About The Metabolism Thing:
Here's the deal. Let's say you get on the scale, and you weigh 250 lbs. "I wanna lose 50 lbs," you decide.
A pound of fat contains 3500 calories. So, you decide to maintain a calorie deficit of 7000 calories weekly, or 1000 a day.
Here's the deal. Let's say you get on the scale, and you weigh 250 lbs. "I wanna lose 50 lbs," you decide.
A pound of fat contains 3500 calories. So, you decide to maintain a calorie deficit of 7000 calories weekly, or 1000 a day.
According to the math in every diet app, in 175 days, almost 6 months? You should hit your goal weight.
And yeah, lose a bunch of weight in the first 6-to-8 weeks, but, inevitably, it peters off. You maybe even start to GAIN. While still eating 1000 calories less than you were.
And yeah, lose a bunch of weight in the first 6-to-8 weeks, but, inevitably, it peters off. You maybe even start to GAIN. While still eating 1000 calories less than you were.
"What the FUCK?" You think.
But consider this: Dietary studies of modern hunter-gatherers were done awhile back, examining their metabolisms. Scientists wanted to know: How did they get their required-and-necessary 2-3000 calories daily?
Answer: they didn't. Ever.
But consider this: Dietary studies of modern hunter-gatherers were done awhile back, examining their metabolisms. Scientists wanted to know: How did they get their required-and-necessary 2-3000 calories daily?
Answer: they didn't. Ever.
These people were living off considerably fewer calories just fine. Cuz that's what metabolism does. If your intake goes down long term, it adapts by requiring less fuel to keep things going. That's not it begin "ruined," that's it cleverly adapting to keep your dumb ass ALIVE.
BUT. It's also why long-term dieting (maintaining a chronic calorie deficit for two months plus) doesn't actually work. Your body will fight you. Because it doesn't know you're trying to glow up for high school reunion, it thinks The Rains Failed and you can't catch a gazelle.
"Oh, shit, fuck, I guess we have to figure out how to live on 1500 calories a day now," it thinks. "Okay, cool. I can do this. Matter of fact, since it's so bad out here, I'll figure out how to live on 1400 calories, so we can get back to our previous, comfy weight of 250!"
And if you STOP dieting? Let's say, after three weeks of not losing a pound on your 1500-calorie diet, and then maybe GAINING half a pound, you get MEGA-FRUSTRATED and polish off a whole pizza, WITH chili cheese fries?
That's totally normal, too. Binging after deprivation.
That's totally normal, too. Binging after deprivation.
We've taken the things our bodies naturally and automatically do to keep us alive, the stuff that kept our ancestors alive, and turned them into sources of shame.
99% of diets fail. That's not because 99% of us have awful willpower.
99% of diets fail. That's not because 99% of us have awful willpower.
"...So I'm just gonna be fat forever? I'M DOOMED? What if I don't WANT to be fat?"
Well, for starters, don't diet. It will literally just make you fatter.
Secondly, if you're healthy enough for it and get a doctor's clearance? Try fasting.
Well, for starters, don't diet. It will literally just make you fatter.
Secondly, if you're healthy enough for it and get a doctor's clearance? Try fasting.
There's LOTS of biology involved I don't feel qualified to explain, here, but in brief: If you body gets 1800 calories of food energy ALL AT ONCE, it'll happily use it, but if you stop giving it food, 12-to-16 hours later, it'll still try to maintain that 1800-calorie metabolism.
But with zero food to burn, no available glucose to use? It'll start raiding your fat stores. And if you have a LOT? It's a happy camper.
There IS a metabolic difference between intermittent fasting and chronic calorie deficit.
There IS a metabolic difference between intermittent fasting and chronic calorie deficit.
If you're healthy enough to try alternating-day OMAD fasting- One big meal on Monday, no food and calorie-free drinks only on Tuesday, one big meal on Wednesday, etc.- You'll drop a half a pound, on average, for every day you don't eat. Perpetually. With no plateaus or slowdown.
Other bonuses!
- No dietary/food restrictions, eat what you like
- Save a LOT of money on groceries
- Free, no pills or shakes to buy
- Other stuff, probably? Good for longevity, maybe? Who knows, studies are in progress
- No dietary/food restrictions, eat what you like
- Save a LOT of money on groceries
- Free, no pills or shakes to buy
- Other stuff, probably? Good for longevity, maybe? Who knows, studies are in progress
Obviously, this isn't bulletproof. You CAN fuck this up. I wouldn't recommend, for example, making your meals exclusively McNuggies and brownie batter. But overall, fi you wanna drop some weight, it's very easy to do. And again, free.
"Okay but what if I get so hungry between meals that I wanna die?"
Advice from experience?
- Mate sure your meals are low simple-carb and high complex-carb, protein and fat. Fewer noodles, white bread/potatoes, more fibrous veg.
- Coffee. Caffeine is an appetite suppressant.
Advice from experience?
- Mate sure your meals are low simple-carb and high complex-carb, protein and fat. Fewer noodles, white bread/potatoes, more fibrous veg.
- Coffee. Caffeine is an appetite suppressant.
Oh, and NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS. Including diet sodas.
Your body reacts to artificial sweeteners the same way it reacts to real sugar, by releasing insulin. Which jacks up everything.
Your body reacts to artificial sweeteners the same way it reacts to real sugar, by releasing insulin. Which jacks up everything.
Folks who wanna know where I'm getting all this weirdness from: There's a Canadian nephrologist, Dr. Jason Fung, who's been pretty vocal about it. He's written a bunch of books you've probably heard of. amazon.com/Dr.-Jason-Fung…
BUT, if you're a cheapskate? There's a VERY LONG (and bootleg as hell) vid here where he covers the basics. Ignore the clickbait thumbnail.
