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S.B.G

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Sep 8, 2010
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Well the science does not back it up, the science backs up what i was saying actually, though ketosis the body can get the energy it needs without carbs. I know plenty of people that have been on low carb diets for many years and they cant speak highly enough of a high protein low carb diet. Im currently on a low carb, high protein diet and i feel amazing.

Sure, that's right because the body doesn't get what it is supposed to get and seeks alternatives for energy - that's not the way the body intends to work. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are certain risks that go with such a drastic diet.

Risks

If you suddenly and drastically cut carbs, you may experience a variety of temporary health effects, including:

  • Headache
  • Bad breath
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Constipation or diarrhea
In addition, some diets restrict carbohydrate intake so much that in the long term they can result in vitamin or mineral deficiencies, bone loss, and gastrointestinal disturbances and may increase risks for various chronic diseases.

Severely restricting carbohydrates to less than 20 grams a day can result in a process called ketosis. Ketosis occurs when you don't have enough sugar (glucose) for energy, so your body breaks down stored fat, causing ketones to build up in your body. Side effects from ketosis can include nausea, headache, mental and physical fatigue, and bad breath.

It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose because most research studies have lasted less than a year. Some health experts believe that if you eat large amounts of fat and protein from animal sources your risk of heart disease or certain cancers may actually increase.

If taken too far can lead to ketoacidosis according to WebMD.
Ketoacidosis
Ketoacidosis is what happens when ketosis goes too far. Ketones build up in your blood, and it becomes acidic. Ketoacidosis can cause a coma or death.

People with diabetes can get ketoacidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), when they don't take enough insulin. They can also get DKA when they're sick or injured, or they don't get enough fluids and become dehydrated.

Some people without diabetes can get ketoacidosis, too. It's caused by alcoholism, starvation, or an overactive thyroid. A healthy low-carb diet shouldn't cause a problem.

If you have these symptoms, call your doctor:

  • Thirstiness or a dry mouth
  • Peeing a lot
  • Feeling tired
  • Dry or flushed skin
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
  • Throwing up
  • Trouble breathing
  • Confusion
  • Fruity-smelling breath
  • Pain in your belly
When you have diabetes, throwing up can be especially dangerous. Although DKA usually starts off slowly, throwing up can speed up the process so that it happens in just a few hours. Call your doctor if you've been throwing up for 2 hours.

Ketosis and ketoacidosis can be especially dangerous for diabetics like myself. These fad diets are not anything I'd recommend to anyone trying to lose weight. But at the end of the day, you do whatever you want to do.
 

Huntn

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
May 5, 2008
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The Misty Mountains
Im a 6 foot 2 male and was 110kg 6 weeks ago. I decided to make a lifestyle choice and change my diet. No fast foods, no sugar drinks, Low carb and high protein. Carbs are not needed, you need to eat more carbs per calorie to fill you up compared to protein. So 100 calories of protein will fill you up more then 100 calories of carbs.

Im now 98kg so ive lost 12kg in 6 weeks. The trick is to just eat healthy and cut carbs, quick weight loss diets don't usually work because you are likely to put the weight back on
[doublepost=1461804372][/doublepost]

Well no, carbs are not needed, the body can get the energy it needs though Ketosis. However it's nearly impossible to completely cut out carbs so even on a low carb diet you are still getting enough carbs. If you are going to eat carbs you are right you should stick to whole grains and starchy vegetables.

The training I received in medical school, as well as the advice of those who hold degrees in exercise physiology and nutrition, lead me to believe that this is dangerous advice and should be avoided.

Much agreed. The science backs this up too.

To me a very low or, no carb, diet is one of those fad diets that aren't sustainable.

From my own experience with the Atkins diet about 15 years ago, I know it can be used to drop weight fast. I lost 40 pounds with it, however, it's only good for short term, a serious lifestyle change must happen, that includes a balanced diet and exercise, and it's not a healthy diet especially for an older person. Typically high colesterol intake causing lipids to sky rocket. The hard part- as I weened myself off this diet, I gained the weight back.
 

ardchoille50

macrumors 68020
Feb 6, 2014
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From my own experience with the Atkins diet about 15 years ago, I know it can be used to drop weight fast. I lost 40 pounds with it, however, it's only good for short term, a serious lifestyle change must happen, that includes a balanced diet and exercise, and it's not a healthy diet especially for an older person. Typically high colesterol intake causing lipids to sky rocket. The hard part- as I weened myself off this diet, I gained the weight back.
That's the problem with almost any diet, as soon as you go off the diet and return to your old eating habits, you gain all the weight back. The reason for gaining all of the weight back is because your old eating habits were responsible for being overweight to begin with.

Many people don't realize this and assume that they failed to follow the diet so they try the diet again - this known as the yo-yo effect.

If you want to lose the weight and keep it off you would need to find a diet you'll be happy with for the rest of your life - you can never return to your old eating habits unless you want to gain the weight back.

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to follow some simple rules:
* discuss weight loss with your physician
* adopt a healthy diet
* adopt an exercise regimen
 
Last edited:

mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,353
The Anthropocene
That's the problem with almost any diet, as soon as you go off the diet and return to your old eating habits, you gain all the weight back. The reason for gaining all of the weight back is because your old eating habits were responsible for being overweight to begin with.

Many people don't realize this and assume that they failed to follow the diet so they try the diet again - this known as the yo-yo effect.

If you want to lose the weight and keep it off you would need to find a diet you'll be happy with for the rest of your life - you can never return to your old eating habits unless you want to gain the weight back.

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to follow some simple rules:
* discuss weight loss with your physician
* adopt a healthy diet
* adopt an exercise regimen

Ahh, the Eat Healthy and Exercise Diet! Pretty radical! ;)
 

tobefirst ⚽️

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2005
4,612
2,335
St. Louis, MO
I've been pretty healthy for the last few years: I run, I cycle, play tennis, try not to eat too much. I used MyFitnessPal in the past to get my weight down to a level I hadn't seen since high school, but in the past year, every time I tried to get back on the MFP bandwagon, I'd lose interest pretty quickly. I'm working on losing around 10 pounds that I'd gained back.

I feel like I'm making progress now, though, due to two things: instead of using MFP as a single user with friends, my wife and I are sharing an account. We have a certain number of Calories that we share for the day, meaning if I go over my allotment, I'm eating into hers. It wasn't working lately to have two separate accounts as, psychologically, it wasn't affecting me enough if I went over. This has changed by sharing one account (and renaming the meals to "tobefirst" and "mrs. tobefirst"). And second, I finally picked up an activity tracker and have been religious about getting my steps in, which means getting up from my desk regularly. I haven't missed my goal (growing to >13k steps now) since January. Yesterday was a banner day: almost 25k steps.

I understand that muscles like for workouts to be changed up in order for growth to continue. I'm learning that the mental side of weight loss and maintenance for me is the same way.
 
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ardchoille50

macrumors 68020
Feb 6, 2014
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I've been pretty healthy for the last few years: I run, I cycle, play tennis, try not to eat too much. I used MyFitnessPal in the past to get my weight down to a level I hadn't seen since high school, but in the past year, every time I tried to get back on the MFP bandwagon, I'd lose interest pretty quickly. I'm working on losing around 10 pounds that I'd gained back.

I feel like I'm making progress now, though, due to two things: instead of using MFP as a single user with friends, my wife and I are sharing an account. We have a certain number of Calories that we share for the day, meaning if I go over my allotment, I'm eating into hers. It wasn't working lately to have two separate accounts as, psychologically, it wasn't affecting me enough if I went over. This has changed by sharing one account (and renaming the meals to "tobefirst" and "mrs. tobefirst"). And second, I finally picked up an activity tracker and have been religious about getting my steps in, which means getting up from my desk regularly. I haven't missed my goal (growing to >13k steps now) since January. Yesterday was a banner day: almost 25k steps.

I understand that muscles like for workouts to be changed up in order for growth to continue. I'm learning that the mental side of weight loss and maintenance for me is the same way.
The mental side. Yes, our state of mind has a direct effect on our weight. Stress, depression, anxiety, and many other factors contribute to eating when we're not hungry or eating for comfort.

Our desire to change must be stronger than our desire to remain the same.
 

S.B.G

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 8, 2010
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Detroit
It was legs day this morning and it was brutal. 10 sets and 272 reps of just squats alone! Then 7 sets and 175 reps of seated calf raises and one set, 20 reps of standing calf raises. All done in a pyramid style, increasing weight with every set, and decreasing reps each set. Total weight lifted: 33,790lbs. I'm not expecting to walk very well for a few days now. Today's leg session was based on Doug Brignole's routines.
 
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Huntn

macrumors Penryn
Original poster
May 5, 2008
24,025
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The Misty Mountains
It was legs day this morning and it was brutal. 10 sets and 272 reps of just squats alone! Then 7 sets and 175 reps of seated calf raises and one set, 20 reps of standing calf raises. All done in a pyramid style, increasing weight with every set, and decreasing reps each set. Total weight lifted: 33,790lbs. I'm not expecting to walk very well for a few days now. Today's leg session was based on Doug Brignole's routines.

Ouch. I'll be honest and say that I've always resisted the idea of being married to a gym, that's why I ran, out doors, sunshine, watching the trees go by (also rain, snow, sub zero temps on occasion :p), but yet here I am spending 6 hrs a week at the Y. ;)
 
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Gutwrench

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Jan 2, 2011
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I agree with your philosophy.

If you want to lose the weight and keep it off you would need to find a diet you'll be happy with for the rest of your life...

Yep. Weight control and fitness is a life style.

The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to follow some simple rules:
* discuss weight loss with your physician
* adopt a healthy diet
* adopt an exercise regimen

I wrestled until I was 35 years old and cut tons of weight both healthily and not. But my best weight management education came from lifting and amateur bb.

*Consult a doc
*Identify a reasonable exercise regimen (everyone is an expert -- beware of club trainers -- so educate youself well)
*Identify the RMR
*Calc the adjusted RMR based on your exercise program
*Eat a balanced diet according to your goal and adjusted RMR
*Adjust the diet as you approach the goal for maintenance

Anything physical is hard. I learned long ago mental toughness need's developed. The brain will quit long before the body needs to.
 

997440

Cancelled
Oct 11, 2015
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It was legs day this morning and it was brutal. 10 sets and 272 reps of just squats alone! Then 7 sets and 175 reps of seated calf raises and one set, 20 reps of standing calf raises. All done in a pyramid style, increasing weight with every set, and decreasing reps each set. Total weight lifted: 33,790lbs. I'm not expecting to walk very well for a few days now. Today's leg session was based on Doug Brignole's routines.
Just reading this session doubled the hitch in my get-along. Proof that work-outs are personally based. What's good for one isn't necessarily for another, and on a different day wouldn't be for either. I'm doing a couple of different whole body routines. Your pointing out Doug Brignole earlier in the thread helped me quite a bit, especially so with shoulders. Whether one is experienced or not, he's well worth checking out online. He emphasizes safety and efficiency.
 
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Phil A.

Moderator emeritus
Apr 2, 2006
5,800
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Shropshire, UK
IMO, LCHF is a brilliant way to kick start weight loss and promote a healthier lifestyle but I wouldn't want to do it for an extended period of time.

18 months ago, I weighed 265lbs with a 44" waist: I now weigh 150lbs with a 29" waist. I did this by starting with 6 months of extreme LCHF (less than 20g carbs a day) and once I'd lost some weight, I upped my exercise and gradually re-introduced carbs back into my diet

I still track everything in MyFitnessPal and stick strictly to less than 2500 calories a day and make sure I get plenty of fresh vegetables and no (or very little) processed food. I also don't drink alcohol or eat takeaways at all

Exercise wise, I play squash, soccer and run regularly

Losing the weight was the best thing I've ever done: I'm 50 this year and feel better, fitter and healthier than I have since my 20's
 
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Cooljam

macrumors newbie
Apr 28, 2016
14
2
I'm 5'6". Years ago I weighed 275 pounds, I weigh 140 pounds today.

The things I did to lose weight were:
* eat only when hungry
* never eat to the point of being full
* go to bed hungry
* I removed dairy and pork products from my diet
* I replaced all drinks with water

My meals are no larger than my fist. If that means eating 5 meals per day then I eat 5 meals per day. The first meal of the day has been plain oatmeal and dry toast, this has gone on for over a decade.

I recently had a physical examination and the results were:
Age: 51
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 140 pounds
Blood pressure: 112 over 78
Medications: none
Medical issues: none

Years ago, when I weighed 275, my doctor told me that I likely wouldn't see retirement if I didn't lose weight. I still see this doctor and she is amazed at the transformation. It takes the willpower of a warrior, but I like to think there is a little warrior in all of us :)
Grat Job :D How long did it take you to lose that might weight? Did you exercise regularly?
 
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ardchoille50

macrumors 68020
Feb 6, 2014
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Grat Job :D How long did it take you to lose that might weight? Did you exercise regularly?
I didn't exercise for the first 5 months or so, just kept up with the diet, and began losing the weight. Six months into it I added 30 minute walks daily, sit-ups and push-ups, and the weight just started falling off. This encouraged me so I increased the exercises, due to a lighter body I didn't have to work so hard.

The whole thing took me about a year and I was learning more and more as I went - slow progress is still progress.

I'll tell you, being told I wouldn't live long enough to see retirement was a heck of a wake up call.
 

S.B.G

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Sep 8, 2010
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Detroit
The weather was beautiful today and I decided to go for a walk...

Screen Shot 2016-05-09 at 5.16.41 PM.png
 
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S.B.G

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Sep 8, 2010
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Can the gadget differentiate between incline and stairs or does that require user input? Either way, cool gadget.
Its a Fitbit and it measures floors climbed by sensing changes in atmospheric pressure as you climb up flights. So a stationary stair climber found in a gym won't cause it to track anything - you have to climb actual stairs.
 
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997440

Cancelled
Oct 11, 2015
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Its a Fitbit and it measures floors climbed by sensing changes in atmospheric pressure as you climb up flights. So a stationary stair climber found in a gym won't cause it to track anything - you have to climb actual stairs.
Thanks. I should've been more clear and asked about walking on hills. I looked into it a little further at the Fitbit forum. With a 10 foot elevation change, it does record hills as floors. Makes sense.

Side note : some posters said they were getting credit for floors while they were driving, hehe.
 
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