Soooo cofusing

[katia7]

There's so many different diet plans out there, which makes me think.. since ALL of them work, is it basicly just calories in vs calories out?

I mean some say you have to eat proetin at every meal, others say vegetarian is better, some say to avoid dairy, others say dairy helps with weight loss. Some say limit carbs, others say limit fats.

Also with foods to eat... ofcourse I'm not planning on eating cookies and expecting to lose body fat, but I've read that some say that even whole grain cereal and whole grain bread should be avoided because it's too processed, as well as deli meats. Then there's those that say to limit fruit, carrots, and tomatoes because they're high in sugar.

I thought I was understanding why we need to eat protein at every meal, but whenever I try that my digestive system isnt happy with it.

I know that everyone is different. But what are the basics rules that one should follow in order to lose body fat? I know that whenever I just count calories I lose weight (and size), but I'm not sure if I'm losing muscle along with it?

Then there's hunger.. some say that it's natural to be hungry when you're losing body fat (since you're burning more calories then you take in), others say that if you're hungry you're not eating enough.

My head is spinning!!!

 

[wendymin72]

IMO going hungry is not good. If you choose healthy foods and you get adequate exercise, you shouldn't have to go hungry in order lose the weight...

Yes, there are many ways to adjust your diet to lose weight...I think it pretty much comes down to personal preference on which one you choose to follow...

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05

 

[dananmis22]

I hate diets. I loathe the word! I don't believe in them at all. I understand why are you so confused. Diets make billions of dollars a year, and everyone has their own idea on how to get a piece of it, and they all contradict each other.
I can tell you how I have lost weight, and am happy because I am full and enjoy life! I just want to let you know that I am not a nutritionist, though I would love to be someday....
All you need to do is eat balanced meals, including unproccessed (because they will still have nutrients)complex carbs that includes fruit and grains, veggies, protiens (nuts, legumes, lean meat) and I even think it is okay to have a piece of cake every now and again. You just have to do things in moderation. Taking out a whole food group does more harm than good. I also eat food in their most natural state.
When you feel hungry, go ahead and eat! You need food to fuel your body, especially if you are working out. Just make sure you filling your cells with food that is good for you.

 

[fitchick1716]

Katia - The mixed messages are extremely confusing. I used to drive myself crazy wondering whether or not I should or shouldn't be eating this or that.

One day I had a sudden realization that the answer is pretty simple: no food should be completely off limits. As long as you make a better choice MOST of the time, you can make a few not so good choices every now and then. For me, it's choosing a snack of carrots & cucumbers or fruit instead of opening up a bag of chips or cookies. Or choosing a salad at a fast food restaurant instead of a sandwich and fries.

I like to think of it this way: carrots may not be as great of a choice as broccoli but either of them are better for me than a big slice of chocolate cake. If I am willing to eat carrots, they have lots of vitamins and some fiber so there's no reason to beat myself up over it, even though they may be a little higher than broccoli on the glycemic index.

This has worked pretty well for me so far. My current eating plan revolves around lean protein, unlimited amounts of vegetables and fruits, no more than one starchy carbohydrate per day (normally brown rice, whole wheat pita bread or oatmeal) and a couple of treats throughout the week (one or two free meals where I eat whatever I want). It works for me. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to find a plan that you'll actually do.

Hope that helps.

 

[kathryn]

I also hate the idea of a "diet" (as in regimen meant to promote weight loss). "Diet" also means simply "what one eats or how one eats."

I think that eating foods that come from nature (no "non-foods" created in a lab!), and avoiding processed foods (that have been "denatured") works. Your body craves real nutrients and real foods, and no matter what kind of "diet" (to lose weight) you are on, if it consists of "unreal" foods (like Slim Fast Shakes), your body may not be satisfied.

In general, I'd say get good carbs (primarily vegetables, with whole grains as well), sufficient protein (12-20 percent of your diet), and good fats (not oils, not animal fats, but the fats that occur naturally in foods like nuts, avocados, olives, etc.).

Another thing I don't like about "diets"(to lose weight) is that they may work in the short run, but many of them don't teach people to eat well normally. "Picture Perfect Weight Loss" (several books out) is an excellent reference, because it teaches you what choices you have for a certain number of calories. It also has a lot of pretty (and yummy looking pictures) of good foods.

 

[katia7]

Thanks for replying
So basicly it's abotu calories and avoiding processed things? Doesn't matter how much protein/carbs/fats I'm consuming?

When you say "balanced," what do you mean by that? Do I have to have protein in every meal? Or would something like a bowl of soup and whole grain bread be OK? Would whole grain bread or whole grain cereak be considered processed?

Thank you
Katia

 

[katia7]

Thank yo
So 12-20% of protein is OK even if you workout? I think that would work soooo much better for me. Usually, unless I really count, my diet is pretty low in protein (maybe 50g if that), but I read so many times that we need protein in order to gain or even keep muscle.
Then I also read this article about how carbs raise insulin levels which prmote weight gain ... ???

 

[dani21496]

>I hate diets. I loathe the word! I don't believe in them at
>all. I understand why are you so confused. Diets make
>billions of dollars a year, and everyone has their own idea on
>how to get a piece of it, and they all contradict each other.
>I can tell you how I have lost weight, and am happy because I
>am full and enjoy life! I just want to let you know that I am
>not a nutritionist, though I would love to be someday....
>All you need to do is eat balanced meals, including
>unproccessed (because they will still have nutrients)complex
>carbs that includes fruit and grains, veggies, protiens (nuts,
>legumes, lean meat) and I even think it is okay to have a
>piece of cake every now and again. You just have to do things
>in moderation. Taking out a whole food group does more harm
>than good. I also eat food in their most natural state.
>When you feel hungry, go ahead and eat! You need food to fuel
>your body, especially if you are working out. Just make sure
>you filling your cells with food that is good for you.


Well said!!!!

I try to eat just like this. I'm using the FitDay software program to help me keep track though.

 

[ColleenM]

I am often hearing it is just calories in vs. calories out but that doesn't always work for me. It matters what I eat as well as how much I eat. I follow BFL and it's worked best for me. 40% carbs, 40% protein and 20% fat.

Colleen

 

[solara]

Colleen ~

I, too, have been able to maintain relatively lean body mass w/ Zone- & BFL-style eating habits. I avoid processed foods, white flour, corn syrup, sugar and "bad" fats (especially transfats). I eat several small meals a day...I try to make either breakfast or lunch my largest meal and keep things light for dinner. I don't drink alcohol. For me, much like exercising for the past 23 years, it's a lifestyle. I indulge in a few "baddies" every week! Life is too short and living a healthy lifestyle would be too hard without ice cream, nachos, pizza, dark chocolate and Cheez-It crackers!

~ Kim

"Welcome the challenge...Embrace it...Don't fear it." -Cathe Friedrich