When I grew up I remember going on diet after diet trying to lose weight. That was back in the day (late 80’s to early 90’s) where you tried to eat as lowfat as possible, filling up on sugary, fat free food items, avoiding eggs like the plague, and Lord help you if you ate more than three times a day. In fact, skipping meals and starving just meant you lost more weight, right?
The funny thing is that it is a horrible way to live and people are still convinced it’s the best way to lose weight!! Well, it is the best way to lose weight but it certainly is the worst way to lose fat. Come on people! These ideas are now twenty freaking years old and we are still convinced that lowfat, high sugar Snackwells are the best thing since sliced bread. Let’s not even start with 100 calorie-quantity controlled-still laden with high fructose corn syrup-snacks marketed to those of us stuck in Fat Girl Thinking. We all know that we’ll die during PMS if we don’t have our stinking Oreos. (Corinne is letting out a huge sigh at this moment.)
I spend too much time with people convincing them that eating is the best way to burn fat off of your body. I literally can’t get people who have been stalled at thirty to forty plus pounds overweight, who exercise regularly, and starve themselves believe my system is better than their starvation diets.
All of this led me to an article that discusses starving yourself to lose weight and how it keeps you fat. Read it and see if you relate at all. If so, please take the advice the writer gives. It’s similar to the eating guidelines I give my own clients and I know in my heart that learning to properly fuel your workouts and lifestyle is the ultimate key to fat loss success.
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/core_march_8.htm
Happy reading and happy eating!
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Workout Journal: Today was my first back workout since my surgery. We couldn’t do any pulldown type exercises for the scar lines were still tender. We stuck with wide grip rows, close grip rows, and then single arm bicep curls. Loads of sets and went to failure on most. I’m finally back to my heavy workouts and I love it.
Cardio. Ahhhh…sweet running. It has returned. I finally had my hamstring looked at before Vegas and got the all clear to start running again. Today I did my beginner walk/run challenge from the Work Your Butt Off Book I sell. (Look at the left hand side bar for ordering information.) My intervals were 3.5 walk with 6.0 run. Not blistering but not bad considering the girls were on their first bouncy stroll. Lesson learned? Two sports bras for these babies.
Daily Food:
B – Egg Whites and Watermelon with a few raisins
S – Pink Lady Smoothie with extra protein
L – Tuna on top of baked potato with cottage cheese and few raisins (craving them for some reason)
S – Apple with slice of cheese
S – Two strips of Beef Jerky (organic)
D – Green salad with Zuchini Squash Beef Marinara
S – Cantaloupe
That is such an amazing article and really captures a lot of what I try to tell people who are in that trap – I don’t do it half as well as you or the author and I too have fallen prey to the same kind of thinking- I don’t do crash diets but it is hard for me to give up some of the junk I eat or eat more points then I want because I am saving it for junk. I have found following you advice the last few weeks I’ve done so much better. But it is hard I find myself falling back into that thinking- Saying I don’t want the post workout refuel because I want points for baked cheetos at night for a snack that I know is all about comfort and habit and not need. So early this week- junky carbs in the morning- skimping on the refuel combined with a lot of activity left me almost comatose and my desk. Was that 100 calorie pack at night worth the crankiness and hunger pangs and pure exhaustion. So today I am saying- No you will follow her advice and do it right- I think it will be a better day.
Comment by Jen — August 9, 2007 @ 7:47 am
That was a good article. I was just wondering, do you eat all your snacks on schedule even if you are not hungry?? I have a schedule of eating and I have found if I don’t eat it for a snack then I will tack it on for lunch or dinner. Is this wise? Or should I try for the schedule snack. Love your new hair cut!
Comment by Andrea — August 9, 2007 @ 7:48 am
I almost always eat on time and rarely do I not want it. I think it has more to do with always sticking to the schedule so my body now wants the food on time. If I were going to skip a snack I would skip my pre-bed snack. For fat loss that is fine. For building muscle it is not. As long as you in fat loss mode that would be fine. Once you get to a stage where you are no longer losing fat and focusing on sculpting your muscles you would want to eat that protein rich pre-bed snack.
Comment by Corinne — August 9, 2007 @ 9:31 am
What a great article!! It’s great to see the fitness world telling us that we need to EAT and not STARVE ourselves!!
Comment by Trish — August 9, 2007 @ 11:12 am
Great Article!
Comment by Lorie — August 9, 2007 @ 11:57 am
40 Day Challenge- Lose Weight, Get in Shape, and Feel Great with …
Kimkins Trickle Down Theory of Weight LossWith Kimmer a tad busy, it seems members are jumping in to offer advice to each other. This might be a good thing if the starvation concepts advanced by Kimmer didnt seep down deep into those following the diet.
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Geri’s pals worry about her weight loss – Digital SpyGeri’s pals worry about her weight lossDigital Spy, UK – Aug 25, 2007One close pal was shocked by Geri’s weight loss when she shared a hug with the singer, after catching up with her recently.
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Question: I saw your post about learning you need 2 sports bras for “the girls.” This has been one of my running quests in life: The Quest For A Sports Bra That Contains The D’s In HJQ (High Jiggle Quotient) Activities. I have to date used a Champion Underwire contraption but today during aerobics class, I looked in the mirror and saw some crazy bouncing and ridiculousness going on. So, what bra do you usually use, if you don’t mind my asking? Also, Day 1 today of post-workout nutrition: An EAS Carb Advantage shake, on your recommendation, and a cranbran vitamuffintop. I will keep you posted on how it’s going. Thanks
Comment by Amanda — August 27, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I just use Champion Bras. Mine are full of saline so they don’t have the same jiggle factor. I just like to have them buckled down for everyone’s safety.
If you can, switch that muffin to a fruit. It will hit the system faster and it’s better than the muffin. Check the sugar content on those things. I wouldn’t know because I don’t eat them but anything that is a light muffin might have a lot of sugar in it to compensate. It may be OK but just take a look to be safe.
Comment by phitnphat — August 27, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
okay, here are my muffintop stats. 100 cal, 0 g fat, 22 g carb, 5 g fiber, 11 g sugars, 4 g protein. thoughts? is that high?
Comment by Amanda — August 27, 2007 @ 2:48 pm
There are four grams of sugar in one teaspoon. So, take out three teaspoons of white sugar and put it in a bowl. If it looks like a lot it’s because it is.
Seriously, I think that is a lot. Now, on occassion if you are wanting a baked treat this is probably a decent option, but I wouldn’t make it a daily choice. I would go with a banana or an apple instead.
Also, post-workout you don’t want a lot of fiber because it slows down how fast the body can digest. You want your postworkout stuff to be quick so that it can get into the muscles fast.
Comment by phitnphat — August 27, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
Excellent advice. Thanks. I did not know that about the fiber. I think there is a lot of fiber in those myoplex shakes isn’t there? Perhaps it’s offset by all the carbs and protein…I will save my muffintops for a baked treat every few days. Dang. I was all tickled with myself b/c of the other stats for them.
What is feeling like you are going to vomit after a workout a sign of? After weight training class today I was drinking water on the way home and almost lost it right there in the car. How do you feel about pre-workout nutrition? Is that part of the problem? Would it be good to drink half my shake pre-workout and half after?
Comment by Amanda — August 28, 2007 @ 8:31 am
No…there isn’t a lot of fiber in the MPLX Shakes. They are designed for post-workout refuel.
Feeling like vomitting? Good workout! Seriously last night I thought I was going to. I do legs and often get very sick from the exertion level.
You could split your shake. I like to just eat a piece of fruit pre-workout and maybe a little cheese. A half shake is fine though.
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