Another perspective on calorie restriction

[Nords]

I know, I know, it's tough to get your health & science information from the New York magazine. But gosh this guy can write.

http://www.printthis.clickability.c...ymag.com/news/features/23169/&partnerID=73272

We've brought up calorie restriction on the board before (search for "Walford" or read this link: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/search.php?searchid=114673) but a severe case of cognitive dissonance keeps me from seeking the nuclear engineer's ultimate good-for-you lifestyle. A couple of this article's CR guys are redefining the DSM IV concept of obsessive-compulsive behavior. And when I'm hungry I don't think I'll be reaching for my laptop.

Now that I've read Julian Dibbell's perspective I can appreciate that my cognition isn't so dissonant. My version of CR victory is eating only one 1.75 gallon container of ice cream per week, with perhaps a Costco frozen yogurt and a couple slices of combo pizza to bridge the Friday-night gap. My BMI is around 25-27 but 1300 calories a day? Hey, I surf and spar tae kwon do!

Progress, not [-]obsession[/-] perfection. My "dietary" routine used to include TWO 1.75 gallon containers of ice cream a week. Next I think I'll work on making my ice-cream cones a little flatter. And maybe I'll substitute fruit or cereal for the frozen chocolate chips.

I already eat enough tofu but I'm open to experimentation. Anyone know a good local place to find Quorn?

 

[W2R]

My BMI is around 25-27 but 1300 calories a day? Hey, I surf and spar tae kwon do!

Weight Watchers allows more points (calories) for activity. I like to earn extra activity points at the gym, and then either eat the allowed extra food, or not, depending on my appetite. Personally I feel a lot healthier doing this, than if I restrict myself too much.

Bear in mind that after a vigorous workout, often my appetite is actually decreased in comparison with what it would have been with no workout.

Our bodies, and I believe our appetites, were designed for movement. Something that I am looking forward to in ER, is fulfilling the "animal needs" to be more active in my daily life. No more cubicle life for this girl.

 

[ziggy29]

Diets are only as good as one's ability to follow them. Extremely restrictive diets are also extremely hard to stay on, and are more prone to being discarded for binges.

I don't believe in "diets" per se in terms of greatly reduced-calorie intake to get down to a target weight. I believe in overall lifestyle change -- getting more exercise AND finding an eating regimen that is sustainable in the long-term, one that doesn't leave you constantly hungry or extremely deprived.

 

[Khan]

I looked back over my records (I have spreadsheets for nearly everything).

Since retirement, I have been losing weight at about 1/2 pound per week; it varies a bit and occasionally plateaus for weeks but weight has never gone up.

Two and half years times half pound per week equals 75 pounds.

People ask how I lost weight.

"I retired."

I'm physically/mentally healthier than at any time in the last 25 or so years.

 

[Dawg52]

Bear in mind that after a vigorous workout, often my appetite is actually decreased in comparison with what it would have been with no workout.

Our bodies, and I believe our appetites, were designed for movement. Something that I am looking forward to in ER, is fulfilling the "animal needs" to be more active in my daily life. No more cubicle life for this girl.

Huge difference for me when I retired. I haven't cut many calories but much more active. Just got back from taking my dog on a 3 mile walk by the reservoir. Didn't do much of that when I worked. Also play a lot of golf. Even though I ride, you still get good exercise and sweat a lot.

My old work mates think I have been on a diet. Lost a couple of pounds but mainly just toned up.

 

[Alan]

There's no way I could keep up with a CR diet as described in the article. I stuck with WW for 6 months, journaling and tracking and found it relatively easy, especially since there are lots of "zero point" veggies that you can snack on or use to bulk up a meal. Once the weight was off no need to keep track or journal unless the weight rises above what you are comfortable with. That has happened a few times but I'm expecting it to be much easier once I finish work and exercise more and am away from the constant temptation of food at work or while traveling.

 

[twaddle]

I'm open to experimentation.

Try intermittent fasting. Supposedly the same benefits of CR, but without the need to reduce caloric intake or lose weight.

original research

articles

 

[Nords]

Try intermittent fasting.

I barely manage to do that between bedtime & breakfast.

I think any of my weight loss would happen the old-fashioned way: [-]eating less[/-] exercising more.