It's taken me a long time to figure out my "body hunger" from "emotional hunger". Now that I finally GET IT, I've been able to lose 123 lbs. Taking away the power I gave to food was the only way I could have succeeded this way. I also keep NO junky foods in the house. I have been very creative with changing fatty, sugary recipes into meals that are HEALTHY and TASTEY. I just wish I could have figured out this stuff in my twenties instead of my fifties!!

Hey philfan1,

I am often ruffled when I hear people say "if only I knew then what I know now". I feel like it takes away from the beauty and the awe that was that learning process. Not many people can say that their fifties are better than their twenties were, and that's regretful, I find. 

Congrats on your lifestyle change. It sounds like you take really great care of yourself. I believe that to be remarkable at any age.

What I was trying to say, was I wish that I would have been smart enough to start a healthy lifestyle earlier in my life so I could have avoided health issues now. I also stopped drinking alcohol 2yrs. ago, and smoking 6 months ago. Screwing around with your health is not a "beautiful learning process".

Phil,

Tell me more about how you broke the cycle. I have been working on this for the past 10 years and I'm now 53. I want to be you when I grow up.

As for the past, I had a counselor tell me that everything I had lived contributed to the self-knowledge to make me accomplish what I can today. You might not have accepted the knowledge you know have in your 20's. You just hadn't lived enough. After all, we are invincible when we are young. Now you are more concerned about life choices due to extending your life.

Phil,

I agree with thinndskies - please share.  I am in my late twenties and boy it sure is hard for me to avoid the vending machine, the drive-thru's, and the candy at the check out lanes.  It's like I've lost my self-control.  I workout almost every day and intense workouts (high intensity circuit intervals 3 times a week, ice hockey twice a week, interval jogging on days that I don't have anything) and yet I haven't dropped a pound.  I've maintained but I'd really like to have self-control over my urges so that I don't buy any of it anymore.

Thanks,

Jackie 

We are always going to have temptations thats just part of who we are its not easy but DISAPLINE is the only way to reach our goals. I like what this is saying to identify the actual problem of WHY?WHEN?HOW? I think this is important to know. We Americans me included tend to want the quick fix to the point we just make things up and believe there the reason without researching to see if it really is the cause. Research and Commitment to a lifestyle of learning and performing the not so desirable is what it takes. It would be awesome to have a metabolism that could burn 4000 calories like its nothing lol But unfortunately thats not my body make up. I also lost 110 lbs but to maintain my new weight comes sacrifice i can get away with bringing in some of the food that the rest of the general public consumes without batting an eye at. But for most part if i want that stuff then my calorie count has to be low maybe 1200 calories for the day because if i dont make myself stop eating i wont have no control. I also run 3-5 days a week just to maintain. So 1 question might be if i eat this will i be in control to stop? If the answer is no, treat that food as though its toxic waste. Are minds are powerful but if we can change the way we think its half the battle. I took a woman shes 28 shes kind of heavy maybe 190 and taught her how to run, she started from literally couch to 3.5 miles. My point is her mindset was i have never done it so i must not be able and she learned real fast that theres alot of lies we believe about ourselves that others have planted there. So my advice is stop worrying about what others are doing, eating, saying, its time to just worry about yourself.

Well, there are many factors that govern our bodies fat percentage, metabolism, digestive efficiency, etc. They range from the genetic, lifestyle, learning, and many more can affect the person, a) by making hormonal changes, in the brain, intestine, and at the level of the pancreas, 2) by allowing an overly well fed baby be born with more fat cells, thus maing it that harder to be slim for such folks. 

So, when we find it hard, ladies like over 40, can get help via doing hormone tests, using replacement therapy but never ONLY ESTROGEN. That can harm a woman.  Us guys, if our DHEA and TESTOSTERONE ARE LOW, weight loss is just a wish. If we see what we need via a test, and replace them, then at 44, losing weight seems to be like we were maybe 24. That easy. 

 

What we seem to ignore, is how our habits, can get us into trouble.  It is hard to shake off learned mistakes, but when we get to a stage, where we have elevated cholesterol, fatigue, constant hunger, with weight gain, plus depression and many more symptoms, if we do not do a test, not that this is all you have to do, but essentially, older people need hormone replacement, to achieve the type of weight control and % body fat of a healthy youth. 

 

We need yes, to thing FOR OURSELVES, and while the young can just do a diet and exercise, even some may need a little push. 

 

Worry, for any reason, makes it very hard to loose weight.  That is why, it is so valuable to be happy, even if life sucks, like you do not have a job, etc.

 

 

Another thing, we have to envision a thinner " me", that helps us to persist, to a doable goal. 

 

Sure, discipline can help, but if your body has a very low metabolic rate, there are also other things you have to do, to stay healthy while your bodies shed unneeded fat. 

 

So, to end now, when you do any thing, and see no changes, there are always more things to do.  You have to be well informed, and use knowledge as power, to look and feel at 50, more like 30. 

 

I mean, a slim healthy 30. 

 

 

 

Just like to point out that us fatties most likely have higher metabolisms than skinny people.  HA! http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metabolism/WT00006

Yes, but does it help? It can make you sweat more, and want to eat more, but even a high metabolic rate, cannot work against a hormone system that takes care of fat, and does not let the body burn it. 

 

Now, please do not call yourself fattie, OK? That does not help at all. 

 

A damaged metabolism is not necesarily slow, just not very efficient. 

 

Lets look at the math, if a body burns calories well, why then can a fat person have a higher metabolic rate?  More than likely, it is because they can metabolise what they eat, but now what they store. 

 

A person who is overweight, and has a low metabolic rate, gets obese too fast, and they are those that need surgery, in order to live. 

 

A high metabolic rate, plus being overweight, just means compensation for bad habits, and the body can avoid gaining fat too quickly, but it does not help burning the extra fat. 

 

Now, since I like to help people, as a lady, your weight is not a simple matter.  Having kids, and things change, and many more things. 

 

Have you ever wanted to be slimmer? 

 

I was born quite chubby, from an overweight mom, I was like 4 lbs 12 oz.  Not very long, just average, and always was just overweight until it started to make my BP go up, and I had to use DHEA and Testosterone, to make it easier, plus, really change my eating habits, and the result, is that just taking care of eating like every three hours, plus walking and mild use of weights, and it is just like I was 21.  It was easy before, but at 34, I thought it could never be done. 

 

So, you are right, but that does not help, it is not enough to loose weight.

 

 

 

 

Original Post by: jaclynk12

Phil,

I agree with thinndskies - please share.  I am in my late twenties and boy it sure is hard for me to avoid the vending machine, the drive-thru's, and the candy at the check out lanes.  It's like I've lost my self-control.  I workout almost every day and intense workouts (high intensity circuit intervals 3 times a week, ice hockey twice a week, interval jogging on days that I don't have anything) and yet I haven't dropped a pound.  I've maintained but I'd really like to have self-control over my urges so that I don't buy any of it anymore.

Thanks,

Jackie 

One of the shifts that helped me break out of that cycle was learning the difference between "in control" and "in charge." (That is what the free Chapter One download is about - see link in the article.)

Trying to stay in control even sounds hard but being in charge means that you make decisions based on what will work best for you. If you decide to eat something that doesn't support your goals, you haven't "lost control" so there is no guilt to drive more overeating. (Have any of you ever said "I've already blown it; I might as well keep eating and start over tomorrow"?)

Instead, you learn from each decision - how did it work, how did it feel, what will I do differently next time? Being in charge gives you the flexibility to choose your actions no matter what the situation so for me, it has been a more sustainable approach.

I try not to ask myself questions about food. If I'm thinking about eating something, I'm probably hungry. It's best to eat small meals/snacks throughout the day so you WILL be hungry every 2-3 hours and you won't have to ask yourself these questions.

To Jackie, you see, the thing that may be bothering you, if you are not yet 30, and you sorry about your weight, and do all that actvity, it only makes you hungry, and maybe your level of progesterone is a bit low, as worrying causes that. 

You can try a three day zero carbohydrate plan, because not being able to avoid urges to eat, can mean elevated insulin which gives constant and hard to fix hunger, because the pancreas reacts too much after a long time eating foods that elevate the bloos sugar, to the point that the insulin cannot lower its level, because there is always too much glucose to handle, and this can even happen in thin people. 

 

So, this 3 day plan CAN lower insulin levels, and take away the hunger pangs, that will help you to avoid vending machines, like you were never weak. 

 

You must not worry about your weight, and please, if you do the three day plan, no physical activity is needed, other than satying at home. 

 

Doing excercise will only lower the blood sugar, to give you a headache, or at least severe fatigue. 

 

 

Ahah, you should not GET hungry, really, if you have low insulin fasting, you eat, the insulin reacts,  and you do not get hungry. 

 

Hunger, means high insulin, just needing sugar to act on. 

 

We all have to avoid foods that liberate too much glucose, when metabolised. 

 

I agree a low carb diet, cannot work for very long,  you only need to know which are not to be eaten frequently, and those that can be used daily. 

 

So Jackie, maybe I can help you, with your problem. 

 

 

 

uh oh, in the book she says to stop calorie counting.... I can't say I don't like the idea 

The last element to the cycle struck a chord with me.  Though I don't usually give in to it, I often am aware of the temptation to eat out of boredom at night between dinner and bed.  I work long hours, have a 1-hr commute home, then work out, so by the time I get home, do chores and cook dinner there's very little "me" time.  My husband and I end up doing sedentary things to unwind, like reading, taking baths, watching TV or sitting at our computers.  I am frustrated with this--I used to have a plethora of hobbies before joining the workforce, but now I have neither the time nor the energy for them.  I don't get off work early enough to make the drive to dance classes or music sessions, and as for regular old going out for dates on work-nights...  Well, we live in a city that shuts down by 8-9pm on weekdays.  No going to movies, no strolls through shopping centers...and that's really all there is to do here, anyway.  Also, I couldn't bring myself to work out later at night instead, because once I get home from a long day it's too hard to force myself to go out again for something that is more like work than leisure.  And I spend half of Sat/Sun asleep to make up for the massive sleep deficit during the week, so I never feel like I've gotten enough leisure time. 

Can someone help me out on this?  I can't think of any active things to do after dinner in an apartment with no yard that aren't just more exercise.  I guess I could sit there and do yoga or dumbbells while I watch TV, but that's a drag when I've already done over an hour of hard cardio and worked a 10+hr day.  1-2 times a week I give in between dinner and bed and have pasta, ice cream or a smoothie that wasn't on my diet plan for the day.  Even though those don't usually bring me to weight gain levels, they don't exactly help me lose either.  And I know I am eating them just to have something to do other than reading/TV/computer/bath. 

 

I understand, but that is no good if you a) do no excercise and b) have no idea of your own metabolic rate. 

 

Not all foods liberate calories at the same rate. 

 

The faster the rate, the more likely it makes you make fat. 

 

So, if someone is a couch potato, the rate at which they burn calories is slow, so it is more important know how much they consume. 

 

If the person does plenty physical activity, and burns more energy, they can still count the calories, but all have to understand that one has to avoid such foods that can slow the metabolic rate. 

 

A good book to use, is the one that talks about the importance of your blood type. 

 

 

now, Yamisui,  your best bet would be a) know your blood type, and get the book called "eat right for your blood type". Before I read it, it was hard not to be chubby, and now I know how to pick foods that help my metabolism, it is easy to stay fit and slim. 

 

Since your hours are long, you can do something else, lower your insulin level, (how? ),  it would be difficult, since there are only two days on the weekend, but you could do, two weekends, and have no carbohydrates at all.  Just water, cheese (like Gouda, Edam),  meat, stakes, sausages, etc, sugar free gelatin, plain black coffee,  no veggies, no eggs. 

 

This works, because foods that liberate energy slowly, do NOT elevate insulin levels to cause hunger. 

 

Your worst enemy is hunger, you need to stop it. 

 

Now, I am type A, and if I had your life, (though I am a man) I would snack on peanuts during the day, if I had the chance, and Mon-Fri, would have like eggs and oatmeal cereal, no milk,  for breakfast, plus coffee and maybe youghurt. 

 

 

After long hours, eating is dangerous, so here is a plan that helps, though it sounds very strange. 

 

 

When you get home late, first, try to swallow a raw egg, have glass of soya milk, and a shot of tequila (or other distilled alcohol).

 

That breaks the extreme need to eat. 

 

 

Then you may just have some cereal, but always, be sure that it is low on sugar and fat, and nothing beats oatmeal. Or a fruit like a piece of pineapple, or an apple. 

 

 

Not being hungry, when we eat, helps to use moderation. 

 

 

 

 

 

Original Post by: yamisui

The last element to the cycle struck a chord with me.  Though I don't usually give in to it, I often am aware of the temptation to eat out of boredom at night between dinner and bed.  I work long hours, have a 1-hr commute home, then work out, so by the time I get home, do chores and cook dinner there's very little "me" time.  My husband and I end up doing sedentary things to unwind, like reading, taking baths, watching TV or sitting at our computers.  I am frustrated with this--I used to have a plethora of hobbies before joining the workforce, but now I have neither the time nor the energy for them.  I don't get off work early enough to make the drive to dance classes or music sessions, and as for regular old going out for dates on work-nights...  Well, we live in a city that shuts down by 8-9pm on weekdays.  No going to movies, no strolls through shopping centers...and that's really all there is to do here, anyway.  Also, I couldn't bring myself to work out later at night instead, because once I get home from a long day it's too hard to force myself to go out again for something that is more like work than leisure.  And I spend half of Sat/Sun asleep to make up for the massive sleep deficit during the week, so I never feel like I've gotten enough leisure time. 

Can someone help me out on this?  I can't think of any active things to do after dinner in an apartment with no yard that aren't just more exercise.  I guess I could sit there and do yoga or dumbbells while I watch TV, but that's a drag when I've already done over an hour of hard cardio and worked a 10+hr day.  1-2 times a week I give in between dinner and bed and have pasta, ice cream or a smoothie that wasn't on my diet plan for the day.  Even though those don't usually bring me to weight gain levels, they don't exactly help me lose either.  And I know I am eating them just to have something to do other than reading/TV/computer/bath. 

 

that is me, i work till 11 pm and get home and am tired and often do not have too much will power and mindless eating is appealing. I need the read the part about being in charge as opposed to in control also,  I do well otherwise, and have lost 40 lbs and have had 2 out of  3 blood pressure meds taken away. But still have to be very militant, i still have about 120 lbs left to go.

 

Wow, if that is the case, knowing your blood type is essential, for instance, if a type A person eats peanuts, it helps, but it makes a type O, first hungry, and slows their ,etabolic rate. 

 

So, do two weekends no carbs, that will curb hunger, and try to snack in the day, if you can.  You sound like maybe you are a nurse?

 

The raw egg, soya milk and tequila, works, but do not ask me why, it is something I just did, and found it was excellent, after too many hours with no meals. 

 

 

Another thing you need to know, too much fat, can mean too much estrogen, too much water retention, and a type of fat that is hard to burn. 

 

Can you see if you can do a hormone test?  If you can, tell me and I will tell you which one. 

 

Do not worry, just do not think about the weight, and believe in your mind that you are already thin. No sense thinking you are fat. 

 

 

If you want my help, since I am a MD, it is for free. 

 

 

Also meaure your % body fat,  25% is OK. 

 

 

 

Losing weight is easy it's keeping it off that's hard, so staying away from unsustainable habits has been my way of keeping in shape through 2 pregnancies as well as breast cancer, trust me chemotherapy wreaks havoc on your system. I eat what I enjoy but have modified to healthier alternatives and try and exercise often! Also I try not to obsess about the weight itself but focus instead on achievements like running an 8 min mile, doing 35 full sit-ups in a min or 75 push-ups in a minute!

It is possible to over-exercise and if you starve yourself of the proper nutrients by eating some crazy low fat concoction and then over exercise you'll simply mess up your metabolism and will not lose weight!

 

Original Post by: yamisui

The last element to the cycle struck a chord with me.  Though I don't usually give in to it, I often am aware of the temptation to eat out of boredom at night between dinner and bed.  I work long hours, have a 1-hr commute home, then work out, so by the time I get home, do chores and cook dinner there's very little "me" time.  My husband and I end up doing sedentary things to unwind, like reading, taking baths, watching TV or sitting at our computers.  I am frustrated with this--I used to have a plethora of hobbies before joining the workforce, but now I have neither the time nor the energy for them.  I don't get off work early enough to make the drive to dance classes or music sessions, and as for regular old going out for dates on work-nights...  Well, we live in a city that shuts down by 8-9pm on weekdays.  No going to movies, no strolls through shopping centers...and that's really all there is to do here, anyway.  Also, I couldn't bring myself to work out later at night instead, because once I get home from a long day it's too hard to force myself to go out again for something that is more like work than leisure.  And I spend half of Sat/Sun asleep to make up for the massive sleep deficit during the week, so I never feel like I've gotten enough leisure time. 

Can someone help me out on this?  I can't think of any active things to do after dinner in an apartment with no yard that aren't just more exercise.  I guess I could sit there and do yoga or dumbbells while I watch TV, but that's a drag when I've already done over an hour of hard cardio and worked a 10+hr day.  1-2 times a week I give in between dinner and bed and have pasta, ice cream or a smoothie that wasn't on my diet plan for the day.  Even though those don't usually bring me to weight gain levels, they don't exactly help me lose either.  And I know I am eating them just to have something to do other than reading/TV/computer/bath. 

 

Here's a free one-page download called: "101 Things to Do Besides Eat" - maybe something in here will resonate with you: http://amihungry.com/enews.shtml.

I am an all-or-nothing person who tends to go hard on a diet for a while for extreme results. When I inevitably fail at them, I quit. I don't re-gain (the only thing that has made me gain weight over the past 9 years has been 4 pregnancies), but I don't lose, either. I then get depressed and self-berating.

The "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" does not work for me. I am B+, but dairy, which should be my food of choice, does not do well for me. I guess that different things will work for different people.

A good friend counselled me to quit the coffee - while Women's Health Magazine says that it increases metabolism, recent studies have shown that in some people, it encourages a release of adrenaline and cortisol, treating the caffeine rush as stress. Then you get that "hang on to what you've got! response.

I'm what you might call a professional dieter. The only thing that honestly works is truly having self control, watching that you get all of your healthy nutrients in with a proper calorie rate, and that you get some exercise and give your body a chance to recover in between. 

I am an all-or-nothing person who tends to go hard on a diet for a while for extreme results. When I inevitably fail at them, I quit. I don't re-gain (the only thing that has made me gain weight over the past 9 years has been 4 pregnancies), but I don't lose, either. I then get depressed and self-berating.

The "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" does not work for me. I am B+, but dairy, which should be my food of choice, does not do well for me. I guess that different things will work for different people.

A good friend counselled me to quit the coffee - while Women's Health Magazine says that it increases metabolism, recent studies have shown that in some people, it encourages a release of adrenaline and cortisol, treating the caffeine rush as stress. Then you get that "hang on to what you've got! response.

I'm what you might call a professional dieter. The only thing that honestly works is truly having self control, watching that you get all of your healthy nutrients in with a proper calorie rate, and that you get some exercise and give your body a chance to recover in between. 

I had been a yo-yo dieter my whole life(I'm 52). I always tried to lose the weight for all the WRONG reasons.(get a man, fit into certain clothes) All superficial crap. This time, I did this for ME. I wanted to stop feeling the hangovers and wheezing from chain smoking. Partying just got OLD already. There comes a time in your life when you come to the realization you CAN'T have it both ways.(drinking like a sailor,smoking like a chiminey,eating crap all day, sittiing on your fat ass )., and expect to be the picture of health. As you age things get worse if you aren't doing the right things for your health. When you are young, you don't give a ****, you think you can get away with anything. When I got to the point that I couldn't reach my own butt crack when I was in the shower, (sorry, but it was true), I said ENOUGH ALREADY! you are too damn fat!!

I suggest anyone who wants to lose weight read everything regarding leptin linked to from this page.

http://jackkruse.com/

http://jackkruse.com/chapter-one-on-leptin/

Their are three parts to it chapter one chapter deux and part 3.  Also click on the quilt at the top of the page and read whats there its all good information.

A good amount of this may sound weird because it goes against some of the conventional wisdom, but many people like me have tried that and it never seems to work...I'm now losing with the help of this kind of information.

Also its important to note with exercise that you don't want to push yourself past 75% of max heart rate doing Cardio.  Cardio that goes above 75% and stays there releases cortisol which inhibits the release of fat for fuel just like having too much insulin does.  Stay in the 55-75% range for all cardio except for maybe one time a week as a sprint session but only if you've got the energy for it.

Original Post by: michelle_may_md

Original Post by: jaclynk12

Phil,

I agree with thinndskies - please share.  I am in my late twenties and boy it sure is hard for me to avoid the vending machine, the drive-thru's, and the candy at the check out lanes.  It's like I've lost my self-control.  I workout almost every day and intense workouts (high intensity circuit intervals 3 times a week, ice hockey twice a week, interval jogging on days that I don't have anything) and yet I haven't dropped a pound.  I've maintained but I'd really like to have self-control over my urges so that I don't buy any of it anymore.

Thanks,

Jackie 

One of the shifts that helped me break out of that cycle was learning the difference between "in control" and "in charge." (That is what the free Chapter One download is about - see link in the article.)

Trying to stay in control even sounds hard but being in charge means that you make decisions based on what will work best for you. If you decide to eat something that doesn't support your goals, you haven't "lost control" so there is no guilt to drive more overeating. (Have any of you ever said "I've already blown it; I might as well keep eating and start over tomorrow"?)

Instead, you learn from each decision - how did it work, how did it feel, what will I do differently next time? Being in charge gives you the flexibility to choose your actions no matter what the situation so for me, it has been a more sustainable approach.

Thank you, Michelle!

I’ve been reading your articles (and a few other folks) and became willing to look deeper.  Over the last few months I’ve been getting more sleep, meditating consistently (not perfectly, not daily), walking lots and plenty of yoga (recently this has been daily).  And trying to learn to be an intuitive/mindful eater.    

Slowly, slowly – life is changing.  I was out at a big camping get-together this past weekend.  Twice I found myself facing food on my plate that I just couldn’t finish.  You know that great big sighing noise you make as you prepare to tackle a chore?  Yah, I made that sighing noise – in preparation for cleaning my plate off.  And stopped myself.  Both times.  I didn’t need to continue to eat and I didn’t. 

These were successful moments.  These were the moments I’ve been waiting for.  Yay me!  Yay, Michelle!

p.s.  We WERE camping - had a couple of marshmallows later!  And stopped - didn't need to eat the whole bag or worry about there being "enough".

Original Post by: miskwaabigoons

Original Post by: michelle_may_md

Original Post by: jaclynk12

Phil,

I agree with thinndskies - please share.  I am in my late twenties and boy it sure is hard for me to avoid the vending machine, the drive-thru's, and the candy at the check out lanes.  It's like I've lost my self-control.  I workout almost every day and intense workouts (high intensity circuit intervals 3 times a week, ice hockey twice a week, interval jogging on days that I don't have anything) and yet I haven't dropped a pound.  I've maintained but I'd really like to have self-control over my urges so that I don't buy any of it anymore.

Thanks,

Jackie 

One of the shifts that helped me break out of that cycle was learning the difference between "in control" and "in charge." (That is what the free Chapter One download is about - see link in the article.)

Trying to stay in control even sounds hard but being in charge means that you make decisions based on what will work best for you. If you decide to eat something that doesn't support your goals, you haven't "lost control" so there is no guilt to drive more overeating. (Have any of you ever said "I've already blown it; I might as well keep eating and start over tomorrow"?)

Instead, you learn from each decision - how did it work, how did it feel, what will I do differently next time? Being in charge gives you the flexibility to choose your actions no matter what the situation so for me, it has been a more sustainable approach.

Thank you, Michelle!

I’ve been reading your articles (and a few other folks) and became willing to look deeper.  Over the last few months I’ve been getting more sleep, meditating consistently (not perfectly, not daily), walking lots and plenty of yoga (recently this has been daily).  And trying to learn to be an intuitive/mindful eater.    

Slowly, slowly – life is changing.  I was out at a big camping get-together this past weekend.  Twice I found myself facing food on my plate that I just couldn’t finish.  You know that great big sighing noise you make as you prepare to tackle a chore?  Yah, I made that sighing noise – in preparation for cleaning my plate off.  And stopped myself.  Both times.  I didn’t need to continue to eat and I didn’t. 

These were successful moments.  These were the moments I’ve been waiting for.  Yay me!  Yay, Michelle!

p.s.  We WERE camping - had a couple of marshmallows later!  And stopped - didn't need to eat the whole bag or worry about there being "enough".

Me, grinning:)

That is huge! Thank you for sharing.