Cutting calories without fatigue/energy loss

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 05:04:46 +0200, "Lictor"
wrote:

"Top Spin" wrote in message
.. .
On 29 Aug 2004 01:33:58 GMT, Ignoramus3773
wrote:

My only suggestion regarding your weight loss is to be extremely
conservative and not go too far. There is not a great deal of evidence
that weight loss at your age leads to great health improvements.

My doctor disagrees. While he does not see me as being at serious
risk, there are a few weight-related problems or at least a few
problems that weight loss should help.

Many health problems improve with only minimal weight loss. But they worsen
with the weight gain that comes after a yo-yo. Which is why you should take
things slowly and cautiously. Losing slowly will also avoid any defiencies
that might be harmful at your age. You particularly want to protect your
muscles (proteins) and bones (calcium) as much as possible.
But over than that, you seem to have a self regulation. You don't binge or
anything, and you weight is pretty stable, except that it's sliding slowly
up. Maybe you should just settle for simple portion control, without
bothering with calories and the like. Just stop a bit before feeling
completely stuffed, and settle for being "lightly-full". This might be a
simple matter of adjusting your satiety. Sometimes, simple solutions work...

That's actually what I have been trying to do for the past several
months. I realized that I had been eating until I was "very full" --
sometimes too full (uncomfortable). Been doing it all my life. When I
was younger, my higher metabolism could handle it -- no more.

Anyway, a few months ago, I tried stopping earlier and eating more
slowly as I had heard that it takes awhile for the body to realize it
had food. At first, I thought I was having success. I edged downward
from around 230 to 222 or so over a few weeks.

Then we went on vacation in June. We were eating out at least once a
day and I gained all the way back to 230 and now it won't go back
down. I tried even smaller portions, but I found I had low energy and
no concentration -- distracted by hunger.

A week ago, we went to a party. They had lots of finger foods. I had
a light snack beforehand so I wouldn't nibble all night. But they had
a bowl of what I think was yogurt-raisin balls or something. They were
delicious. I ate nearly the entire bowl -- one handful at a time. The
next day, I had lost 3 pounds.

So, I thought if I kept track of my eating habits, I might learn
something.

--
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On 29 Aug 2004 01:33:58 GMT, Ignoramus3773
wrote:

My only suggestion regarding your weight loss is to be extremely
conservative and not go too far. There is not a great deal of evidence
that weight loss at your age leads to great health improvements.

This doesn't make sense to me. I would have thought that starting
towards the older years with less weight to carry would bring
considerable helath benefits.

janice
233/179/133

"janice" wrote in message
...
This doesn't make sense to me. I would have thought that starting
towards the older years with less weight to carry would bring
considerable helath benefits.

It does, but there is a point of diminishing returns where it doesn't make
up for the lack of nutriments and the lack of stores to fight off
dehydration and malnutrition, which are major problems in very old folks.
For instance, my grand mother had to be fed liquid food (something that was
originally intended for diets ) on top of her regular diet, because she
was eating *way* too little on her own during her last years to the point of
fainting regularly. Plenty of death last summer in Europe were the results
of old folks not drinking enough, because the thirst reflex is failling in
my old people. Or hypoglycemia becomes a risk in old people, especially
since falls can be fatal, so slightly elevated blood glucose (in
non-diabetic range) stops increasing mortality rates. Also, lowering one's
bmi often means losing some absolute lean mass, and the absolute amount of
lean mass seems to play an important part in old age survival. Likewise,
past the 75+ mark, you seem to have a reversal of other positive parameters,
like low tension and low blood sugar.
I'm not saying they have to be *obese*, but that mortality stops being
totally correlated with BMI past 65, unlike what happens in younger people.
Many of the "young" age predictors seem to break appart, for various
reasons. One might be that if it hasn't killed you yet, there are chances
you have the genetics to get the benefits from them without suffering too
much from the downsides. The "optimal" range seems to be in the middle BMI
range of 22-24. Dropping bellow that value seeems to lowers the survival
chances.

http://www.docguide.com/news/content...256D020064A5A2
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...23/ai_14904668

"Top Spin" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 01:32:47 GMT, "Beverly"
wrote:

"Top Spin" wrote in message
.. .
Should I get a program to keep track of what I eat so at least I know
where I am now? Do these programs allow me to enter my weight so that
I can see how calorie intake correlates with weight? Is there some way
to enter exercise?

If so, which programs are best?
Many in the group use www.fitday.com to track food and exercise. It's
free
but you do need to register. Fitday also has a software package you can
purchase but most just use the online version.

They claim the PC version is *much* better. Has anyone used both?

I have the PC version. It is a lttle easier to add custom foods, has more
detailed reports, etc.

If I start entering data into the online version and then purchase the
PC version, can I import my data?

When I first purchased the PC version I sent an email asking this question.
At that time this feature was not available and I don't think they've added
it.


I would guess that the online version keeps getting updated with new
foods, etc. Does the PC version have the same data and it there a way
to download additions?

The PC version has an extensive database and it's easy to add new foods. I
haven't had the need to do mass downloads so I don't know if it's possible.

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 14:00:26 +0200, "Lictor"
wrote:

"janice" wrote in message
.. .
This doesn't make sense to me. I would have thought that starting
towards the older years with less weight to carry would bring
considerable helath benefits.

It does, but there is a point of diminishing returns where it doesn't make
up for the lack of nutriments and the lack of stores to fight off
dehydration and malnutrition, which are major problems in very old folks.

Yes, I can see that, but in this particular case, the OP to whom ig
was replying was 60, not 75.

janice
233/179/133

"Top Spin" wrote in message
...

I have a moderately active life. I play tennis at least once a week
and I do some aerobics (30-40 minutes) 3-5 times a week in the
morning. I alos have a bench and some dumbbells and do a little weight
lifting, but that it less consistent.

I'd like a simple program that I can follow easily that won't leave me
feeling weak.

A good start, especially for the exercise may be Mistress Krista's site
www.stumptuous.com/weights.html
It's geared toward women but men will benefit just as much from the
information.

Should I get a program to keep track of what I eat so at least I know
where I am now? Do these programs allow me to enter my weight so that
I can see how calorie intake correlates with weight? Is there some way
to enter exercise?

If so, which programs are best?

Lots of people use fitday.com. I use DietPower which is not web based. I
like it but I don't know that it's any better than the PC version Fitday. I
thought about switching, but I have years worth of custom foods built up in
the library It does let you record exercise in addition to your food
intake.

I have a very busy schedule that sometimes makes it difficult to
prepare food. I would like to avoid fast food and snacks. Are there
good meal replacements I can get to have on hand for when I can't have
a real meal? I would probably enjoy a powder that I could add to milk
as well as a healthy snack bar.

If so, what brands are best.

Bev already suggested Myoplex Lite. It's cheaper to come across on line. I
make my own shakes with protein powder and sugar-free flavored soy milk.
Protein powder is very flexible. I also mix it with plain, lowfat or fat
free yogurt and some kind of flavoring (extracts or sugar-free coffee
syrups) and store in the fridge - it sets up like pudding and makes it easy
to grab in the morning when I'm packing my food to take to work for the day.

I also have a very busy schedule. There are days I have to eat the majority
of my meals away from home and usually on the go. I've gone back to an old
habit of cooking a lot on the weekends and portioning the food out into
convenient containers in the fridge and freezer to take along. I have a
microwave at work so this is convenient for me - YMMV. Lately I've been
doing a turkey breast half on the grill, cutting it into chunks and storing
it in 4 oz servings to go on top of salad, plus the mini-quiche recipe from
the South Beach Diet cookbook for breakfast.

Best of luck.

Jenn

"Top Spin" wrote in message
...
On 29 Aug 2004 01:33:58 GMT, Ignoramus3773
wrote:

My only suggestion regarding your weight loss is to be extremely
conservative and not go too far. There is not a great deal of evidence
that weight loss at your age leads to great health improvements.

My doctor disagrees. While he does not see me as being at serious
risk, there are a few weight-related problems or at least a few
problems that weight loss should help.

Then you should definitely be listening to your doctor though I'm sure that
this poster will pull lots of studies out of his backside to show you how he
knows more than your doctor. It's best not to argue with him (especially
with things like facts) or he'll badger you to death or until you accede to
his intellectual superiority.

Jenn

On 29 Aug 2004 14:05:44 GMT, Ignoramus17461
wrote:


All completely correct. Weight loss is a tricky adventure. Sometimes,
it is better not to bother, or, at least, to lose just a little bit of
weight as opposed to having super ambitious goals. Thanks for the articles.

Some studies of mortality among people who lose weight at older age,
do not distinguish voluntary vs. involuntary weight loss, which are
obviously different things.

I have not seen one controlled study, where intentional weight loss
after a certain age improved survival. Which is not to say that such
as study doesd not exist, only that I have not seen one, and I looked.

But surely, improved quality of life is as important as improved
survival.

janice

If I start entering data into the online version and then purchase the
PC version, can I import my data?

Not with the current version. That's why I haven't bought the PC
version -- I have nearly a year of daily information online.


Kasey
365/245/???

Chris Braun wrote:

Um, some of us don't consider 60 "very old" !

Seems younger all the time, doesn't it? s

Remember "Don't trust anyone over 30"? (were we nuts?)

--
Walking (but mostly biking!) on . . .
Laurie in Maine
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