3 ms·

Personal anecdote regarding weight loss/fitness In 2 months I dropped 30 lbs, how was by fasting. I would only eat 1 big meal a day, as in drink coffee in the

by ge96 4y ago

Personal anecdote regarding weight loss/fitness In 2 months I dropped 30 lbs, how was by fasting. I would only eat 1 big meal a day, as in drink coffee in the morning, not have a snack (fiber bar) until after 5PM (assuming 9-5 schedule) and then eat around 9PM/few hours before sleep. (means 1200-1500 calories per day vs. 2400+). The figure to keep in mind is a lb of fat is 3500c. Counting calories matters. The hard thing is sticking to it (obviously) as I rebounded and I gained that weight back already. I sit at a desk/don't really go outside much. You will feel a hunger pang and you will want to eat, but it will pass. I used to work next to a gym so it was easy to work out, I would just go to the gym after work, at times I would even work out as long as 4 hrs in a row. I was super cut back then, lifting. But the gym is now 5+ miles away from me one way and I used to go there 4-5 days a week. I could drive that but nah... 20 minutes of driving and 1-2 hrs at the gym that's a lot of lost time. Plus I used to go late at night/early morning so I had the entire gym to myself, I didn't have to wait for the squat area or bench, etc... I'm not doing that anymore, and I'm not really interested in getting body-building sculpted, just toned/visible muscle/low body fat. So I'm doing that at home, got some bands/one of those multi-use pull up bars... but diet is the main thing... if you have low body fat you will look better than with a lot... as in good chin definition, no gut... I have this personal denial going on where I wear baggy clothes/saying "I'm not THAT overweight" but I am by about 40lbs. Film yourself externally to see. I guess this really only matters if you care about external appearance/say trying to attract someone else, gotta meet them/be on their level. I am in my later 20's, 6ft weight should be around 210 but I'm at low 260s as of this moment. Was high 230, low 240s in Feb. My problem is I binge eat when I'm bored/watch TV. Last thing I'll mention, I also include some back stretching/exercise, light to keep the back strong since I sit on a stool all day (office chair but back broke off).

chaorace 4y ago
I concur. People are generally very hesitant to recommend fasting, because it is dangerous, but I'd argue that it's dangerous in the same sense as a very intense workout: not inherently damaging, but *certainly* capable of complicating pre-existing conditions. (NOT A DOCTOR, DO NOT SUE) Indeed, there is some science which suggests that fasting plays an important role in long-term homeostasis -- particularly when it comes to managing cellular senescence and insulin resistance[1]. I'm only a layperson, but I feel like there's a pretty clear parallel that can be drawn between exercise and fasting here; Human body metabolism developed in an environment where both of these processes would reliably play out over time, so it seems to follow that each would contribute important functions to the overall metabolic process. [1]: https://sci-hub.se/10.1056/NEJMra1905136 https://sci-hub.se/10.1056/NEJMra1905136
- ge96 4y ago
  I will add, once I reach my target weight, then I would just try to stay in the daily caloric allowance eg. 2400 or so (combined with some form of exercise). Fasting is just a rapid way to lose weight and in my case above it's not crazy, you're still eating daily, not starving yourself for days on end. And for me it helps me keep my energy levels up/focus by delaying eating. Regarding my binge eating (fast food) habit that's my "exciting thing" on the weekend with some shows, I can still do that however not "fast food". For example I usually would buy/eat: - a large quarter pounder deluxe meal (burger and fries) - a fish fillet sandwich - a mcchicken, a mcdouble - large shake/or caramel frappe I think when I binge like that it's 3000-5000 calories in one shot. That's why my weight gain is so rapid/bad. I would do that a few times in a week of different chains. So in order to still have "fun" on the weekends, I will get some prepared/frozen meal like those skillet pasta... I'm not saying it's much better... but that's my junk food avoidance/fun food. Otherwise I usually eat the same thing everyday: fiber bar snack, then rice, chicken, frozen veggies meal (only because I don't like cooking).

by ge96 4y ago

chaorace 4y ago

I concur. People are generally very hesitant to recommend fasting, because it is dangerous, but I'd argue that it's dangerous in the same sense as a very intense workout: not inherently damaging, but *certainly* capable of complicating pre-existing conditions. (NOT A DOCTOR, DO NOT SUE) Indeed, there is some science which suggests that fasting plays an important role in long-term homeostasis -- particularly when it comes to managing cellular senescence and insulin resistance[1]. I'm only a layperson, but I feel like there's a pretty clear parallel that can be drawn between exercise and fasting here; Human body metabolism developed in an environment where both of these processes would reliably play out over time, so it seems to follow that each would contribute important functions to the overall metabolic process. [1]: https://sci-hub.se/10.1056/NEJMra1905136 https://sci-hub.se/10.1056/NEJMra1905136

ge96 4y ago
I will add, once I reach my target weight, then I would just try to stay in the daily caloric allowance eg. 2400 or so (combined with some form of exercise). Fasting is just a rapid way to lose weight and in my case above it's not crazy, you're still eating daily, not starving yourself for days on end. And for me it helps me keep my energy levels up/focus by delaying eating. Regarding my binge eating (fast food) habit that's my "exciting thing" on the weekend with some shows, I can still do that however not "fast food". For example I usually would buy/eat: - a large quarter pounder deluxe meal (burger and fries) - a fish fillet sandwich - a mcchicken, a mcdouble - large shake/or caramel frappe I think when I binge like that it's 3000-5000 calories in one shot. That's why my weight gain is so rapid/bad. I would do that a few times in a week of different chains. So in order to still have "fun" on the weekends, I will get some prepared/frozen meal like those skillet pasta... I'm not saying it's much better... but that's my junk food avoidance/fun food. Otherwise I usually eat the same thing everyday: fiber bar snack, then rice, chicken, frozen veggies meal (only because I don't like cooking).