Oh no! Too much food!

[MsGhettoBooty]

Denial as in lying to themself right, well, I belive (from what I've seen) is that not only are they not paying attention to what they are eating and eat more than 1200 cals but its that they don't even know it. They think, well some think, that they have eaten 1200 cals when in reality they would most likely pick food up and eat it unconsciously. And it seem at times as though they are in "denial" to others as well, only because they are unaware of their consumption.

Hey... I know ALL about denial. I have 3 aunties who are supposed vegetarians who claim they eat healthy and are better than everyone else.. yet they're in the 250s range. Hmmm...? Where does denial come into play? "A vegan diet is very low cal." ARGH! WRONG! When my aunty is sitting on her happy ass and downing a bucket of nuts, it really makes me think twice about their "healthy vegetarian diet." (Each vegetarian diet is different, so I'm not knocking you if you're a vegetarian.)

-Sheryl

 

[Nasseny1]

Okay, well, thanks for the correction. Regardless, it doesn't take long for people's bodies to adapt to new routines or new food intakes. So I can totally understand how or why some people can honestly say, "I'm not hungry and I'm fine," when they're consuming half the calories they had been consuming.

Within days my body adapted to eating 1200 cals a day (I was suppose to eat 500 cals more)only because I managed it too. I wasn't in denial, I just ate a vegetable or fruit each time I was hungry after 1200 cals, but those were only a few calories. Taking into consideration I have never been 200 + weight. My highest weight is 160 lbs, but what I mean is that the human body was made to be able to adapt and adapt quickly. All though, yes, there have been cases were that is not true. Some of the discipline of eating less than the amount you are suppose to truly depend on the person and their degree of discipline regardless of the feeling of hunger.

 

[JeremyRice]

i think i eat about 1600-1800 calories a day

my issues before and the reason i gained so much weight, was WHAT i was eating,
i ate fried foods and lots of cheeses but i still ate a lot of healthy chicken and portioned properly, my other issue was having more then half of my calories a day in soda and liquids. thus i would gain.. and so now that i just drink water and eat about the same amount, just spread thruought the whole day and all "healthy" food the pounds are falling off.

its just different for everyone steve

 

[CrunkChipmunk]

Well I have two questions for whoever will answer.

1800 or 2000 calories a day is considered the preferred amount of calories a person with a lot of weight to lose should consume each day as to not get a starving feeling over time and quit their diet?

Also if you do an hour of exercise a day do you still consume no more than that 1800 or 2000 calories or are you supposed to eat more than that amount if you exercise regularly?

Thanks.

 

[faith333]

Homeboy please.. my ass is starving if I don't eat at least 1900 cal. lol And I don't think these people are really being "sincere." If anything, I think they're in denial (like lungsfortherace commented) or they just aren't measuring their meals out and don't really KNOW how much they are consuming.

-OBT

They're not necessarily insincere.

I'm probably not a typical example, but maybe I can shed some light. I naturally like healthy foods, thriving on bread, fruit, vegetables and lots of fish. The reason why I put on weight in the past - the ONLY reason - is emotional eating. I ate when I wasn't hungry, out of boredom, sadness, stress, etc... That amounted to anything between 2500 and 3500 calories a day. When I start a diet, the main resolution I make is "no binging". I eat three meals and two snacks a day, and I'm not hungry, and at the end of the day I've eaten 1200-1800 calories and I feel great.

Is that insincere of me? No, because 1200-1800 is naturally enough for me. Previously, I was eating more, but that wasn't out of hunger. Instead of feeling ridiculously full, I now feel *comfortably* full.

So it makes sense to me.

1200 calories every day seems a little low to me. But every few days I go under that number without feeling any ill effects.

What do you think?

 

[Blancita]

Within days my body adapted to eating 1200 cals a day (I was suppose to eat 500 cals more)only because I managed it too. I wasn't in denial, I just ate a vegetable or fruit each time I was hungry after 1200 cals, but those were only a few calories. Taking into consideration I have never been 200 + weight. My highest weight is 160 lbs, but what I mean is that the human body was made to be able to adapt and adapt quickly. All though, yes, there have been cases were that is not true. Some of the discipline of eating less than the amount you are suppose to truly depend on the person and their degree of discipline regardless of the feeling of hunger.

To my un-scientist mind this sounds like the person has a very slow metabolism that they can eat 1200 on a continual basis and not feel hungry. So I'm not talking about the consequence of eating that low (slowing the metabolism even further) but more that this could be a sign of a very slow metabolism if this person is able to manage to not feel hungry at this calorie level. A sure signal that they need to start doing things to speed up that metabolism (long term planning) rather than worrying about getting off a few quick pounds of EQUAL PARTS fat/water/muscle. Apparently from a study I just read that was published in some scientific journal, overweight people who severely cut their calories lost equal fat AND MUSCLE so they end up looking amaciated rather than toned at the end of their weight loss (and they're metabolism is now even slower so they probably wont maintain that weight loss without acting like an anorexic).

 

[Blancita]

They're not necessarily insincere.

I'm probably not a typical example, but maybe I can shed some light. I naturally like healthy foods, thriving on bread, fruit, vegetables and lots of fish. The reason why I put on weight in the past - the ONLY reason - is emotional eating. I ate when I wasn't hungry, out of boredom, sadness, stress, etc... That amounted to anything between 2500 and 3500 calories a day. When I start a diet, the main resolution I make is "no binging". I eat three meals and two snacks a day, and I'm not hungry, and at the end of the day I've eaten 1200-1800 calories and I feel great.

Is that insincere of me? No, because 1200-1800 is naturally enough for me. Previously, I was eating more, but that wasn't out of hunger. Instead of feeling ridiculously full, I now feel *comfortably* full.

So it makes sense to me.

1200 calories every day seems a little low to me. But every few days I go under that number without feeling any ill effects.

What do you think?

There's a huge difference between 1200 and 1800 calories. If you're calorie cycling then you're getting some refeed days in there to replenish yourself, so I'm not sure Steve was asking about someone that goes higher when they feel hungry or on certain alternating days. I think he's talking about people who say they never even see the need to go above 1200 because they're simply not hungry.

 

[MsGhettoBooty]

They're not necessarily insincere.

So it makes sense to me.

1200 calories every day seems a little low to me. But every few days I go under that number without feeling any ill effects.

What do you think?

The question was more along the lines of people who are heavier. My starting weight was 225 and while I was on SlimFast I believed cutting my calories to even less than 1200 (usually 1000 calories/ day) would "make me skinny." That's a huge calorie deficit prior going on a diet. The mindset was: if I go above my allotted calories (1000), I will never lose weight and remain unhappy for the rest of my life. As for being (in)sincere, it's amazing what your brain forces you to believe as truth.

It's when you're on the larger side and one wonders why that person would THINK about suddenly cutting foods down at a starting caloric intake of 1200 and claiming they are "full" off of that. That was the point of the discussion.

-Sheryl

 

[Steve]

i think i eat about 1600-1800 calories a day

my issues before and the reason i gained so much weight, was WHAT i was eating,
i ate fried foods and lots of cheeses but i still ate a lot of healthy chicken and portioned properly, my other issue was having more then half of my calories a day in soda and liquids. thus i would gain.. and so now that i just drink water and eat about the same amount, just spread thruought the whole day and all "healthy" food the pounds are falling off.

its just different for everyone steve

Oh trust me.

I've dealt with more weight loss cases than you can shake a stick at. I understand it's different for everyone... I promise.

However, I'm talking about the mechanisms behind starvation dieting and feeling full. How can you go from gorging yourself with shit to eating celery sticks in a week and feel full? There's been some good answers too, which I thank everyone for.

 

[Steve]

Well I have two questions for whoever will answer.

1800 or 2000 calories a day is considered the preferred amount of calories a person with a lot of weight to lose should consume each day as to not get a starving feeling over time and quit their diet?

I haven't read the rest of this thread yet b/c I'm lazy and like to hear myself talk.

That said, no, you can't go by a 'set' caloric intake for everyone. Caloric requirements are matched to your individuals stats. For instance, the larger you are, the more calories you need. The more active you are, the more calories you need. The younger you are, the more calories you need. The more muscle you have, the more calories you need.... etc.

Also if you do an hour of exercise a day do you still consume no more than that 1800 or 2000 calories or are you supposed to eat more than that amount if you exercise regularly?

See above.

And a deficit is a deficit no matter which way you slice it. Less food. More activity. A combo of the both.

 

[Steve]

They're not necessarily insincere.

I'm probably not a typical example, but maybe I can shed some light. I naturally like healthy foods, thriving on bread, fruit, vegetables and lots of fish. The reason why I put on weight in the past - the ONLY reason - is emotional eating. I ate when I wasn't hungry, out of boredom, sadness, stress, etc... That amounted to anything between 2500 and 3500 calories a day. When I start a diet, the main resolution I make is "no binging". I eat three meals and two snacks a day, and I'm not hungry, and at the end of the day I've eaten 1200-1800 calories and I feel great.

Is that insincere of me? No, because 1200-1800 is naturally enough for me. Previously, I was eating more, but that wasn't out of hunger. Instead of feeling ridiculously full, I now feel *comfortably* full.

So it makes sense to me.

1200 calories every day seems a little low to me. But every few days I go under that number without feeling any ill effects.

What do you think?

Well what are your stats.

For some, 1200 calories does make some sense.

For many around here, it doesn't.

If you are following a cyclical calorie approach, I can see there being 'some' room for such a low intake at times.... but that's another story.

And my original post was more about the people who are eating 1200 calories every single day while their maintenance levles are 3000ish calories.

 

[SweatPea]

I really do. (Okay... this is me speaking from experience.) You're trying your damndest to get on track: exercise, eat "healthier," shop for groceries differently. Your tummy starts too rumble and you think to yourself, "That's just part of losing weight. Resist if you want to fit in those size 10 jeans!" (If you don't get into those jeans, you'll be one big, depressed mess.) You go to the fridge and chew on celery sticks, so you don't binge. "MmMmm I love celery sticks. I'm so healthy." (Bah... the crap you think when you're starving.) When it comes time to eat meals, you cut your portions big time and think to yourself, "15-20 seconds worth of chewing per bite" and "According to blah blah blah magazine it says to eat with my non dominant hand, so I'll eat slower." Bah! Psychological issues abound.

-Sheryl

LOL you are so funny - I know just what you mean about the celery stick - add some freakin' peanut butter to it already!!! LOL

 

[Steve]

To my un-scientist mind this sounds like the person has a very slow metabolism that they can eat 1200 on a continual basis and not feel hungry. So I'm not talking about the consequence of eating that low (slowing the metabolism even further) but more that this could be a sign of a very slow metabolism if this person is able to manage to not feel hungry at this calorie level. A sure signal that they need to start doing things to speed up that metabolism (long term planning) rather than worrying about getting off a few quick pounds of EQUAL PARTS fat/water/muscle. Apparently from a study I just read that was published in some scientific journal, overweight people who severely cut their calories lost equal fat AND MUSCLE so they end up looking amaciated rather than toned at the end of their weight loss (and they're metabolism is now even slower so they probably wont maintain that weight loss without acting like an anorexic).

Right.

This is the problem with starvation dieting.

Whenever you invoke a caloric deficit, your body is going to resist it.

Resist = slowdown in metabolism, shifts in various hormones, increase appetite, etc.

Concurrently, there's a good chance you are going to lose an appreciable amount of muscle mass. This becomes more factual the 'skinnier' you are. When you are carrying around truck loads of fat, your body tends to 'give up' the fat more easily without catabolizing muscle.

But there's more to it than simply maintaining muscle.

People say they are content eating their 1200 calories weighing 250 lbs.

My question is, how long will that last? I find most people that use extremes when dieting don't make it very far or very long.

Truth be told, I really don't have an issue with someone cutting calories by 50% of maintenance if:

A) They are psychologically able to do so

B) They are real fat

No matter of size, I just don't think eating some ridiculously low level of calories is the path to take for long term success. I base this on what I've seen so far while being a trainer and talking to literally hundreds of overweight people who've gone through the dieting process only to end up right where they started or heavier.

 

[Steve]

There's a huge difference between 1200 and 1800 calories. If you're calorie cycling then you're getting some refeed days in there to replenish yourself, so I'm not sure Steve was asking about someone that goes higher when they feel hungry or on certain alternating days. I think he's talking about people who say they never even see the need to go above 1200 because they're simply not hungry.

Exactly.

 

[maleficent]

However, I'm talking about the mechanisms behind starvation dieting and feeling full.

A person's brain can convince themselves of anything - I convinced myself that I ate healthy

How can you go from gorging yourself with shit to eating celery sticks in a week and feel full?

I can only speak for myself here -
Over the past 10 years I didn't gorge myself with "shit" - I never ate anything fried, fast food didn't happen, casual dining crap restaurants didn't happen, I barely drank, I ate healthy. It wasn't until I sat down and actually recorded what I ate in a day.. that I was eating over 3000 calories a day of healthy food...

A person who's "on a diet" knows they have to cut back - and the 'experts' tell them that 1200- 1500 calories day is what they should cut back to. Most people on a diet see it as a short term thing - that once they get to XX weight - they're done and well they can go back to doing what they were doing. How many times do we hear people say -when my diet is done Im going to have... xxxx.

What was different this time was a lifestyle change mentality and I realized that I couldn't make 1200 calories a day a lifestyle... that I had to figure out what a lifestyle change was...

 

[Steve]

A person's brain can convince themselves of anything - I convinced myself that I ate healthy


I can only speak for myself here -
Over the past 10 years I didn't gorge myself with "shit" - I never ate anything fried, fast food didn't happen, casual dining crap restaurants didn't happen, I barely drank, I ate healthy. It wasn't until I sat down and actually recorded what I ate in a day.. that I was eating over 3000 calories a day of healthy food...

A person who's "on a diet" knows they have to cut back - and the 'experts' tell them that 1200- 1500 calories day is what they should cut back to. Most people on a diet see it as a short term thing - that once they get to XX weight - they're done and well they can go back to doing what they were doing. How many times do we hear people say -when my diet is done Im going to have... xxxx.

What was different this time was a lifestyle change mentality and I realized that I couldn't make 1200 calories a day a lifestyle... that I had to figure out what a lifestyle change was...

Thanks for your insight Mal!

Suppose "Person" in my above dialog was eating 3000 calories of healthy food per day and gaining weight and in an obese state.

They decide to diet.

Because there are a lot of asshats out there spewing misinformation, they think that eating 1200 calories per day is the way to start.

Because they were eating healthy foods to begin with, they simply have to control their intakes of the same ole' stuff.

How could this "Person" feel full?

Are you suggesting that it's primarily mental?

I totally agree with you that even with the consistent barrage of sound advice that seems to have flood the internet and even most magazine nowadays, people still view dieting as a short-term endeavor and b/c of this, they think eating 1200 cals is ok.

 

[maleficent]

How could this "Person" feel full?

Are you suggesting that it's primarily mental?

same way an anorexic can convince themselves that they aren't hungry and they look skeletal.


and i'm not really comparing it to anorexia but the power of the mind and what it can convince a person of and make them do.

Just like your mind has a positive attitude and can propel you towards happy thoughts - mine goes toward the negative... and well not positive thoughts.

The mind is powerful and can make the body believe anything.

 

[SweatPea]

Hey Steve,

I've got a question for you.

Ok so when I first started "dieting" ions ago, I did the 1000 cal. diet thing. Oh man at first the pounds flew off. But I was over 200 lbs. And der, they would fly off. Then one day they stopped "flying" and just sat there. So I incorporated exercise at least 30 min. everyday (if I could stand that much.)

Then of course with exercising, I got famished. So I upped my cal. allotment. I did start losing weight again. At one point I decided I needed guidance and joined ediets. It worked for me for about 30 lbs or so. Then, again nothing. Even the ediets cal. calculator would change my cals lower than 1400 if I wasn't losing weight "like I should".

So then eventually I quit ediets. I didn't quit eating right. I actually started reading about the South Beach Diet. And though I don't recommend the "low carb" side of it, it did teach me a lot about choosing the right foods - whole wheat (instead of enriched wheat flour, etc.) Of course ediets has added a lot more programs since I was a member and I think they've got similar "diets".

Well I didn't really lose much on the SBD - except for that initial two weeks - I think as soon as I started adding the good carbs back in, my weight stabilized.

Ok so this was years ago - I had also been a member of martial arts. That really toned me up, but I didn't really "lose" weight. Although I was slimmer. Then, silly me decided to take up a part-time job and I became a fitness "tech" at Curves (workout circuit for women.) So with the martial arts like 3 times a week and working out at curves (because that was the bonus that as an employee you also got to workout), and working out at home. I was able to slim down to 158. I know that my cals. were up - but at that time I wasn't counting them. I even worked out the Body for life way - didn't always adhere to the eating schedule, but the workouts - I did tone up quite a bit and had my strength up - used to be able to lift much more than I can presently.

Then, my "world" changed and depression set in. Initially I lost weight - oh boy like 14 lbs (the "depression" diet is good for weight loss, just not so good for the mind!) So my lowest weight since getting heavy has been 144 lbs. I "looked" good, but my outlook on life was horrible. I mean I was seriously depressed - meds and everything.

Ok so fast forward a little. The weight crept back on. A few months ago, I had weighed in at 174 lbs. That's when I said, whoa! And I decided I'd had enough of the weight climbing back up.

A friend of mine found this place ... and so here I be.

Well I have been eating fairly good 2000 cals or less (mostly less, but still have my days.) And exercising regularly for the last month or so. But guess what - I've only lost 3 lbs. I mean I have gotten down to 168.5 (woo!) But then, it just keeps bouncing around - all over the place. This morning it was at 171.

I do change the workouts quite a bit - I incorporate resistance training (I have a total trainer), treadmill, elliptical, yoga, etc... And I try to eat well. I mean like most of my choices are very healthy - but then I might falter like last night - I had two snacks in the evening (a special k bar and a snack size bag of cheese nips - I know I should've just had a piece of fruit or that darn celery stick! LOL)

My workouts aren't anywhere near the BFL recommendations, but I think I do well - as I do "feel" it the next day. Or I will challenge myself on the elliptical or the treadmill - etc.

So what kind of advice do you have for someone like me?

Thanks for listening...

 

[Steve]

same way an anorexic can convince themselves that they aren't hungry and they look skeletal.


and i'm not really comparing it to anorexia but the power of the mind and what it can convince a person of and make them do.

Just like your mind has a positive attitude and can propel you towards happy thoughts - mine goes toward the negative... and well not positive thoughts.

The mind is powerful and can make the body believe anything.

This is I completely believe. Actually, I've read enough to know it to be true.

It's the hardest thing to change too.

But at least you can change it.

 

[Steve]

Hey Steve,

I've got a question for you.

Ok so when I first started "dieting" ions ago, I did the 1000 cal. diet thing. Oh man at first the pounds flew off. But I was over 200 lbs. And der, they would fly off. Then one day they stopped "flying" and just sat there. So I incorporated exercise at least 30 min. everyday (if I could stand that much.)

Then of course with exercising, I got famished. So I upped my cal. allotment. I did start losing weight again. At one point I decided I needed guidance and joined ediets. It worked for me for about 30 lbs or so. Then, again nothing. Even the ediets cal. calculator would change my cals lower than 1400 if I wasn't losing weight "like I should".

So then eventually I quit ediets. I didn't quit eating right. I actually started reading about the South Beach Diet. And though I don't recommend the "low carb" side of it, it did teach me a lot about choosing the right foods - whole wheat (instead of enriched wheat flour, etc.) Of course ediets has added a lot more programs since I was a member and I think they've got similar "diets".

Well I didn't really lose much on the SBD - except for that initial two weeks - I think as soon as I started adding the good carbs back in, my weight stabilized.

Ok so this was years ago - I had also been a member of martial arts. That really toned me up, but I didn't really "lose" weight. Although I was slimmer. Then, silly me decided to take up a part-time job and I became a fitness "tech" at Curves (workout circuit for women.) So with the martial arts like 3 times a week and working out at curves (because that was the bonus that as an employee you also got to workout), and working out at home. I was able to slim down to 158. I know that my cals. were up - but at that time I wasn't counting them. I even worked out the Body for life way - didn't always adhere to the eating schedule, but the workouts - I did tone up quite a bit and had my strength up - used to be able to lift much more than I can presently.

Then, my "world" changed and depression set in. Initially I lost weight - oh boy like 14 lbs (the "depression" diet is good for weight loss, just not so good for the mind!) So my lowest weight since getting heavy has been 144 lbs. I "looked" good, but my outlook on life was horrible. I mean I was seriously depressed - meds and everything.

Ok so fast forward a little. The weight crept back on. A few months ago, I had weighed in at 174 lbs. That's when I said, whoa! And I decided I'd had enough of the weight climbing back up.

A friend of mine found this place ... and so here I be.

Well I have been eating fairly good 2000 cals or less (mostly less, but still have my days.) And exercising regularly for the last month or so. But guess what - I've only lost 3 lbs. I mean I have gotten down to 168.5 (woo!) But then, it just keeps bouncing around - all over the place. This morning it was at 171.

I do change the workouts quite a bit - I incorporate resistance training (I have a total trainer), treadmill, elliptical, yoga, etc... And I try to eat well. I mean like most of my choices are very healthy - but then I might falter like last night - I had two snacks in the evening (a special k bar and a snack size bag of cheese nips - I know I should've just had a piece of fruit or that darn celery stick! LOL)

My workouts aren't anywhere near the BFL recommendations, but I think I do well - as I do "feel" it the next day. Or I will challenge myself on the elliptical or the treadmill - etc.

So what kind of advice do you have for someone like me?

Thanks for listening...

By the depression diet, I'm assuming you ate next to nothing, right?