Diet breakthrough

[trof]

Since I retired about 6 years ago I've gained an average of 6 pounds a year.
I weighed around 235 in 1999 (6'3"), so you can do the math.
Things are getting out of hand, so I've gone on a 1500 calorie a day diet.

Now...here's a trick I learned.
My mama ALWAYS told me to clean my plate.
She cited the starving children in China, which never made any sense to me, but anyway...
It is just totally INGRAINED in me to clean that plate.
I am completely brainwashed.

Of course a 1500 calorie diet means I'm eating smaller portions than I used to.
So...I put them on a smaller plate.
(OK, miz t. puts it on a smaller plate.;-))

The plate is still full, and I by-god clean it.
I am both psychologically full (I DID it, mom!), and actually physically at least satisfied.
I no longer have that what-used-to-be-"comfortable" full feeling after a meal, but I'm not hungry either.
I'm learning to get used to it.

I also learned that the only diet "secret" is:
If you take in more calories than you burn, you gain weight.
If you burn more calories than you take in, you lose weight.
Period.

There's nothing magic about Atkins, or South Beach, or The Grapefruit Diet, or any "Super-Special-Magic" anything.
Eat a good, balanced diet, avoiding the "bad fats", and if you burn more than your intake you WILL lose weight.

I also found a great way to measure portions and keep up with your daily calorie intake and how many you're burning.

Ahhh...I feel better already.
:-)

[supernova]

1. I use a salad plate

for that same reason. :-)

Normal-sized portions look ridiculouly small on regualr dinner plates anymore.

[Deja Q]

2. And if you don't take in enough calories, you end up like Terry Schiavo

because the body slows down its internal metabolism because it's not getting enough (CALORIES) to live on.

Most males need more than 2000 calories per day.

I've also been struggling to get back up in caloric intake AND exercise to re-establish my metabolism... and atrophied muscles.

[trof]

3. How I came up with the 1500 calories:

I found a neat website where you can calculate how many calories it takes to MAINTAIN your body weight.
It came to 3700 for me.
1500 is less than half that, but still plenty to maintain good health.
Viola!

[Left Is Write]

4. I have used the "smaller plate" trick for years.

I use a luncheon plate or a salad plate. Sometimes I even use a dessert plate.

BTW, trof, I take in more calories daily than you do!

[trof]

5. So why didn't you tell us?

jeez
;-)

[Left Is Write]

6. You didn't ask!

:P

When I was in weight-loss mode a couple of years ago, I did 1600 calories a day; now, in maintenance (and a very vigorous exercise regimen), I take in about 2000 or so on an average day (sometimes less, sometimes more).

The smaller plate trick works wonders. Also - put your salad/vegetables on the plate first, and take up about half of it. Divide the other half between protein and carb/starch.

[ok_cpu]

7. Shameless before and now pics...

Same thing has been working for me for about 85 lbs so far but a long way to go.

Sound advice you give sir.

[seemunkee]

8. But your body adjusts

I did 1500 calories for 2.5 years. The first year I lost 15 lbs. After that nothing. I gave it up to gain some muscle mass and need to go back to it for a while to get rid of some of the fat that came with the muscle.

[flvegan]

9. How much exercise are you getting? See, your body

is dropping pounds (if you're not exercising) due to the shock of a change in dietary intake. The "diet secret" is right, if you burn more than you take in, you'll lose weight. So, when your body exits it's current state and goes into "fight or flight" mode and starts burning fewer calories as a whole, you'll likely stop losing weight. What the magic formula (calorie intake < calorie expenditure) doesn't figure in is metabolism.

Congrats on the lifestyle change and success you find in it, but please exercise. Get that heart rate up. If you already are, I'll just shut up and pat you on the back, k?