4 ms·

I would add timestamps to that. It matters a lot IMO whether calories are consumed in the first half of the day or the second half.

by kranner 10y ago

eru 10y ago
Not sure whether it does, but the extra information probably doesn't hurt. Some people suggest taking a picture of everything you eat, too. Forces you to stop and take the picture _before_ --- one can procrastinate on recording calorie entries in a journal, but you can't procrastinate on the picture.
- csydas 10y ago
  I think this is related to some theories about how the body processes food as it approaches its rest period or something like that. I have not read any of the articles or theories, but I have heard the idea repeated many times, and across the world (heard it in the US, hear it here in Russia). I'm not sure if there is any validity to it really so much as just giving yourself a stopping point for the day, but I have not done any research in this regard.
- danieltillett 10y ago
  I think I am going to do this photo idea - at the very least it should be an interesting data set for my future self.
  - eru 10y ago
    If you like wacky ideas, consider the 'graph meta-diet' for weight loss. Goes like this: Determine your current weight, w_0 Define a target weight, w_t Pick a reasonable target weight function w(d) of the number of days elapsed since the start of the diet: w(d) := max (w_t, w_0 - 100g * d) (Ie aim for losing 100 grams a day, until you reached your target weight. Important, we are aiming for a specific level for each day, so any lost ground has to be made up; but getting ahead of the game will give you a breather.) Get yourself a spreadsheet. Google Sheets works well. Draw that function's graph. Every day, record your weight. If it's below the line, follow whatever other primary diet you want. Important: if your weight is above the line, fast that day. If you hate fasting, make sure your primary diet loses you weight at the right pace. If you don't mind fasting days, feel free to stuff your face with cake. I guarantee, if you follow the graph, you will lose weight. (But I can't guarantee that you will have the discipline to follow the graph.)
    - kranner 10y ago
      That's pretty much the Hacker's Diet: https://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/ https://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/
      - eru 10y ago
        I read that book a while ago. But I remember it being about calorie counting? In any case, whatever gets you to restrict your calories works for losing weight. Some approaches are just harder on willpower than others. (I suggest NOT moving to Singapore for weight control---it's delicious there. Though a friend of mine likes their smaller portions.)
        kranner 10y ago
        It is about calorie counting, but focuses on a feedback loop based on following a graph as you suggest. Yes Singapore is definitely not a great place to diet :)
    - danieltillett 10y ago
      LOL. If I could do this I would just fast everyday until I hit w_t.
      - eru 10y ago
        Fasting is something you need to train. If you have trouble with it so far, the approach outlined is to irregular. It's easier to get your body used to something you repeat on a schedule. Fasting every second day is quite doable; and actually the subject of quite a bit of research. (I guess it's easy to write papers about it.) On the Internet limiting your eating hours every day to an 8h or even 4h window seems to be more popular. Eg from 13.00 to 17.00. People report it's doable to get used to those meal timings after a few days. And the limited time window make it easier to restrict calories; the only way any weight-loss diet scheme works in the end. Just to give you something to Google: The former is often called alternate day fasting; the latter intermittent fasting. The BBC ran an interesting documentary: "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" https://vimeo.com/103656060 https://vimeo.com/103656060 See also https://www.reddit.com/r/intermittentfasting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/intermittentfasting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/ https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/ And for a view of how the other half lives: https://www.reddit.com/r/gainit/ https://www.reddit.com/r/gainit/

I would add timestamps to that. It matters a lot IMO whether calories are consumed in the first half of the day or the second half.

by kranner 10y ago

I would add timestamps to that. It matters a lot IMO whether calories are consumed in the first half of the day or the second half.

eru 10y ago

Not sure whether it does, but the extra information probably doesn't hurt. Some people suggest taking a picture of everything you eat, too. Forces you to stop and take the picture _before_ --- one can procrastinate on recording calorie entries in a journal, but you can't procrastinate on the picture.

csydas 10y ago
I think this is related to some theories about how the body processes food as it approaches its rest period or something like that. I have not read any of the articles or theories, but I have heard the idea repeated many times, and across the world (heard it in the US, hear it here in Russia). I'm not sure if there is any validity to it really so much as just giving yourself a stopping point for the day, but I have not done any research in this regard.
danieltillett 10y ago
I think I am going to do this photo idea - at the very least it should be an interesting data set for my future self.
- eru 10y ago
  If you like wacky ideas, consider the 'graph meta-diet' for weight loss. Goes like this: Determine your current weight, w_0 Define a target weight, w_t Pick a reasonable target weight function w(d) of the number of days elapsed since the start of the diet: w(d) := max (w_t, w_0 - 100g * d) (Ie aim for losing 100 grams a day, until you reached your target weight. Important, we are aiming for a specific level for each day, so any lost ground has to be made up; but getting ahead of the game will give you a breather.) Get yourself a spreadsheet. Google Sheets works well. Draw that function's graph. Every day, record your weight. If it's below the line, follow whatever other primary diet you want. Important: if your weight is above the line, fast that day. If you hate fasting, make sure your primary diet loses you weight at the right pace. If you don't mind fasting days, feel free to stuff your face with cake. I guarantee, if you follow the graph, you will lose weight. (But I can't guarantee that you will have the discipline to follow the graph.)
  - kranner 10y ago
    That's pretty much the Hacker's Diet: https://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/ https://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/
    - eru 10y ago
      I read that book a while ago. But I remember it being about calorie counting? In any case, whatever gets you to restrict your calories works for losing weight. Some approaches are just harder on willpower than others. (I suggest NOT moving to Singapore for weight control---it's delicious there. Though a friend of mine likes their smaller portions.)
      - kranner 10y ago
        It is about calorie counting, but focuses on a feedback loop based on following a graph as you suggest. Yes Singapore is definitely not a great place to diet :)
  - danieltillett 10y ago
    LOL. If I could do this I would just fast everyday until I hit w_t.
    - eru 10y ago
      Fasting is something you need to train. If you have trouble with it so far, the approach outlined is to irregular. It's easier to get your body used to something you repeat on a schedule. Fasting every second day is quite doable; and actually the subject of quite a bit of research. (I guess it's easy to write papers about it.) On the Internet limiting your eating hours every day to an 8h or even 4h window seems to be more popular. Eg from 13.00 to 17.00. People report it's doable to get used to those meal timings after a few days. And the limited time window make it easier to restrict calories; the only way any weight-loss diet scheme works in the end. Just to give you something to Google: The former is often called alternate day fasting; the latter intermittent fasting. The BBC ran an interesting documentary: "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" https://vimeo.com/103656060 https://vimeo.com/103656060 See also https://www.reddit.com/r/intermittentfasting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/intermittentfasting/ https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/ https://www.reddit.com/r/loseit/ And for a view of how the other half lives: https://www.reddit.com/r/gainit/ https://www.reddit.com/r/gainit/