Weight Watchers

[Ms Thrifty]

Some great advice from a nutritionist which I hope Mr G will endorse and which I think worth sharing:

"There is plenty of research to show that if you feed one group mostly fatty food, and another group mostly carbohydrates, it is the fatty food group which loses weight – even though both groups have eaten the same number of calories. This is good news to anyone who enjoys eggs and bacon or plenty of butter on their (good quality) bread or vegetables, but bad news for food manufacturers who make vast profits from sales of sugary frosted cereals, instant porridge or low fat margarine.

The Government has been telling us to eat less fat (to save our waistlines from expanding and arteries from clogging) for the past 30 years. The result of following this advice is clear to see. It hasn’t worked; we have got fatter. This then begs the questions – “What if the low fat message is wrong?” By eating less fat, we automatically eat proportionally more of something else – usually carbohydrate.

However, this carbohydrate no longer comes in the form of potatoes, oatmeal, carrots, beans, lentils and barley, but as highly refined sugars and processed starches. These are added to obvious foods such as fizzy drinks, ice-cream, breakfast cereals and biscuits, and also to pasta sauces, soup, baked beans, fruit yogurts and as a thickener in low fat margarine!

If you try to steer clear of meat, milk, butter, eggs, Brazil nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, olive oil and mackerel because of the fat they contain, maybe it is time to try something different?"

I hasten to add that if you read this carefully, you will see that it isn't a licence to eat fat; rather, it is explaining why the focus on avoiding/reducing fat and sugar intake may not work.

[valda]

sounds like the Atkins Diet n'est pas?

[Ms Thrifty]

I'm not sure as for one thing I'm not familiar with Atkins and for another, I think this is more of an anti-diet message. I think what the nutritionist meant was that it's better not to avoid or focus on any particular food type but to have as varied a food intake as possible. If there is a "do" or "don't" message I think it's a case of trying to eat fewer processed (and adulterated) foods, but of course that isn't always easy or practical.

[Diane65]

I'm with you on this and I don't believe in taking supplements (unless you have a medical condition) as you shouldn't be missing any essential vitamins or minerals if you have a balanced diet.

Says me who is eating a bag of maltesers as we speak, I'm sure that there are plenty of the B vitamins in the malt extract which is enrobed in the chocolate. Vitamin B is water soluble hence I should have a bag a day (MrGlass will probably recommend bran/high fibre breakfast )

I promise that I will be good next week.

[Octopus]

I used to do something that made me lost weight slowly but surely (like -2/3kgs a month for the 2-3 first months as it changes the body's habits, then it stagnates). It's simple and not really a 'diet', there's no deprivation or anything. It's more for people who, maybe, have the 'yo-yo' habit, puting on weight/losing weight easily, as this scheme turns into a habit and is not violent for the stomach/body/mind.
I haven't read the whole topic so I guess these kind of advice has already been given... but, well...

It's just about following a scheme, chosing your food according to the time of the day:
- eating what you want at the breakfast (preferably including a fruit or fruit juice)
- eating starchy food, vegetables (with meat/eggs/fish if you like it) at lunch + dairy product as dessert - as you need energy for the afternoon
- eating only salads, soup and/or vegetables on the evening, with a fruit for dessert. No starchy food, no fat meat (fish is ok), no cakes or anything. Do not go to bed with an empty stomach, it's not good at all. But you need to feel light and not hungry anymore.

I cook a lot vegetables like cabbage ('burns' fat), courgets, French beans, as they're low kcal. And I always use olive oil to cook instead of butter or margarine. Less fatty. (boiling is great too) (wait, do we say 'boiling'?) (well, you see what I mean)
No savory/sweet snack after 4pm, only fruits etc after that if you feel hungry! If you don't really like fruits, it's ok, you can always find a way to bring them into your life try to pick things like banana crisps if it's not too fatty.
And, sincerly, I happen to eat chocolate if it's not too fatty either - but usually I take black chocolate. If you're careful, you'll notice that, for a few brands, black chocolate is fatter than milk one. Yet, as it's bitter, I just eat like four squares and that's it, while I could eat a whole milk chocolate bar within an hour (ok, within 30min).
Oh, and if you follow this carefully and feel like it's working, you can go to Burger King or restaurant etc every other week, that's fine :)

I try to eat about 1800kcal/day instead of 2000. I check snacks packagings and can calculate approximately what I eat but I'm not a control freak. It's not about weighting food, becoming maniac, but just checking quickly if you feel like you need to.
Well, on that last point, that was MY decision as I am curvy and try to find the body I used to have 2 years ago so I can't really say it's good for you or anything

And of course, exercising!
For those who don't like it - like me - walking is great. I usually try to walk at least 3 x 1h a week, and of course, if you can avoid transports, don't hesitate to WALK. It has a slimming effect on legs, it's good for your bum, breathing, and heart.
Plus abs and buttocks exercices 3-4 times a week too.
I do series like 10 push ups, 40 abs, 2x10 buttock exercise, 10 push ups, 40 abs, 2x10 butt. exercise. And then I faint (nooo, jk). It's good to do it for at least 10min, actually.
Well, I used to that, now I feel like a big cow lying in bed who eats non-stop.

Of course you could do it everyday, but for those who are not used to exercising a lot and who stop easily, it's important not to force the body and not to do lots of efforts for a while and do nothing for weeks as you'll gain more weight.
I think it's more for people who just want to take the control of their body, lose progressively and feel better. Definitely not if you want to lose 6kgs within a week. It's a habit to take, not a diet.

I tried the cabbage-soup diet once (can't remember the name), then lost 3kgs in 5 days, and realised how dangerous it could be. Plus I gained back those kilos in two weeks. Useless

Anyway. Don't know if it'll help anyone, but I must say that writing this made me realised I really need to do it again.
2012 resolution

[Octopus]

Oh, actually meant steamed vegs. (is that correct?)

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Oh wow, great conversation goin on here and yeah damn right I fully approve of Ms Thrifty post. Eliminate refined food as much as possible, natural fat is good for you, it serves as a protection for our body. Its all about balance of protein, good fat, and carbs. But dont stress over what you eat, just eat as best you can and complement with exercises for a healthy lifestyle. I would like to post more on a bit later as I gotta rush to see a film preview. Was gonna run but there's a bloody storm out there!

Keep healthy!

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Octopus, you have an awesome lifestyle to aspire too, you have set a tremendous example. my journey was similar to yours. obviously, my physical activities are more intense but i have different more sportsman like goals. But principally we follow the path to healthy living lifestyle goals. I really look forward to reading more posts from you. well done!!

[Octopus]

Octopus, you have an awesome lifestyle to aspire too, you have set a tremendous example. my journey was similar to yours. well done!!

That's really nice of you, I try to eat a bit of everything and put 'good food' back in my life... I just wished I REALLY had this lifestyle these days
(I have a bowl full of fudges, eclairs, jelly beans and chocolate that I've been progressively emptying for a week...)

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

You are also very speedy with yout fingers as i editted my post straightaway, lol.