Frustration

somethingnew987

somethingnew987

New member
Ok, I want to hear the truth from professionals. I am going to Scotland to study abroad in 6 months (end of August), and since I started this diet (6 weeks ago and 25lbs ago) I have had this dream of losing 100+lbs before then. Last week was really good and I lost 9lbs, but this week, I fear, is not going to be as exciting. I weigh myself officially every wednesday, but today I weighed myself and I had only lost 2lbs since last week. The beginning of weight loss is supposed to be when it comes off fast! I am 19 years old which I thought the younger, the faster it comes off. I am on a vegetarian diet where I eat mostly vegetables, fruits (3-4 a day), and legumes, with occasional starch. I actually wasnt working out for 2 weeks (one of which is the one that I lost 9lbs), but yesterday I went and walked about 3 1/2 miles (ran a tiny bit of that). Could any professionals tell me if my goal is reasonable? I am not starving myself at all, I get about 1500-1800 calories a day. If my goal is not reasonable, could you tell me something that is?
 
I'm not a professional but you've got about 25 weeks - 100 lbs will probably be pushing the envelope but if you focus and lose a minimum of 2 lbs a week you'd be half way to your goal by the time you leave - and Scotland is a huge walking country - you will be getting lots and lots of exercise while you are there (as long as you avoid the fish and chips :)
 
Thanks Maleficent, I just thought it is supposed to come off me really quickly since I have so much to lose...I have figured out that I have 180 days until I leave for Edinburgh, so the countdown is on. Does anyone else have a take on my goals? I thought that I would start focusing on more cardio for now and then maybe in the summer start weight training. Should I do both now?
 
Your approach is off in all areas.

First some questions...

-Do you care about losing the weight for good and overall, or just the quick trip to Scotland?
-Are you vegetarian morally or do you feel this is a way to fat loss?
-Will you continue on the course of fat loss if you can't lose 100 pounds by your trip?
 
Thanks for the reply. I hope my approach isnt that off! lol


-Do you care about losing the weight for good and overall, or just the quick trip to Scotland?

No, I do care about losing the weight overall. The book "Eat to Live" is really helping me understand how nutrition affects cancer and heart disease rates. I do not want to be overweight my whole life, its just that this trip to Scotland is a reallllly good motivation, so I am using it for all its worth.

-Are you vegetarian morally or do you feel this is a way to fat loss?

I am a vegetarian for both reasons. I have tried being a vegetarian a few times in the past for moral reasons, but I could never get it to stick as I would always be tempted by meat, this time I think it actually has (7 weeks). But when I decided to become a vegetarian again for moral reasons, I began researching it and I learned more about the nutritional advantages of it, and how eating meat has been linked to cancer and heart disease. I actually believe that by not eating the typical "meal" with a meat and 2 sides, it has made it easier for me to stick to eating healthy.

-Will you continue on the course of fat loss if you can't lose 100 pounds by your trip?

Yes I will continue. I realize that even if I can only lose 50lbs before then (2lbs a week) I will still be about 200lbs which is 80lbs lighter than when I started. I just have this ideal in my head of getting to go to Scotland as a whole new me, so I am going to try to lose as much as possible while still being healthy.

I weighed myself today and as I thought, I only lost 2.5lbs this week. I think that I started eating some things with hidden calories this week (as the cafeteria cooks the food, not me so I cant really know what goes into this stuff), so I am going to go back to what I was eating before which consisted mostly of different beans, vegetables, fruits, and some wholegrains. I also just started exercising again 2 days ago (I am very sore today) so maybe by getting that going I can up the loss per week.

Again, thanks for responding. Any help is great. Please let me know what you think of my answers to your questions.
 
No, I do care about losing the weight overall. The book "Eat to Live" is really helping me understand how nutrition affects cancer and heart disease rates. I do not want to be overweight my whole life, its just that this trip to Scotland is a reallllly good motivation, so I am using it for all its worth.
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Great that is what I wanted to hear. I didn't want to get long and in depth with someone if they wanted a quick fix. Having said that losing that amount of weight in that period of time is not the most realistic or healthy goal. Because you are concerned with health a rate of 2lbs per week (of fat now, not water or muscle) should be your HIGHEST rate of loss in general. Figure out your caloric needs through this equation including activity.
Harris Benedict Equation
From that subtract 1000 calories, this will lead you to a 2lb a week fat loss. Keep in mind you will need overtime as you lose weight to not take in less calories, but up your activity levels, but at a smart a safe course. Walking and a deficit is great right now. Also some very light body resistance work would be good to add twice a week (no weighted chair sits, toe touches).

I am a vegetarian for both reasons. I have tried being a vegetarian a few times in the past for moral reasons, but I could never get it to stick as I would always be tempted by meat, this time I think it actually has (7 weeks). But when I decided to become a vegetarian again for moral reasons, I began researching it and I learned more about the nutritional advantages of it, and how eating meat has been linked to cancer and heart disease. I actually believe that by not eating the typical "meal" with a meat and 2 sides, it has made it easier for me to stick to eating healthy.
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First off meat is not bad for you. I can understand your moral stance and that is fine, but lean protein is actually very good for you and you need the vitamins and amino acids they provide. If you don't want to eat meat though you can invest in some Whey or Egg protein to supplement it into your diet. You need a complete protein source with every meal. Read up this article here for some more nutrition details. John Berardi - 7 Habits


Yes I will continue. I realize that even if I can only lose 50lbs before then (2lbs a week) I will still be about 200lbs which is 80lbs lighter than when I started. I just have this ideal in my head of getting to go to Scotland as a whole new me, so I am going to try to lose as much as possible while still being healthy.

I weighed myself today and as I thought, I only lost 2.5lbs this week. I think that I started eating some things with hidden calories this week (as the cafeteria cooks the food, not me so I cant really know what goes into this stuff), so I am going to go back to what I was eating before which consisted mostly of different beans, vegetables, fruits, and some wholegrains. I also just started exercising again 2 days ago (I am very sore today) so maybe by getting that going I can up the loss per week.
.
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2.5 lbs a week is a great loss. Read up on that nutrition article and in general learn more about the proper balance of lean protein, good fats and solid carb sources. I think you will achieve you goals overall just fine. Just remember..

-Don't starve, feed and fuel your body
-Protein in every meal
-Good Fats
-Light exercise, increase overtime as you lose fat and get in better shape
-Keep positive and know if you take it off healthy it will never come back on and you will still be able to have a functional and normal life.
 
Thank you so much for all your help. I found my BMR and did that Harris Benedict Equation that you gave me and with subtracting the 1000 calories a day to lose weight, it says I should be eating 1,723 calories a day. That sounds very do-able. According to this, I dont really understand how I lost 9lbs in one week last week.

I am so confused with contradicting information on meat. There are so many people who say that you need it, but then I read other things that say that is a myth (the book I said before Eat to Live). In this book, it says that green vegetables have more protein per calorie in them than meat. I used to have hypoglycemia, however since I started this lifestyle of eating, I have not had any low blood sugar episodes and when I got my blood taken for a different health problem they said my blood sugar level was fine. But before I was under the impression that what kept my blood sugar stable was protein/meat so I would try to eat it at every meal, but now I am doing better without it. I am just so confused by all this lol. But it seems to be working okay. The only vitamin I take is B-12 because supposedly that is the only one that is really hard to get in a vegetarian diet.

How many days a week should I exercise? I went and walked 4 miles on Monday and 3 miles yesterday, but I somehow managed to pull my hamstring, lol that seems so pathetic to me, I injured myself walking. So I was planning on going to do resistance training for my arms and maybe some stomach exercises to give my leg a chance to heal for today.

Again, thanks for all your help.
 
Somethingnew---

The meat issue is more of a moral one than a nutrition one. I keep up with my vitamins, minerals and macro's on fitday and I eat no meat or animal products. I have no trouble obtaining all the nutrients I need (including protein and B-12). An easy way to get B-12 is to eat Kashi Healthy Heart cereal. It's also a good source of fiber and complex carbs. I am no expert but I just wanted to share my experience. I haven't had a piece of meat in almost 8 months and couldn't be happier. Good luck!

Casey
 
Yes I am doing it for moral reasons as well. But I have read in multiple places about how eating meat gives you a much higher chance of cancer and heart disease and I just dont know whether to believe it, there is just so much contradicting information! lol
 
somethingnew912 said:
Yes I am doing it for moral reasons as well. But I have read in multiple places about how eating meat gives you a much higher chance of cancer and heart disease and I just dont know whether to believe it, there is just so much contradicting information! lol
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Being alive gives you a much higher chance of getting cancer. Live your life for happiness, not what you're scared of.
 
tonymcclellan said:
Being alive gives you a much higher chance of getting cancer. Live your life for happiness, not what you're scared of.
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:) yes I definitely agree. Its just when I read that taking out meat gives you like 50% less chance it was exciting. Breast cancer is a major problem in my family (both of my grandmothers have had mastectomys). I was never really worried that much before, but when I started reading about how your nutrition can greatly lower your chances it inspired me.
 
tonymcclellan said:
How can anyone turn down a nice cut of steak?
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Guess you haven't read Fast Food Nation, lol.

I would say, that in moderation, meat isn't bad for you, so long as you're buying free-range/organic/antibiotic-free beef.

The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is contributing to the emergence of bacterial strains immune to antibiotics we use to fight them.

The American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the American Public Health Association, and the American College of Preventative Medicine have all taken a stance against giving antibiotics to animals that aren't sick. * (and the beef and poultry industries put it in feed and water regularly)

*from an article on parentcenter.com

And I eat beef occasionally, just try not to eat hormone-injected, antibiotic fed beef.

I just prefer free-range skinless chicken breast or fish for a good portion of the protein I get, as I prefer the taste, and they have less saturated fat per serving (especially compared with certain cuts of beef like prime rib).
 
patsfan said:
Guess you haven't read Fast Food Nation, lol.
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Actually, I have. I havent finished it completely, but Ive read over half. Its a great book and very interesting.

Im not gonna stop doing things I enjoy because of "possible" risks however. You cant predict the future, so dont live for what might happen.
 
the meat issue

I was just browsing through and I noticed the discussion about not eating meat, whether it is more of a moral issue or more of a health issue. Protein is obviously an important part of your diet, but actually red meat is not good for you. I would recommend sticking to poultry and fish mainly. I don't know where you're all from, but I live in BC. Canada recently made a new food guide, the recommended daily intake triangle you see everywhere. Nutritionist were in an uproar about the fact that beef was still on it. Apparently there are numerous conclusive studies proving red meat to cause increased cholesterol, increased likelihood of heart problems, etc. There have been no positive findings - other than you need protein but you can get protein from many sources. Having said that, I do eat red meat... but I am generally more of a fish or chicken girl. Everything in moderation seems to be the solution for everything.
xox
 
I agree with you freshman15, but this mentality leads some people to eat lots of fried chicken because "chicken is healthier than beef." Fried chicken is definitely not health food.

I am sure that people can eat meat (any type, as long as it's fully cooked) in moderation and be healthy. I abstain from meat for a variety of reasons, mostly because of the ways animals (and human workers) are treated in the meat industry. I won't go into further details because I know many meat-eaters don't want to hear about it.

I will say that I was a meat enthusiast before switching to vegetarianism and I don't miss it at all.
 
Wow Somethingnew! I am jealous of your loss! Good for you! I would love to lose 2.5 a week. I'm busting my butt for my .5 a week loss. Sigh.
 
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