Hi! New Member

N

NewSkinnyMe

New member
Hi Everyone,

I'm new here. My name is Lori, and I have a LOT of weight to lose... about 80 pounds to be exact.

I've tried everything.. I've done Atkins, South Beach, Ornish, Sugar Busters... All seem to work for a while, but nothing has helped me long term. I hope I can find some answers here.

I'm really sick and tired of yo-yo dieting!

I look forward to meeting all of you!

Lori
 
Pretty much all prepackaged diets work if they're applied correctly, as they're all based on the same fundamental concepts with their own unique twists.

That said none of them work long term unless you accompany the application with the right frame of mind.

That's the part most people miss.

Welcome to the community.
 
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Lori-

Welcome to the group. You are not alone, I know a lot of people including my wife that have tried many of those diets and not had long term results. That is because those are not meant to be done for a long period of time. Anything you do has to be a lifestyle change. All of those diets you mentioned are really just quick fixes. It isn't you that failed, it was the diet that failed because diets dont' work long term.

You have to live a lifestyle that targets your body composition and your metabolism. You want to be losing body fat and not muscle. You want to preserve lean muscle at all costs because that is what dictates your metabolism. Taking in food and drink that keeps you in a fat burning zone as well as the proper exercise should be the focus. Instead of focusing on the scale, get a tape measure and have your body fat tested. There is where you want to see the results. Your overall health, prevention from diseases, how much energy you have and how your clothes fit are really what matters, not what some scale says, am i right?

I hope this helps.

Tim
 
transitionscoac said:
You want to be losing body fat and not muscle. You want to preserve lean muscle at all costs because that is what dictates your metabolism.
Click to expand...

While I agree with you that preserving muscle while dieting is an excellent idea, and it's promoted on this forum very heavily.....

I certainly would NOT say it "dictates your metabolism."

Please explain?

On average, skeletal muscle comprises less than 20% of basal metabolic rate.

On top of basal metabolism, you have to factor in things such as thermic effect of food and activity as well.

So how on Earth does muscle "dictate" metabolism?

Taking in food and drink that keeps you in a fat burning zone as well as the proper exercise should be the focus.
Click to expand...

Can you explain the "fat burning zone?"

Please.
 
Steve said:
While I agree with you that preserving muscle while dieting is an excellent idea, and it's promoted on this forum very heavily.....

I certainly would NOT say it "dictates your metabolism."

Please explain?

On average, skeletal muscle comprises less than 20% of basal metabolic rate.

On top of basal metabolism, you have to factor in things such as thermic effect of food and activity as well.

So how on Earth does muscle "dictate" metabolism?



Can you explain the "fat burning zone?"

Please.
Click to expand...

Well, let me answer it this way. What burns more calories, muscle or fat? Okay, muscle burns more calories right? Metabolism is defined as the rate at which your food or "fuel" is converted into energy. Therefore, preserve lean muscle, lose body fat and your metabolism will become more efficient.

The fat burning zone is where your blood sugar and insulin response is at a time released and slow steady state. If you are taking in calories that quickly raise your blood sugar and therefore your insulin, your metabolism will do a switch into fat storage mode. This is something that is not talked about on the whole calorie restriction approach. That is because you are not focusing on metabolism and how weight needs to be lost as body fat and not muscle.

Tim
 
transitionscoac said:
Well, let me answer it this way. What burns more calories, muscle or fat? Okay, muscle burns more calories right? Metabolism is defined as the rate at which your food or "fuel" is converted into energy. Therefore, preserve lean muscle, lose body fat and your metabolism will become more efficient.
Click to expand...

Haha, kind or rudimentary, no?

And way to completely miss the question.

My question was here -------> x

You are over here ---------------------------------------------> Y

I asked, how does muscle dictate metabolism when it's a minor contributor of it in the grand scheme of things?

The key word is dictate.

That's what I'm asking.

We all know muscle is more metabolically expensive than fat. Really, that's been covered extensively around here. I believe you are overstating the difference in energy rates between fat and muscle, and I'm waiting for your research, but that's a moot point with regards to my above question.

The fat burning zone is where your blood sugar and insulin response is at a time released and slow steady state. If you are taking in calories that quickly raise your blood sugar and therefore your insulin, your metabolism will do a switch into fat storage mode.
Click to expand...

What if you are in a net caloric deficit?
 
Thanks Everyone

Thanks for the replies...

I know you guys are right about me needing a total lifestyle change. I'm hoping I can find the information I need here on this forum to do that.

I'm totally fed up with the way I look and feel. I want to change the way I eat and become more active, but I want to know that I'm doing it right this time so I can stick to the changes I make.

Looking forward to learning more, and sharing what I discover along the way.

Thanks again!

Lori
 
I just stumbled across this thread, good luck with your goals by the way.

I have to agree that state-of-mind is the most important part to weight loss. I run 2 weight loss centers and I can tell right away who will make it and who won't based on their attitudes when they sign up for the program.

Some people can't wait to get started, while others are whining about giving certain things up. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of weight to lose, but up until recently I haven't really cared about it.

You just have to know you want it and be prepared to make some changes.

You can do it!
 
NewSkinnyMe,

Mentally/emotionally, you need to change from "wanting" to make the changes, to simply making the changes.

Here are the levels of commitment:

1) Committed, Whatever It Takes!
"Nothing will stop me from my commitment. All circumstances are handled. I am responsible for my circumstances."

2) Committed UNLESS something happens
"I will let circumstance dictate my level of commitment. I am victimized by my circumstances. I am not prepared to pay some of the prices of the commitment and will bail out if those prices become a reality."

3) Wanting, Wishing, Hoping, Procrastinating
"I wish I could make the commitment. I am inspired by the idea of the commitment, but I don't want to pay any of the prices of commiting."

4) Not Caring
"I don't care enough to commit. I do not feel inspired enough to commit."

You CAN make the commitment to be healthy TODAY, right now. It's OK to not be inspired enough by something to commit to it, or to be unwilling to pay the prices of the commitment. It's OK to fall short from time to time and then accept the past (not judge yourself) and then move forward again with the commitment.

Once you make the commitment, the frame of mind becomes. "I am healthy, this (one thing) is the next step I need to do toward that commitment." Another tripwire is people thinking of all the steps or all the time required. Take it one day at a time. One step at a time.

(Hmmm, I think I will add this post to my diary to remind myself)
 
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