The official diet and nutrition thread

[Bo Diddley]

Good job, DH. Sounds like we've taken a similar approach.

[Donuthole]

I have been using the last couple of months to figure out my corporeal homeostasis. I want to see what I burn in a given day without dedicated exercise. I got up to 15 lbs heavier than i've ever been as of late April (218 lbs, if you must know). First time in my life I've ever not fit into some of my clothes. However, after having seen several close friends and family members on the weight rollercoaster over the course of my life, I am of the firm belief that exercising your way back to fitness is a bad idea. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that exercise is bad. But I think intense exercise as a primary means of burning calories for weight loss does something to your body that just messes it up. And because most people can't maintain the same exercise regimen once they are back down to size, they balloon again. And with a now effed up metabolism, they gain even more weight.

Since getting up to 218 lbs, I got a fitbit to track my calories burned and have limited myself to around 1800 calories a day. This is really not particularly difficult for me if I cut out snacking. I don't eat breakfast--haven't had the appetite for breakfast for over a decade--and 4 out of 5 days I find it pretty easy to work through lunch. So I have some diet soda and water throughout the day, and I consume my 1800 calories between 5pm and 9 pm.

Doing this for 2 months, I lost 21 lbs and got down to 197. Zero exercise, unless you count golf. For the last month, I've hovered between 200 and 195, depending on water weight. July 4 holiday didn't help, as I gave myself my first "cheat" day. Pretty sure I crushed 3000+ calories. Essentially it is very easy to stay on my restricted intake M-F. Saturday is pretty easy if I keep myself busy. Sunday is a nightmare. I can easily ingest 2500-3000 calories without thinking if I'm not careful on Sunday.

I'm going to continue this through the end of July just to see if I've finally hit homeostasis, and then I'll start working in some exercise. I'm probably going to 3x a week hit 30-45 mins of Zone 2 of heart rate training (180 minus age, plus or minus 5). We'll see what a month of that does to my weight loss if I stick on my same caloric plan.

[Scott R Nelson]

After seeing some discouraging numbers on my scale just a week ago, I'm within one pound of my weight goal this morning. So close.

However, my daughter just arrived last night with her husband and four kids - teenage and almost teenage. And their favorite activity is eating. It's going to be tough to keep from gaining back a few pounds before they leave.

[Green Monstah]

I’m up to 260lbs after getting down to 220 a few years back while doing keto. I recently have been seeing an endocrinologist and he has suggested a whole food plant based diet. He is very anti keto. I have looked at the info he gave me and have tried some of the recipes but I don’t think I can do it. I love veggies and beans and greens, but I just don’t think I can go without meat. I need to figure something out though. 260 is the most I have weighed.

Because of gout, I’ve gone periods of time with very little meat. Something that helped me is to tell myself I’m doing a plant based diet. That way I felt I was eating far more vegetables and legumes, but didn’t feel like I was blowing up the whole thing with some meat every couple of days.

[Pelado]

I’m up to 260lbs after getting down to 220 a few years back while doing keto. I recently have been seeing an endocrinologist and he has suggested a whole food plant based diet. He is very anti keto. I have looked at the info he gave me and have tried some of the recipes but I don’t think I can do it. I love veggies and beans and greens, but I just don’t think I can go without meat. I need to figure something out though. 260 is the most I have weighed.

As long as you only eat animals that eat whole foods, then you're good to go.

[Drunk Tank]

I’m up to 260lbs after getting down to 220 a few years back while doing keto. I recently have been seeing an endocrinologist and he has suggested a whole food plant based diet. He is very anti keto. I have looked at the info he gave me and have tried some of the recipes but I don’t think I can do it. I love veggies and beans and greens, but I just don’t think I can go without meat. I need to figure something out though. 260 is the most I have weighed.

[Bo Diddley]

Down 10 since the last time I stepped on a scale (which was pre-quarantine...I'm pretty sure I packed on five more from March to June), so potentially down 15.

My wife and I are committed to following the Clean Simple Eats program. Some of their stuff is better than others, but a lot of it is actually pretty tasty. My sugar cravings are finally gone, which is nice. We've only been doing it ten days, but the change in nutrition plus 90 minutes of pickleball 3x per week is starting to pay off.

Atta boy! Here's to doubling down to another 10/15.

It was a force of will to stay away from sugar when I started this. After a few weeks, I started treating myself once per week. I feel like I'm in a good place.

[Green Monstah]

Down 10 since the last time I stepped on a scale (which was pre-quarantine...I'm pretty sure I packed on five more from March to June), so potentially down 15.

My wife and I are committed to following the Clean Simple Eats program. Some of their stuff is better than others, but a lot of it is actually pretty tasty. My sugar cravings are finally gone, which is nice. We've only been doing it ten days, but the change in nutrition plus 90 minutes of pickleball 3x per week is starting to pay off.

[Jeff Lebowski]

This morning I'm down 20. I'm thinking 10-21 more to go, but that all depends on how much muscle mass I gain in the meantime.

I'm still mainly reducing caloric intake, but not as strictly as at first. I've also upped the cardio now that my Achilles tendons are getting past all the reconstructive nonsense.

[Bo Diddley]

This morning I'm down 20. I'm thinking 10-21 more to go, but that all depends on how much muscle mass I gain in the meantime.

I'm still mainly reducing caloric intake, but not as strictly as at first. I've also upped the cardio now that my Achilles tendons are getting past all the reconstructive nonsense.

[Pelado]

That's too bad. Even if the Army wont have you, I've read that it can be reversed with diet and exercise.

Yip. My A1C is back down to where my doctor isn't concerned. If I can keep it dropping, I'll no longer even be in the prediabetes range.

[Bo Diddley]

Well, I appreciate all the kind words of encouragement, but in my further research into getting back in I have read that people like me and Wilford Brimley can't get into the Army. So much for that.

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That's too bad. Even if the Army wont have you, I've read that it can be reversed with diet and exercise.

[Copelius]

Well, I appreciate all the kind words of encouragement, but in my further research into getting back in I have read that people like me and Wilford Brimley can't get into the Army. So much for that.

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[Jeff Lebowski]

Bo got me thinking pretty seriously about getting back into a uniform. Sitting 258 right now and needing to get to 186 by next February. I have run a couple calculators and I will be right up against it to get 20 good years by age 60, but it'll give me something to shoot for. I will check in every week or so to give myself some accountability. Let's see if I can get it done.

You go! You can do it.

[Scott R Nelson]

But I have been miserable throughout the whole process.

My way hasn't been "miserable", so I'm thankful for that. But the weight does not come off quickly. And as I've already mentioned, it looks like some of the changes to my diet will have to continue for the rest of my life.

It seems that exercise and diet changes need to be permanent for me.