Surfing Fitness: Diet

[oldmansurfer]

I know it seems like obesity is simply a matter of laziness or lack of willpower or whatever judgment about fat people is the flavor of the day. However, the latest research is showing that obesity/the ideal body weight doesn't have much to do with willpower or a person's lack of discipline at all.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/heal ... .html?_r=2

The problem with dieting is that it doesn't work. You can't go on a diet until you reach your goal then go off it. You have to change your eating habits.

[RinkyDink]

I know it seems like obesity is simply a matter of laziness or lack of willpower or whatever judgment about fat people is the flavor of the day. However, the latest research is showing that obesity/the ideal body weight doesn't have much to do with willpower or a person's lack of discipline at all.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/heal ... .html?_r=2

The problem with dieting is that it doesn't work. You can't go on a diet until you reach your goal then go off it. You have to change your eating habits.

I agree. It's all about finding something that works for you. I'm a low carber, but I met a nutritionist the other day and she was all about the high carb diet (vegan). At the end of our conversation, it was pretty clear that she would never eat meat and that was a perfectly valid choice, but not one that I wanted to make.

[Big H]

Mercola? The idea that sugar is an addiction is nice for those who struggle with their weight. They can just say there is my excuse. I am addicted to sugar but really they are just eating too many calories and their preference for sweetness makes it worse. There is no good science behind it but no one is saying anything because they want people to cut down on sugar intake and feel like they have an excuse so they won't go off in a corner and eat more to quench their misery from not being able to control their caloric intake.

I know it seems like obesity is simply a matter of laziness or lack of willpower or whatever judgment about fat people is the flavor of the day. However, the latest research is showing that obesity/the ideal body weight doesn't have much to do with willpower or a person's lack of discipline at all.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/heal ... .html?_r=2

Surfing didn't make the list, but if you're active out there and not sitting in the lineup for extended periods, call it interval training....

Without any additional input, maybe the metabolism rebounds the way they described.....doesn't have to; just need to look after it....
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/9-tips- ... bolism.htm

[dtc]

My body definitely has a set weight that it wants to maintain. If I consciously diet I can lose 2-3 kg pretty easily (in 4-5 weeks) but going below that takes a real significant effort and if I return to eating 'normally' then I put the weight back on over a few months.

But, on the other hand, even if I consciously try to eat more for months on end (to put on weight), I only end up 2-3 kg heavier than my 'set weight' . And when I stop over eating....I lose the weight (even though the overeating is supposed to be to increase muscle!)

If I just eat 'normally', neither trying to gain or lose weight, I stay pretty much within a kg either side of my 'normal' weight.

I'm sure its feasible to re-set your body weight but I dont know how much effort is involved because I've never managed to do it.

The major drop in metabolism in that NY Times article is a reason why the 5:2 diet seems to work so well - you cut calories but no metabolism change.

I agree. If you begin a low carb way of eating, you'll have carbohydrate withdrawals. Most people don't experience this kind of withdrawal because they never make it past the first three days of restricted carbs. The sugar withdrawals are too powerful. It's difficult when you first wean yourself off of carbs and get most of them from veggies. There are huge benefits to it once you learn to sustain that type of eating though.

Dont confuse the impact on your body of carb withdrawals as showing that carbs are 'bad'. Your body has to adjust from using its preferred/easiest means of energy and, until it does, it doesnt know what to do and you feel bad and your body will seek out what it knows and likes.

But that doesnt mean its going from a 'bad' situation to a 'good' situation - its going from feeding your body with one form of energy to not giving it that form of energy at all. There might be a benefit in reducing carbs, in particular simple carbs, depending on your actual diet. But that is an individual issue, not a general proposition.

eg: for me (just me): cutting out unnecessary carbs, like dessert, doesnt change my weight on its own - I have to cut out more than just dessert - so I may as well have dessert!

(that said, for sure low carbs will reduce weight, if that is what you are aiming for. And whether there is an impact outside of weight - who knows).

[Oldie]

The major drop in metabolism in that NY Times article is a reason why the 5:2 diet seems to work so well - you cut calories but no metabolism change.

Yes. I lost 18kgs that way in 6 months and keep it since 3 years. But I am also running into that set weight situation. I would still like to be 5kgs lower than my 90kg (at 188cm), and can get there with some effort, but find it impossible to sustain. On the other hand, I also don't gain much above that weight (in the 2-3kg range you mentioned).

30 years, my father, due to heart issues, simply stopped consuming artifical sugar, saturated fats, white bread and beer - he lost more than 20kgs and actually even needed to pay attention to not losing too much, even though he eat volumes of fish, vegetables, carbs and fruit and continued drinking a glass of wine almost every day. His heart completely recoverd and 5 years later he had better heart tests than average 30yo people.

I am a strong beliver that what we eat makes a bigger difference to our weght than the pure amount of calories.

[oldmansurfer]

If you do a low carb diet it is something you have to be able to stick to. I think that researchers now think more people find it more difficult to stick to a low carb diet than a low fat diet. People make lots of mistakes in dieting. One error is "Oh boy I lost 4 pounds now I can eat some ice cream." They should be thinking "Okay so I just ate some ice cream now I have to eat that many calories less for the next 24 hours to make up for it." or " I ran 2 miles today so it's ok for me to eat the Matterhorn Mountain Ice cream Sunday." Like " ok I got some decent exercise or lost weight and to celebrate I am going to get fat." The other is yoyo dieting, going on a diet to loose weight then off it after you loose weight gaining it all back then dieting again.

[RinkyDink]

Without any additional input, maybe the metabolism rebounds the way they described.....doesn't have to; just need to look after it....
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/9-tips- ... bolism.htm

In my opinion, exercise is important, most of all, for building strength. I need that strength when I'm surfing. There are so many other great benefits to it. However, I believe it's a mistake to turn to exercise to lose weight. That's a waste of time and energy. In other words, losing weight is all about finding a way of eating that helps you maintain your ideal weight.

http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/