such great conversation going on! It seems that there is obviously several ways to go about loosing weight and as most of guys stated exercise is very important combined with a nice healthy diet.

I am a firm believer in variation and I know there are several ways to do things, but I believe its gotta fit right with your lifestyle. You shouldn't ever believe anything or do anything without a firm trial and experimentation so get out there and try some things for yourself!

Personally I am going to stick with the way I wrote up the "diet" for now as it is working I really feel good and that's all that matters ! It may end up failing a month from now but that's the fun of it! Keep low expectations for possibly high results !

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by ginkgo

If you are not getting enough calories then the body will get it from fat. Then when the extra fat is used up it will consume muscle from the least crucial areas. Then when that is gone, the body goes after vital organs.

Yes, that is what I said.

We're playing semantics at this point, but just to clarify:

The highlighted part in bold is what I, and many others, refer to as "starvation mode."

Yes, technically your body is *always* in survival mode. And yes, the words "starvation mode" may not be in most or any medical dictionaries. However, a lot of doctors still use the term. Here's one, for example. Even sites like Webmd.com will sometimes use the term in their articles. Whether or not the term is in a medical dictionary doesn't change the fact that many people use and understand the term.

Originally Posted by ginkgo

People do not get their information from reading a book by a medical professional.

Go to Amazon.com, search for "starvation mode," and see the truth for yourself. Tons of those crazy M.D.'s (who obviously get their information from a forum or friend, not med school) are using the term.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

To the overweight person, food IS an addiction.

Sometimes. And as I said, listening to your body and listening to your addictive voice are two different things. It's often the conflict between the two that causes so much pain.

It's the same with smoking. Have you picked up Alan Carr's book yet? Do you understand what the addictive voice is? Carr calls it 'The Beast."

[James81]

Originally Posted by Angela

It's the same with smoking. Have you picked up Alan Carr's book yet? Do you understand what the addictive voice is? Carr calls it 'The Beast."

I told you that I read it already. About a year ago. Lot's of great info in that book.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

I told you that I read it already. About a year ago. Lot's of great info in that book.

So you remember The Beast? For someone who is addicted to food (NOT the cause of all overweight), The Beast is saying all kind of things in the addict's ear, and the authentic body messages get drowned out.

So, for instance, when you say your body enjoys smoking a pack a day, I think it's likely that it's your addictive voice saying that. Your authentic body messages are something else entirely than enjoyment.

Same for the person who eats addictively -- it's easy to believe your body is saying, "I need nourishment!" when The Beast starts up its trickery.

Paul McKenna's work is aimed at tuning more into the authentic body message, so that you can hear it over all the clamor of the Beast.

"The Clamor of the Beast," -- I think I've got the title for my new book.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Angela

So you remember The Beast? For someone who is addicted to food (NOT the cause of all overweight), The Beast is saying all kind of things in the addict's ear, and the authentic body messages get drowned out.

So, for instance, when you say your body enjoys smoking a pack a day, I think it's likely that it's your addictive voice saying that. Your authentic body messages are something else entirely than enjoyment.

Same for the person who eats addictively -- it's easy to believe your body is saying, "I need nourishment!" when The Beast starts up its trickery.

Paul McKenna's work is aimed at tuning more into the authentic body message, so that you can hear it over all the clamor of the Beast.

"The Clamor of the Beast," -- I think I've got the title for my new book.

Ha ha, ok ok.

My body also enjoys unprotected sex. Maybe I should listen to that voice more often, eh?

(that was my original point...listening to your body sounds good, but sometimes your body wants thinks that aren't the best for you given our current society)

[Angela]

Originally Posted by James81

... sometimes your body wants thinks that aren't the best for you given our current society

Sure! Or given other circumstances in which you'd want to have more choice. The unprotected sex example is a good one. That sounds like it might actually be authentic body talk; you "hear" it, and then you get to choose, "hmm, shall I indulge my genetic impulse to procreate and the accompanying pleasure, or shall I consider the possible consequences and choose a condom or abstention?" (hopefully you don't say all that out loud. )

I think it's important to learn to recognize that sense of authentic choice, as opposed to being run by habitual thinking. For anything you want to get good results in, not only healthy weight and nonsmoking. Those are just really excellent ways of getting good at making choices so that you can apply them in other, more complicated areas of your life where you are disguising choice.