Anyone else trying to lose weight or get healthier?

[MrFluffyandGirls]

I think you might have meant C and, yes, that's what I do. I do it because it's the only thing that quiets the insane cravings I have for food. I do it because I can make it a routine that supports me.

I had a particularly hard time getting started this time. It took me about 3 years. But, previously I did if for 3 years and lost 50 pounds and had a much more calm and focused life.

Once I get my body balanced and my food urges under control it's simplicity itself.




Can't say I know what Contrave is. Can you tell us more about it? Beyond Contrave (which I take to be a med of some kind), what kind of plan do you follow? What kind of food choices?




Carbs are horrible, insidious, delicious things! I'm glad you put them behind you and had such great results. I have to eliminate them too to be free of cravings and able to make better food choices.




Congrats!!! How did you do that? How did you identify the GMOs in foods? Were GMOs the only thing you eliminated?




I've been fat since I started kindergarten so it's tough for me to relate but Dr. Michael Mosley who pioneered intermittent fasting did it not because he was fat but because he developed diabetes. He talks a lot about thin "fat" people whose body fat is internal and just as damaging to health even if it's not apparent.

But, of course, you'll have to decide what's right for you. And I would imagine just beating the sugar demon would make a big change for you. Sugar is one of the very worst foods on absolutely every authority's list. So good luck tackling the sugar demon!!




Good for you! That sounds like what I call white knuckling it and it's HARD so if you can do it my hat's off to you!

Contrave is a diet pill. It supposed help with compulsive eating disorders like binge eating.
I eat healthy and well because being in a Asian family from Okinawa we typically eat healthy. It's when I go on a binge and loose control I can seriously eat anything I get my hands on and then some more. Menopause and fibromyalgia has not helped. I used to be athletic in my my younger days and never, even after having many children had a weight problem so it's been hard for me mentally. I weigh more now than when i was 9 months pregnant with any of my children. I won't even mention what I weigh now; To be sure more than I should,
But I'm going to get my butt in gear and get it under control before it effects my blood pressure or gives me diabetes. I think the intermittent fast you talked about might be something I can handle. I'ma look more into it. Thanks!

 

[IamRainey]

So sorry you're afflicted, MrFluffyandGirls! Compulsive eating is a terrible thing that takes over your life.

Losing weight is great but getting past those insane cravings is what I'm really after. Eliminating all starchy carbs -- even the "good" "healthy" whole grains -- and fasting is what works for me. I also have had to eliminate a lot of other foods that I love but can't stop eating too. Nuts, cheese, dairy in general. And now I'm wondering if I have to cut out beans too.

It's all a big experiment.

 

[CapricornFarm]

July 1st of this year I had gastric sleeve surgery and it’s been the best thing for me. So far today I am down 70 pounds, 5 pant sizes and 2 shirt sizes and love it. My diet is pretty much only protein but smaller portions which sucks sometimes but it’s all good.

Congrats, it's a long road.

 

[IamRainey]

Tell me more about fasting, please. Are you allowed beverages? I live in the South where it's hot, so I tend to drink a lot of tea. I know if I quit smoking after 40+ years I can do the weight thing to. I just never had to before, so I have no knowledge and though I realize not everything works for everybody there is a lot of info/diets/plans/lies/crapola out there.

Here's another doctor describing the pros and cons of intermittent fasting and providing some explanation along the way in quite an entertaining manner.

He's an MD who was, himself, obese and really changed his life by fasting. Despite being a big fan of fasting I think he's very open minded and research based in the way he presents options.

Besides the video above he has a whole inventory of them on topics like what to eat when you're fasting, the health effects, carb restricted eating, how to exercise when fasting, etc. I've just discovered him and I've gotten a ton of useful info from his videos.

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

Here's another doctor describing the pros and cons of intermittent fasting and providing some explanation along the way in quite an entertaining manner.

He's an MD who was, himself, obese and really changed his life by fasting. Despite being a big fan of fasting I think he's very open minded and research based in the way he presents options.

Besides the video above he has a whole inventory of them on topics like what to eat when you're fasting, the health effects, carb restricted eating, how to exercise when fasting, etc. I've just discovered him and I've gotten a ton of useful info from his videos.

THANK YOU!

 

[Sunshine_Chick]

Michael Mosley can explain it better than I can. He popularized the concept.

Here is a link to his original video on intermittent fasting. It's about an hour but it's full of research information and personal stories that explain and support the "sense" of fasting.

Since that time he has a new program that incorporates keto dieting for even faster results for people who can eat 800 calories a day. Can't say I'm really fully versed on this approach but I did watch a series of videos he did illustrating the principles in 5 individuals. Here's a link to the first one. If you want to see the other 2 I'm sure YouTube will supply them as well.

I do intermittent fasting because I can't control my appetites. It's easier for me to not eat at all than to limit what I eat. Like that 800 calories per day thing. I don't think I could ever do that. But when I fast, I clear out whatever it is -- CARBS, no doubt -- that gives me insane cravings that keep me from being able to do anything but eat or think about food. I'd hate for anyone to know of the countless times when I struggled with genuinely feeling hungry at 30 minute intervals when I was eating 3 times what a normal person ate in a day. But when I make fasting a regular part of my routine I can eat sensible healthy kinds of foods, eat them until I'm satisfied and still manage to burn some fat and loose some weight.

The conventional plan for intermittent fasting is to eat only 800 calories for 2 days a week and eat sensibly for 5 days. That's what my husband does. I fast completely because that's what I can manage. I drink quarts and quarts and quarts of plain iced tea all day on fast days and food days. My husband spreads his fast days out. I do mine consecutively. Meanwhile, if you google "intermittent fasting" you'll find many different ways people do it.

When I did it once before I stayed on my program for a couple years. I lost 50 pounds and went from size 22 jeans to size 10. I also never felt better in my life. I'm hoping to get back to that point. I'm feeling pretty successful so far.

Let me know if you want to know more.

Can you give an example of your "eat food" day? I think I'd have to be like you & not eat on the fast days. I've been reading & watching what you've mentioned & posted - its informative!

 

[IamRainey]

Today is the day I record my progress for a week. I've been on 5:2 for 5 weeks and on 800BSD for 2 days.

I lost 4.6 pounds last week but I think that's distorted by the fact that I only lost 1 pound last week. Anyway, I've lost 13.2 pounds since I started.

Can't really see changes in my body but I'm down a jeans size and when I'm pedaling on my stationary bike I can feel that I'm pushing less pendulous belly around. (Sounds awful! And it is, but it's true and I'm glad there's less of it.)

 

[IamRainey]

Can you give an example of your "eat food" day? I think I'd have to be like you & not eat on the fast days. I've been reading & watching what you've mentioned & posted - its informative!

On my food days I don't eat breakfast. I don't wake up hungry -- never did -- so I don't make myself eat breakfast. For lunch I had (I'm greatly reducing this now that I'm trying to do 800BSD) a HUGE salad with a protein like garbanzo beans, salmon or hard boiled eggs. Picture what you'd serve a family of 6 and that's what I ate every food day. I have an enormous appetite and satisfying it helped me stay on track. For dinner I had a largish saving of protein (meat or fish) and big servings of 1 or 2 veggies.

I didn't snack. I tried to have my lunch between noon and 2 and dinner between 7 or 8. This is actually another form of intermittent fasting called 16:8 which means that you fast for 16 hours a day and eat within an 8 hour period. I got my support from the 5:2 forums.

This can be tough to nail at first but if you work at your fasting for a week or 2 you'll find you don't get as hungry and the routine will really begin to support you over time.

 

[Ab1010]

I think half of the world is trying to loose weight right now lol. Im not big by any means but I used to be super fit and and a great weight. Now.. i have a little extra wiggle. Covid is hard. Everytine I feel motivated i can't go to the gym. Everytime I start doing home work outs i get past the pint of body weight doing anything for me. And definitely feel you guys on the binge eating.. i get a craving and it's done lol i just hit 30 so my metabolism has really changed. Doesnt help i have chronic pain and bad hypermobility. Im only allowed to do certain work outs.

 

[IamRainey]

I've had a stationary bike, a treadmill and a Pilates Reformer taking up space in our family room for years. Every once in a while I'd use one or more of them. They've really come in handy since this lockdown! I'm gonna come out of this less vulnerable to the virus and better than ever!

I started lockdown in my pajamas all day. Now I'm in workout clothes all day.