| Author | Post |
|---|
brucejenkins12
New Member
| Joined: | 5 Aug 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
|
Posted: 5 Aug 2011 04:29 pm |
|
Hey Everybody! This is my first time on here. I want to lose about 30 lbs,
My stats are 5'9" weight: 220
Here's my problem. I have lots of friends that have tried lots of different diets, and they are all telling me that theirs works best. Which one have you seen work out best for you?
South Beach, grapefruit, HCG, And/Or Cabbage Soup
|
Nir
Senior Administrator
|
Posted: 5 Aug 2011 08:43 pm |
|
The thing tying your 4 diets together is that they are fad diets.
You could try an evidence-based diet like Eat To Live by Dr Joel Fuhrman (which happens to come recommended by this website)
Has it worked for me? It helped me lose the last few pounds and then crucially also to maintain my weight loss for quite a few years
|
SmittenKitten
New Member
| Joined: | 23 Jul 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 22 |
|
Posted: 9 Aug 2011 09:16 pm |
|
I have to jump in here and defend the South Beach Diet. I think the description in the OP's link portrays it unfairly. It's neither a fad diet, nor a low-carb diet. In fact it looks to be similar to the Joel Fuhrman diet.
I agree with the advice to skip the first two weeks. On Phase 2 (weight loss) and Phase 3 (maintenance) you eat lean protein, low-fat dairy, lots of vegetables, up to three serves of fruit a day, up to three serves of "good carbs" a day (wholegrains like oatmeal, quinoa, wild rice etc) and limited quantities of "good fats" (olive oil, nuts, nut butters etc).
It's a very sustainable and healthy way to live. It has helped me to re-educate my palate and maintain a 90-pound weight loss for nearly eight years.
Hope this helps.
Just adding that I quickly checked the South Beach Diet info on the LiveStrong website that was automatically linked to my post. I think that's a fair overview of the diet - it has its critics, but like every diet, you have to find a way to make it work for you.
Last edited on 9 Aug 2011 09:22 pm by SmittenKitten
|
Professor Tom
New Member
| Joined: | 10 Aug 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 28 |
|
Posted: 10 Aug 2011 09:35 am |
|
Bruce,
You need to pick a diet that fits your lifestyle best. If you are a social person and have free time you can choose a diet with weekly meetings. If you are so pressed for time and money isn't an object then you can pick a diet that where they deliver you food.
Dieting is easy, just burn more calories than you take in - staying on a diet is hard! The hardest part about any diet is keeping your motivation; therefore, you must pick a diet that excites you to stay the course.
Professor Tom Laurie
author of The Losing Attitude for Dieters
|
Sunflower
New Member
| Joined: | 7 Aug 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
|
Posted: 10 Aug 2011 06:30 pm |
|
Hi Bruce
My experience of various 'faddy' diets that I have done is that they make me feel sick, dizzy or ill. I did the cabbage soup at one time and I felt faint all of the time and to this day I cannot bear the smell of cabbage cooking!!!!!!!!!!!!! In short, each time I tried a diet that made me feel this way, I simply told myself that I would rather be fat and feel really well and of course quit the diet.
I have reduced my calories per day and I eat the low GI way. It is fantastic! It is eating healthy foods (that I love), but it's a way of eating that makes you feel fuller for longer. I love this feeling. It keeps the hunger pangs away and makes you feel satisified for longer. I've had to read so many books on low Glycemic Index/Foods to grasp it. The low GI in my opinion is a way of life or an eating plan. Don't use the 'D' word and banish the scales.
Of course I have increased my exercising but that's another story............
 Best wishes
Sunflower
|
JSABD
Distinguished Member
|
Posted: 11 Aug 2011 03:00 am |
|
I endorse Fuhrman, Richard Simmons, Dean Ornish, Pritikin, American Heart Association for their nutrition. The final goal is to improve health. Good nutrition and exercise maintains good health.
I don't call weight loss plans diets because everyone is on a diet. If you are fat chances are your dietary choices suck. Most lean people would be wise to eat better.
The major flaw in all "diets" is that most people don't stick with them. Part of it is that the nutritional plan is flawed. The other problem is that the dieter is not mentally prepared to man up or woman up whichever the case may be. CPH has a tough love forum if you need your fattitude knocked out.
IMO the best diet is one that provide optimal nutrition first and foremost. Then it needs to be something to which the dieter will adhere.
The dieters who are successful are the ones who do it for altruistic reasons and personal responsibility. When they admit and realize that their failure to get lean is a matter of not doing what is required rather than can't do what is required they have no excuses for failure.
|
Smarty
Senior Member
|
Posted: 14 Aug 2011 12:35 pm |
|
Nir wrote: The thing tying your 4 diets together is that they are fad diets.
You could try an evidence-based diet like Eat To Live by Dr Joel Fuhrman (which happens to come recommended by this website)
Has it worked for me? It helped me lose the last few pounds and then crucially also to maintain my weight loss for quite a few years
How can you call SouthBeach a 'fad' diet? I don't do low carb but I have plenty of friends who make it their lifestyle. You can't eliminate the science behind it.
|
Nir
Senior Administrator
|
Posted: 14 Aug 2011 01:08 pm |
|
| Read this
|
SmittenKitten
New Member
| Joined: | 23 Jul 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 22 |
|
Posted: 29 Aug 2011 12:02 am |
|
Nir wrote: Read this
Well, I read it and I think it's BS.
Where does Dr F get the idea that the South Beach Diet recommends that people get 60 per cent of their calorie intake from animal products? 
And does he really think that people should get 30-60 per cent of their calories from green vegetables?
And what has he got against fish?
I do agree with Dr F's assessment that switching back and forth between Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet is setting someone up for weight cycling. I saw it happen all the time on the South Beach forum I used to post on. But as I said upthread, I don't think Phase 1 is a good idea anyway.
But I fail to see what's faddish about eating lean protein, low-fat dairy, lots of vegetables (but not several pounds in one meal), up to three serves of fruit a day, up to three serves of "good carbs" a day, and limited quantities of "good fats". That's in line with the vast majority of mainstream dietary advice. The optimal proportions depend on the individual; as I said before, we have to find a way to make any diet work for us.
This is all beside the point, since the OP hasn't been back, but I think if anyone is promoting a fad diet around here, it's Dr F, not Dr A.
|
Nir
Senior Administrator
|
Posted: 29 Aug 2011 06:04 am |
|
Yes, Dr F wants you to get 30-60% of your calories from vegetables excluding white potatos. Some of those should be green, but this number includes non-green vegetables including both non-starchy (like tomato) and starchy (like peas, sweetcorn, butternut squash and sweet potato). Achieving 30-60% would be a lot more challenging if you restricted it to green vegetables.
The main concern Dr F has with fish is pollution (mercury and PCB). He directs certain groups (the elderly, those with auto-immune disorders, those with mood disorders) to take fish oil. (Indeed he tells the elderly to eat some meat too). With him it is all about balancing risks - for the healthy person not in these groups the risk of pollutants in the fish makes it wiser to get your Omega 3 from other sources.
I have not made a personal study of the south beach diet so I don't know where the "60% animal products" figure comes from, but remember that all calories from meat, fish, eggs and diary would count as "animal product" as far as Dr F is concerned. May I assume you are following the diet? May I ask what % of your calories come from meat, fish, eggs and dairy? (just to gain some insight to why you are disputing the figure)
EDIT: and would you expect someone still following Phase 1 to be eating 60% of their calories from meat, fish, eggs and diary if they were typical of someone following this diet?Last edited on 29 Aug 2011 06:08 am by Nir
|
SmittenKitten
New Member
| Joined: | 23 Jul 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 22 |
|
Posted: 29 Aug 2011 07:21 am |
|
Nir wrote:
Yes, Dr F wants you to get 30-60% of your calories from vegetables excluding white potatos. Some of those should be green, but this number includes non-green vegetables including both non-starchy (like tomato) and starchy (like peas, sweetcorn, butternut squash and sweet potato). Achieving 30-60% would be a lot more challenging if you restricted it to green vegetables.
Even including non-green vegetables, I personally consider getting 60% of your calories from vegetables to be more than a little excessive. And didn't you say on another thread that you used to eat 2-3 pounds of salad in one sitting?
Nir wrote:
The main concern Dr F has with fish is pollution (mercury and PCB)...
I suspected that may be the case, but since I don't live in the US/Canada, and our fish is uncontaminated, that's not an issue for me.
Nir wrote:
I have not made a personal study of the south beach diet so I don't know where the "60% animal products" figure comes from, but remember that all calories from meat, fish, eggs and diary would count as "animal product" as far as Dr F is concerned. May I assume you are following the diet?
I assume that the "60% animal products" figure relates to the low-carb Phase 1, and if that's the case, I think Dr F is grossly misrepresenting the South Beach Diet. There's no way someone on Phase 2 or 3 would (or should) get 60% or their calories from animal products.
And yes, as I mentioned upthread, I have been following the South Beach Diet for nearly 8 years, and it - together with a lot of exercise - has helped me to maintain a 90 pound weight loss.
Nir wrote:
May I ask what % of your calories come from meat, fish, eggs and dairy? (just to gain some insight to why you are disputing the figure)
I couldn't answer with any precision, but after experimenting a bit I arrived at my optimal macronutrient ratio of roughly one-third of my calories from protein; one-third from carbs (whole grains, vegetables and fruit); and one-third from "good fats" (nuts, avocado, salmon, olive oil etc).
I should also add that the South Beach Diet isn't rigidly prescriptive, but dieters are encouraged to follow the broad guidelines and figure out how to adapt it to their own needs.
Nir wrote:
EDIT: and would you expect someone still following Phase 1 to be eating 60% of their calories from meat, fish, eggs and diary if they were typical of someone following this diet?
I guess so, but Phase 1 is a two-week introductory phase designed to cure dieters of their cravings for processed carbs - and shed some water weight into the bargain, which gives dieters a psychological boost.
Phase 1 is not representative of the diet, but critics seem to latch onto it when they criticise SB as being low-carb. Phase 2 and 3 of the South Beach Diet are "carb controlled" or "moderate carb" - not low-carb.
And at the risk of beating a dead horse...
... I'll just ask you whether my diet of lean protein (including seafood), low-fat dairy, lots of vegetables, moderate amounts of fruit, whole grains and moderate amounts of "good fats" - and no sugar, or any processed food other than protein powder - sounds like a "fad diet"?
|
Nir
Senior Administrator
|
Posted: 29 Aug 2011 09:44 am |
|
didn't you say on another thread that you used to eat 2-3 pounds of salad in one sitting?
Other people have a different use for the word 'salad'. I am about to eat a container with 1933g (4.3lb) of food over the next few hours. Yet it only contains 515g (1.1lb) of vegetables (green or otherwise). The rest of it is fruit, beans, avocado, white potato and some nuts and seeds.
I guess it follows that whilst I have managed to follow Dr Fuhrman's recommendation of eating 1lb of raw vegetables, I have not managed to achieve 30% from vegetables. Those vegetables are probably only 100 calories so they are less than 5% of my intake (estaimated to total 2500-3000 calories including everything I'll be eating today).
I am definitely making nutrient-dense produce "my main dish" thoguh.
Phase 1 is not representative of the diet
Critics of SB may be confusing Phase 1 with Atkins Induction. Although 'induction' is also a 2-week phase, those who tolerate it well or have much to lose are encouraged to stay on it for longer.
I'll just ask you whether my diet of lean protein (including seafood), low-fat dairy, lots of vegetables, moderate amounts of fruit, whole grains and moderate amounts of "good fats" - and no sugar, or any processed food other than protein powder - sounds like a "fad diet"?
No, I agree it does not sound fad-ish.
Going back to my choice to only derive ~5% of my calories from "vegetables", it goes to interpretting the guidelines. I could have had more peas and sweet potatos but right now beans and fruit are more available so big deal.
However, if someone else choses to interpret (or should that be mis-interpret) South Beach to mean it is ok to stay on Phase 1 forever, hopefully we can agree we think that is the behaviour of a 'fad follower'
I used to eat the way you do (I am assuming here that you are deriving 25-50% of your calories from animal products) and now much less. Yesterday I had a small amount of lamb kidney - 50 calories so approximatley 1.7%-2% of my daily intake. I believe in reading about nutrition and keep reading things that challenge my beliefs (so no, I don't just read Fuhrman).
|
SmittenKitten
New Member
| Joined: | 23 Jul 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 22 |
|
Posted: 29 Aug 2011 03:15 pm |
|
Nir wrote:
Critics of SB may be confusing Phase 1 with Atkins Induction. Although 'induction' is also a 2-week phase, those who tolerate it well or have much to lose are encouraged to stay on it for longer.
I think that happens a lot. Dieters on South Beach are encouraged to stay on Phase 1 for only two weeks, then transition to Phase 2 by adding in grains and fruit. Pregnant women, people who exercise a lot and others with special dietary needs are advised to go straight to Phase 2.
Nir wrote:
However, if someone else choses to interpret (or should that be mis-interpret) South Beach to mean it is ok to stay on Phase 1 forever, hopefully we can agree we think that is the behaviour of a 'fad follower'
Yes we can agree on that point - but if someone misinterprets the diet by being a 'fad follower', that doesn't make the diet itself a fad diet. As I mentioned upthread, the articles on LiveStrong (with which this site is affiliated) provide a balanced critique of the South Beach Diet, so I don't think it's helpful to post links to biased articles written by competing diet authors.
Nir wrote:
I believe in reading about nutrition and keep reading things that challenge my beliefs (so no, I don't just read Fuhrman).
I read widely on nutrition too and have adapted my diet over the years. I don't slavishly follow the South Beach Diet, but I am grateful that I read the book because it clearly explains the link between processed carbs, insulin production and diabetes, and it got me started on a very healthy and sustainable way of eating.
|
getfit
New Member
| Joined: | 30 Aug 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
|
Posted: 30 Aug 2011 11:44 am |
|
| Well, the problem with HCG diet is you are practically starving yourself with the 500 calories intake. My brother got me started on some Advocare products and I have have been having great results. The first 3 weeks i dropped 18 lbs, now after 2 months im down 24lbs. I like it because it's based on omega 3 fish oil, probiotics, amino acids. I just follow a healthy diet along with the supplements. He was introduced to this line by the strength coach at a D1 college. They also have some pretty cool products for working out and muscle gain. I never tried south beach, but my 2 goods friends have had no luck. Good luck
|
Steve7214
New Member
| Joined: | 1 Sep 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
|
Posted: 1 Sep 2011 07:04 am |
|
Hi from another new one who has just been watching and reading, I too would just like to lose around 10 Lb's
To answer BruceJenkins12 the best one I have tried is a self - hypnosis CD, but you have to listen to it every month, there has to be a better solution in the way we eat stuff.
I still scour the internet and try different things - tried Atkins & South Beach, they work for a while.
However if like me you travel a lot the weight loss CD was brilliant for jet lag!
Lets keep talking and looking and trying - something will work once we find the key but unfortunately everybody is different so no cure all I guess.
|
ravella90
New Member
| Joined: | 3 Sep 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 9 |
|
Posted: 4 Sep 2011 03:25 pm |
|
hey bruce Im a trainer in Brooklyn , new york for two gyms. eating right is the first step to success but you also need a weight training routine. i would avoid the FAD diets that you mentioned. contact me for any questions.
|
LowCalGirl
New Member
| Joined: | 4 Sep 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 4 |
|
Posted: 5 Sep 2011 02:05 am |
|
I am tired of FAD diets - they just don't work. I think it's really about making a long-term change in your diet lifestyle, how you view food - your relationship to it.
It's about a making the long term change to increase nutrient intake while eliminating the junk. If you jump on a FAD for short term and revert back to your old ways you will revert back to your old weight.
|
Steve7214
New Member
| Joined: | 1 Sep 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
|
Posted: 5 Sep 2011 10:28 am |
|
Lowcalgirl,
You are probably right but I think the secret is realizing that everyone is different so what suits one person may not suit another, maybe because they are vegetarian or even diabetic but even these people need to lose weight.
I look around 2-3 times a week to what is around and the best one to date I have tried is a self-hypnosis weight loss CD, but again you needed to apply it fairly frequently - I put it on my Ipod so I could access it anytime and it did work and even to date I still use it although not ideal it sort of works to keep me in check. - As a side it is brilliant at helping you get over jet lag!
But I am convinced it is what we eat that governs our metabolism so will continue to search out - let me know if you find anything.Last edited on 5 Sep 2011 10:31 am by Steve7214
|
brucejenkins12
New Member
| Joined: | 5 Aug 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 2 |
|
Posted: 6 Sep 2011 03:20 pm |
|
| Just wanting to report on where I'm at. I checked out Eat To Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. In the beginning it was hard to remember which foods to go for and not, but I've lost 15 lbs as I've stayed diligent on it. Thanks for the suggestion Nir!
|
Nir
Senior Administrator
|
Posted: 7 Sep 2011 10:08 am |
|
| 15lbs in the first month? sounds fantastic. but if you've read the book you know it is about health as much as it is about weight loss. thanks for checking in and keep it up
|
LindsayK
New Member
|
Posted: 5 Oct 2011 12:25 am |
|
Nir wrote:
The thing tying your 4 diets together is that they are fad diets.
You could try an evidence-based diet like Eat To Live by Dr Joel Fuhrman (which happens to come recommended by this website)
Has it worked for me? It helped me lose the last few pounds and then crucially also to maintain my weight loss for quite a few years
I second that. Diets don't work, unless you want to be a hamster on a wheel for the rest of your life. You must incorporate healthy lifestyle changes that work for you. No two people are the same, so what works for one may not work for another. Bio-individuality. I studied with Dr Fuhrman, he is quite amazing.
|
blahguy
New Member
| Joined: | 6 Oct 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
|
Posted: 6 Oct 2011 01:33 pm |
|
You should talk to a physician and setup an Exercise/Eating/Supplement package that best works for you as an individual indeed. I have met with several and went through several consults with various physicians/nutritionist and more. The best thing I have found that works -for me- is the HCG diet. BUT, that being said, i have done the HCG diet 3 times. I did it the first time and just did it totally wrong. so i gave up with no loss. The second time, i talked to a nutritionist and setup kind of like an eating/calorie plan. That failed.. My last attempt, I heard a radio show on Toginet.com with a doctor talking about this diet and how it works and how it should be done properly to work effectively. This sparked my interest with diet again so I called and scheduled since I was in the area, WOW, 47 lbs so far and steadily dropping (49 days in). If you are going to do it DO IT RIGHT. No matter what diet you chose. The Dr. I spoke with was Dr. Pieter DeWet out of Texas. He does phone consults which was very convenient. Ordered their package and followed his guide (he give free support group telecalls too )and it is working so well. I cant praise him enough. So if you are SERIOUS about it, call a doctor, get on a diet and do it correctly.
|
lindsaypink
New Member
| Joined: | 21 Oct 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 7 |
|
Posted: 21 Oct 2011 05:53 am |
|
Hi have tried many diets before and failed, because they work all temporary.
Best you can do is eat normal no cookies and candy.
But most important do some exercises every day for 15 minutes.
With this you never need a diet anymore.
Lindsay.
|
Steampunk
Distinguished Member
|
Posted: 22 Oct 2011 05:30 pm |
|
15 minutes doesn't sound like enough to me. It's better than nothing but I think 30+ minutes would be better. I could be wrong but I dunno.
Don't think of it as a "diet", that's when you set yourself up to fail and feel negative. It's a lifestyle change. A diet is sort of temporary, it doesn't last. A change to your actual way of living is permanent. Do things you can maintain so you don't gain a lot of weight back.
|
Noel
New Member
| Joined: | 6 Nov 2011 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 1 |
|
Posted: 6 Nov 2011 12:01 pm |
|
There is a new study out that once again gives Weight Watchers high marks. People following Weight Watchers lost significantly more weight than those in other programs. Clinical programs were especially bad. You can read about it here http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2011/11/04/weighing-weight-loss-programs
Noel
|
Current time is 01:11 am | |
|
