75% of Americans Too Fat or Dumb to Join Army

[eXcommunicate]

Before and after pics are required...

Ditto!

I'd say two per week max, but that would take some serious deprivation and exertion, and I don't know if it's sustainable. One per week is still plenty of work/calorie-cutting but the impact is more reasonable.

Would it also depend on how much excess one has to lose? I think I remember reading about a guy who was morbidly obese and lost something like 200 lbs in a year's time by simply *not eating* at all. I wish I could find a citation for that.

[Bella Fortuna]

Eeek! That doesn't sound healthy... or even feasible.

You should look at the quantity to lose and the length of time to do it in. And like amused says, even though the numbers say you should lose a pound (or two) a week, it's never that cleanly even. Some weeks go on with no decrease, then suddenly it drops. Then you go up a few... down a few... you just hope in the long haul you see a steady decline. It's taken me nearly a year to lose what I have (though admittedly sometimes there has been less commitment than others due to circumstances or drive) - you have to account for these things. If you drive yourself too hard and deprive too much you're less likely to stick with it.

[amused]

Before and after pics are required...

Ditto!

I'd say two per week max, but that would take some serious deprivation and exertion, and I don't know if it's sustainable. One per week is still plenty of work/calorie-cutting but the impact is more reasonable.

Would it also depend on how much excess one has to lose? I think I remember reading about a guy who was morbidly obese and lost something like 200 lbs in a year's time by simply *not eating* at all. I wish I could find a citation for that.

Dang it! No 'before' picture exists. I'll take an 'after' with me holding up my big pants. How's that?

I've been at this for going on 14 months to lose 40+ pounds, but 10 of those I had to lose twice because I had a relapse mid-way. So that's a little less than a pound a week, and I'm hitting it pretty hard. I don't think 2 pounds a week would be sustainable for very long. I started at 205 pounds, so not morbidly obese, but probably close to where the average person starts.

[Bella Fortuna]

Please post a pic like that in the exercise thread! That's a great success!!

[Coito ergo sum]

Is there a "safe" range of pounds per week a person should lose? Like 1-2 pounds and any more than that might be unhealthy? Serious question.

1-2 pounds is a good pace. Beyond that, it is not necessarily unhealthy, but it can be. It can also be very taxing on the system. In the past, I've knocked out 20 pounds in a month, but that's probably not advisable.

[amused]

Will do, but I'm not quite there yet.

Another thing about the loss rate is that you 'must' eat a certain amount of protein and dietary fiber (and fats and carbs) to stay healthy, and both of those come with calories. Cutting down too far is simply not good for your body's ability to repair and maintain itself.

[Coito ergo sum]

Will do, but I'm not quite there yet.

Another thing about the loss rate is that you 'must' eat a certain amount of protein and dietary fiber (and fats and carbs) to stay healthy, and both of those come with calories. Cutting down too far is simply not good for your body's ability to repair and maintain itself.

It's also pointless if it's not going to be something you can do long-term. Going hog-wild to lose 40 pounds and then saying "I'm done. Now I can go back to what I was doing before," is in advisable. New habits ought to be created.

One trick I use is to ask myself what mom would have said to me in the 70s if I was eating what I'm eating at the time. Most of the time, it's obvious that I've eaten too much. Like, I love potato chips. Back in the day, chips were a snack to be asked for and given permission to have, and they would be allowed only on like Friday or Saturday night. I get into the habit of scarfing down a bunch of chips in front of the t.v., and suddenly, I'm eating an extra 300+ calories per day. That shit adds up.

Candies, snacks, sodas, ice creams, etc. -- use the mom rule. If mom wouldn't think it's a good idea for you to have it, wait til later.

Snacking is fine. But, maybe skip Monday through Friday, and have a treat at the movies on the weekend, or something. It's part and parcel of the 80% rule. If you're good and mindful 80% of the time, you can cheat a little 20% of the time and you'll still be good to go.

[amused]

Yes - new habits.

One that I'm just now getting set up is eating a big breakfast, a regular lunch, and then almost nothing in the evening. It takes a conscious effort the first few days to reset your system, but once you've gone without a few evenings you tend to wake up hungry and can get into the rhythm. There's no point in eating a big supper and then going to sleep.

I skate in the afternoon and noticed that I wasn't feeling hungry until I ate something, then I get *really* hungry and it's hard to stop. Now I drink a couple of large glasses of water to fill up, and a small piece of fish or something for the protein after exercising.

[Coito ergo sum]

Yes - new habits.

One that I'm just now getting set up is eating a big breakfast, a regular lunch, and then almost nothing in the evening. It takes a conscious effort the first few days to reset your system, but once you've gone without a few evenings you tend to wake up hungry and can get into the rhythm. There's no point in eating a big supper and then going to sleep.

I skate in the afternoon and noticed that I wasn't feeling hungry until I ate something, then I get *really* hungry and it's hard to stop. Now I drink a couple of large glasses of water to fill up, and a small piece of fish or something for the protein after exercising.

Good strategy. I've generally been of the understanding that evening out calories throughout the day is ideal, but ultimately, what one does has to be fit in with one's lifestyle.

I like to eat, which is my downfall, so I am always watching out. She Who Must Be Obeyed was alarmed about a year or so ago by my expanding girth, but I just started eating less. If I go to a restaurant, I take half home. For each meal, I try to stop after about a fist size volume of food, or a bit more sometimes. Portion control is key. I've never been hungry, and I'm down about 20 pounds in a year. A this rate, I'll be the right size in another few months.

If I would only get out and exercise, I would be much better off. As it happens, I am having difficulty getting back on that horse.

[laklak]

I'm opening a new weight-loss clinic. Here's the design for the front gate:

[MrJonno]

If anyone ever tries to get me into any army I will not only be too fat and dumb to join I will also be too much of an atheist/christian/muslim. I will suddenly become gay/straight/ a women (well I will find a wig and some falsies). I also will be too much of a communist/capitalist/libertarian to join.

You name it and I will be too much of it to get conscripted

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I would rather live next to a child rapist than a draft dodger.

[MrJonno]

I would rather live next to a child rapist than a draft dodger.

I would rather live next to someone who owned a gun than get conscripted!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I would rather live next to a child rapist than a draft dodger.

I would rather live next to someone who owned a gun than get conscripted!

If things got ugly you would be the last one to have a choice in the matter.

[MrJonno]

There is never going to be conscription in the UK most the population would just tell the government to piss off (General strike beats any firearms). I do love our complete lack of patriotism wouldnt want to be anywhere else

Not that there could possible be any need , sure someone might lob a few ICBM at us but no one is seriously going to bother with an amphibious invasion