dieting tips?

8amallday · 02-25-2009, 08:07 AM

whats everyones top dieting tips (that work for them)?
ive got some jeans to fit into and it just isnt happening! how am i supposed to dress as a convincing addict when my best jeans for the job wont zip/button up?! its madness.
thanks everyone!

Elsewhere · 02-25-2009, 08:19 AM

Have your bf leave you.
Sorry stupid joke, couldn't help. Lost 25 pounds very recently.

Lonely Skeleton

yankeefan74 · 02-25-2009, 08:25 AM

Drink enough water. Most of us confuse hunger pains with the signals are body gives us that we aren't getting enough water. These are things we misinterpret early in life, and just decide that it's hunger.

Water actually helps you feel full. There's also a theory that says if the water is cold enough, your body actually burns calories trying to warm it up to body temperature.

If you already drink water....drink more.

What kinds of things do you eat? Smaller portions help. Exercise obviously is a big factor, but also, eating six small meals a day instead of 3 large ones boosts your metabolism.

"Diets" don't really work in the long run. It's better to just change eating habits and stick with them.

babysunshine · 02-25-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elsewhere

Lonely Skeleton

This made me crack up! I just imagine a little lonely skeleton... Hope you feel better Elsewhere!

8amallday · 02-25-2009, 08:45 AM

id have my bf leave me but all i have is a gf, lol
seriously though, im sorry to hear that, elsewhere. thats a bummer

thanks for the tips, yankeefan! i remember now that, in the past, i had the crazy idea just to pound a cup of water everytime i felt hungry and i cant remember if it worked, but your post makes me wanna do it again.

as for what i eat, i am mainly a vegetarian...today was pretty typical for eating...i ate 2 tofu dogs for breakfast, some grits for lunch (weird, right? i just got into grits), some tostadas with cheese on them for a snack, and about a million tofu-tacos for dinner.
ive also been snacking slowly on my bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and my girlfriend made cookies >.< so i had a few too many of those.

i think that cutting back on portion sizes will help a lot along with more water...i drink about 4-5 8oz glasses of it a day, but i could drink more. i also drink ginger ale

thanks for the help!

ErikT · 02-25-2009, 08:56 AM

To lose weight, calories in must be less than calories out. Basic math.

Skip the ginger ale and at least double, if not triple, your water intake.

If you can, try to stay around 1500-2000 calories a day, if not slightly less. It's tough, but your body does adapt.

I've had good results with a 60/20/20 approach - 60% protein, 30% carbs, 10% fat. Eliminate all the junk (chocolate chips and cc cookies!) Also, gradually cut down on caffeine and sugar substitutes (sweet and low, etc)

Exercise is important - cardio is best, but if you are going to do any weight training, make sure you also track inches lost as that will be equally important as actual weight loss. (Muscle weighs more than fat, so I know people that have hit the gym hard doing weight training and then get disillusioned when they weigh themselves!)

Good luck!

purpleJ · 02-25-2009, 09:03 AM

calorie counting is good but i got sick of it

drink atleast 2L of water
Do not skip breakfast, have a healthy breakfast which will keep u full for longer and stop you from snaking on unhealthy food
have regular meals, dont let your body go into starvation mode, try to have 6 small meals instead of 3 big ones
minimise carbs...I know there for/against arguments for this but i have seen it work very quickly! don't stop having carbs all together but start by not having any with your dinner

ErikT · 02-25-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purpleJ

calorie counting is good but i got sick of it

You don't have to calorie count everything, but you should have a rough idea of what you are taking in. Common sense also plays into this. Eating a dozen dounuts - BAD, Very Bad!. Eating a few sticks of celery - Okay. Having a chocolate chip cookie (as in one!) - Not good, but it isn't going to kill you.

yankeefan74 · 02-25-2009, 09:17 AM

The body eventually gets used to the calories you take in and the calories you burn during a typical day - including workout days. So you'll level off as the body believes it needs to store more fat.

If you're in a weight loss mode- rather than in just a maintain your weight mode...pick one meal a week where you eat whatever you want. That's not one day, but one meal. lol. Stick to it. Makes it easier to eat better when you have that meal to look forward too.

But for practical purposes, it also overloads the body with calories and in a way lets the body know it's okay to store less. You're tricking your body.

sarey · 02-25-2009, 11:35 AM

Water, water, water.
Fruit, fruit, fruit.
Salad, salad, salad.
Veg, veg, veg.
Protein, vitamins, nutrients, you need lots of it, but keep it in moderation and mix it with other foods.

Everything is fine, aslong as it is in MODERATION.

x

02-25-2009, 08:07 AM	#1
8amallday Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Joiliet/Normal IL Gender: Male Posts: 262	dieting tips? whats everyones top dieting tips (that work for them)? ive got some jeans to fit into and it just isnt happening! how am i supposed to dress as a convincing addict when my best jeans for the job wont zip/button up?! its madness. thanks everyone!

02-25-2009, 08:56 AM	#6
ErikT Offline Silver Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 347	To lose weight, calories in must be less than calories out. Basic math. Skip the ginger ale and at least double, if not triple, your water intake. If you can, try to stay around 1500-2000 calories a day, if not slightly less. It's tough, but your body does adapt. I've had good results with a 60/20/20 approach - 60% protein, 30% carbs, 10% fat. Eliminate all the junk (chocolate chips and cc cookies!) Also, gradually cut down on caffeine and sugar substitutes (sweet and low, etc) Exercise is important - cardio is best, but if you are going to do any weight training, make sure you also track inches lost as that will be equally important as actual weight loss. (Muscle weighs more than fat, so I know people that have hit the gym hard doing weight training and then get disillusioned when they weigh themselves!) Good luck! __________________ Go Gators!

02-25-2009, 08:19 AM	#2
Elsewhere Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: LA Gender: Female Posts: 520	Have your bf leave you. Sorry stupid joke, couldn't help. Lost 25 pounds very recently. Lonely Skeleton

02-25-2009, 08:25 AM	#3
yankeefan74 Offline Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central New York Gender: Male Age: 35 Posts: 580	Drink enough water. Most of us confuse hunger pains with the signals are body gives us that we aren't getting enough water. These are things we misinterpret early in life, and just decide that it's hunger. Water actually helps you feel full. There's also a theory that says if the water is cold enough, your body actually burns calories trying to warm it up to body temperature. If you already drink water....drink more. What kinds of things do you eat? Smaller portions help. Exercise obviously is a big factor, but also, eating six small meals a day instead of 3 large ones boosts your metabolism. "Diets" don't really work in the long run. It's better to just change eating habits and stick with them.

02-25-2009, 08:45 AM	#5
8amallday Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Joiliet/Normal IL Gender: Male Posts: 262	id have my bf leave me but all i have is a gf, lol seriously though, im sorry to hear that, elsewhere. thats a bummer thanks for the tips, yankeefan! i remember now that, in the past, i had the crazy idea just to pound a cup of water everytime i felt hungry and i cant remember if it worked, but your post makes me wanna do it again. as for what i eat, i am mainly a vegetarian...today was pretty typical for eating...i ate 2 tofu dogs for breakfast, some grits for lunch (weird, right? i just got into grits), some tostadas with cheese on them for a snack, and about a million tofu-tacos for dinner. ive also been snacking slowly on my bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and my girlfriend made cookies >.< so i had a few too many of those. i think that cutting back on portion sizes will help a lot along with more water...i drink about 4-5 8oz glasses of it a day, but i could drink more. i also drink ginger ale thanks for the help!

02-25-2009, 09:03 AM	#7
purpleJ Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Gender: Female Posts: 205	calorie counting is good but i got sick of it drink atleast 2L of water Do not skip breakfast, have a healthy breakfast which will keep u full for longer and stop you from snaking on unhealthy food have regular meals, dont let your body go into starvation mode, try to have 6 small meals instead of 3 big ones minimise carbs...I know there for/against arguments for this but i have seen it work very quickly! don't stop having carbs all together but start by not having any with your dinner

02-25-2009, 09:17 AM	#9
yankeefan74 Offline Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Central New York Gender: Male Age: 35 Posts: 580	The body eventually gets used to the calories you take in and the calories you burn during a typical day - including workout days. So you'll level off as the body believes it needs to store more fat. If you're in a weight loss mode- rather than in just a maintain your weight mode...pick one meal a week where you eat whatever you want. That's not one day, but one meal. lol. Stick to it. Makes it easier to eat better when you have that meal to look forward too. But for practical purposes, it also overloads the body with calories and in a way lets the body know it's okay to store less. You're tricking your body.

02-25-2009, 11:35 AM	#10
sarey Offline Platinum Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the UK, somewhere... Gender: Female Posts: 1,438	Water, water, water. Fruit, fruit, fruit. Salad, salad, salad. Veg, veg, veg. Protein, vitamins, nutrients, you need lots of it, but keep it in moderation and mix it with other foods. Everything is fine, aslong as it is in MODERATION. x