Unutterably Silly Who is on a diet. Come on I know you all are!

[issybird]

Good for you, Harry! Keep us posted.

I keep losing and gaining the same three pounds and the odds are I won't be on target for my Memorial Day goal come Monday. At least I'm meeting my step goal again; I'm at over 18,000 for today (I have more scope on Saturday) and I hope to catch up over the next week.

I need to start swimming again, but I have every excuse in the world for why that's not happened!

[poohbear_nc]

After FINALLY recovering from the flu and associated flu-like illnesses (knock on wood), I have re-started my daily outdoor walks. And it's been over a month since I brought any cheesy snacks into the house ... sigh ...

[issybird]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

And it's been over a month since I brought any cheesy snacks into the house ... sigh ...

Not me, alas. I've resolved that the cheese needs to go and then I'll tackle the vino. Taking on both at once would be just too cruel.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by issybird

I keep losing and gaining the same three pounds and the odds are I won't be on target for my Memorial Day goal come Monday. At least I'm meeting my step goal again; I'm at over 18,000 for today (I have more scope on Saturday) and I hope to catch up over the next week.

- 'cept mine is a stubborn two kilos

On Friday, my exercise physio suggested I try fasting for two days a week for a month to kick-start the metabolism into a new routine - i.e. "Harry's method". And to be absolutely ruthless in reducing carbs.

BR

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

- 'cept mine is a stubborn two kilos

On Friday, my exercise physio suggested I try fasting for two days a week for a month to kick-start the metabolism into a new routine - i.e. "Harry's method". And to be absolutely ruthless in reducing carbs.

BR

It's really working for me - I'd certainly suggest giving it a go!

[issybird]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

And to be absolutely ruthless in reducing carbs.

Limiting carbs is my basic diet plan. I like it because I don't have to think about it too much and I can eat if I'm hungry. The problem is that it's easy when I'm fixing my own meals but it's much harder when someone else is doing the cooking, as I can't be either rude or waste food - the latter seems particularly irresponsible in today's world.

But after a week of someone else's dinners I'll be back to my own viands this week, which should help. I just need to be scrupulous about returning to basics.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

After FINALLY recovering from the flu and associated flu-like illnesses (knock on wood), I have re-started my daily outdoor walks....

Just in the past week I've started getting in my 10,000 steps again, and last night (for the first time since the onset of the flu last month) I made my first trip to Planet Fitness. The flu seemed to lead to a mild cold, but nothing worse (knock on wood). I was really afraid for a few days that strep throat might be in the cards.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Just in the past week I've started getting in my 10,000 steps again, and last night (for the first time since the onset of the flu last month) I made my first trip to Planet Fitness. The flu seemed to lead to a mild cold, but nothing worse (knock on wood). I was really afraid for a few days that strep throat might be in the cards.

I know that exercise is good for general health, but do you find it has much impact on weight loss? I seem to be able to walk 50 miles in a week, and not lose anything noticeable, but starve myself a couple of days a week and the pounds drop off.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I know that exercise is good for general health, but do you find it has much impact on weight loss? I seem to be able to walk 50 miles in a week, and not lose anything noticeable, but starve myself a couple of days a week and the pounds drop off.

I'm doing a combination of both, so it's difficult to say from personal experience, but on days when I eat more than I should I balance it with extra steps and it seems to work. I have, however, read quite a bit lately about how exercise alone as a weight loss strategy seems to be overrated. I suspect that if weight loss is the only consideration, diet should be the major concern. My goal, of course, is both weight loss and overall fitness. I'm not looking to be majorly ripped and buff, but I would like to be known as a spry old man.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

My goal, of course, is both weight loss and overall fitness. I'm not looking to be majorly ripped and buff, but I would like to be known as a spry old man.

A very sound strategy. No point in being thin but dead .

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I know that exercise is good for general health, but do you find it has much impact on weight loss? I seem to be able to walk 50 miles in a week, and not lose anything noticeable, but starve myself a couple of days a week and the pounds drop off.

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I'm doing a combination of both, so it's difficult to say from personal experience, but on days when I eat more than I should I balance it with extra steps and it seems to work. I have, however, read quite a bit lately about how exercise alone as a weight loss strategy seems to be overrated. I suspect that if weight loss is the only consideration, diet should be the major concern. My goal, of course, is both weight loss and overall fitness. I'm not looking to be majorly ripped and buff, but I would like to be known as a spry old man.

to both

Two exercise physiotherapists have independently told me that exercise won't get weight off, only a change in diet can do that. But once it's off, exercise will help prevent weight gain and allow a less stringent dieting regime. Given their vested interest in exercise I'm inclined to believe them.

As part of the cardiac rehab program I just completed, I attended a couple of one hour talks given by a couple of dieticians. For me they were practically useless, because 90% of what they spoke about was how to choose processed foods, scan bar codes with your phone etc. My greengrocers, delicatessens, grocers, butchers and fishmongers don't put bar codes on what they sell, they're proper shops that sell unpackaged food. In the case of the deli, grocer, butcher, and fishmonger - over the counter.

I'm walking 10-15K steps most days, going to the gym for an hour three days a week. Since early Jan I've been doing the same 4k walk first thing every morning. I'm doing it faster, climbing the hills non-stop, and not arriving home out of breath. I'm also sleeping better.

I'll find out on Monday at my next weigh-in if the two days under 500 calories have put me back to weight loss mode. Earlier this week, someone who hadn't seen me for month said my bum had lost weight :lol:

BR

[HarryT]

Another good week! My Saturday weigh-in showed another 3.5lb lost in the last week, so that’s a total now of 16.5lb lost in 7 weeks.

[Bookpossum]

Clearly the two days of fasting works really well for you - congratulations.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I know that exercise is good for general health, but do you find it has much impact on weight loss? I seem to be able to walk 50 miles in a week, and not lose anything noticeable, but starve myself a couple of days a week and the pounds drop off.

Diet has much bigger impact on how much weight you are losing. Unless you start doing significant amount of strenuous activity.

But! When you are losing weight due to caloric intake deficit your body will start processing your tissues to get energy. And it will begin with unused muscle. So if you want to lose weight and retain your muscles you should use them. (and eat enough proteins in your diet ...)

Daily cardio exercise seems to have very positive effect on my blood pressure. (Not weight!) I have purchased a cheap heart-rate monitor. A sensor goes across your chest and a cheap plastic "sports" watch shows your heart rate and percentage of your maximum heart rate according to your age.
"Proper" cardio exercise is when your heart is beating at 85% maximum heart rate, you are breathing hard, you are drenched in sweat and feel that your muscles are starting to burn. That does not typically happen when you are walking.
Do not get me wrong, any exercise is beneficial for your health. Just different kinds of exercise give us different benefits.

Just yesterday I have stumbled upon this article on BBC when I was looking at news.google.com

As for the diet, it seems to be much easier to watch my carbohydrates then count calories and limit just the amount of food. And if you avoid highly processed carbohydrates you will stay satiated longer after a meal and when you do get hungry it is not the kind of "saccharides crash hunger".

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Another good week! My Saturday weigh-in showed another 3.5lb lost in the last week, so that’s a total now of 16.5lb lost in 7 weeks.

That's really impressive. Congratulations. On to your target weight!

I have been going backwards. Sigh. I just can't see to keep my resolve more than three or four weeks.