Bad Diet Advice(?)

[dgs49]

I am currently at the top end of my weight spectrum (about 210 lbs), so have started a diet. With my normal active lifestyle (vigorous exercise at least 5 times a week), losing weight is usually fairly quick and painless, although it takes me months to reach the point where I will actually start a diet.

So this time around I decided to "season" my diet with artificial protein. It is a 1200 cal/day diet (normally low enough to lose at least 1/2 lb/day), but includes a protein shake for breakfast, and a protein bar late afternoon.

After ten days, two pounds lost. Normally, at this level and by this time I would have lost at least 10 pounds, with the rate decreasing to about 1/2 pound per day.

I am assuming that the whey protein is playing a role in this lack of weight loss, and am switching to my "normal" diet today, to wit: 300 calorie breakfast, piece of fruit at 10 o'clock, 300 calorie lunch, piece of fruit at 3 o'clock, 300 calorie dinner, and a container of low-fat yogurt at 8pm.

We'll see.

[Daisy]

Depends on what's in the protein shake, many of them include quite a lot of additional sugar so you need to make sure you're on the right type for weight loss.

Also protein based diets only really work if you're cutting out carbs and that means fruit and starchy vegetables are out. And citric acids can stop you from burning up the protein, so no lemon, lime or oranges.

You're probably better off on your traditional diet.

[Rick]

Calories is calories...

[dales]

I'd offer advice but it's only worth what YOU paid for it.

[Gob]

I use protein shakes, actually whey protein in milk, the commercial types, as has been said are full of shite. Anything going in has to be balanced against normal diet, there's no such thing as a free protein drink. It's probably a good idea to supplement a bit Dave, it helps recovery and builds muscle.

The stuff I use is just whey, no additives.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Got some curds for that whey Little Miss Muffet?

[Gob]

Dave, I've seen 0.4 to 0.6 g per pound of body weight recommended. I'm on 100 g whey protein a day at present, plus whatever else I get in the way of protein I get from my food intake.

When I was a pure vegetarian I really needed the extra protein to keep up my muscle mass, for exercise and adventure reasons.

[Joe Guy]

Losing two pounds in 10 days is realistic & much healthier in the long run. 10 pounds would be mostly water weight with little fat loss.

The protein was helping maintain muscle mass, which is good.

But the problem with a 1200 calorie diet is it's not something you can live on.

If you don't change your diet permanently you'll eventually gain all the weight back in time.

Don't be impatient. Be consistent.

[rubato]

An obsessive concern with the minutia of dieting and weight is a form of tiresome self-absorption.

Your diet is working. Enough.

yrs,
rubato

[Crackpot]

And that is coming from someone who knows something about tiresome self absorption.

[Rick]

I've seen tires that are self sealing, they would let you get rid of that "Spare"...

[dgs49]

I'm basing my self-observations on my previous rate of weight loss at 1200 calories per day, and even including my supplemental protein I've stayed within spitting distance of 1200 calories.

Two parties and a wedding over the weekend. Hmmm.

[Joe Guy]

It's virtually impossible for the average overweight person to lose 10 pounds of fat within 10 days of dieting without surgery or an accidental loss of a part of one's body.

[Crackpot]

What about an intentional loss of part of ones body?

It happens

[Joe Guy]

What about an intentional loss of part of ones body?

I suppose that's another alternative as long as the body part weighs around 10 pounds.

But I doubt that is a very popular weight loss method.

Maybe you could write a new weight loss book and make money off of it.

You might want to call it 'Lose weight without dieting' or 'You don't really need that left arm do you?'

[dales]

Giving birth.

[Gob]

My obsessive concern with the minutia of lead in rice is a form of tiresome self-absorption.
yrs,
rubato

Fixed.

[Long Run]

So, Dave, what happened when you went back to your normal low-calorie consumption diet? Seems if you take in 1200 calories and expend about 3000 during a day, you will lose about 1/2 pound per day. The protein shake either had more calories than you thought, or it increased your water retention (maybe it has a lot of salt or sugar that would cause this). But why would you go with a protein shake rather than just eat 1/2 a chicken breast with some nice seasonings, or have some Greek yogurt, nonfat, with some fresh berries? You get real protein that actually tastes good, win-win over a protein shake.

[dgs49]

OK, to recap. A couple months ago I stepped on the scale and it was reading about 215. I then started thinking it was time to diet and did some minor cutting back.

On Monday, May 6, I weighed myself (210), and went on my high (whey) protein, 1200 calorie diet.

On May 16th, I complained here that I had only lost a couple of pounds in ten days - say I was 208 (scale is accurate but not perfect). I then shifted to a straight 1200-1300 calorie diet. Last weekend I had a couple parties and a wedding and ate "normally," which probably had the effect of setting me back a few days.

This morning I was 204. So dating from May 6 through May 24, I lost 6 pounds in 18 days. Since the diet itself is very tolerable, and since I have shot myself in the foot a couple times over the 18 days, I think the rate of loss is tolerable. If I had stuck to it diligently I'd have lost a few more pounds, and there is nothing in the next month I'm aware of that will result in a "binge."

I'll have my Speedo figure by the 4th of July. I'm going to Copenhagen to start a Baltic cruise on August 11th. It would be fantabulous if I could be below 185 by then.

[Lord Jim]

I'll have my Speedo figure by the 4th of July.