Fat Enders

[karlhenning]

Went for a swim yesterday.

[Dr. Dread]

I went for a walk yesterday and saw my friend Fuzzywuzzy Woodchuck.

[karlhenning]

Fuzzy, wuzzy?

[Elgarian]

I'm still doing 40 minutes of sweaty uphill pedalling on the exercise bike every day; still living on lettuce, fish, tomatoes-on-toast, plums, oranges, melon, and rice cakes with a total daily calorie intake of about 1800; still not losing any more weight. Dietary science? Pooh!

[Novi]

I'm still doing 40 minutes of sweaty uphill pedalling on the exercise bike every day; still living on lettuce, fish, tomatoes-on-toast, plums, oranges, melon, and rice cakes with a total daily calorie intake of about 1800; still not losing any more weight. Dietary science? Pooh!

Could there be an underlying medical issue, do you think? I think thyroid problems might affect weight loss in this manner.

[DavidW]

Could there be an underlying medical issue, do you think? I think thyroid problems might affect weight loss in this manner.

Regulating metabolism, the thyroid could be a culprit.  But I bet there are other reasons for metabolism to be off.  And some people just have low metabolic rates, you know?

[Harpo]

Regulating metabolism, the thyroid could be a culprit.  But I bet there are other reasons for metabolism to be off.  And some people just have low metabolic rates, you know?

Yes, thyroid could hinder weight loss. Sleep apnea and some medications can do that, too. I'm also told that metabolism slows down as we age. 

I am speaking from my experience. "I am not a doctor but I play one on the Web."

[secondwind]

I'm still doing 40 minutes of sweaty uphill pedalling on the exercise bike every day; still living on lettuce, fish, tomatoes-on-toast, plums, oranges, melon, and rice cakes with a total daily calorie intake of about 1800; still not losing any more weight. Dietary science? Pooh!

Oh, Elgarian, I know how you feel!  I hate these weight-loss plateaus, when I've been doing everything "right," and still not losing weight!  I wish I knew the answer!  How long has it been that you've pursued this plan and not lost any weight?

[Mozart]

You people are just too old!

If its a thyroid problem then seaweeds will help alot.

I am 161 today after eating the entire day literally. I had everything from pasta with basil tomato garlic onion and sauce, to some crazy concoction of quinoa, oats, flax seed, almond, wheat bran, coconut, honey, cacao in almond milk (I guess cereal?) I had 3 pears a pound of strawberries 2 liters of water a peach, more cacao and almonds, olive oil, and I can't even remember breakfast some type of smoothie. Im loosing weight and eating as much as I want, in fact way more than I need. Get off you're old crap and just eat good stuff. It's very easy, much easier than I could have imagined.

[Elgarian]

How long has it been that you've pursued this plan and not lost any weight?

It was enormously beneficial at the start - I lost 10 pounds in a couple of months, which is exactly the kind of steady reduction that I hoped for. But I've now been stuck at my present weight for about 2 months, and I have an almost irresistible longing for steak pudding and chips followed by double helpings of treacle sponge and custard. Actually we had a few days' holiday in which I gave in and indulged myself, but just those few days had a devastating effect. It took me over two weeks to claw my way back again.

I think it is partly an age problem, but in my case it's also compounded by medication, which I suspect is the main culprit for the reduction in metabolic rate.

[secondwind]

I think it is partly an age problem, but in my case it's also compounded by medication, which I suspect is the main culprit for the reduction in metabolic rate.

Oh yeah, those unintended side effects!  Have you discussed it with the doctor who prescibes the medication you think may be slowing your metabolism?  If it is a medication you need, there may not be much to be done, but still it might be worth a discussion.

I keep slogging away, trying to run every morning, and consoling myself that if I continue to weigh a hundred and I'd rather not say pounds, at least they'll be a healthier hundred and I'd rather not say pounds.  And I'm hoping that the weight loss will eventually resume. 

[Elgarian]

Oh yeah, those unintended side effects!  Have you discussed it with the doctor who prescibes the medication you think may be slowing your metabolism?  If it is a medication you need, there may not be much to be done, but still it might be worth a discussion.

Sadly, a heart attack a few years ago means the medication is necessary - the usual bunch of cardiac pills: beta blockers, a mix of blood pressure controllers, etc. And of course if this goes on I'll discuss it with my doctor, though I doubt there's much he can offer except a shoulder. But for the moment, what I want - what we all want - is results, results, results.

I keep slogging away, trying to run every morning, and consoling myself that if I continue to weigh a hundred and I'd rather not say pounds, at least they'll be a healthier hundred and I'd rather not say pounds.  And I'm hoping that the weight loss will eventually resume.  

I think in the longer term this will work, for me as well as for you. But we still want that short term encouragement, don't we?

[secondwind]

Sadly, a heart attack a few years ago means the medication is necessary - the usual bunch of cardiac pills: beta blockers, a mix of blood pressure controllers, etc. And of course if this goes on I'll discuss it with my doctor, though I doubt there's much he can offer except a shoulder. But for the moment, what I want - what we all want - is results, results, results.

I think in the longer term this will work, for me as well as for you. But we still want that short term encouragement, don't we?

Yes, absolutely.  Patience is not one of my virtues!  Sorry to hear about the heart attack.  Clearly, you're doing the right things for your overall health.  I hope you get some of those more visible results soon!

[secondwind]

I went for a run this morning in the unfamiliar Florida landscape, and saw a great, big blue heron, a cute lil' bitty blue heron, egrets of all sizes, an ibis, and of course lots of gekkos.    All that through steamed-up glasses! 

[Harpo]

Oh yeah, those unintended side effects!  Have you discussed it with the doctor who prescibes the medication you think may be slowing your metabolism?  If it is a medication you need, there may not be much to be done, but still it might be worth a discussion.

I keep slogging away, trying to run every morning, and consoling myself that if I continue to weigh a hundred and I'd rather not say pounds, at least they'll be a healthier hundred and I'd rather not say pounds.  And I'm hoping that the weight loss will eventually resume. 

Sometimes the benefits of medication seem to outweigh the side effects, such as weight gain. I am going to try eliminating a couple of my mood stabilizers (with my doctor's instructions) after I do some other things, but I like being happy, although pudgy. Meanwhile I do seem to be a "healthier" ______pounds, since I exercise 4-5 times a week.  My "inner child" seems to be sabotaging my work. Last night I bought some cookies, ostensibly for a little luncheon I'm going to, and then the inner child (yeah, I know it's the real me) said "I don't care. I love these cookies and I want them," so I ate a handful. Then I scolded the inner child.....

[Harpo]

You people are just too old!

If its a thyroid problem then seaweeds will help alot.

Yes, Mozart, many of us are old--today is senior day at the supermarket, and I qualify for a discount.    We did grow up on more meat and carbs, and probably think that the raw veggie approach is extreme. If there is a thyroid problem, have it checked by a doctor. "Natural" cures can be harmful.

[DavidW]

Yes, Mozart, many of us are old--today is senior day at the supermarket, and I qualify for a discount.    We did grow up on more meat and carbs, and probably think that the raw veggie approach is extreme. If there is a thyroid problem, have it checked by a doctor. "Natural" cures can be harmful.

They also won't work if the problem is absence of thyroid, which is what my mother has, she had to have it surgically removed when she was in her twenties.  Finding exactly the right balance of thyroid is very, very difficult.  She either ends up lethargic or nervous by just being off by a little bit in her dosage.  So naturally I'm led to think that issues with the thyroid can be complex and not treated by some new age silliness with raw veggies and a mood ring.

[Mozart]

It is not a cure, it is prevention. Some pill that has a range of side effects is considered normal when a plant is considered harmful? A better question to ask is why do you get sick, and not how to fix yourself when you are sick. Treating symptoms doesn't fix the cause of the problem!

Counting calories sure makes life a blast! Just go and see how a chimpanzee keeps a little notepad to jot down all the things he eats. I was in the jungle the other day and overhead one thinking to themself after doing the math saying "Ohh crap! I had 200 calories too many today, I better make up for it tomorrow."

[DavidW]

Counting calories sure makes life a blast! Just go and see how a chimpanzee keeps a little notepad to jot down all the things he eats. I was in the jungle the other day and overhead one thinking to themself after doing the math saying "Ohh crap! I had 200 calories too many today, I better make up for it tomorrow."

The reality is that in the wild finding meals, let alone full meals is rare.  Ancient cavemen would not have luxury of constantly stuffing food down their gaping maw like you do every day.  Most of their time was occupied with finding food, not just eating it.  If you gave them plentiful nearly unlimited supply of food, like we enjoy today, they would probably stuff themselves until they were fat.  If I were you, I would stop thinking that chimpanzees or cave men are the sage gurus that you should follow because your diet has almost nothing to do with their diet.

They wouldn't need to count calories because they never have enough to turn into bloated manatees.

[Harpo]

They also won't work if the problem is absence of thyroid, which is what my mother has, she had to have it surgically removed when she was in her twenties.  Finding exactly the right balance of thyroid is very, very difficult.  She either ends up lethargic or nervous by just being off by a little bit in her dosage.  So naturally I'm led to think that issues with the thyroid can be complex and not treated by some new age silliness with raw veggies and a mood ring.

That's exactly what I have found with thyroid meds. Plus,"natural" doesn't always equal "safe." Look at poison mushrooms! Herbal supplements have not been tested or standardized, so you don't know what's in them.

I just came back from the local fish store and farmer's market with lots of fresh, unprocessed foods, and it's good to eat that kind of natural food.