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Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Jarek Draven — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 12:34:38 -0000

I have also lost TONS of weight (okay, maybe not literally TONS... but 100+ pounds I HAVE done.) Furthermore, I have studied diet and sports nutrition for over 20 years. Amateur pharmacology is a hobby of mine, and I have a college education in culinary arts and nutrition. In other words, I don't claim to be the world's foremost expert, but I like to think I know what I'm talking about. That being said, this list has some really great tips, and it also has some that I consider to be BAD, or flat-out WRONG.

#3 is serious semantics. The amount of calories, fat, etc (macro-nutrients) you consume is DIRECTLY tied to the volume (quantity) of food you consume, as well as it's quality. Furthermore, it IS calories, fat, and carbs you want to pay attention to, NOT volume. As you yourself later point out, you can just about eat as many raw vegetables as you want. (Which you also later seem to contradict AGAIN). Yes, it is a bit more complex to try to keep track of those numbers. It is also more effective, and you don't have to GUESS whether you're over or under-eating

#8 is pretty terrible advice, and directly contradicts point #7 (and is also contradicted by point #9 following. Contradiction sandwich!). Sugary soda is one of the worst possible foods for a dieter. Tons of empty carbs / sugar with no other micronutrients, not filling, etc. Great way to over-shoot your daily caloric limit without even getting full. Some people out there could probably easily drop 10 pounds just by cutting soda out of their diet.

#11 Maybe this is true for you (and probably some others, as well) I can tell you that many people do not react this way. Many people are the opposite. If you don't let them have SOME foods that are a little sweet and decadent, the diet will feel too strict and rigorous, and they're less likely to stick with it. One of the easiest and best ways to lose weight is to make it feel natural and satisfying. Anything that works toward this goal without adding too many extra calories is probably a good thing for most.

#21... there are always exceptions. See my last point. As a rare treat, IMHO, it's a good idea. Key words being "rare treat." More than once in a while, and yes, it's dietary suicide.

#26.. there is a good point in here. Especially when you consider sweet / sugary drink mixers. However, ethanol is more or less pure carbohydrate. Taking a shot of plain liquor is about as bad / worse than drinking soda. Beer contains maltose, which spikes blood sugar (and crashes it) faster than almost anything. Color it any way you want-- drinking is kind of bad for losing weight. I'd keep it infrequent and light, if you have a serious weight loss goal. Or, if you're so inclined, smoke a little pot, instead. Just watch out for the munchies. lol

Oh, also, under this point you mention: "And one of my all-time favorites has some calories but no carbs: a dirty martini" As I already mentioned, ethanol is pretty much pure carbs. So this statement is completely false. If it has ethanol (ethyl alcohol) then it has carbs. Also, "carbs" pretty much ARE "calories" (though not all calories are carbs. Basically, you can have calories without carbs, but you can NOT have carbs without calories). Likewise, "carbs" and "sugars" are more or less the same thing.

#27 directly contradicts an earlier point (23). Most veggies are so low-calorie you could absolutely stuff yourself, without much risk of going over your daily caloric limit. Some rare stuff, like fattier veggies (avocado, olives) are exceptions to this. Be aware of those. As well as the calories in dressings. Other than that, salad bars can be great, IMO.

#28 FAT is actually one of the most important things to "get right" in your diet. It serves VITAL functions in the body, it helps food taste good, and fattier foods are actually more filling and satisfying. (Drop fat ENTIRELY out of your diet, and see how well you do). Fat is mainly bad because it is very calorie dense, so eating too much fat means taking in too many calories. But you want enough of it, and you preferably want "the good kind." Many salad dressings actually have "the good kind" of fat. "Low fat" dressings often substitute some of that fat with extra carbs, to make it tasty. I find it's better to use a good dressing with monounsaturated fats, and learn how to use it SPARINGLY than to use no dressing, or a carby low-fat version, etc. Making your own isn't a bad option, because then you can pick which kind of fat.

#31 Eating fat and protein along with carbs slows the break-down of the carbs, so you're less likely to get a carb crash. So cutting carbs out of breakfast isn't entirely necessary, as long as it's only a little, and it's not ONLY carbs. The real idea, is you want to have a big breakfast, preferably with some good fats and protein.

#33 Generally speaking, you NEED carbs. Just not too many.

#38 Yes.... very broad. Almost "too"

#43 See my earlier point about the massive importance of being satisfied with your diet. IMO having some healthier snacks around is almost vital. Keeping a box of ding dongs or oreos around can be very, very dangerous. However, learning self control is awesome. I love how the author here later "pushes" the value of self-control in what I see to be a ridiculous manner (we'll get to that) and yet here pretends as though you shouldn't exercise it. You know how you know when a diet is truly working, and you will lose weight and stay healthy in the long term? When you learn to eat responsibly, and say no, even with temptation all around you. I'm not saying you shouldn't keep the twinkies out of the house for a few months or a year. I AM saying that you have to learn self control somewhere, some time, and keeping some lighter, healthier snacks around is good if it keeps you satisfied without going over-board. Successful dieting can be a bit trial and error. No two people are exactly the same. You need to find out what works for YOU and your personality. If you "fail" and find out something doesn't work so well, don't beat yourself up and use that as an excuse to go back to eating pizza with chocolate sauce. View it as a learning experience, and use that information in the future.

#44 should have had the same "broad generalization" disclaimer as number 38

#47....MAKES NO SENSE. Water is good. Great. VITAL. Drink tons of it. Drink some when you first get up. But why the author tells you "not spring water" is well beyond me. Drink whatever water you have and/or can get. Avoid distilled (because it is literally only H2O.... all other types of water have trace minerals that your body needs). Just drink plenty of water. Why the author has some weird thing against spring water I don't know, but that stuff works just fine. Flavored water is okay too, as long as it's not calorie laden and therefore messing with your limit. But it is best to learn to drink / enjoy plain water, IMO.

#55 Easily one of the worst tips on this list.So let me get this straight-- the author advocates that you should remove all snacks from your home, because you simply should not be asked to test out your self-control / willpower with cookies in the cupboard, yet at the same time, claims you should not use an APPETITE SUPPRESSANT because you should learn to not be hungry all on your own? Can you say "massive contradiction?"

If I had to pick one, I'd say learn self control with the cookies, and enjoy the appetite suppression from your daily coffee.

Over eating, in some ways, works like any other addiction. You are following hard-wired patterns. One of the things you need to do, in order to not only drop weight, but remain at a healthy weight, is to interrupt and UN-LEARN those patterns. We get better at following patterns via repetition. Likewise, long un-used patterns weaken. As such, if you can just figure out SOME WAY to eat less for a while, it will start to become a pattern, that will just constantly re-enforce itself the more you do it.

Yes, you need to learn self-control as well. But using aids to interrupt your patterns is a great idea, as far as I'm concerned. Besides, caffeine is also a thermogenic. It speeds up your metabolism and helps you lose more weight, as well as helping you eat less. And let's get real for a minute-- you tell some people they can't have their morning coffee AND have to eat like a rabbit all day long, the diet may feel like a bigger and more annoying life change. AKA "less satisfying."

Maybe that's not you, and you're more like the author. (I did say everyone is different, right?) I just don't see caffeine as a mistake at all. Quite the opposite.

PS-- pharmacologically speaking, this analogy is terrible, also. For example, longer-half life opioids are used to treat addiction to opioids with shorter half-lives. And your analogy was only loosely analogous. But that's nit-picking, and aside from the point

#56-- The Green Tea you recommend CONTAINS CAFFEINE. Less of it than coffee, but it's there. About as bad, or a bit worse than soda, depending on how you make it. I'm sorry... did you think you weren't using appetite suppressants? lol

#58 Again, disagree on vegetables.

#64 -- Everything in moderation. Or I should say "ANYthing in moderation."

#65-- Many fruit juices ARE mostly syrup. Might as well drink soda. I'd personally avoid this unless you're on a juice fast. Drink water or a no-calorie beverage instead. Remember-- drinking is one of the fastest ways to get empty calories into your body. That's why they feed shakes to under-weight people.

#66-- Why does the author contradict himself SO many times?

#71- Walking is awesome. Cardio is NECESSARY. However, lifting weights (resistance training) is some of the best stuff you can do for weight loss. Your body requires extra calories and nutrients to repair after intense resistance training. Also, it builds muscle. Muscle requires more calories to exist, even at rest, than other tissue. Meaning, if you have a more muscular body, you can actually eat more food and still remain fit. Give resistance training a try.

#95 -- No, they're not. In fact, some are very helpful. There are a wide range of products, for different purposes. Some work very well. Some (lots, really) are garbage. You have to do your homework. Look at the ingredients. Learn about them. This is the information age. Google and wikipedia can tell you almost anything you need to know about any supplement or ingredient. Use them (the information, not necessarily the supplements). But to write off all supplements as garbage because you carelessly chose one without doing your homework, and didn't like what it did it you, is biased and a bit ignorant, IMHO.

#99-- As I stated before, you can have more or less ANYTHING on a diet, as long as you work it into your plan, and don't have too much of it, or have it too often. No, you should not have anything at starbucks every day. But once a week or less? I don't see why not. One of the number one reasons people fail on diets, is the feeling that they have to follow some overly-strict plan and/or eat like rabbits.

The rest of the tips are pretty solid, IMO.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Racha Zeidan — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 01:03:42 -0000

You should read the new book Great Body No Diet, it has similar tips and a lot more on how to lose or maintain weight diet free.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Anna Brewer — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:04:46 -0000

This is an amazing article. I laughed so many times reading it. Thank you!

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Lori — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:50:47 -0000

you have inspired me just by reading this and seeing how far you came. Congrats to you! You look wonderful :)

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

mturk182 — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:18:52 -0000

"Milk does not work into any diet plan be it low-fat, low-calorie, low-carb. Avoid it. Soymilk is better for you."

*meeeeerp* soy milk is horrible, especially as an alternative to milk. I have GERD (well, I did have) because of a milk allergy and went to soy, and still had the same issues. I killed milk - soy and other - and am now off of my meds for GERD and have no issues.

You're so close to the Paleo way of life... congrats! Just think: if you can't shoot it, plant it, or pick it, don't eat it.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Zeke — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:47:22 -0000

I'm in the process of making a lifestyle change to get healthier and I am now 22 lbs down with about 5 times that amount to go. I ran across this article and i agree wholeheartedly with all 101 of your observations. This article is extremely motivating and I will continue to reference it. Thank you so much.

p.s. as a comic book nerd, I laughed my ass off at #69.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Jen — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 11:46:00 -0000

Thank you for this - I copied a few quotes and put them front and center on my computer - very motivating!

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Ron — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:04:09 -0000

Congratulations on losing the weight man, and thank you very much for this. I need to lost 40kg (almost 90lbs). I'm down 10lbs, in about six weeks, long way to go. I've bookmarked this and will keep referring to it in times of need. Cheers!

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Natalie West — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:48:17 -0000

I have now lost 55 lbs, and I am even more inspired after reading this. I still make several of the mistakes listed on here. I'm going to keep an eye on them though cause maybe my last 50 will come off quicker.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Coffeepot cooking — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:45:29 -0000

Nice analysis, I lost 101 pounds while not initially focused on healthy foods but how much I was eating. After 2 and a half years, I now find myself fine tuning and dumping the junk. BTW ever notice that with obesity a national epidemic, most of the professional advice stinks, and the documented cases by fitness buffs and people who have achieved the hundred pound losses have more similarities than differences. My story is here http://coffeepotcooking.wor...

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Bean22ny — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:32:53 -0000

Thank you for this list- a huge help!!! I have lost 40 lbs w/ some eating changes and excercise since last Jan.. 85lbs to go!!!! Lately since excercising more I have been eating more... Now reading this and other helpful info I see where and how I need to make changes... One being stop overthinking!!!!

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Jacob — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 22:49:32 -0000

Steve,
Just FYI, xylitol is what is called a "sugar alcohol." In other words, it's similar in structure to any type of sugar molecule, but has an extra hydroxyl group, for you chemistry nerds. It isn't absorbed in the digestive tract (and therefore makes a GREAT laxative when taken in larger quantities...think "prune juice" ;)).

Just a tidbit of info from your friendly pharmacist :)

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

John — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:37:25 -0000

very motivating

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

margaretwilde — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:41:18 -0000

Overweight people who reduce their salt/sodium intake lose some water from the body and therefore lose weight and lower their blood pressure. Eating more fruit and vegetables results in greater and faster loss of weight and further lowering of blood pressure because the potassium in the fruit and vegetables helps to displace sodium from the body.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

MichaelBoBichael — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 22:30:56 -0000

"Milk does not work into any diet plan be it low-fat, low-calorie, low-carb. Avoid it. Soymilk is better for you."

I can't disagree more with that one.

The other bits of advice are generally good but I stay away from soy as much as I do from corn syrup and deep fried starchy foods. I've lost a hundred pounds myself by staying away from most carbs and eating sensibly and I have kept it off for over a year now.

I count soy as a carb and like most beans it is essentially poisonous until cooked. Cooked it still contains trace amounts of ricin. No thanks. I'll pass.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Laura — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:45:57 -0000

#34 is so true. I started measuring my cereal when I began losing weight. It seemed like such a small amount compared to what I used to eat, which was probably an entire bowl. :/

And to #10 I stopped eating chips and when I put one in my mouth after a few months of going without the oily texture tasted pretty bad.

These are all very good thoughts. Thanks for sharing them.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Kevin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:55:04 -0000

I'm bookmarking this...this is really good stuff. Thanks.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Steve — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:31:16 -0000

@Ruth, @Hannah: And to add on Ruth's comments, yes - humans are naturally meat and foraged vegetable-and-nut eaters. Processed whole grains and other carbs were later in the evolutionary cycle. Meat and raw veggies and nuts are the core, caveman menu.

But that having been said, the post is "my thoughts" and nothing more, as I say repeatedly throughout the post.... worked for me and nothing more.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Steve — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:27:39 -0000

@Hannah: Well, I was eating far more than 1000 calories a day when I was losing the weight, it was simply all non-carb calories. And I'd argue that refined carbs are the worst, but when you're in a weight-loss mode - not weight-maintenance - carbs are not useful. Once I hit my ideal weight, I worked non-white carbs back in - but on a weight-loss regimen, even whole wheat carbs slow down weight loss. Humans ARE carb eaters, but carb avoidance puts you in the ketosis state that kick-starts weight loss. I wouldn't go low-carb long term, at all - I eat carbs today - but if you are trying to lose I think you should avoid them.

Everyone should do what works for them. Carb avoidance worked for me. I still ate a healthy, normal caloric intake (lots of meat, cheese and leafy greens) but simply avoided carbs. Low-carb doesn't work for my wife, for example - she seems to do better on low-fat. I do very well on low-carb. Different people are different - that's why everyone should consult with a physician or dietician or other professional before doing a serious weight loss program (....I did).

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Ruth — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:22:53 -0000

Why do carb reduction diets have such a bad rap? I'm sorry, but for many people, myself included, going on an induction diet for three or four weeks can take off ten pounds or more. I get a complete blood work-up each year, and every year my doctor is amazed at my high levels of good cholesterol as opposed to my low levels of bad cholesterol. I curb my carbs, that's it. That's my whole secret and there's nothing anorexic about it.

Yes, 50% of the world's diet now may be carbs, but prehistoric man was mostly eating proteins and foraged fruits and nuts. There was no wheat. There were no potatoes. Carbs are not what we are biologically meant to eat. There's nothing in the least weird about keeping carbohydrates at the bottom of the food triangle.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Hannah — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:21:13 -0000

To be fair, I see Andew's point: I also did many of these things when I was anorexic. I think the only difference is in the quantity (I'm going to hope you weren't eating less than 1000 calories a day whilst losing your 100 pounds). Aside from your carb hatred, I think all of these tips sound valid, when done in moderation.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Hannah — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:18:23 -0000

For most of the world, carbs make up 50% of the average daily food intake. Humans are carb-eaters, and not doing so is (depending upon one's specific genetic makeup) unnatural and unhealthy. It will also lead to yo-yo-ing once one goes off their low-carb diet.

It isn't the amount of carbs that's the problem, it's the type. I like this list, but I'd amend it to state that refined, "white" carbs such as refined sugars, white bread, white rice, and regular pasta are bad, while up to 50% of one's food may be derived from whole, unrefined carbs such as brown rice, pulses, whole grain anything, and fruit.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Steve — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:58:24 -0000

@andrew: I'd be curious to know which tips sound like ED problems.... I don't think I have an eating disorder since this tips restored me to a (physician-approved) healthy (not anorexic) weight.

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

andrew — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:51:42 -0000

I dont mean to be rude, but there these tips on losing weight sound like you someone who has an eating disorder. I'm currently battling anorexia, and many of those sound like the tricks and tips people with an ED use...

Re: 101 thoughts on losing 100 pounds

Charlotte From Australia — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:23:26 -0000

thanks for this! its good to hear from someone who has actually lost the weight themselves, and you have! 100 pounds is amazing. this page is an inspiration to me.