C-Brats biggest loser

As mentioned above, portion control is very important, and you cant save it up. That is you cant go light for several meals and think that justifies gouging later. One change we have made is to never eat family style at home. We put a portion on our plate in the kitchen and that's all we get. When we eat out we always divide the serving in half and take half home. I know this was said by Bill and El above. Just reinforcing it, mainly to me.
 
Bill and El, I agree with the general statements. However, if one is overweight (as I still am), AND one doesn't exercise much AND one is eating poorly, a combination of BOTH eating less/more sensibly and exercising more will result in weight loss which (if you're already overweight) will generally improve one's health. I'm about 5'9" - 5'10" and around Christmas I was about 207lbs. At least 35lbs of that was excess fat. Converting that excess to muscle was not really the best answer. Burning that fat off was.

However, it's pretty clear to me that dieting/"starving" oneself does not work as your body adjusts it's metabolism to hold onto as many calories as possible if it's hungry. Hence, the biggest change I made was to change what and WHEN I was eating it. Now I always eat a good breakfast and I eat fruit and veggies almost continuously throughout the day. I eat a fairly small dinner, I eat far less carbs in the form of bread and crackers, far less sugar, fat less fat, and far less "snack food" (my snacks are mostly fruit). I haven't given up my wine, I eat less cheese and I don't allow myself to carry any food up to the bed room (where I used to watch TV and chow down). The exercise took 2-3" off my waist and increased my endurance tremendously.

For people like you two (who would slip through a crack if you turn sideways), you're 100% correct. However, for people like me (who could be pushed through a gaping hole with plunger), I think it's too easy to pretend that weight loss is not important. Also, for people like me who were/are mostly sedentary, exercise is not only important in general, it's half the key to weight loss.

Finally, you are 100% correct in pointing out that the important part isn't what we lose in the short run but what we keep off in the long term. The SBS in 2009 is still quite aways away and I think that weight loss between now and then is a pretty good indicator of a somewhat long term commitment. However, I'll do as you suggest and provide another award for anyone in the game who show up at the same or lower weight at the SBS in 2010. Those of us in the game at present are definitely increasing our likelihood of making it to the SBS 2010 if we develop AND maintain some good eating and exercise habits.
 
Another way to look at it, some people eat for pleasure (me) and some for survival (the late Johnny Carson). My plan is to try and do the later...but with healthy choices as well.

Thanks for the advice El and Bill.
 
Roger --
Good on ya! You have made (and are holding to) a critical lifestyle change and that will make all the difference in your overall health -- and for good health, "a combination of BOTH eating less/more sensibly and exercising more will result in weight loss which (if you're already overweight) will generally improve one's health." Virtually all medical science will agree with your statement. All we are suggesting is that exercise alone (unless extreme) won't cause significant weight loss, and is, for most folks (including the fitness crowd), a much less significant factor in weight loss than the "health spas" would have you believe -- it IS, of course, significant in maintaining good health.

We are all what (and how much) we eat, and there ain't no way around that. And, as we both agree and studies confirm, 'dieting' rarely works -- it's the lifestyle change that is significant -- " biggest change I made was to change what and WHEN I was eating it." We're all friends hanging out in this pub, and you are doing a great favor for all of us with your challenge -- we all want to be around to enjoy each other and our boating for as long as possible -- and creating some competition amongst the gang -- for those who see the benefit and can accept the challenge -- is a great way to help achieve it. Thanks.
 
I'll create yet another set of awards for the percent body weight loss too.
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Patty here. If one knows 2 factors, one can figure out the third. In other words % lost x original weight = pounds lost. So knowing the percent and pounds lost will give you the starting weight, and as you know, I'd prefer not to reveal that. So while in the long run I could win for percentage lost, I'll have to hope the pounds will do because that's all I can reveal.
 
Exercising Does promote weight loss for a number of reasons. 1. Exercise gives you more energy which in turns makes you more active which burns calories. Weight lifting for example tears down muscle and causes it to grow stronger which causes calorie burn during the resting period. Exercise increases your metabolism which uses calories even when you are not exercising. Of course eating properly is important also. Exercise also has many other benefits. Perhaps the most important would be keeping blood pressure down. There is another important benefit which those that don't lift weights would not be familiar with. When you tune into your body and it needs additional nutrition , your body will start to crave healthier foods. Generally when we eat foods we dont need it is because we have lost touch with our bodies.

good luck everyone..

ryder
 
Pat Anderson":3ppys8e2 said:
I'll create yet another set of awards for the percent body weight loss too.
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Patty here. If one knows 2 factors, one can figure out the third. In other words % lost x original weight = pounds lost. So knowing the percent and pounds lost will give you the starting weight, and as you know, I'd prefer not to reveal that. So while in the long run I could win for percentage lost, I'll have to hope the pounds will do because that's all I can reveal.
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That's fine - as I said I will create ANOTHER set of awards for percent weight loss. Given that I also said I'd have a special award for the females who will only state weight lost and not actual weight AND since you are (at present) the only female in the game, the odds are high that you will win something... :wink: Given that the award for 1st place in this category is a massage at Nordstrom, I thought we'd have more takers. Of course, everyone who changes a bad habit or two and starts living a healthier life "wins" regardless of whether they win an award in this game.
 
Pat Anderson wrote:
Patty here. If one knows 2 factors, one can figure out the third. In other words % lost x original weight = pounds lost. So knowing the percent and pounds lost will give you the starting weight, and as you know, I'd prefer not to reveal that. So while in the long run I could win for percentage lost, I'll have to hope the pounds will do because that's all I can reveal.
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I respect your decision. This reminds me of a comical situation (to the men) when I was in my SCUBA class a couple years ago. We had one female. As we were getting fitted for wetsuits and weights, the instuctor said take 10% of your weight and add 5 pounds (for the tank) as a starting point. He then began asking each of us how much lead weight needed from across the room so he could make up the combo needed. When he asked her, she said "oh no you don't, no way, we'll have a private consult on this..."! She is an attorney.
 
El and Bill":3r4eshyt said:
OK - this might be controversial, but maybe educational, too.

Hypothesis: Exercise is a lousy way to lose weight

OK - fitness guys, jump in.

Exercise is vital to good health. It's great for the cardiovascular system, and a pound of muscle is sure better for us (and our appearance) than a pound of fat. So, nothing against being fit -- quite the opposite, we're strong believers in the value of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

But -- not to lose weight -- unless you plan to walk the Appalachian Trail or run a marathon every week. Look at facts: (from Mayo Clinic)

"The prevailing belief that since a pound of fat (when burned) gives off 3,500 calories and since running or walking a mile burns 100 calories, a person should lose a pound for every 35 miles. In other words, if a previously inactive person starts running or walking five miles a day, that person should lose a pound a week, all other things being equal.

Not so because this estimate fails to subtract the number of calories that a person’s body would have used had it just sat still for those hours. Rather, for a 154-pound person, the net caloric cost would be 54 calories per mile when walking up to 3.5 miles per hour, 97 calories speed-walking at 3.5 to 5 m.p.h., and 107 calories jogging or running."

Here's a chart from Mayo:
Activity and speed -- Body weight 160 pounds 200 pounds 240 pounds

Jogging, 5 mph -Calories burned/hr 584 -------728-------872

Walking, 3.5 mph ----------------------- 277------- 346-------414

So, how does one lose weight? Reduce your caloric intake

When you come home after that one hour of jogging, feeling smug and self-righteous, and 'treat' yourself to a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast (slathered with butter and jam) you've just blown the weight benefit of the exercise. Have a Big Mac meal for lunch, and you'll be jogging all afternoon and into the night to equalize those calories.

The previous post has great ideas, and all we'd add is don't expect the exercise to do the trick for you. If you want to win Roger's contest, we'd suggest you also do the following (from Mayo Clinic):

1. Eat sensible food portions (portion control) Portion control is often underestimated. In fact, the trend toward larger food portions gets much of the blame for the growing number of overweight people.

2. Discourage overeating by placing only the appropriate servings of food on dinner plates (preferably no larger than 8 in. diameter), rather than put serving bowls on the table.

3. Don't eat second helpings.

4. When eating out, ask for a takeout container. Save part of the meal for another time.

5. Split a meal with your spouse or friend.

6. Don't feel as if you have to clean your plate.

These are lifestyle changes for most of us.

The myth (to make some folks rich) is that you must go 'on a diet' -- and how many diets are there? Studies have proven that folks who 'diet' to lose weight, relax after reaching their goal and then proceed to add 10% to their original weight. Go on a diet twice and see what that does to the average person's weight. Follow the ideas above, change your life style, and cut those calories and you'll lose weight.

So, Roger, we applaud your 'contest' but have another suggestion: Double the prize for who keeps off the most weight one year after the end of this year's contest.

We have been taking a nutrition/cooking class from South Denver Cardiology Center (my cardio doc is the cooking instructor!) and it is great to get the scientific take on weight loss. We're not entering Roger's contest because, since staying strictly with a (life-style change) heart healthy diet (and exercise) since last spring, we have (as a side benefit) lost almost 10% of our weight.

This discussion is about weight loss, but perhaps there could be another (if folks are interested) in healthy diet -- and weight loss would probably be a result.
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Comments and advice excellent but for me exercise in losing weight is more for reducing the nervous munchies and in the process the improvement in physical condition and health leads to a better mental outlook which helps in the self discipline needed for a life style change that results in weight loss. Without exercise my nervous disposition will have me eating to much of even the best of healthy foods.

After age 40 I found without an exercise routine either through work naturally or what was needed to maintain a fitness for an endeavor I wanted to do my weight would climb. And since passing 50 and no longer involved in the more extreme physical pastimes and getting into boating for work off time, I have found it personally impossible to either lower or maintain my weight at a desired healthy level without a exercise routine.

Jay
 
See the post under "A Serious Health Issue" after tomorrow night for another element in weight maintenance as we age. Sneak Peak ( decrease in metabolism = increase in weight = add in some aging = a serious sleep (whoops that cold be slip) disorder.

National Sleep Awareness Week Mar 3-9, 2008

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Jay and Ryder --
Good points -- certainly agree that exercise has a strong mental, physical and psychological component that helps one maintain resolve for overall health and weight loss. And if that helps reduce the need for 'munchies' or internally points one to good nutrition -- that is a significant factor and may be critical for an individual.

Higher caloric 'burn' or metabolic increase resulting from exercise is certainly good and promotes weight loss and body health-- but that naturally increases your appetite, and if you're not "in touch with your body" and you simply increase your consumption of food, you may have no net benefit regarding weight loss.

Bottom line? Your weight is determined primarily by what (and how much) goes into your mouth. Other factors can influence that, and exercise is an important one, as is a mirror or a scale or thickness of wallet or social life or hours of sleep or stress at work or ...

Whatever works for each of us individually is important -- but, critical to remember that what we eat or don't eat is the central topic -- other factors influence (and may control) that.
 
Well - it has happened once and will soon happen regularly. What you ask?

I woke up a <180 lbs this week. I anticipate that I will be regularly below 180 by about Thurs of this week (there's a little fluctuation from one day to the next). I'm now running 6 or so miles per day and have my 6 mile time down to about 58 mins and 20 seconds. My original goal was 175 lbs but that was so unfathomable in late Dec. when I weighed 208 lbs, that I couldn't consider a lower goal. Now that 175 is within reach, I decided to shoot for 165 lbs which is actually better for my height (5' 10") and frame.

So as of today, I am down about 28 lbs from when I first started and about 6 lbs from when I started the biggest loser contest here. How's everyone else doing? Any reports?
 
Well you got me beat Roger, and congratulations!! That scale can put a big smile on your face or a big frown. I've been working hard at it, but slipped a couple of times in the past few days (St. Patty's didn't help with a corned beef and cabbage lunch special at work).

I can't even run 1/2 mile without dying, but have stepped up my exercise routines, now 4x per week plus volleyball started last week, 1x per week. I'm averaging about 1/2 pound or less per week. Doesn't seem like much considering the exercise and eating about 1/2-3/4 what I used to (except for that St. Patty special... :sad )
 
Congratulations, Roger!

28 lbs is a lot of weight to lose and less capillaries to have your heart pump blood through! Has your blood pressure and heart rate decreased a lot?

I'm sure you feel even better than the loss of 28 lbs improves your appearance!

I can't lose any weight until I regain the ability to walk more than about 50 yards at a time. Will have steroid injections in my back next Monday and two weeks thereafter, then hip replacement surgery after that. Hopefully won't have to have any back surgery that will interfere with the Neah Bay Fishing trip in August!

Wish I could run with you!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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