Any special diets, anyone?

[sumitomo]

Man I was checking out that food list,and Wow I'm gunna have to get to smokin' if I'm going to eat that much food.Sumi

 

[Childbride]

zero aspartame.

as close to zero processed food as possible.

cut out salt as much as possible.

no sweets.

very little red meat.

fresh fruits and veggies. i am growing some this year and am expanding quite a bit next year.

salads for lunch.

drink lots of water.

i work out every day. i walk/jog 5-7 miles and do other exercises as well.

my doctor commended me on being one of the only patients he has ever had who quit smoking and lost weight.

 

[kidsmoke]

my doctor commended me on being one of the only patients he has ever had who quit smoking and lost weight.

:dance :dance nicely done, CB. MAJOR accomplishment!

 

[deeaa]

You know, I really don't think doing much exercise or eating very well can do very much for you ultimately. Gain a few pounds or lose a few, but that's it.

There's plenty of evidence from identical twin and twins that even if one twin has smoked, drank and not exercised at all, and the other has lived a very healthy life, they still have the exact same diseases, the same heart condition, live the same time and so on. It's actually pretty amazing, even twins separated at birth and having grown up in the opposite sides of the world still have even developed moles in same places, downright have the same hairs go gray in the eyebrow etc. And also supporting the same ideals, politics etc. so it's not just body, also mind. Our genes dictate everything.

Of course exercise and being healthy makes you feel better, largely because it's a drug, albeit natural, with all the endorphines etc. involved, and such...but ultimately, there's only so much you can do to combat what your genes dictate what you will become and be. I do believe, however, that it is possible to control some of it, like if you're prone to gaining weight you can fight that with diet etc.

But it's still basically the same as the idea of us being able to decide things by ourselves, which is all just illusion as well, in reality all our thoughts and actions are controlled in sub-conscious part of our brain even if they seem like made by our conscious minds and free will...but it's just illusion ultimately. We can only direct the general direction of things consciously, the actual actions are made subconsciously.

 

[tunghaichuan]

Lots of good information so far.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis about 6 years ago. The meds help a little bit, but are expensive and don't cure the condition.

I was on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet for about two years. No grains, no sugar, lots of veggies, most meats, some fruits, a few cheeses, and yogurt, if home-made. The only sweetener allowed is honey.

I improved a bit on the SCD diet, but still had relapses. I couldn't put on weight. At my lowest point during the worst relapse, I weighed about 147. Before I got UC I was around 180.

About 6 months ago I found a book in the library written by a gastroenterologist who claimed that he cured himself of UC. He found a connection between UC and people who didn't produce an enzyme to digest fructose (fruit sugar.) I started following this diet about 5 moths ago and have improved steadily since. The diet only allows cane sugar as a sweetener, and in limited quantities.

So these days, I basically follow the above diet, but have also cut out gluten as well.

For breakfast I have a bowl of puffed whole-grain rice in unsweetened almond milk with a couple teaspoons of organic cane sugar. Next I have four eggs cooked in butter and grated cheddar cheese on top. I also have a cup or two of organic green tea.

For lunch I have cheese and gluten free rice/almond crackers, and a bowl of home-made yogurt. Yogurt is easy to make and I use organic milk. Since I let the yogurt ferment about 32+ hours, there is no lactose left.

For dinner I usually have rice with lots of steamed veggies. And I'll have turkey or chicken.

For snacks I have a couple of whole-grain rice cakes or a handful of pecans.

I've since put on about 10 lbs and am holding at 160.

I don't eat candy, cookies, or drink pop/soda. I avoid anything containing high-fructose corn syrup. I avoid anything containing gluten. It's challenging to be on this type of diet, but it is very healthy.

 

[deeaa]

I dunno why, but green tea burns in my stomach real bad.

 

[Bloozcat]

Ok, so officially 4th day of my type O blood diet and I've lost 2-lbs. And, it's not like I didn't eat during this time, either.

Breakfast this morning: 1-poached egg on a slice of 100% rye toast with some butter, salt, cayenne pepper, sliced turkey breast, and a slice of mozzerella cheese. I had a glass of water and a cup of black coffee with Stevia for a sweetner...all on the type O diet (except for the coffee).

Lunch today: Tossed salad with left-over sliced ribeye steak, crunbled Feta cheese and a dressing I made with mayonaise, dijon mustard, garlic, cayene pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, and chopped anchovies (I just recently acquired a taste for anchovies...very convenient).

Energy levels are already increasing...

 

[deeaa]

Sounds good blooz just the type of stuff I also eat!

 

[omegadot]

I generally avoid gluten and dairy because I feel significantly better following this diet. I also minimize caffeine and pop intake. For the most part I find the more restrictive diets address the need to control as much as any health concern so I try and stick to the basics. If it doesn't make me feel better/worse, I don't worry too much about it.

I will say, since I know I burn around 2300 calories a day just sitting around maintaining(I'm not a big guy, obviously), I consider the fact that I can easily burn off a few hundred in under an hour while running significant. I've always said a six pack is made in the kitchen, but it sure as hell makes a difference to working out.

 

[poodlesrule]

Diet by blood type: Just today, I received my monthly newsletter from a noted prostate cancer oncologist, and one of the articles is titled: "The Blood Group Diet appears very dated"

He says, roughly: Since the original book was written (1997), human genome studies have better defined how human populations differ. Someone's blood group is largely independent of these evolutionary changes.

BTW, the first thing Dr. Myers does with his patients is put them on an lean Mediterranean diet, an unusual thing - in his field, not much consideration is given to diet.
He also often brings up the undesirable effects of corn products it the essential Omega6/Omega3 fats balance.

 

[Bloozcat]

Diet by blood type: Just today, I received my monthly newsletter from a noted prostate cancer oncologist, and one of the articles is titled: "The Blood Group Diet appears very dated"

He says, roughly: Since the original book was written (1997), human genome studies have better defined how human populations differ. Someone's blood group is largely independent of these evolutionary changes.

BTW, the first thing Dr. Myers does with his patients is put them on an lean Mediterranean diet, an unusual thing - in his field, not much consideration is given to diet.
He also often brings up the undesirable effects of corn products it the essential Omega6/Omega3 fats balance.

I'm always skeptical about nouveau "findings" the medical community comes up with. One week caffeine is horrible for you, the next week it has all kinds of benefits, then it's bad again. One week mamograms are great for women, the next week they're ineffective, and the following week they're great again. One week all alcohol consumption is horrible, the next week red wine is beneficial to the heart, the next week...well, you get the idea. And this is all from the same medical community.

A very good response by Dr. D'Adamo regarding the critics of the blood type diet. There is a lot of information here that's supported by much research over more than half a century:

http://www.dadamo.com/science_critic.htm

This certainly isn't the only one, true, diet for weight maintenance, health, and well being. Truthfully, one must do that which works for them. The question then becomes, just what is it that works for me? How will I know if I've found the right one? There isn't an easy answer. It usually turns out to be the one that finally works for you after some experimenting. Being in tune with your own body and it's likes and dislikes is certainly a good start. And, one of the most often used starting points is the elimination of wheat and dairy products from one's diet for a couple of months. Note the positive effects, then re-introduce wheat then dairy one at a time for several days and note any adverse effects.

 

[MAXIFUNK]

I did not read the thread but check out the "FULL PLATE DIET"

 

[Eric]

Just thought I'd follow up here...

Since the time of this thread, I've dropped about 20 pounds. It wasn't any blood-type diet or anything else, but just limiting myself to about 1500 calories per day and going for casual walks, something I did before. Not even that hard, really.

Just sayin'.

 

[Katastrophe]

Great job, Eric!

Unfortunately, I've gotten away from the anti-inflammation diet that I was on, and have gone to seefood diet.

I see food, I eat it!

Why does all the bad for you crap have to taste soooooo gooooood?

 

[Eric]

Great job, Eric!

Unfortunately, I've gotten away from the anti-inflammation diet that I was on, and have gone to seefood diet.

I see food, I eat it!

Why does all the bad for you crap have to taste soooooo gooooood?

Well the weird part is that every time I am a little more mindful of what I eat, I don't even miss the unhealthy foods. Sure, it's easy to fall off the wagon, which I'm sure I will eventually, but it really puzzles me how when I get in a rhythm, I don't even really miss the bad stuff.

BTW, I think my point in the previous post, other than to toot my own horn, was to say that different tactics work for different people, but in my experience it's tracking what you eat and restricting calories that ultimately seems to work. Most diets are some form of that same idea.

 

[deeaa]

My problem is I basically need to GAIN weight but still lose some fat.

I eat a lot of eggs, and plenty plenty of salads, and try to move a lot, do pull-ups etc. every chance I get...even started walking or jogging short distances, like to work and back instead of cycling...but I won't stop drinking beer&other alcohols daily...that'd be just too much. I just spent over a week without a drop and boy life was boring. I don't know why would anybody in their right minds try to spend their lives completely drug-free, it just feels so great to have a few drinks after a hard day before you hit the sack.

 

[Katastrophe]

Dee, I rarely drink, even though I do enjoy a nice, cold beer on a hot day every once in a while.

For me, life's just too damned interesting to miss any of it!

@ Eric: I know what you mean. Once on a sensible eating plan, I don't miss the bad stuff. Lost 48 pounds once on a restricted calorie diet, and ate great.

The problem is when I get in a hurry, going to school, work, or taking care of my daughter that the convenient dollar menu crap becomes desirable.

I just gotta slow down some. Break's coming soon at school, and I won't have to go back for a month.

 

[Eric]

The problem is when I get in a hurry, going to school, work, or taking care of my daughter that the convenient dollar menu crap becomes desirable.

I know exactly what you mean! It has happened way too many times to me.

And yes, I find that when I can slow down, I can dedicate more time to eating deliberately, and that helps considerably.

 

[Jimi75]

I try to see my body working like a machine. I fuel it with what is actually required. With this system I have achieved great results in diminishing my weight drastically over the past 15 months plus I have enough energy at hand for my work outs. To me this is the most easiest system. Fruit and flakes for breakfast, gives brainpower, well balanced meal in the afternoon (meat only 2-3 times a week), proteine in the evening, no bread or so, only on days when I work out I eat a little portion of oat meal and a banana. Once a week I have my hog day, french fries or Pizza. :rockya

 

[NWBasser]

I subscribe strictly to the bass player's diet of beer, bacon, and frosting.:hungry

All in equal proportions, of course.

I would highly recommend that my thin-stringed brother's supply their bassists with these prime "foods" to keep them happy and gigging all night.

 

[Eric]

Saw this article on yahoo today:

PARIS (AFP) – A "tsunami of obesity" is unfurling across the world, resulting in a near-doubling of the numbers of dangerously overweight adults since 1980, doctors warned on Friday.

More than half a billion men and women -- nearly one in nine of all adults -- are clinically obese, according to research by a team from Imperial College London, Harvard and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In 2008, the latest year for which statistics were available, nearly one woman in seven and one man in 10 were obese, it found.

Being too fat causes three million premature deaths each year from heart disease, diabetes, cancers and other disorders, according to the WHO.

The researchers described the tableau as "a population emergency."

"(It) will cost tens of millions of preventable deaths unless rapid and widespread actions are taken by governments and health-care systems worldwide," said the report, published by The Lancet.

The problem has been most prevalent in rich nations, rising most in the United States, followed by New Zealand and Australia for women, and Britain and Australia for men.

But many developing countries, especially in the Middle East and in rapidly urbanising areas, are catching up.

"These results suggest that overweight affects one-in-three adults and obesity affects one-in-nine adults -- a tsunami of obesity that will eventually affect all regions of the world," Sonia Anand and Salim Yusuf of Canada's McMaster University wrote in a commentary accompanying the study.

Global obesity rates more than doubled for men, from 4.8 percent of male adults in 1980 to 9.8 percent in 2008. For women, the corresponding jump was from 7.9 to 13.8 percent.

The standard for assessing weight is the body-mass index (BMI), in which one's weight in kilos is divided by the square of one's height in metres.

A BMI of 25 to 30 corresponds to being overweight, while above 30 is obese.

Pacific islanders weighed in with the highest BMI levels, between 34 and 35, and notched up among the sharpest increases over the last three decades as well.

In Europe, women in Russia and Moldova were at the upper end of the scale with BMIs of 27.2 and 27.1, while the heftiest men on the continent resided in the Czech Republic and Ireland.

At the other end of the spectrum, Swiss women were the most svelte, with their French and Italian counterparts vying for second place.

Italy holds the distinction of being the only country in Europe where women's average BMI declined, dropping from 25.2 to 24.8.

The study also reported changes in blood pressure and cholesterol levels across nations.

Western European countries -- especially Iceland, Andorra and Germany -- have among the highest cholesterol levels in the world, while African nations have the lowest.

Systolic blood pressure -- the maximum pressure exerted by the heart -- is highest in the Baltic, and in East and West Africa.

The same levels were common in wealthy nations a generation ago, but have dropped dramatically since then, the study showed.

High-income countries have also seen a drop in cardiovascular diseases since 1980, despite high levels of obesity.

The United States in particular saw reductions in high blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as a slowdown in tobacco use, according to the study.

This suggests that lifestyle choices -- including limiting consumption of animal products and sodium, and increasing physical activity -- can play a key role in slashing heart disease.

Although commonly considered a "Western" problem, obesity is also growing in unexpected regions like the Middle East, where the average weight levels in several populations fall just shy of the benchmark for obesity.

Not looking so good...

I have to admit, even though I think I'm at a decent weight now, I'm still in the 'overweight' category, so I'm part of that 33%. I've tried to reconcile the whole BMI thing for a long time, but at this point I guess I just have to accept that maybe it's right.

 

[tunghaichuan]

SI have to admit, even though I think I'm at a decent weight now, I'm still in the 'overweight' category, so I'm part of that 33%. I've tried to reconcile the whole BMI thing for a long time, but at this point I guess I just have to accept that maybe it's right.

You have to take the BMI thing with a grain of salt. For my height and weight they have me as 25.1 which is slightly overweight. If anything, I'm underweight. I'm short and stocky, built like a neanderthal, really. To be underweight I'd have to weigh 120lbs, but I'm pretty sure I'd have to be anorexic to get that low.

 

[Eric]

You have to take the BMI thing with a grain of salt. For my height and weight they have me as 25.1 which is slightly overweight. If anything, I'm underweight. I'm short and stocky, built like a neanderthal, really. To be underweight I'd have to weigh 120lbs, but I'm pretty sure I'd have to be anorexic to get that low.

Yeah I realize that, but I also know that a person's capacity to rationalize knows no bounds, so I sometimes like to use BMI even if I don't think it applies.

It's so easy to read an article on obesity and think "oh, that's not me", so I want to view it objectively, based on the hard measurements of BMI. I would guess that's what they used for the findings in that article.

Right now I'm at about 26.5 BMI. I misspoke earlier in this thread when I was talking about BMI. For me, 197 is the most I can weigh and not be considered overweight by BMI standards. That's still a real stretch for me, but perhaps I just don't know how to eat properly. It's always a possibility.

 

[poodlesrule]

Leo Fender was absolutely ahead of his time with the coutoured Strat design... <grin>

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Cheetos and Butterfingers. In the morning I crunch them up in a bowl and add soy milk.

 

[marnold]

You have to take the BMI thing with a grain of salt. For my height and weight they have me as 25.1 which is slightly overweight. If anything, I'm underweight. I'm short and stocky, built like a neanderthal, really. To be underweight I'd have to weigh 120lbs, but I'm pretty sure I'd have to be anorexic to get that low.

Mine is the same. I'm just under 5'11" and according to a BMI calculator, you can be that height and way 135 lbs and still be considered a "normal" weight. If I see a man that size, I'm going to buy him a sammich out of sheer pity.

That's what I always love about obesity studies. "When we totally redefined what obesity means, we found out that more people are obese!" O RLY?

Having said that there's any awful lot of people around here who are dangerously overweight. I guess a fondness for cheese and beer will do that to you. Not surprisingly, there's also an awful lot of adult-onset diabetes, gall bladder problems, etc.

 

[Katastrophe]

I'm about 5'7", and got down to about 155 for my wedding to Mrs. Kat. I was skin 'n bones, and ended up intentionally putting a little weight back on before the wedding. I pay no attention to BMI. It's total horse poopoo. I've got a buddy that's a weightlifter, in just about perfect physical shape, very low body fat %, and BMI still calls him overweight.

If I followed what the BMI says my weight should be, I'd be something like 125 pounds. I weighed about that much when I got out of high school and was incredibly thin.

 

[deeaa]

Mine is the same. I'm just under 5'11" and according to a BMI calculator, you can be that height and way 135 lbs and still be considered a "normal" weight. If I see a man that size, I'm going to buy him a sammich out of sheer pity.

That's what I always love about obesity studies. "When we totally redefined what obesity means, we found out that more people are obese!" O RLY?

Having said that there's any awful lot of people around here who are dangerously overweight. I guess a fondness for cheese and beer will do that to you. Not surprisingly, there's also an awful lot of adult-onset diabetes, gall bladder problems, etc.

I'm never quite sure I get the weights and all right, it's so darned difficult borderline impossible to measure in inches and pounds and all those archaic non-linear systems, but IF the online calculators are right, I'm also just under 5'11' and weigh just under 160 pounds, and most people consider me really quite thin. The least I've weighed in my adult time was just over 140 pounds and I was looking like a starvation victim...I could wear my wife's clothes and she was only barely over five feet and 100 pounds.

 

[tunghaichuan]

I could wear my wife's clothes and she was only barely over five feet and 100 pounds.

:what

TMI, dude, TMI. oke :rollover

j/k

 

[deeaa]

LOL it didn't come out quite like I intended it...not like dresses or anything of course...we just realized it some day when I accidentally wore her jeans and wondered for a while how damned short the legs had become all of the sudden. Realized we used the same jeans waist size (26 inches. Now I use 32, LOL.)

We also often use each others T-shirts etc.