Aa
Living healthy paying off?.. doesn't seem like it
So basically, long story short, I had a very unhealthy diet in highschool (I am starting my 3rd year of college now) it was sugar laden, and probably 3500+ calories a day (on average probably 500 from soda). I got a lot of excercise in the fall from a sport, but none in winter and spring (no gym/running). I was 180lbs, a "normal" weight just a bit below "overweight". Now when I started college I ate a bunch of candy because it was so available, and by the end of the first year i was 200. That summer i got a really physically strenous job, and limited my eating because i wanted to lose the weight. By the end of the summer I was 179. Last year I decided to live healthier because I didn't want to gain weight again. So I started living healthier, a lot healthier. I went to the gym often, very much so limited my calories from what it was before (around 2500 from 3500) and cut back completely on fatty and sugary snacks. ( I switched completely to diet drinks from always non-diet before). Here I am 1 year later, having given up sugar sodas I love, and cut back heavily on sweet treats, and exersizing, and I weight 185. I don't understand why i weigh MORE than before (highschool), should I have lost SOme weight? Seem's like its not helping... (and I don't "feel" any healtheir than before, ie I dont' feel more awake or less-weak or less-sick or something). Also, now I am a LOT healthier, I have been getting at least 3 servings of fruit a day and 8+vegettibles a day (from very few before in highschool). Now I just started doing this medhelp.com food tracker so I can really track how many calories I've been eating, I have to say its a bit more than I though, but that just means in highschool it was Way more than I thought. So why haven't I lost any weight? I believe I have gained a bit of muscle mass, but I don't think enough to account for the weight I feel I should have lost (and instead gained). To recap I weighed 180 in highschool, 185 now.
The low fat myth has been exposed long time ago.
The bad wrap given to coconut oil and saturated fats
is just that.
The propaganda was orchestrated in the late 70s and early 80s by the soy, corn and canola corporate farming entities to sell their vegetable oils and margarines to the public.
New research has proven that inflammation from those very same so- called "healthy" vegetable oils are responsible for heart disease.
The genetic modification component effect, I suspect is going to as bad.
Even good carbs must be consumed in moderation.
They still have to be metabolized, even if they are digested and absorbed at a slower rate. If you a good and thorough in research and able to shift through "pseudoscience" and biased studies, you will find that most diseases have a high carbohydrate consumption basis.
The usda food pyramid is not only wrong, but dangerous!
My calories come from 50% fat, 30% protein and 20% carbs.
I'm not suggesting you do the same, but please do your own research.
Blessings
Nikodicreta
The bad wrap given to coconut oil and saturated fats
is just that.
The propaganda was orchestrated in the late 70s and early 80s by the soy, corn and canola corporate farming entities to sell their vegetable oils and margarines to the public.
New research has proven that inflammation from those very same so- called "healthy" vegetable oils are responsible for heart disease.
The genetic modification component effect, I suspect is going to as bad.
Even good carbs must be consumed in moderation.
They still have to be metabolized, even if they are digested and absorbed at a slower rate. If you a good and thorough in research and able to shift through "pseudoscience" and biased studies, you will find that most diseases have a high carbohydrate consumption basis.
The usda food pyramid is not only wrong, but dangerous!
My calories come from 50% fat, 30% protein and 20% carbs.
I'm not suggesting you do the same, but please do your own research.
Blessings
Nikodicreta
COMMUNITY LEADER
You're right - veggies are chock full of carbs/fiber.........
There are 2 types of carbohydrates - complex and simple. Complex carbs are those found in vegetables and whole grains, etc - these are the "good" carbs.
Simple carbs are those found in products made from white flour, sugary treats/sodas, etc, and should be avoided.
Always try to opt for whole grain breads, pastas and brown rice, over white. Opt for fresh/frozen veggies over canned. The closer to "raw" your food is, the better.
3 servings of dairy/day is recommended. It provides calcium which can actually help you lose weight, plus it provides protein to help fill you up and keep you feeling full longer. Dairy also provides vitamin b12 which is essential for energy, and nerve function. Dairy intake can be in the form of cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. Opt for low/no fat versions whenever possible.
There are 2 types of carbohydrates - complex and simple. Complex carbs are those found in vegetables and whole grains, etc - these are the "good" carbs.
Simple carbs are those found in products made from white flour, sugary treats/sodas, etc, and should be avoided.
Always try to opt for whole grain breads, pastas and brown rice, over white. Opt for fresh/frozen veggies over canned. The closer to "raw" your food is, the better.
3 servings of dairy/day is recommended. It provides calcium which can actually help you lose weight, plus it provides protein to help fill you up and keep you feeling full longer. Dairy also provides vitamin b12 which is essential for energy, and nerve function. Dairy intake can be in the form of cheese, milk, yogurt, etc. Opt for low/no fat versions whenever possible.
Wow thank you for such an in depth response. I really appreciate it. I've been wondering if maybe diet soda's aren't the best thing, and it looks like that's just what your saying. I really like to drink something other than water on occasion, I may try to go for unsweetened tea? Also, what does the acid comment mean for my health? Is it particularly unhealthy to have a higher average pH? I actually have had stomach acid problems for a long time (im taking a long term acid reducer "omeprizole" prescribed by a doctor), do you think that might have something to do with that?
I think my caloric intake is sufficient, on days that I spread out my calories. Sometimes I eat too much in one meal and try to wait longer before eating again, and I think those days that survival thing might kick in. But the days im careful to spread out my eating I think I get sufficient calories to avoid that.
On the topic of carbs, I have tried eating a bit more protein and cutting down on carbs and fats, but do you think I should really cut it down a lot? Like what ratio approximately were you thinking? Also, if I cut down so much on carbs how can I mostly eat vegetables? They are carbs and fiber mostly. Are are you mostly talking about starchy (crackers, breads, etc) carbs when you say carbs?
I will take your advice and try using coconut oil in my cooking instead of vegetable. Thanks for the idea! I do tend to eat dairy, I love cheese but I have been really cutting back because of the fat. Now for dairy I mostly drink 1% milk daily and I eat low fat cottage cheese fairly often.
I have not tried meditation or hypnotherapy, I think hypnotherapy might be more than I need, but I might try meditation. I have a lot of stress from hard classes, so that might be really beneficial in that too.
So just as an end note, in response to my question about weight loss, is your response essentially that my carb/sugar + fake sugar intake is whats really keeping me from losing any weight? Since my metabolism is kind of messed up with regards to sugars and carbs from highschool.
Thanks again for your advice,
Justin
I think my caloric intake is sufficient, on days that I spread out my calories. Sometimes I eat too much in one meal and try to wait longer before eating again, and I think those days that survival thing might kick in. But the days im careful to spread out my eating I think I get sufficient calories to avoid that.
On the topic of carbs, I have tried eating a bit more protein and cutting down on carbs and fats, but do you think I should really cut it down a lot? Like what ratio approximately were you thinking? Also, if I cut down so much on carbs how can I mostly eat vegetables? They are carbs and fiber mostly. Are are you mostly talking about starchy (crackers, breads, etc) carbs when you say carbs?
I will take your advice and try using coconut oil in my cooking instead of vegetable. Thanks for the idea! I do tend to eat dairy, I love cheese but I have been really cutting back because of the fat. Now for dairy I mostly drink 1% milk daily and I eat low fat cottage cheese fairly often.
I have not tried meditation or hypnotherapy, I think hypnotherapy might be more than I need, but I might try meditation. I have a lot of stress from hard classes, so that might be really beneficial in that too.
So just as an end note, in response to my question about weight loss, is your response essentially that my carb/sugar + fake sugar intake is whats really keeping me from losing any weight? Since my metabolism is kind of messed up with regards to sugars and carbs from highschool.
Thanks again for your advice,
Justin
Hey jclubb,
Welcome to the forum.
There are 3 things that I detected in your description that
are going against your efforts to lose weight.
1. Diet sodas. Your body cannot recognize artificial sugars, but recognizes the sweet taste though. In this process the body creates a need for more carbs - that were missing in the soda and more- that eventually get deposited as fat.
Also diet sodas are the top acid producing item on the list.
You body's chemistry becomes highly acidic and one common symptom
is weight gain. (1 diet soda to get neutralized, requires 40 glasses of alkaline water)
Artificial means of correcting anything in the body does not work!
2. Your caloric intake might be insufficient.
Lower calories and metabolism goes down accordingly. This is a built-in survival mechanism.
Consuming slightly below what you need, will be more productive.
Aim for 1 lb of weight off per week maximum
There are 3500 calories in 1 lb of fat. So that is 700 calories per day max.
through exercise and lower intake. Varying the ways you approach this is
helpful as the body will not be able to figure it out.
3. Still too many sugars and carbs-your body has probably lost it's efficiency to metabolize carbohydrates ( this started back in your high school days.)
Fructose, whether from fruit or added, is treated the same. Avoid too many fruits for now and stick with more veggies.
Cut down drastically the consumption of carbs.
This may be your biggest problem.
Coconut oil is known to increase metabolism and has slightly less calories than other fats, and very safe to cook with it, as there's no
oxidation when used in high heats, so no inflammation issues.
Also it does not get stored as fat, but used for energy, as long as you provide the activity.
Extra virgin coconut oil is what we use at home and of course extra virgin olive oil for salads and drizzling. Good healthy fats!
Drink plenty of filtered water,do daily physical activity , consume fresh and natural foods with an emphasis on salads and vegetables, fish,and some meat and extremely few cereals, grains and starches.
Eggs are O.K, but dairy foods should be limited.
Avoid anything with the words diet, low calorie, sugar free, low fat etc.
Best, purchase single ingredient food items, if possible and organic
when available.
Meditation and Hypnotherapy are extremely helpful in implementing
positive changes, usually with lasting results.
You will also feel more energized if you implement the above.
Let me know what you think.
Blessings,
Nikodicreta
Welcome to the forum.
There are 3 things that I detected in your description that
are going against your efforts to lose weight.
1. Diet sodas. Your body cannot recognize artificial sugars, but recognizes the sweet taste though. In this process the body creates a need for more carbs - that were missing in the soda and more- that eventually get deposited as fat.
Also diet sodas are the top acid producing item on the list.
You body's chemistry becomes highly acidic and one common symptom
is weight gain. (1 diet soda to get neutralized, requires 40 glasses of alkaline water)
Artificial means of correcting anything in the body does not work!
2. Your caloric intake might be insufficient.
Lower calories and metabolism goes down accordingly. This is a built-in survival mechanism.
Consuming slightly below what you need, will be more productive.
Aim for 1 lb of weight off per week maximum
There are 3500 calories in 1 lb of fat. So that is 700 calories per day max.
through exercise and lower intake. Varying the ways you approach this is
helpful as the body will not be able to figure it out.
3. Still too many sugars and carbs-your body has probably lost it's efficiency to metabolize carbohydrates ( this started back in your high school days.)
Fructose, whether from fruit or added, is treated the same. Avoid too many fruits for now and stick with more veggies.
Cut down drastically the consumption of carbs.
This may be your biggest problem.
Coconut oil is known to increase metabolism and has slightly less calories than other fats, and very safe to cook with it, as there's no
oxidation when used in high heats, so no inflammation issues.
Also it does not get stored as fat, but used for energy, as long as you provide the activity.
Extra virgin coconut oil is what we use at home and of course extra virgin olive oil for salads and drizzling. Good healthy fats!
Drink plenty of filtered water,do daily physical activity , consume fresh and natural foods with an emphasis on salads and vegetables, fish,and some meat and extremely few cereals, grains and starches.
Eggs are O.K, but dairy foods should be limited.
Avoid anything with the words diet, low calorie, sugar free, low fat etc.
Best, purchase single ingredient food items, if possible and organic
when available.
Meditation and Hypnotherapy are extremely helpful in implementing
positive changes, usually with lasting results.
You will also feel more energized if you implement the above.
Let me know what you think.
Blessings,
Nikodicreta
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