Burning more calories than you ingest

[Wanda Van Winkle]

As an unsuccessful dieter, I'm considering the old you-must-burn-more-calories-than-you-take-in theory.

It makes sense.

However, as Brad Mercer, a thin guy, kindly points out for us fat people, everybody does not burn calories at the same rate.

With that in mind, you would think just add more exercise. I don't think there are enough hours in the day for the amount of exercise it would take to get me to lose weight because my body fights it.

So I have decided reducing calories to a level that I must burn more than I take in will be the only possible way. It has to be radical.

Does anyone know what the going rate for a normal person on a normal diet is supposed to eat? It seems like my little (in age and in size) sister, who is diabetic, is on 1600 calories per day, but I may be wrong.

I once heard of a person with heart disease who was on an 800-calories-per-day diet. She did lose weight. Obviously, people who have lapband surgery intake a great deal fewer calories.

All of that information is to say that even though "they" say that your body will start shutting down and trying not to lose weight, if you do not not eat enough, doesn't seem true about people who lose immense amounts of weight when they can eat only a handful of food in one sitting.

Does anyone have any recent experience with a very limited amount of calories--below the "normal" amount? I know I won't lose weight on "normal." Do 800 calories per day seem too few, as if it might not work?

[Dana Grant]

As an unsuccessful dieter, I'm considering the old you-must-burn-more-calories-than-you-take-in theory.

It makes sense.

However, as Brad Mercer, a thin guy, kindly points out for us fat people, everybody does not burn calories at the same rate.

With that in mind, you would think just add more exercise. I don't think there are enough hours in the day for the amount of exercise it would take to get me to lose weight because my body fights it.

So I have decided reducing calories to a level that I must burn more than I take in will be the only possible way. It has to be radical.

Does anyone know what the going rate for a normal person on a normal diet is supposed to eat? It seems like my little (in age and in size) sister, who is diabetic, is on 1600 calories per day, but I may be wrong.

I once heard of a person with heart disease who was on an 800-calories-per-day diet. She did lose weight. Obviously, people who have lapband surgery intake a great deal fewer calories.

All of that information is to say that even though "they" say that your body will start shutting down and trying not to lose weight, if you do not not eat enough, doesn't seem true about people who lose immense amounts of weight when they can eat only a handful of food in one sitting.

Does anyone have any recent experience with a very limited amount of calories--below the "normal" amount? I know I won't lose weight on "normal." Do 800 calories per day seem too few, as if it might not work?


Wanda, as with any diet, unless you make a permanent lifestyle change, chances are that you'll gain it back. This is the expert talking here. Been there, done that, too many times. I also have a little and OLDER sister -- she can eat a whole half-gallon of ice cream in one setting and never gain an ounce. She can fast or nearly fast for a couple of days and lose 5 pounds. I, on the other hand, did not inherit those genes. I inherited my father's genes -- yes, I can eat a half-gallon of icecream in one setting, but I definitely gain more than a few ounces if I do!! And yes, I can fast or nearly fast for a couple of days, but I definitely don't lose 5 pounds in the process. All that happens to me is that I GET HUNGRY!! LOL

So, yes, genetics plays a big part in your ability to lose and maintain the loss.

Yes, you'd probably lose weight on an 800-calorie diet, but Wanda, that is just too strict of a diet to expect to stay on for the rest of your life. I finally learned that staying on a strictly protein diet would drive me crazy. I got to the point that if I saw one more egg, I was going to scream!! I finally came up with a good balance that will also still control my diabetes. I still eat more protein than anything else, but at least I can have more veggies and fruit than before. I have to watch it very carefully, but at least I CAN have a little variety.

If you stay on 800 calories for very long -- well, I can see the saliva dripping out of your mouth at the restaurant while everyone else eats FOOD. It just won't work forever!!

Many people suggest portion control. And for many people, that works. It doesn't work for me. Number 1, some things I just can't eat a small portion. Period. I've tried over and over, and it just doesn't work for me. AND now that I'm diabetic, well, ANY portion of mashed potatoes is bad, ANY portion of cake is bad, ANY portion of corn is bad......well, you get the picture.....

In my own experience, I do not count calories. I eat a very high protein diet, balanced with good low-carb vegetables, variety of nuts and seeds, cheeses, and low-glycemic fruits, and LOTS AND LOTS of water. If I follow this diet, I lose weight or maintain my weight. Many people suggest that this diet is not good for people. One reminder is that ketosis is not the same as diabetic ketoacidosis. Two completely different conditions. Anyway....following the diet alone is not the entire answer. I MUST exercise at least 3 miles a day or so (walking). It seems that the more I walk, the more I lose weight. It seems that if I discontinue walking (which I did for about 6 months following my pneumonia -- just couldn't get back into the habit!!), the pounds slowly find their way back to my body!!!

I've now kept most of my 55 pound weight loss off for over a year. I gained back about 15 pounds that I've been fighting now for about 6 months (notice the time -- 6 months without regular walking, 15 pounds crept back on). It is very frustrating, to say the least!! However, I am pretty sure that I'm secure enough in my eating habits that I won't gain any more of it. Losing the 15 pounds is now my goal!! I've lost about 3 of them this past week.......so I'm headed in the right direction....LOL If I keep exercising , in a couple of months those 15 pounds will be history.

One thing that I have discovered about weight loss. The slower the weight comes off, the greater the chance that it will stay off. It took nearly a year for me to lose that 55 pounds -- and I know people who have lost that much in 4-5 months (myself included), only to have it reappear......

You can't change your eating habits just long enough to lose weight. It has to be a lifestyle change. Exercise included. It is a painful truth that I've experienced over the years. Hopefully and prayerfully, I've finally reached the point that I won't yo-yo anymore. I think I've finally made it!! (trying to muster up confidence here!!)

If you do go on an 800-calorie diet, well, once you lose the weight and people start telling you how good you look, chances are you'll start slipping up here and there. That amount of calories it not a lot of food unless you stick to salads without any dressing!! Diet Jell-O, maybe. And then the slips will come more frequently, and then you'll end up eating the same way you 've always eaten, and the pounds will quickly return, and you'll end up depressed, and then you'll eat chocolate -- well, you get the picture. It is a vicious circle.

I know that you can lose the weight, Wanda; you just have to find the RIGHT plan for you that you can modify, but stick to, the rest of your life. Once you lose the weight, you can't ever go back to eating the way you do now or not exercising. Both go hand in hand.


I'd be glad to talk to you about dieting, Wanda. I've probably been on most of them and failed at one time or another. I really don't know what caused me to gain so much weight through the years -- eating too much, I suppose! But once you finally find what's right for you, it isn't all that hard to lose the weight. Finding the right combination of food and exercise is the most difficult part of dieting. Once you find that balance, you'll start noticing the weight melt off and you'll feel so much better!

And another thing that keeps me going -- my grandmother lost her legs to diabetes.....I don't want to go there. I lose focus for a few weeks here and there at times, but those times are becoming fewer and shorter, thank the Lord.

You can do this, Wanda.

[Brad Mercer]

A few random responses come immediately to my mind, but I've certainly not got any expertise.

I read food labels fairly compulsively and I notice that the labels assume a total daily intake of 2,000-2,500 calories per day.

I am discovering that my body, at 49, is slowing down. I've gained about 10 pounds in the last year or so, and I don't just automatically drop 2-3 pounds by eating a little less for 2-3 days, like I used to. I'm trying to remember to do a little extra exercising every day, and eat less, especially after 6pm. I'm afraid, though, that losing that 10 pounds will be as tough for me as weight loss is for most people. Deeply ingrained habits are hard to change, and you never really notice how strong the current is until you try swimming against it.

I started on a 40-day fast in August or September, but it got interrupted by my week of hurricane relief work in Katrina, during which I ate normally. The rest of that 40 days, though, I only drank. I drank a lot of water, a fair amount of apple juice, and occasionally some V8 or orange juice. What I really lived on though, was "Silk" brand, "Very Vanilla" flavored soy milk. I loved that stuff, and went through a half-gallon a day. The problem is that a half-gallon of it is 1040 calories. As a result, I managed to more or less fast for 40 days, and only lose 3-5 pounds. So, not all dietary restrictions are created equal. A few years earlier, when I was in my early 40's and didn't break a 40 day fast for the full 40 days, and limited my calorie intake to probably 800 calories per day for the last 10-15 days, and significantly less than that during the first 25-30 days, I lost 20 pounds over the 40 days, and it took me six months to deliberately gain it back again.

You're right though, about diet vs. exercise. Read how many calories are in a candy bar, or how much saturated fat is in a package of ramen noodles, and then read how much exercise it takes to burn that off, and you realize there aren't enough hours in the day to burn as many calories as I can thoughtlessly consume while I'm sitting at the computer or watching TV for an hour or two.

Brad

[Dana Grant]

What Brad said brought to mind a conversation I had with my husband many years ago....

He told me that if he had 10 pounds to lose, he'd just do it. No problem.

Well, the day came when he had 10 pounds to lose. After all those years of being very thin, he gained about 20 pounds.

So, he decided he'd start on a diet.

He didn't even make it to noon at work without a Snickers from the vending machine.

When he told me that at home, I quoted "Well, if I had 10 pounds to lose, I'd just lose it, no problem."

He now knows that it's not easy losing weight.

WORK!!!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Understand that I've done the exercise that's supposed to burn off the food you eat--my body doesn't burn like others--even on exercise. I cannot argue about it, though, because all that happens is people get obstinate, end up indicating that I'm a liar, and then I get upset.

Thanks for your input. 2000 calories a day seems WAY too much. I KNOW I would not lose weight with that many calories, but it's good to know a general starting point for normal people to stay their normal healthy weight.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Dana, thank you for such a lengthy response. I think you probably know I already know all that stuff. When you been as fat as I am for as long as I have been that way, you've read everything. I've done all the diets.

I know 800 calories is not a lifestyle change, but I've already done the lifestyle change of eating, and I'm still fat.

I've NEVER lost weight except on a one-time trial of a prescription drug which increased my metabolism.

NO diets have ever worked. I've lost up to ten pounds, but it's never because I'm doing anything special. I could exercise for two months, gain five pounds. Or I could do nothing, eat regularly, and lose eight pounds.

Again, people can call me a liar if they want to.

So I MUST--if I want to lose weight--do something drastic to get SOME of the weight off, and then let my low-carb lifestyle diet maintain. I'm maintaining now, but what I'm maintaining is FAT.

So if 800 calories per day is too few, and the norm, according to what Brad has notice is around 2000, I wonder if 1200 would work.

I've changed my exercise to trying to walk three times a day, shorter distances, which fits better into my schedule. Walking several miles doesn't last long, because I tend to NOT do it when that block of time doesn't fit into the schedule. I can fit in 20-30 minutes two to three times a day quite easily, though. But I'm not losing weight with that exercise.

So what do these people with those stomach-stapling-lapbanding surgeries do? I've known people who do that and keep off the weight. They are living on fewer calories, surely, than the "norm."

I also know one woman who had it done--and then reversed--and kept the weight off--has for years and years now. So although "as a rule" people tend to gain back weight, some people do not. Even Weight Watchers success people eat less and less and then when they reach their goal, they gradually eat to maintain. Why can this maintenance not work with other diets?

I did see a program on PBS last year that was quite depressing. The scientist basically said that if you're fat, you're fat, and nothing you can do will change it. You may lose temporarily, but if it's in your biological system, it will be impossible to keep off the fat. You will either start eating wrong again, or too much, or whatever, and you will gain it all back.

I don't want to accept that judgment. I prefer to think that if I can ever take some of it off, I can keep some of it off.

The only reason I brought up the subject is that I wanted to know how many calories might be few enough to actually make a difference in a body known to have a very slow metabolism.

Thanks again.

[MB Latham]

When I'm attempting to drop some weight, I try to keep my calorie in-take at 1400 calories a day in addition to a 30 to 45 minutes walk a day.

That works for me. On my "great" days, I keep my calories around 1200.

If I drop below that, I'm "starving"!!

Blessings to you friend! I know what you're going through!

MB

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Since Dana thinks 800 is not reasonable, your 1400 sounds good. I'll go for that amount at first. If that doesn't work, I'll try 1200.

Notice I say TRY. I've failed enough that I don't even make mySELF promises, anymore, let alone promising anyone else. The old have-someone-to-hold-you-accountable plan doesn't work for me. :-)

I appreciate the input.

What do you do when you are not trying to lose weight--when you are just maintaining?

[Dana Grant]

Understand that I've done the exercise that's supposed to burn off the food you eat--my body doesn't burn like others--even on exercise. I cannot argue about it, though, because all that happens is people get obstinate, end up indicating that I'm a liar, and then I get upset.

Thanks for your input. 2000 calories a day seems WAY too much. I KNOW I would not lose weight with that many calories, but it's good to know a general starting point for normal people to stay their normal healthy weight.

Well, you won't get that from me -- I KNOW it takes a long time to strike just the right balance. No argument here. You just have to SEARCH for the right combination of food and exercise. You'll find it!!!

[Dana Grant]

Since Dana thinks 800 is not reasonable, your 1400 sounds good. I'll go for that amount at first. If that doesn't work, I'll try 1200.

Notice I say TRY. I've failed enough that I don't even make mySELF promises, anymore, let alone promising anyone else. The old have-someone-to-hold-you-accountable plan doesn't work for me. :-)

I appreciate the input.

What do you do when you are not trying to lose weight--when you are just maintaining?

***************

All very good questions about the calorie count. Like I said, I do not count calories, as it would drive me crazy.

And you're right, I know you know all that I wrote in my long post -- but sometimes hearing it again helps??? HA HA

But about the calories -- well, sure, you'd probably lose weight on 800 calories a day. But if you want to maintain that weight loss, well, 800 is just too little food. Now, you mentioned maintenance.....OK, so let's say you lose 40 pounds on 800 calories a day and exercise. MAYBE, just MAYBE, you may be able to maintain it if you gradually go back up to maybe 1200 calories a day or so. You'd have to just experiment. I believe that everyone is different and that's why there are thousands of diets out there. Every personality has a different diet that may work for them.

I couldn't count calories, and I couldn't do Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers is a WONDERFUL balanced diet; however, I could not go to a WW meeting every week or how ever often you do it. I just don't have time for one more meeting.

SO, I guess the only way you're going to find out if 800 calories a day will help you lose weight is to try it. Try doing 2 weeks of 800 calories a day and see if you can lose weight with that and be able to handle the decreased food intake. It won't kill you to do 800 calories a day if you eat the right foods.

But, I do believe you about trying the exercise and the dieting and not losing weight. I also know that many people think we are lying when we say such things.

BUT, my comment to everyone -- if you've never been overweight, you have no clue what it's like.


(Edit: Take my mother, for instance. She has been perfect her whole life. She can't understand why my Dad and I struggle with weight issues. It's easy for her. She gains a few pounds? She loses it immediately. Will power is not an issue for her. We are all wired differently.)

[Cecil Wallace]

Five years ago, I picked up this cheap little book, and followed the advice that the author wrote about.
"Carbo-Calorie Diet" by Donald S. Mart, published in 1973.
Check out the prices at: http://www.bestwebbuys.com/The_Carbo-Calorie_Diet-ISBN_0385006152.html?isrc=b-search
The book gives you "values" for many servings of food, and even has some sample diets.
It is based on 1200 calories + 60 carbs per day. Through a fomula, it gives you the "per serving" values of just about every food you can think of. The tough part is that one serving of most foods is 1/2 cup, and trust me, that ain't much.
I believe Dana's advice was very good, all of which you indicate that you already know.
The key thing for me was that I wanted/needed to make a change in my lifestyle. I lost 50 pounds in a little over 6 months, in 2001. I have kept it off by watching what/how much I eat.
At present, I have about 6 pounds to lose, partially caused by the Thanksgiving to New Years period.
Two things that I always say:
1. When a person loses weight, their "fat" cells don't go away, they just hang around "empty," waiting for the person to NOT burn all the carbs that they take in, and any leftovers are immediately stored in fat cells.
2. There's just so much fat in the world, and if one person loses weight, someone else has to gain it.

Wanda, I feel for you, because I've been there, done that, and it is a tough battle.
Hang in there. You can do it. Sounds like you are at a point where you really want to lose weight, and that is important.

[Dana Grant]

Five years ago, I picked up this cheap little book, and followed the advice that the author wrote about.
"Carbo-Calorie Diet" by Donald S. Mart, published in 1973.
Check out the prices at: http://www.bestwebbuys.com/The_Carbo-Calorie_Diet-ISBN_0385006152.html?isrc=b-search
The book gives you "values" for many servings of food, and even has some sample diets.
It is based on 1200 calories + 60 carbs per day. Through a fomula, it gives you the "per serving" values of just about every food you can think of. The tough part is that one serving of most foods is 1/2 cup, and trust me, that ain't much.
I believe Dana's advice was very good, all of which you indicate that you already know.
The key thing for me was that I wanted/needed to make a change in my lifestyle. I lost 50 pounds in a little over 6 months, in 2001. I have kept it off by watching what/how much I eat.
At present, I have about 6 pounds to lose, partially caused by the Thanksgiving to New Years period.
Two things that I always say:
1. When a person loses weight, their "fat" cells don't go away, they just hang around "empty," waiting for the person to NOT burn all the carbs that they take in, and any leftovers are immediately stored in fat cells.
2. There's just so much fat in the world, and if one person loses weight, someone else has to gain it.

Wanda, I feel for you, because I've been there, done that, and it is a tough battle.
Hang in there. You can do it. Sounds like you are at a point where you really want to lose weight, and that is important.


Cecil I didin't realize you had lost so much. And now it is 5 years? That gives me hope.

..·´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ¸.·´ -:¦:- Dana -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´ -:¦:- -:¦:- -:¦:- -:¦:--:¦:-

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I just haven't found that "perfect diet for me" yet. :)

My mother's the same way. Hey, I've been through the stresses that usually make people lose weight. I even divorced long ago after my husband left me. I've known oodles of people who dropped weight during such a circumstance. Not I!! I think my body loves itself too much. It can't seem to what it's doing to itself.

By the way, you mentioned people saying how nice you look, etc. I don't fall for that stuff. I am not losing weight just to look nice--although that would be a plus, which comes to mind especially now that I'm applying for jobs. Oh, they can't discriminate on the basis of gender or race, but I betcha, with otherwise equal qualifications, a cute skinny thing wins out over a big fat thing most times. :-)

I used to argue with people that calories and exercise don't work for me, but the point is, the "normal" diet versus how-many-calories-you-burn doesn't work for me. Since I don't lose on the normal scale, I'm thinking the drastic reduction of calories might work. Truly, it's my last hope. Then I think I'll just thank God for what he's given me, and for however long I happen to live. I would just like to lose weight to fight off some of that fat-related disease problems. Since my kids don't seem interested in marriage or children right now, I might have to live a LONG time to see grandchildren.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Thanks for the encouragement. It's good to see someone who's a success who isn't judgmental about it!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I'll see if I can get the book. Sounds like 1200 calories is a good place to start. I already know how to count the carbs. I'll see if I can find the book online and get it mailed today!

EDIT: Oops, I see you gave me a link. Thanks!

[Dana Grant]

I just haven't found that "perfect diet for me" yet. :)

My mother's the same way. Hey, I've been through the stresses that usually make people lose weight. I even divorced long ago after my husband left me. I've known oodles of people who dropped weight during such a circumstance. Not I!! I think my body loves itself too much. It can't seem to what it's doing to itself.

By the way, you mentioned people saying how nice you look, etc. I don't fall for that stuff. I am not losing weight just to look nice--although that would be a plus, which comes to mind especially now that I'm applying for jobs. Oh, they can't discriminate on the basis of gender or race, but I betcha, with otherwise equal qualifications, a cute skinny thing wins out over a big fat thing most times. :-)

I used to argue with people that calories and exercise don't work for me, but the point is, the "normal" diet versus how-many-calories-you-burn doesn't work for me. Since I don't lose on the normal scale, I'm thinking the drastic reduction of calories might work. Truly, it's my last hope. Then I think I'll just thank God for what he's given me, and for however long I happen to live. I would just like to lose weight to fight off some of that fat-related disease problems. Since my kids don't seem interested in marriage or children right now, I might have to live a LONG time to see grandchildren.

One note on that comment I made about people saying how nice you look and all. Well, that was one thing I had to overcome. I had to really pound it in my head that I can't care about that. I have to do this for ME. A lot of times what would happen is that people would say, "Oh, you've lost so much weight, you look so good, etc." and I'd go home and look in the mirror and agree with them. Then I'd justify eating that twinkie (or whatever!!) by saying to myself "well, I look good, I deserve this," or whatever. Now, mind you, I didn't say any of that out loud, but looking back on it, it just seems that is what my mindset was all those other times.

This time was different. I didn't care what people said about weight loss or how I looked. I cared about getting healthy. Maybe that is why I've been able to maintain it a little better (even with the 15 pounds.......ACK)

The compliments are nice, though. The best compliment I've received??? Well, only a struggling dieting person would appreciate this........

"Dana, you're losing too much weight. You're starting to look sick."

LOL LOL


OK, enough of this for a while -- I have to get back to work.

Today's lunch was a smidgen of tuna salad, a tiny hunk of cheese, and a diet Jell-O cup. How exciting was THAT!

Back to work now.

[Dana Grant]

(the reason I put in what I had for lunch is so that I could tell you how I measure -- smidgen here, tiny hunk there.....LOL.....now you know why I can't do those other diets that measure everything!!!)

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I've heard over and over to eat a handful of nuts per day, so I've been doing that, but I have a feeling when I add up the calories, I might make it three nuts per day. :)

[Barbara Philipp]

Miss Wanda: I am in the same battle you are. I walk no less than 2.5 miles a day. I eat healthier than I have in years and have dropped 48 pounds. I only have 93 to go. Undaunting task as it is, I only go in five pound increments. My big problems is diet Pepsi. I am not a huge water drinker, though I try to get in 5 to 6 glasses a day, not enough, especially here in Arizona. I have sorta found what fits me I just need to get the "habit". I didn't walk at all last week because I was tired of trying. I'm not beating myself up about. I just put on my walking shoes and did my walk today.

My biggest thing I am not always kind to myself. I doubt myself and my abilities to get thin. Positive is not easy for me to be.

Be good to yourself and as I walk I pray and will get you in that hour to boost your spirit, to give you speed and just cuz you are a nice lady.

God bless.

[Joel Merrill]

I used to think "middle age" had to do with age, now I'm finding out it has to do with the middle :basic04

I've found that it is easier to watch your weight when it sticks out in front of you farther :basic02

Up Down
Touch the gound
Puts me in the mood.
Up Down
Touch the ground
In the mood for Food.

Poem by Pooh Bear.

I just want to be a blessing, jOeL :fav17

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I love to hear success stories. If I lost 20 pounds, I would be amazed! I've never been on a yoyo, never having lost a lot of weight. I just got fat and stayed there. With your success, I know you will keep going!

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Silly. :basic02

[Vivian Cornwell]

Wanda, I have been reading this thread and saw this article in our newspaper today about a new way to lose weight. I know, you have tried everything. This sounds interesting though. The diet makes you feel full and you don't eat as much. Read it and see what you think.

DIET
Limiting flavors in daily meals promotes weight loss, author says
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Lindsey Tanner
ASSOCIATED PRESS

M . SPENCER GREEN | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dr. David Katz


CHICAGO — Forget counting carbs and calories. Obesity researcher David Katz says the way to lose weight is to limit flavors.

People stop eating, says Katz, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center, when the brain’s appetite center registers "full." But eating lots of flavors promotes overeating because different sensors must register full for appetite to subside.

The typical American diet "is a mad cacophony of flavors," he said.

Katz, 42, advocates flavorthemed meals — an apple day, for example, or a sesame day, even an occasional chocolate day.

The idea is perhaps less boring than it sounds. For example, pineapple day features pineapple juice and cereal for breakfast; pineapple-walnut chicken salad and crackers for lunch; pineapple shrimp, bulgur, sauteed peas and tossed salad for dinner; and caramelized pineapple rings for dessert.

The theory and practice are detailed in his new book, The Flavor Point Diet, based on a little-publicized phenomenon called sensory-specific satiety. That is the term used to describe the way food becomes less palatable when enough of it is eaten. Adding a new flavor renews the process, numerous studies have shown.

Katz, a medical contributor to ABC News and a nutrition columnist for Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine, tested the diet on 20 people for 12 weeks and said they lost an average of more than 16 pounds.

Jonathan Link, a 34-year-old information-services specialist from New Milford, Conn., was one of them. Link — who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed 183 pounds, with high cholesterol — was skeptical at first.

"I thought, ‘Oh, that’s disgusting; you have to eat peaches all day,’ " Link said.

But he found the diet surprisingly varied. He lost about 20 pounds early last year and has kept it off by changing his eating habits.

"By week two, I started getting stuffed. I couldn’t even finish dinner because I was feeling so full," Link said.

Katz recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days. His flavor theme builds on the diets many nutritionists advocate — lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts; fish and poultry for protein; limited fat; and healthful snacks.

Brown University researcher Hollie Raynor, who has studied sensory-specific satiety, said many diets are based on a more extreme interpretation of the concept, including ice-cream diets, soup diets and diets that severely restrict carbohydrates.

Whether Katz’s diet works because it limits flavors or promotes healthful eating and exercise is unclear, Raynor said.

"If you’re eating healthy and exercising, you’re going to lose weight," she said.

Susan Burke, chief nutritionist for ediets.com, a weightmanagement Web site, said there is some validity to Katz’s flavor theory.

"Jumbling flavors at any one meal can trigger you to eat more," Burke said.

"Whether or not the science will bear out that this actually is the cause of the weight loss" is unclear, Burke said. But she added, "At the very least, this program, you can be assured, is going to be nutritious."

[Shawn Flynn]

Okay, here is what you should do.

1) See your docotor.

2) It will be very difficult on you to maintain this 1200 cal regimen for any extended amount of time. You should consider eating low fat low carbs, during the week and have a day to splurge. This will allow you to get what you want and if you over do it, you will feel guilty and work harder during the week. 2000 a day is much more reasonable.

3) To diet without exercise will mostly burn muscle first and once you waste away your muscle you will start buring fat ssssllllooooowwwwly. Now this might sound fine, but you will burn more calories if you have greater muscle mass.

To continue with the exercise thing, it is best to do cardiovascular exercises (brisk walking) to get your heart rate up. In fact, it has been proven that brisk walking will burn calories longer even after you stop exercising. If mobility is an issue, then you should start out with light weight lifting and light walking. In fact with any new program for weight loss should implement both cardio and weight training to get the benefits of muscle burning fat.

4) To maintain your weight loss, it is best to shoot for 10lb per month. Now with that, what will usually happen, if you are morbidly obese, you will lose weight quickly at first and then slow down, this is if you are pretty mobile and you can maximize your workout and strong will to maintain your diet.

Remember, you need fat for your brain and you need carbs for your brain too. The key is a well balanced diet with which is low fat and low carb not no fat and no carb.

By all means, the most important thing you can do is contact your doctor to be evaluated before starting any diet. Discuss your plan with them and they can help you tailor it to your needs.

One last thing, PRAY. My great great aunt told my dad one time, "if it matters to you, it matters to God." He will sustain you when you cannot take that extra step on the treadmill and he will fill you when you are staying away from that cheese cake. This can be an experience that draws you closer to the Lord.

Best of luck. Its hard, I know, I've been there.

Shawn

[Wanda Van Winkle]

I might be able to try it while counting calories.

[William Hunter]

I lost 37 lbs. but then leveled off. I want to lose about 80 more lbs. and have been trying to learn all I can about balanceb nutrician and exercise. The best material I have found to address that is, "Total Heart Health for Men," and the companion volume, "Total Heart Health for Women." They are written by two widely known cardiologists, Mickael Duncan and Richard Leachman, and their pastor at the Second Baptist Church of Houston, Dr. Ed Young. On occasion the eternal security of the pastor bleeds through but anyone with good insight into holiness can deal with that. They premise is that total heart health is not possible without consideration of BOTH the heart of the soul and the physical heart, since God made us as a unified whole. Excellent reading. AFter I got well into the book I went back and bought the "Todal Heart Health for Men Workbook" and the "365 Days of Total Heart Health Devotional." After consulting with my doctor and chiropractor since I am trying to heal from a serious tissue inflamation that goes back to Vietnam, and researching several possbile ideas, along with power walking I am doing the core strengthening stuff on a ball. The basic program gives you a good workout that almost anyone can do in 25 minutes, then I power walk for 30 minutes. At this point it is still pretty challenging and at times a cut it a bit short, but my goal is that in 18 to 24 months to be at my goal weight and have good cardio health in the process. You may want to go to a Christian book store and look this material over though you can order the material at a significant savings from Christian Book Distributors. You CAN do it. The devotional of this material is a real encouragement. I've even gotten my Pastor's Prayer Team to pray for me in this and hold me accountable.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Betty Bolerjack]

Wanda,

I have a book titled, "Is Your Thyroid Making You Fat?: The Doctor's 28-Day Diet that Tests Your Metabolism as You Lose Weight" It is written by a doctor who has treated "hundreds of thousands" of overweight patients in more than 40 years of practice. His practice has been restricted to treating overweight patients, approximatey 1/4 of which have a thyroid problem. You may have had your thyroid tested and been told it was OK when it really isn't. Been there, done that. I haven't actually tried his diet (I'd never last the full 28 days), but I do know that even on thyroid medication, I have difficulty losing weight. Here is a quote from the book that should be somewhat encouraging to you:

Of the many systems I could use to categorize my overweight patients, the simplest would place each of them in one of two categories:

Those who eat too much.
Those who don't eat too much.As simple as that sounds, it isn't. In a sense, they all eat too much. But too much for what? The answer is too much for one's body to maintain its weight. One pateint might think she eats only one-third the calories her best friend eats, but it is still too much because she's overweight and her friend isn't. If the standard by which "too much" is to be judged is the amount necessary not to create obesity, then everyone who is obese eats too much.

But "too much" may not be that much at all. I'm sure you know that each of us requires a somewhat different amount of food to maintain our respective weights. In some instances the variations among us are impressive. That is the essence of the differences in metabolism among various individuals of similar size. We do seem to burn up our calories at different rates.

So, he is very understanding of those of us who don't eat all that much yet can't seem to lose and, in fact, even gain weight. I know that inactivity plays a role in my weight problem, but I'm very limited on the type of activity/exercise I can do because of my back. Believe me, it drives me nuts that I can't go shopping like most people or even take a 15-minute walk around my neighborhood without pain. I'm exporing other things, but meanwhile my weight continues to gradually climb, which only adds to the problem. I had a doctor who cut my thyroid medication in half which didn't help (I had been on the same dosage for years with no problems) and in my search for an answer, I ran across this book at Barnes & Noble. I have found it very interesting and may have to use some of it as ammunition with my current doctor when it comes time for my prescription to be renewed in a couple of months.

I have no desire to go on such a restrictive diet for the meager results that it will likely yield, but here is what he says about his diet:

The statement that follows may seem a bit smug. You will lose weight on this diet. How can I be so sure of myself? It's simple: Everyone loses weight on a 1,000-calorie diet. That's even more smug, but I have equal confidence in that one. In some cases the loss might seem to be painfuly slow and meager. If you have any degree of hypothyroidism, the weight loss will be less than expected. Indeed, that is why you wil suspect hypothyroidism; it is because the weight loss is inadequate. No matter how meager, you will lose something on a diet of 1,000 calories per day. No one has a metabolism that low.

You are welcome to borrow my copy if you want. I just need it back before I go for my annual thyroid checkup. I sure wish I had a doctor like this guy. Getting that stupid, inaccurate blood test wouldn't be an issue! Let me know if you want to borrow it.

[Wanda Van Winkle]

Thanks, Betty.

I had my thyroid removed three years ago, I think. So I take thyroid medication. I have to keep it well checked before getting the prescription renewed, and have actually had to check it, anyway, when it was obviously off.

However, I did not lose weight on thyroid medication--even when I was getting too much, as indicated by breaking nails and brittle hair. Even with my thyroid well regulated, the medication does nothing about weight. If they gave me too much for my body, I might lose weight, but it could injure me, also.

I'm trying the 1200-calorie diet because that amount seems like a person would have to lose weight. I know in the beginning it won't work because my body will go into save-myself mode, but after a few weeks, it will have to give in to the low calories.

[Betty Bolerjack]

OK. Well, like I said. Medication doesn't seem to do much for me, weight wise, either. And I still have my thyroid! Of course, I'd hate to think what I would look like without the medication. Or feel like. Ugh! The thought of it just makes me cringe. I'm in bad enough shape now and I know I have to stop this upward trend in my weight so I don't end up confined to bed or something. :gen02

Speaking of bed... I think I'd better head that way!

[Gina Stevenson]

Osteoporosis can be a side-effect of too much even, not just brittle nails & hair. So, it is good to keep a check on it regularly.



However, I did not lose weight on thyroid medication--even when I was getting too much, as indicated by breaking nails and brittle hair. Even with my thyroid well regulated, the medication does nothing about weight. If they gave me too much for my body, I might lose weight, but it could injure me, also.