What is your diet lifesyle?

[mini-natty]

Hello everyone

Just curious to know what everyone's diet lifestyle is. Vegetarian? Vegan? Clean Eater? Low Carb? Paleo? Gluten-Free? Weight Watchers?
What do you find are the benefits/challenges of your diet? Who has tried several different diets? What were your results (i.e- weight loss, higher energy levels, clearer skin, better sleep, more muscle definition ect.).

An interesting topic everyone can chime in on

[nkhansen1]

You already know I'm vegan. That's no meat, dairy, eggs or other animal products. I was vegetarian for years before made the transition. My body always felt good, but it felt incredible when I started eating only plant-based foods. Seriously amazing! My skin has this glow and rosiness to it, my IBS disappeared, I don't have stomach cramps or painful gas anymore, I sleep soundly... I just feel light and strong snd clean inside. It's fantastic. My husband and children are also vegan, and they will tell you the same thing! The only thing I use that is not vegan is the honey in my bread recipe. I can't find a better alternative, and I'm okay with that.

[Fit_mommy]

I've been following Weight Watchers online since mid April of 2011 and it's the best decision I ever made! I lost 10+ pounds and dropped body fat on it and it was so easy to do!

I've done calorie/macro counting, calorie staggering, cleaning eating, low carbing, number crunching with the HR monitor, etc...I basically tried it all at some point. Most with no luck. I did lose weight once with calorie staggering but that's a PITA to keep track of. WW is so much eaier IMO. Much more doable for the long term and that's what I need.

These days, since joining WW, I basically just try to eat a relatively healthy low fat diet. I get to enjoy the foods I love (in moderation) and still reach/maintain my weight and fitness goals. No foods are completely off limits and I love that! What's helped me a lot since joining WW is finally learning to love to cook. I've become quite the chef in the kitchen. Making more home cooked meals more then ever before and it's made a big difference! It's delicious and fun to do, keeps me motivated and most importantly it keeps me out of the restaraunts! It's even made food shopping less tortorous and that's BIG for me!

Bottom line is that I am lighter, leaner and more defined then I've ever been in my life and it was all thanks to WW! I've been working out for years but never looked like this because I could never find a good balance with food. Now I have finally found one and don't ever plan to give it up!!!

[Epcot Chick]

I do Weight Watchers, too. I think a lot of people think it's about eating Smart Ones and processed food, but you can make it whatever you want.

I am a vegetarian and I get most of my protein from legumes. I also get most of my carbs from veggies. I love tracking my food and activity using double digits, it makes my life a little easier. I have an online membership. I have lost 11 lbs since the end of Oct, but I believe it's coming off slowly since I don't have a lot to lose. I am also doing STS, so I think that may have stalled my losses, but not the way my clothes fit me.

I have everything in front of me. If I want to see what I ate the week I had a nice loss, I can check it out. I can check out the progession of my weight loss through graphs. I can also see how I've used my points through out the day. I love that I have so many tools at my disposal.

I just wish they had more recipes for vegetarians that weren't pasta based. But I look for vegetarian recipes on the internet and plug them into the recipe builder to get my points per serving that way.

Oh, and when I stopped eating meat a couple of years ago, my adult acne cleared up.

[mayumiH]

Hello to everyone

I am new to this forum, but not new to Cathe. This is my first post

I was born and raised in Japan, but have been residing in the USA (Connecticut) for about 20 years now. My way of eating has always been Okinawa based. This is the lifestyle I grew up on and this is the lifestyle I still participate in. All my relatives and friends who are still living in Japan, are extremely healthy with no serious illnesses. I have seen many relatives live to the wonderful age of 100, dying not of Cancer, heart attack, stroke or any other life-threatening disease, but just of old age. We live a very peaceful, active life and respect our bodies and what food we consume to keep us healthy, youthful, rejuvenated, cleansed.

People often ask what my secret is, since many think I look much younger than my present age of 40. I often tell them to research the Okinawa lifestyle as I refuse to call it a diet. It is something you must be willing to accept as part of your life forever. I am a Pharmacist, and many customers with Celiac Disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, acid reflux, come to me for advice, as they do not often want to be prescribed medication and would prefer a more holistic approach. I have seen many of these cases drastically improve and even eliminated, as they adapt to the Okinawa lifestyle.

Health & happiness to all,

Mayumi

[RapidBreath]

Over the years I have tried everything.

Starting from the beginning:

Age 11-21 Low Fat vegetarian, vegan for the last two years. But, definitely not clean by any means, lots of processed soy, slim fasts, and canned food. I drank a lot of diet soda. It caused me terrible problems with my reproductive system, I developed hypoglycemia, interstitial cystitis, and insulin resistance. In spite of very active lifestyle, I became extremely obese.

At age 19 I was put on the pill for the hormonal issues and endometriosis.

At 21 I developed beef cravings. I added meat back into my diet. I went away to school and in spite of counting calories, I continued to gain weight. I did discover Bilberry. It cured my interstitial cystitis. I also discovered using yam (not sweet potato.) to treat hypoglycemia, it was recommended by a Chinese doctor. I also gave up all Diet sodas, because it turned out that it was the aspartame giving me headaches, the acids making my bones brittle, and the caffeine also making the bones brittle. All of that was very bad.

Age 22: I transferred home with a terrible case of pneumonia. It almost killed me. I was not sleeping well, or taking care of myself. I used to skip sleep for 3 days because I didn't understand that sleep was just as important to brain function as studying. I'm sure my adrenals were shot.

Age 26: I really didn't know what to do about the dieting. I topped out at 258 on graduation day from university. I broke my foot in so many pieces that they couldn't count the pieces. My appetite dwindled to absolutely nothing. The only two things I could stomach were Sprite and Little Debbie' snack cakes, just 1 or 2 per day. Of course, I lost a lot of weight. I was also required to drink milk to help with the bone repair.

In the fall of that year, I went to work at Walt Disney World. I was up to eating one or two diet frozen meals, a splenda based ice cream bars, and still drinking Sprite. That fall I lost 48 pounds without restricting calories intentionally. I was very active because the day job required approximately 25 miles of walking.

Age 27: I came home to CA after I finished my WDW internship, and my diet was pretty much the same. But, without the activity level, I did put on some weight at that time. I continued to eat diet foods. Anything labeled diet was what I ate. I moved to LA to work in the film industry. I lived with a room mate that had a baby, and I did a lot of baby sitting. That involved a lot of walking, the little one loved to go out in her stroller. I lost some weight.

Age 29: I came home to northern CA, after discovering that I really preferred it up here. I put on weight. I really didn't know why. I went to the Dr. and discovered I was insulin resistant. So, I had to change my job because the extreme hours were killing me, literally. I used to work 20 hour days, 6 days/week in extreme conditions. I gave that up so that I could live.

In the fall, I had jury duty. I was forced to be in a room with free donuts all day. I was active everyday. But, I discovered that I just couldn't resist donuts once I had had one. Its like alcohol to an alcoholic. I put close to 40 pounds in one month.

It was at that point that I decided that I wasn't going to take it anymore. I bought a bathroom scale. I created a list of foods that seemed to produce weight loss. And, I didn't look back. I was listening to a podcast called 'The Reasonable Diet' in February. Sandra Ahten's idea that you didn't have to be perfect and that you just had to be pointing in the right direction, was the key for me. She also said, 'Just don't do what causes you to gain, and you will make progress.' At that time, I really wanted to be attractive. I wanted to find someone to love. I was very embarrassed by my body. The PCO causes terrible androgenizing. I had been mistaken for a man! It was awful.

In that first year, I was counting calories, working out in the AM before breakfast, and weighing in everyday. I journaled. I lost 48 pounds.
Then I hit a plateau. I discovered calorie/carb cycling and Cathe! Over that next year I lost another 30 pounds.

Anywhoo, my gynecologist advised me to go on a low carb diet for the PCO cause which is insulin resistance. It did help with the insulin issues. But, I put on weight on induction phase of Atkins! Gah!!! And I developed kidney stone with a kidney infection in 2009. I don't think that the diet was to blame, I was eating all foods that had a high urea content, and high protein diet. I have learned now that I must be careful with myself.

Ok, so the antibiotic saved my life but it did put 6 pounds on my frame, and it did give me a terrible case of IBS which ate my villi (the little hairs in your intestine.) I was actively ill for a year where I couldn't eat anything, I couldn't digest anything. The dr. said that it would take 2 years. And, well it did. I did not lose any weight eating very little. If anything. it probably damaged my thyroid and metabolism terribly. I went gluten free at that time. In the spring of 2010 I discovered Ganeden's probiotics, kefir, triphala, and marshmallow root. I was able to heal my villi.

In the fall of 2010, I went on a very clean diet designed to rehabilitate my body and metabolism. I ate 4 meals per day, 400 calories each, perfect balance of vegetables, fruits, and protein and fat. I did not lose or gain a pound. I was running and doing Cathe workouts. I did not eat any ice cream or cookies.

In the spring of 2011, I went back to my calorie cycles, thinking that I would lose weight. I didn't. Again, I didn't lose or gain a pound over 6 months. I was still counting calories and doing all my workouts.

In the summer of 2011 I met a diet guru who recommended more carbs. Lets just say this has back fired. I also went back on gluten at that time. I added pineapple, a food that I love, but I am now suspicious that I gained from it. I put on about 13 pounds.

2012: Sigh, so here I am. I have at least 44 to 64 pounds to lose. I am in the fight to win it, I am eating cleaner. I am on a different diet that I found on 180 degree health, Matt Stone's blog (no, not the artist, the blogger.) called RBTI. I don't worry about Brix. I don't worry about my PH. But, I am finding some success with the meal timing. I think of my diet as a work in progress.

Now this is how I eat:

No soy: impairs thyroid function
No corn: always makes me plump!
No trans fats: bad for your cholesterol.
No canola oil: Omega 6 based oils make me gain.
The only nut I really eat is walnuts, they are full of omega 3 fatty acids.
I only eat organic dairy. The lipid profile is different.

I eat lots of vegetables, fruits, healthy fats including organic coconut oil,
I time my meals with a carby breakfast (small) before my cardio, then a big meal with vegetables/protein. Dinner is a lower fat, low carb meal of vegetables.

I was able to lose 3 pounds in January (this month.) following this diet. I do still have some organic ice cream, occasionally a cookie. I've been playing with adding a lot more vegetables because of family members presenting with sclerosis issues (MS). I watched that video with Dr. Terry Wahl, its a Ted Talk. She recommended a diet more rich in plant food.

I know that my body has been put through the ringer, so I'm very interested in taking good care of myself. I like the paleo style diet, but I do eat steel cut oats. I'm not GF, but if I'm eating whole foods, that often happens by default.

I don't know that any of that helped, I guess what I'm saying is that low fat is no good, too much protein didn't work, lots of omega 3s do help, lots of healthy vegetables are good, I do plenty of cardio, yoga (revs up the metabolism.), and I prefer cardio/weight circuits rather than a split like 4DS. My biggest recommendation is that you watch how foods effect your own body. Keep a journal with weight, food, and stress level in it. You can see how the food effects your body. Then, its a much easier choice to make when you know what will happen. Don't be afraid to try an elimination diet to see if you have a food sensitivity. Those can stall weight loss.

[FitChick25]

I do the Primal Blueprint (a version of Paleo, but encourages more fat intake than traditional Paleo). I love this eating lifestyle. Since I've eliminated wheat and grains from my diet, I've noticed my body completing transforming. I am still not perfect with it - I have my weaknesses and I definitely use the 80/20 rule (good 80% of the time, not so good 20% of the time). But my energy levels are much more stable and my muscle definition is the best it's ever been, and I'm hoping it continues to improve as I get better with eating "clean."

What's amazed me the most is how I thought I used to eat healthy, and now when I look back on it, I was not at ALL. I used to eat those 100 calorie packs thinking it was so much better than other "bad" snacks, but it's all the same thing when you break it down. Now that I stick to whole foods and almost no processed sugar or grain, I realize how much better my body functions eating the food nature intended it to eat!

I have noticed, though, that I need to scale back on the frequency of the high-intensity cardio though. I only do cardio 2 days a week now (maybe 3, depending on time/energy), and do strength training the other 3-4 days.

[janiejoey]

Paleo Diet and Exercise

My Trouble: I have GERD, a digestive problem big time. The struggle with GERD is amazingly hard and very confusing on what to do. I can't tell you how much of a struggle of having GERD symptoms I've had to deal with. I truly didn't know what I was going to do about my life. I know I couldn't stand it to much longer and was thinking maybe an operation to rebuild the esophagus might help. But there is no guarantees. My doctor and I are corresponding closely and she always recommends pills which my body can't tolerate. It only makes things worse.

Results: I told my doctor since I've been on the Paleo Diet and a rotation for exercising, how my GERD symptoms are diminishing. Can sleep on my side now. Don't have to take pills that my body won't take anyway. I'm losing weight! Feel like I'm on top of the world. Have lots and lots of energy. My skin is soft and smooth, the skin tags are going away. My outlook on life is wonderful! I can't wait to get up in the mornings to see what the day will bring me. Also my doctor recently told me to continue on the Paleo way of eating.

Janie

[mini-natty]

Originally Posted by nkhansen1

You already know I'm vegan. That's no meat, dairy, eggs or other animal products. I was vegetarian for years before made the transition. My body always felt good, but it felt incredible when I started eating only plant-based foods. Seriously amazing! My skin has this glow and rosiness to it, my IBS disappeared, I don't have stomach cramps or painful gas anymore, I sleep soundly... I just feel light and strong snd clean inside. It's fantastic. My husband and children are also vegan, and they will tell you the same thing! The only thing I use that is not vegan is the honey in my bread recipe. I can't find a better alternative, and I'm okay with that.

Natalie,

Since I have been doing 2-3 VEGAN (not vegetarian)days per week, I have been noticing that my pants are feeling a bit looser . I did not weigh myself, but I just felt "lighter". It's so much easier & cheaper to eat this way too, and I have been finding myself increasingly frustrated prepping meat & having to de-contaminate my entire kitchen for fear of Salmonella. I just told my DH (venting while my hands were covered in raw chicken juice---sorry if this grossed you out) that if I just would have used beans, life would be so much easier. He rolled his eyes.

Question for you, how long can you keep tofu in the fridge once it's out of the package? I hear so many different answers on the net. It's firm not silken.

[JT]

My diet lifestyle is roughly 2 meals a day unless I crave after a Cathe workout. I watch portion size more than anything else. In the 1970s, I was a vegetarian until my freshman year of college which I ate salads mostly and dropped the freshman 15 instead of gaining it although I had a BK Whopper for the first time.
Right now, I allow myself to eat beef up to three times a week with chicken or turkey. Also, I try to stay away from white flour or anything that has it in.
Honestly, I like to eat. Being peri-menapause for a very long time, losing weight and maintaining it is a continous battle.
Also, my house never has cookies, ice cream or chips forcing me to drive and to think about what I wil be eating.