That settles it...

[jay]

I've already restarted workouts and skating over the past two weeks... I need to start skipping meals again. Must lose the 6-7 lbs I've regained since mid-July... When those close to me begin agreeing with me that I'm out of shape and not particularly physically attractive, that's time to fully mobilize. No breakfast for me ;).

Comments

[sebab.livejournal.com]

to disagree somewhat with the others, I think meal-skipping can be done intelligently. I figured out years ago, when somewhat overweight, that I was sometimes eating when I wasn't really hungry, but when others expected me to.

so, sometimes I skip breakfast and/or lunch when they don't appeal. or, sometimes I don't feel like eating much at traditional mealtimes but would like snacks in between. that's OK, I just kept healthy food around to snack on.

the questions to answer (for me) were, why are you eating? from boredom? stress? because you think you ought to eat now?

learning to recognize actual hunger took me a while. you may already do so, of course.

[sebab.livejournal.com]

and also, you look attractive enough to me, so perhaps you're worried too much. but I do know what it's like to want things to be absolutely perfect.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks! You'll note though that neither Cathy or Dawn (who both see me in-person with some frequency) are disagreeing, so my worries probably have some justification.

[geekchick]

neither Cathy or Dawn (who both see me in-person with some frequency) are disagreeing, so my worries probably have some justification.

No, my lack of commentary was because I didn't think such a silly assertion as an additional six pounds making you unattractive even deserved a response. I still don't think it deserves comment, but if the alternative is going to be this...

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Cathy.

Brian, sometimes you drive me insane.

Lack of comment DOES NOT EQUATE with agreement. Sheesh. Write it down mathematically if you have to. For pity's sake--you were complaining about having picked up weight while we were in Spain. Who am I to disagree with your statement that you had, then?

And while I don't disagree with anything that who_is_she said about your appearance, I do feel that she sort of bought into a bad pattern of yours. You know, the one where you complain about how awful and unattractive you are (usually socially, but this still fits), and then everyone has to jump in and tell you that no, you're wonderful just so you don't feel like committing suicide. I didn't comment because I didn't want to engage in that pattern, that's all.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

There are some topics where direct communication doesn't work well, IMO, appearance being one. People are often unwilling to say what they're thinking. If I posit something as its negation, people are much more likely to say what they're thinking, either by agreeing with me (lower stress) or disagreeing (but being complimentary, hence lower-stress on them).

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

(nods) duly noted. I suppose that I tend to interpret silence as a negation...

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I'm just not hungry... and skipping then is easy. Emotional stress is useful that way, too, as it both adds lots of metabolism-boosting adrenaline while killing my appetite.

Meal-skipping... calories are calories, on a daily basis. And it is easier to, say, skip breakfast and then go out to lunch with friends, than to try to eat two tiny meals.

Most of my meals in the Arctic... I was cold, and it warmed me. Gave me extra calories to generate heat, since we were in unheated tents. In Spain, it was more social/situational, hard to lead a group while disappearing from them at mealtimes. After awhile, I started just skipping much of the food offered.

real hunger... I feel pangs, discomfort, a bit of nausea. Trivial compared to the stuff you have to put with, but more than just reflexive stress-relief.

Health, not dieting

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I'm going to chime in on the "don't skip breakfast" chorus. Right now, I'm having to eat by the clock because the (suspected) mono is cutting into my appetite. Sometimes, in the evening, I don't feel one little bit like dinner. But it's important that I eat enough ... calories, macronutrients and micronutrients ... each day.

OK, so I'm ill and you're not. But the point is, appetite isn't the only reliable guide to what to eat when.

("As you know, Bob") There are two basic equations that you need to satisfy: energy in <= energy out (with the < only applying short-term, as 6lb should drift off sustainably in a month); and nutrient intake = nutrient requirement. I got my weight under control the analytical science way: (1) Paying much closer attention to my daily detailed nutrient needs and intake; (2) Upping my exercise levels and adjusting my calorie intake until my weight naturally stabilized below a BMI of 25.

Do you know how your current nutrient intake and exercise levels compare to scientific recommendations? My reading suggests that exercise equivalent to 20 miles brisk walking per week is optimal, for example. How are your micronutrient intake levels e.g. vitamin D, calcium, omega3/omega6 essential fatty acids? Keeping a daily food diary can be extremely surprising and informative...

Stress which causes weight loss probably isn't particularly good for your long-term health.

And to join another chorus, your weight has nothing to do with your attractiveness :-)

Duh!

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

not to mention that apparently part of the genesis for this post came from a conversation with a not-conventionally-attractive sweetie of his about not valuing physical appearance.

(shakes head at the silliness)

Re: Health, not dieting

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

ow. Hope that it isn't mono...

My exercise levels average to three workouts a week, each lasting about 40 minutes. Some weeks more or less, and some weeks I'll substitute an hour of skating or walking.

Micronutrients... I have ignored. I don't use supplements, not even ordinary multivitamins.

The diary idea is useful, thanks :-). And I hope that your own appetite returns.

Re: Health, not dieting

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Actually, I hope it is the mono, in preference to an unknown and worse third thing (I think I must be counting zero for my dodgy knees, one for my thyroid thing, two for the mono, there :-)

I reckon that twenty miles of brisk walking per week comes out at 45 mins moderate exercise each day, or considerably longer of gentle exercise.

Even keeping the diary for three days, as long as you keep it properly, can be instructive. I analyzed everything which I ate in terms of macro and micronutrients, against a range of dietary recommendations. Fascinating, as well as revealing.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Meal-skipping... calories are calories, on a daily basis.

Simply not true, Brian. Living systems are very different from non-living ones. There are plenty of studies out there that show that the type of food you eat matters, as does how much you eat at any given time, and the time of day you eat it.

People react very differently to all these different variables, of course, and for SOME people the total number of calories doesn't appear to matter nearly as much as the percentage that comes from carbohydrates (there is good science behind the current craze, even if most people on the bandwagon shouldn't be there or are doing for all the wrong reasons). The trick will be to figure out which one(s) of these factors are most important FOR YOU, AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE. Clearly, your youthful metabolism has now deserted you, and you need to pay attention where you didn't used to. I know that I never used to need to do "extra" excercise--the amount of moving around I got in my "normal" activities was sufficient. But that's not true anymore, so I now have to add exercise into my schedule (which is a real nuisance).


And it is easier to, say, skip breakfast and then go out to lunch with friends, than to try to eat two tiny meals.

Easier, but likely to screw with your metabolism so that by the time you're 80 you're surviving on tea and toast and still gaining weight. Why not go out to lunch with friends and share an entree? Or have a salad? Really, Brian, studies HAVE shown that it's easier to maintain a steady, healthy weight if you actually have a small amount of food for breakfast.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I've tried to shift to a lower-carbohydrate diet over the past year, with some success... not as formalized as the pop-culture diet fads, but ketosis agrees with me. Too bad I don't fancy salads, though, or most vegetables... I'd rather skip a meal than eat a salad, most days. I'd *run* from brussels sprouts! ;)

Folate is a vitamin

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

By definition, vitamins are substances vital to health which have to be ingested. Greens are particular important for folate. However, there are many other important nutrients which can be obtained at least partially from greens.

So, the trick is to find ways to eat greens that you actually enjoy. One friend adores huge ricotta and 'spinach' stuffed cannelloni with tomato sauce, which can be made with just about any cooked green, and be low in saturated fat. Another adores greens stir-fried with chilli and nuts, Thai-style. Spending time enjoying cooking seems to be a reasonably reliable way to fall in love with vegetables, if you're imaginative, resourceful and persistent enough...

Vegetables aren't optional ... poor diet choices may well be as significant a contribution to cancer deaths as is smoking.

[geekchick]

Brussels sprouts are nasty. But they're far from the only vegetables out there. Perhaps it's time to branch out a bit. Incorporate vegetables into your meal, rather than just sitting down with a bowl of iceburg lettuce and a tomato. Try a stir fry with chicken and vegetables. Or a bowl of soba with vegetables. Or a vegetarian lasagne. That cannelloni purpletigron mentioned sounds delicious, in fact. =)