Calends

I posted this elsewhere on the web this AM and thought health-conscious A-ziners might benefit.

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I stepped on the scale on New Year’s Eve and the number read 237.4 pounds. I had already dropped 11 pounds from my autumn 248 high, but I was about to begin a new ‘diet’, and I set my goal at 195 lbs (my weight at age 30) by the 4th of July.

This morning, 160 days after making that resolution, and 23 days ahead of schedule, I weighed in at 195 lbs on the dot. I lost weight in 22 out of 23 of those weeks. My bodyfat% has dropped from approximately 30% to around 19%.

I learned a few things worth sharing in this journey.

I’ve learned that fat is not fattening. I’ve been eating huge quantities of bacon and butter these past few months.

I’ve learned that my body has a switch. With the switch in the ‘off’ position, my body will store fat. When the switch is off, my body will conserve energy making me tired and listless and it will constantly ask for more energy in the form of hunger pangs and food craving. With the switch in the ‘on’ position, my body will burn fat. When the switch is ‘on’ my body has access to all the energy it needs, so it stops asking me for more food and it stops trying to shut down my activities. Avoiding between meal snacks and controlling how much I eat became easy once the switch was turned on.

I’ve learned the switch doesn’t care how much I eat or how much I exercise. The switch only cares about what I eat.

I’ve learned that the conventional wisdom of ‘eat less, exercise more’ to lose weight is 1000% wrong. Everyone, whether fat or not, should read Gary Taubes’ “Why We Get Fat.” It’s not a diet book. It’s a science book. And it’s a book about some incredibly bad science that still is believed by most people. The state of nutrition science is dismal.

For those who want to lose weight, I used the 'slow carb' diet in “4 Hour Body” by Tim Ferriss.

For the first time in 55 years, I have control of my body.

bgsm1th

I read this book back in Feb. and it's no joke.
This is not a diet, it's a basic lifestyle change and it works. Started following the findings in this book in March and have dropped about 15 pounds and about 6% bf since and it's very sustainable. The only negative side effect so far is my energy level can sometimes be a little low, especially as I'm training for my next marathon.

hornyleprechaun

Interesting will have to check out the book

stogie1020

Will have to check this out... Thanks OP.

Shalooby

So what needs to be done to turn the switch "on" ??

zac

+1


Whats the basics involved in getting your body to not store the fat

Calends

The switch is chemical. Insulin resistance built up from years of eating sugars stops our bodies from burning fat. Cut your insulin levels, and your body will burn fat.

Cut out carbs and insulin levels will drop and fat burning happens. I think how much carbs you need to cut varies from person to person.

Here's an online summary of the diet.

The 'cheat day' concept works well. I love my sweets. I didn't eliminate sweets. I just postponed them to that once-a-week cheat day. And I ate a ton of crap most cheat days. I gained 2 to 3 pounds each cheat day. But then I'd lose 3-6 pounds on the other six days a week. Ferriss claims that single binge of carbs once a week prevents your metabolism from collapsing.

There are other useful sections in the book, particularly about tracking and motivation that I found worthwhile.

I can't stress enough how good the Taubes' book is as well. It really tackles the problems carbs cause in our bodies, and how the misguided notion that high fat diets are bad took hold in our culture.

hornyleprechaun

Sounds like a keto diet?

RedAggie03

iTrader: (4)

I read the book...good read.

stogie1020

I was thinking the same thing...

Keto is OK for short periods, but long term?

I just remove all the processed carbs and most of the simple carbs.

Most of my carbs are whole grain, and more in the AM and lunch time than afternoon or later.

Of course I cheat, but everyone needs ice cream once in a while... And cake.

stogie1020

Calends, how is your cholesterol?

dom

So there was no exercise involved in your weight loss?

jkr_j32a2

this is very true! But Hormones also play a huge role in insulin resistance. Should probably get hormonal blood work done to see where the deficiencies are and what you need to be supplementing.

bgsm1th

That's pretty much the basics of it, but goes more in-depth. Essentially, when you consume carbs, consume carbs that are natural and low on the Glycemic Index.