Getting back in shape

[diver_0925]

A fellow fireman told me about a diet pill that he lost about 40 lbs on in about 6 weeks. Its called phentermine. Its the phen (1) from phen - phen. Phen (2) was the ingriedient that was geting people sick. He swears by it.

[divingyogini]

Originally Posted by diver_0925

A fellow fireman told me about a diet pill that he lost about 40 lbs on in about 6 weeks. Its called phentermine. Its the phen (1) from phen - phen. Phen (2) was the ingriedient that was geting people sick. He swears by it.

This drug has been linked to causing heart disease. From everything I hear it's very dangerous.

But, any diet which has you drop weight with the use of a drug means you either have to stay on the drug or risk the rebound effect and regain the weight.

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, other than burn more calories than you consume, and cut out high fructose corn syrup and trans fats from your diet (easier said than done-even pickles have high fructose corn syrup!)

[divingchef]

MissyB,

it really a semantic thing for me.....if I call it a diet, it wont work....and I don´t really see it as a diet......I have found that it allows your body to return to "ground zero" and restart from there......I sort of "reset" my alimentary lifestyle and re-instate only the foodstuffs I consider to be important....if you love french fries and can mentally remove that "love" from your eating portfolio, you will no longer crave them....I guess its just a game I play with my mind when I make this change...It works for me, call what you like....I went from a 42 waist to a 35 waist in 4 months...and I have more energy and feel better than ever.....but I do occaisionally still miss the beer.....(:

[Goober]

I'm a fairly good weight for my height. However, I look like I swallowed a soccer ball. I'd like to get from 200 down to 185 but my work schedual doesn't really permit much of anything. Guess I'll have to wait until spring till the Y's pool opens back up.

[cheebaweebie]

I would like to make a suggestion on what works for me. I found my best weight at 182 6'2. I would say I am fairly fit. I work out say 3 time a week but as a few other posts on this thread mentioned diet is key. Cardio is good but people can overdo it on cardio. But a high quality meal replacement shake and drink as a meal. Eat smaller portions 5 to 6 times daily. Higher protein and lower carbs and limit carbs to whole grains that don't have an affect on insulin levels (no white breads or enriched flours) Chicken, turkey, lean beef. I have been working out for around 10 years consistently and spend 4 yrs in the Marines (Semper Fi !!) in my early 20's. This works for me and may not work for everyone. I don't do much cardio and drink lots of beer but I stay active at 35. My avatar was a pic taken in August of this year... I'm no expert but I do what works and the key for me has been what I eat and how.

[cummings66]

I've got to say, divingchef's starvation diet sounds as appealing as bamboo shoots under my fingernails. While I might eat those foods and enjoy them, there is no way I could remain active on that many calories a day.

I think the best diet is a restriction of calories and an increase in activity to boost how many calories a day you burn. I have found for myself that I can not limit my foods that way and not have a terrible rebound once I'm freed from the diet.

Moderation is the key, and sadly I lack it.

[teog]

Originally Posted by cummings66

I've got to say, divingchef's starvation diet sounds as appealing as bamboo shoots under my fingernails. While I might eat those foods and enjoy them, there is no way I could remain active on that many calories a day.

I think the best diet is a restriction of calories and an increase in activity to boost how many calories a day you burn. I have found for myself that I can not limit my foods that way and not have a terrible rebound once I'm freed from the diet.

Moderation is the key, and sadly I lack it.

I agree with lower calories and multiple smaller meals a day.

[Kingpatzer]

Basically there's a few key points:

1) you need to do cardio, but not necessarily intense cardio. If you've not worked out in years and have to drop more than 10# or so, start with walking or swimming or other low impact exercises at a moderate pace.

2) you need to change your diet. People eating proper portions of healthy food do not get fat. Eat whole grains, whole fruits, nuts and veggies, lean meats, avoid added fats, processed sugars, exessive red meat etc. Keep your caloric intake low enough that you'll lose about 1# a week without any exercise. That's low enough to lose weight, but not so low that you start metabolising your own muscle. You need to never go back to your old diet again. This is not a transitional step. This is not a diet you'll get off of eventually. If you got fat, it was because you weren't eating healthily. Eath healthy from now on. On the plus side -- people who show a mild caloric deficit in their daily diet live longer than people who show an equally mild caloric excess.

3) you need to resistence training to build muscle. Muscle burns more calories just doing nothing than fat does. Weight lifting, pillates, etc., builds muscle more efficiently than cardio does. Lifting, even modereately, raises your resting metabolism and burns calories. This means that you'll have an easier time losing weight, and keeping it off once it's gone.

Everything else is gimmicks. Anyone who claims you can do it without doing those 3 steps is seriously misinformed. Anyone who claims you need to do more is equally misinformed. Both are probably trying to sell you something.

[cummings66]

Originally Posted by Kingpatzer

2) you need to change your diet. People eating proper portions of healthy food do not get fat. Eat whole grains, whole

The qualification here is that you eat a proper portion for your bodies needs and not somebody who's a similar build. I know skinny people who eat 3 times the amount of food I do and they're skin and bones.

[Kingpatzer]

Originally Posted by cummings66

The qualification here is that you eat a proper portion for your bodies needs and not somebody who's a similar build. I know skinny people who eat 3 times the amount of food I do and they're skin and bones.

Sure -- but I bet those skinny people are actually lean muscle and bones, not just skin

That's why I qualified it with eat about as much as would allow you to lose 1# a week without exercise. More than that is too much and less than that will put your body into starvation mode.