Losing Weight by Cutting Carbs

[Catlady]

Congratulations PVC, glad you've been having success with that diet!

Thanks, SeaBreeze! I've read it takes 3 months to make or lose a habit, so by the end of this year I should be slimmer and the diet should be second nature to me, like it is for C'est Moi's husband. I love bread and pasta and potatoes too much, so any low-carb diet would never work for me, I would feel deprived and unhappy. The health benefits of "One Meal a Day'' sound really good. Some posters have said you can eat anything you want and as much as you want and still lose weight, but I plan to use moderation and common sense.

 

[AprilT]

One meal a day diet sounds like something I tried back in the 80s and 90s definitely wouldn't work for me. As always different methods work better for some than others. Im not sure even low carbing is best for me, I just know when I do it the weight melts away. I think knocking me out for six or more months and feeding me through a tube would be my best bet these days to stay on target. For now I am just trying to eat healthy. Will only low carb for a couple of weeks at a time for now when feeling motivated.

 

[C'est Moi]

Just a point of clarification, not that anyone cares. My husband is one of those annoying people who has worn the same size since he was in high school. He has never been on a "diet" in his life; he's just not interested in food and thinks eating once a day is fine. (Unlike myself, who can burn out the fridge lightbulb in a month.)

 

[Colleen]

I have never been heavy my whole life...until.....menopause hit at age 50. I use to be able to eat anything...now I can't hardly eat anything without gaining a pound here, a pound there. I need to lose at least 30 lbs. but I'm struggling and the weight just won't budge.

I was on the Keto diet for a while but it was too complicated and expensive for me. My biggest downfall is carbs and sugar. If I could break that habit I might be able to shed a few pounds. My hubby can eat anything (and does) and not gain an ounce. We eat one meal a day at noon and at night (usually around 6:30pm) we have popcorn while we watch a movie. I only drizzle maybe 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter on 4 cups of popcorn. We use real popcorn...no bagged...and pop it in the microwave in a special container and no oil.

I'm pretty active during the day but I don't have a set exercise schedule. It's been frustrating to see myself so heavy and even more frustrating that I'm not doing a very good job of taking off the weight. We don't eat processed foods or fast foods. I love to cook so our meals are fresh cooked.

 

[Catlady]

Colleen, you probably already have, but I'll ask anyway. Have you been checked for Hypothyroid? People with it gain weight without even trying. And, who knows, your husband and C'est Moi's husband could either have Hyperthyroid or fast metabolism.

I think the OMAD diet might work for me since I'm losing weight (so far). It's also great for many reasons : I save money on food, only one meal a day. I don't have to cook or wash dishes often, only one meal a day. I don't have to count calories or restrict what I eat. I do try to eat healthy and not overeat, like some posters bragged to eat a whole pizza in one sitting and still lose weight. I used to be slim until a forced menopause at 42 (fibroid tumors in my uterus). After that and getting older I started putting on the pounds. I am not physically active, was never athletic at all. And what's worse, I'm never very hungry in the daytime but at night after my meal I just couldn't stop eating, even though I was aware I was not really hungry. Since doing the OMAD, even though I cheated two days, I've been good, once 7pm passes I don't eat and will drink coffee or cranberry juice to get rid of the food cravings. We'll see how it goes, but so far I'm determined to lose those 23 lbs. I not only hate being fat, but all that extra weight is bad for the heart and joints and BP and liver and kidney etc etc. I just turned 76 this month, I'd like to live the rest of my days as healthy as possible. Hope this diet is the holy grail for me.

 

[Colleen]

Colleen, you probably already have, but I'll ask anyway. Have you been checked for Hypothyroid? People with it gain weight without even trying. And, who knows, your husband and C'est Moi's husband could either have Hyperthyroid or fast metabolism.

I think the OMAD diet might work for me since I'm losing weight (so far). It's also great for many reasons : I save money on food, only one meal a day. I don't have to cook or wash dishes often, only one meal a day. I don't have to count calories or restrict what I eat. I do try to eat healthy and not overeat, like some posters bragged to eat a whole pizza in one sitting and still lose weight. I used to be slim until a forced menopause at 42 (fibroid tumors in my uterus). After that and getting older I started putting on the pounds. I am not physically active, was never athletic at all. And what's worse, I'm never very hungry in the daytime but at night after my meal I just couldn't stop eating, even though I was aware I was not really hungry. Since doing the OMAD, even though I cheated two days, I've been good, once 7pm passes I don't eat and will drink coffee or cranberry juice to get rid of the food cravings. We'll see how it goes, but so far I'm determined to lose those 23 lbs. I not only hate being fat, but all that extra weight is bad for the heart and joints and BP and liver and kidney etc etc. I just turned 76 this month, I'd like to live the rest of my days as healthy as possible. Hope this diet is the holy grail for me.

I haven't had any bloodwork done in 2 years as we were searching for a different doctor and by the time we did, it's taken a few months to get an appointment. I go in November and I'm sure he will do bloodwork. I will ask about thyroid testing. The last time I had bloodwork done, I did not have any thyroid issues.....but that was 2 years ago.

Keep us posted on your diet. I've never heard of that one. I hope you are getting all the nutrients your body needs

 

[Victor]

April,
my dietician is lenient with me. She allows me small
snacks and some pasta.
12-14 carbos a day but usually it is less. 1700 calories.
I am trying to lose only another 6 pounds because my weight is
reasonably normal for my height.apparently my body struggles to lose these lbs.
She says this is normal.
I like sandwiches--that's 30 carbs right there.

 

[AprilT]

April,
my dietician is lenient with me. She allows me small
snacks and some pasta.
12-14 carbos a day but usually it is less. 1700 calories.
I am trying to lose only another 6 pounds because my weight is
reasonably normal for my height.apparently my body struggles to lose these lbs.
She says this is normal.
I like sandwiches--that's 30 carbs right there.

Yeah, if she's only allowing you that amount of carbs, she's doing something wrong and depending on the types of snacks, and any pasta would blow those totals out of the park two times over, someone don't know what low-carb is in this case, none of that adds up.

Minimum carbs in the first two weeks is about 20 carbs per day than it goes up as you start to add in fruits and other good carbs. So like I said, something isn't adding up with those numbers. I don't know of any human that survives on that low number of carbs even eggs has some, though minimal, count but veggies add up.

 

[Colleen]

April,
my dietician is lenient with me. She allows me small
snacks and some pasta.
12-14 carbos a day but usually it is less. 1700 calories.
I am trying to lose only another 6 pounds because my weight is
reasonably normal for my height.apparently my body struggles to lose these lbs.
She says this is normal.
I like sandwiches--that's 30 carbs right there.

I'd be looking for a different dietician.

 

[Victor]

No you misunderstand. 12-14 is not the number of grams.
11-20 grams=1 carbohydrate "choice" according to my scale she gave me.
My total number of carbs is over 100. I don't keep track that closely.

No way I could live on only 12 grams of carboh a day.
Snacks include 2-3 low sugar cookies or 1 mini-candy and sometimes chips.
Maybe a small ice cream.

 

[AprilT]

No you misunderstand. 12-14 is not the number of grams.
11-20 grams=1 carbohydrate "choice" according to my scale she gave me.
My total number of carbs is over 100. I don't keep track that closely.

No way I could live on only 12 grams of carboh a day.
Snacks include 2-3 low sugar cookies or 1 mini-candy and sometimes chips.
Maybe a small ice cream.

Yes, I think we are speaking a different language.

 

[Trade]

Thanks, SeaBreeze! I've read it takes 3 months to make or lose a habit, so by the end of this year I should be slimmer and the diet should be second nature to me, like it is for C'est Moi's husband. I love bread and pasta and potatoes too much, so any low-carb diet would never work for me, I would feel deprived and unhappy. The health benefits of "One Meal a Day'' sound really good. Some posters have said you can eat anything you want and as much as you want and still lose weight, but I plan to use moderation and common sense.

I had a friend back in college that did the one meal a day thing. This was back in 1968. The main reason he did it was that he was a cheap SOB. He got this summer job where he got a free lunch. So he figured he would save money and just eat that one meal. I don't know what he did on days off, but he did lose about 30 lbs over the summer. And it didn't hurt him to lose that much because he was about 5 foot 9 and weighed about 185 starting out. By today's standards that's probably about average, but back in 1968 185 at 5-9 was considered a bit pudgy for a non athlete. I don't know if he kept it off. I lost touch with him after college.

 

[Catlady]

By today's standards that's probably about average, but back in 1968 185 at 5-9 was considered a bit pudgy for a non athlete. I don't know if he kept it off. I lost touch with him after college.

`

Yeah, when I see old photos and film, most people way back when were slim (and dressed nice for parades and errands). We've become fatter and sloppier. I'm curious if your friend has kept it off. I used to work with this young guy who made sure he had money to pay for big bills like rent and insurance and utilities, and whatever was left he bought food. He didn't have much money left and was scrawny. Saw him a few years later and he already had a good job and had gotten paunchy and not very attractive.

I did the OMAD diet some years back for one week and lost weight, but got scared that it might be bad for my health and quit. But, after I read that C'est Moi's husband has only had one meal a day for 30+ years and has always been slim (he's not on a diet, just doesn't enjoy eating), I figured if he's still healthy after 30 years the diet must be okay. So, I've been doing it since Sept 2 and have lost 4 lbs since then, even though I cheated two full days and have a small breakfast on Sundays. This is the only diet that is working for me, hate counting calories and cutting down on carbs, which I love. So, I'm 5' 5'' and was 163 and am now 159 and hope to get to 140. The irony of getting old is that your organs are getting old and must work harder to maintain a heavier body, putting even more stress on those organs and the joints.

 

[Trade]

`

Yeah, when I see old photos and film, most people way back when were slim (and dressed nice for parades and errands). We've become fatter and sloppier. I'm curious if your friend has kept it off. I used to work with this young guy who made sure he had money to pay for big bills like rent and insurance and utilities, and whatever was left he bought food. He didn't have much money left and was scrawny. Saw him a few years later and he already had a good job and had gotten paunchy and not very attractive.

I did the OMAD diet some years back for one week and lost weight, but got scared that it might be bad for my health and quit. But, after I read that C'est Moi's husband has only had one meal a day for 30+ years and has always been slim (he's not on a diet, just doesn't enjoy eating), I figured if he's still healthy after 30 years the diet must be okay. So, I've been doing it since Sept 2 and have lost 4 lbs since then, even though I cheated two full days and have a small breakfast on Sundays. This is the only diet that is working for me, hate counting calories and cutting down on carbs, which I love. So, I'm 5' 5'' and was 163 and am now 159 and hope to get to 140. The irony of getting old is that your organs are getting old and must work harder to maintain a heavier body, putting even more stress on those organs and the joints.

I'm 5' 11" and 215. I'd be happy to get down to 200.

 

[Catlady]

I'm 5' 11" and 215. I'd be happy to get down to 200.

Would you be willing to try the One Meal a Day diet? Try it for a few days and see. Try to eat healthy food, no junk food, and eat only within a frame of two hours in a 24 hours period. Since you only have to lose 15 lbs it might take longer to lose them.

I've been cheating (with a snack) a few times and have not lost past the 159 lbs yet, but I'm giving myself until the end of February to reach my goal of 140 lbs. I have heard, though, that the less pounds you need to lose the longer it takes to get there. That's because people with a lot of weight to lose first lose a lot because it's mainly water loss. Then when they get close to their goal they start losing slower or not at all for a while. That's the critical point, that's when they lose enthusiasm and give up.

 

[applecruncher]

Couple years ago I lost about 20 lbs simply by cutting portions. I've kept it off.
I don't "diet" and I don't count anything. I eat whatever foods I want but smaller portions. For me it works! Blood pressure and lab tests have been good.

 

[Trade]

Would you be willing to try the One Meal a Day diet? Try it for a few days and see.

I have pre-diabetes and insulin resistance most likely caused by years of abusing Coca Cola and Breyers Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream.

As a result if I go more than about four hours without food I get ravenously hungry like a junkie without a fix.

So I don't think I could hack OMAD.

A few years back I was able to drop from 230 to 215 by cutting carbs.


And I've been able to maintain the 215 since then.

If I eat very few carbs I don't get all that hungry.

The problem is it has to be very few. Like less than 20 a day.

Anything more than that seems to trigger that ravenous, "I would kill for a cheeseburger and fries", hunger.

 

[Catlady]

I have pre-diabetes and insulin resistance So I don't think I could hack OMAD.

Okay, I understand. OMAD is not an option for you, it could even be dangerous. One option is cutting down on portions, like Applecruncher does. Another option that I can think of is weightlifting. Your 15 lbs is not a lot overweight, just toning your body will make you look like 200lbs. You can join a gym (expensive) or do it at home with just a set of inexpensive dumbbells. In fact, bodybuilding is even better for older people, since it strengthens the muscles that hold up the skeleton and makes you stronger. I used to go to a gym and used the machines and looked great, but I have very little willpower and quit. Now I just do 10 reps of squats (lower) one day and the next day do 10 reps each arm of biceps curls (upper). Those two increase the upper and lower body strength that older people lack and then become prone to falls. Hopefully I will do longer workouts later on and add more exercises.

Here's a great article about exercises for older people. You can start using your body in the beginning and then increase gradually with weights. Check it out:
https://www.verywellfit.com/total-b...m_source=cn_nl&utm_content=12933462&utm_term=

 

[Trade]

Okay, I understand. OMAD is not an option for you, it could even be dangerous. One option is cutting down on portions, like Applecruncher does. Another option that I can think of is weightlifting. Your 15 lbs is not a lot overweight, just toning your body will make you look like 200lbs. You can join a gym (expensive) or do it at home with just a set of inexpensive dumbbells. In fact, bodybuilding is even better for older people, since it strengthens the muscles that hold up the skeleton and makes you stronger. I used to go to a gym and used the machines and looked great, but I have very little willpower and quit. Now I just do 10 reps of squats (lower) one day and the next day do 10 reps each arm of biceps curls (upper). Those two increase the upper and lower body strength that older people lack and then become prone to falls. Hopefully I will do longer workouts later on and add more exercises.

Here's a great article about exercises for older people. You can start using your body in the beginning and then increase gradually with weights. Check it out:
https://www.verywellfit.com/total-b...m_source=cn_nl&utm_content=12933462&utm_term=

Actually I do lift weights regularly. For the past 12 years now. That's why I think 200 would be OK for me at 5-11. If I didn't lift I probably should weigh about 180.

 

[Catlady]

Actually I do lift weights regularly. For the past 12 years now. That's why I think 200 would be OK for me at 5-11. If I didn't lift I probably should weigh about 180.

Oops, how embarrassing, now I feel like I've been preaching to the choir. If you've been lifting weights for 12 years, forget about the measly 15 lbs, you must look great regardless. And congrats for staying with it for that long, wish I had and had not given it up.

 

[Trade]

Oops, how embarrassing, now I feel like I've been preaching to the choir. If you've been lifting weights for 12 years, forget about the measly 15 lbs, you must look great regardless. And congrats for staying with it for that long, wish I had and had not given it up.

I lift, but I'm not a fanatic about it. At 215 lbs. I have a gut.

The only time I take my shirt off is in the shower.

And then I avoid the mirror like a vampire.

 

[Catlady]

I lift, but I'm not a fanatic about it. At 215 lbs. I have a gut.

The only way to get rid of belly fat is with lots of crunches, but I'm sure you already know that. But, I've also read that some people cannot get rid of belly fat even if they do 1000 crunches a day. The only way they can get rid of it (permanently) is with liposuction. Don't know if you hate it enough to have surgery for it. Liposuction is usually safe, but like all surgery, there's always a risk. I don't think I would bother myself, losing weight at my age is mainly for health reasons.

 

[Trade]

The only way to get rid of belly fat is with lots of crunches, but I'm sure you already know that. But, I've also read that some people cannot get rid of belly fat even if they do 1000 crunches a day. The only way they can get rid of it (permanently) is with liposuction. Don't know if you hate it enough to have surgery for it. Liposuction is usually safe, but like all surgery, there's always a risk. I don't think I would bother myself, losing weight at my age is mainly for health reasons.

1000 crunches a day?

Liposuction?

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I think I'll keep my gut.

:lofl:

 

[Victor]

You might use the carbohydrate scale used by some dieticians
concerned with diabetes. Look it up on google.
You count your carbs grams as carbohydrate choices and add up
the number of choices (units) per day. So you could aim for 9-10 carbo
choices per day. It gives you more flexibility eating.

 

[Trade]

And congrats for staying with it for that long, wish I had and had not given it up.

I hear you on that. I lifted some way back in High School. Then I took 40 years off. When I went back I was in sad shape.