Nah, no snack foods. My last two weeks in Amurica I was eating out a lot and drinking soda (usually don't), but now I'm drinking nothing but water (a lot too) and eating pretty healthy crap with little to no extra spices or salt. Its likely my sodium intake has fallen because of this.

I'm also have a near constant small burn of hunger, so maybe I'm just starving myself

6/15/2010 8:22:40 AM

I'm going to weigh myself again tomorrow because I gained weight over my weigh-in last week and I thought I had been doing pretty good. I'm guessing the sodium from last night's sushi didn't help and I ate pretty bad over the weekend, although I exercised too, so I hoped I would break even those days.

This seemed a lot easier a few years ago

6/15/2010 8:24:37 AM

i think im the only person in this thread holding steady at weight

(i know, i know it's just a number but still...discouraging)

6/15/2010 8:25:54 AM

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand. i have a question i'll pose later on to anyone who thinks they may be able to help


now i really, have to go to work!

6/15/2010 8:28:53 AM

Quote :

"Its likely my sodium intake has fallen because of this."

With that said, I would attribute the majority of the 5-8lb weight loss to water loss... It is still legitimate loss, because one shouldn't be eating as much sodium as in a normal western diet, but don't assume or be afraid that you'll continue to lose at that rate... Just my uninformed thoughts...

6/15/2010 8:29:00 AM

Hmm, good point. I usually warn others to be wary of high weight loss numbers in the beginning, but I didn't think of it because I'm not trying to lose weight. Something to keep an eye on over the next few days and weeks.

Quote :

"sausages. definitely sausages."

Why sausages, high in fat and protein? What other meats are good for gaining mass?

6/15/2010 8:33:37 AM

I was just kidding, I thought I remembered you being in Germany or somewhere along those lines...

6/15/2010 8:45:29 AM

Quote :

"i think im the only person in this thread holding steady at weight (i know, i know it's just a number but still...discouraging)"

I've been at the same weight for roughly 4 months.... (I've lost inches over that time, though)

But still. Super discouraging.

[Edited on June 15, 2010 at 8:54 AM. Reason : well, kinda the same weight.. it has only fluctuated from 158 - 161 (up and down) in that time]

6/15/2010 8:53:52 AM

i've also been the same weight for the last couple of months.

6/15/2010 8:56:16 AM

i dropped about 30 pounds from december through april....

since april, i've done another 5 or so... kinda stuck, so i've been changing things up a lot and pushing myself harder. plus now i'm actually paying attention to what i'm eating

6/15/2010 8:58:31 AM

i've been stuck at ~220lbs for the past couple of weeks where previously i was dropping ~2lbs/week

i really wanted to be down to 200-210lbs by the wedding in 3 months, but i don't suppose that's gonna happen unless i change something else

6/15/2010 9:00:17 AM

Quote :

"i think im the only person in this thread holding steady at weight"

I'm not ITT, but since I've started ramping up the workout routine and logging my food I, too, have been holding steady at my weight. I averaged my intake and output over the month of May and found out why:

Intake: 2890

Output: 2886



[Edited on June 15, 2010 at 9:07 AM. Reason : wrong month...also, thinking about joining this 'challenge']

6/15/2010 9:07:14 AM

Quote :

"I was just kidding, I thought I remembered you being in Germany or somewhere along those lines..."

Ah, yeah, I'm in Belgium. I do suppose I could start drinking more beer but that could get expensive

6/15/2010 9:11:16 AM

Quote :

"That's great in terms of protein (20-25 grams) and fat, but there is 0 grams fiber in that breakfast. And no fruits/vegetables. Add the following and then it will be a complete meal: 1-2 slices of some nice grainy whole wheat bread (have the eggs fried in some olive oil if you like) 1-2 pieces of fruit (or vegetables) Handful of nuts (optional)"

you added 600 calories to one meal because it didn't have enough fiber. Metamucil could have taken care of this without adding any calories to the diet.

[Edited on June 15, 2010 at 9:26 AM. Reason : you don't have to eat fruits and vegetables just because they're fruits/vegetables.]

6/15/2010 9:25:22 AM

Delicious discovery of this morning:
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup cold coffee
1 scoop white chocolate protein powder

6/15/2010 9:37:04 AM

cold coffee

6/15/2010 9:45:48 AM

Dropped 4 lbs since this time last week from 215 to 211 somehow. Didnt do too much honestly added a bit more excercise in and ate a bit more healthy but Ill take it. I'd like to settle into the 200-205 range for the time being.

6/15/2010 9:47:17 AM

Man, iced coffee >> normal coffee, particularly when it's 85 degrees at 9 a.m.

6/15/2010 9:47:20 AM

Quote :

"you don't have to eat fruits and vegetables just because they're fruits/vegetables.]"

That's a nonsensical statement. It is like saying "you don't have to drink water just because it is water". What does that mean? Let's not argue semantics here.

You have to eat fruits and vegetables because they have essential nutrients in them which you can't get from your meat and meat. (and those nutrients have been shown to make people avoid all sorts of dieseases and live longer)

[Yeah, if you want to get them from your vitamineral pills and protein shakes, your choice, but that still is a piss poor replacement for actual fruits/veggies]

6/15/2010 9:55:07 AM

I'll admit I'm not a huge fan of vegetables especially, but I've been trying to add more to my diet recently. Basically as a filler or substitute for other things to fill me up and help with my portion control. So now instead of eating 2 grilled chicken breasts I'll instead eat one and have a salad on the side as basically a filler so I dont die of hunger.

6/15/2010 10:01:17 AM

I really like the fact that this thread has gone 25 pages full of encouragement and without arguing.

Let's remember this rule:

Quote :

"3. Don't shit up this thread. It's in The Lounge for a reason."

And this:

Quote :

"Let's just agree that exercise and nutrition are about the two most controversial subjects on the internet. I've never seen people argue with so much conviction as when they start to argue about nutrition or exercise strategies."

Everyone in this thread is sacrificing and doing their best. Let's save the argumentation for couch potatoes. As long as someone is in this competition, they deserve the benefit of the doubt and we should respect their decisions. Whatever they are doing, whether or not it is the most optimal, is certainly better than what they were doing before!

6/15/2010 10:13:39 AM

Quote :

"You have to eat fruits and vegetables because they have essential nutrients in them which you can't get from your meat and meat. "

Fruits are loaded with sugars, and the vegetables that are staples of most breakfasts are nothing more than overglorified sources of calories. do you think corn and potatoes are really important to a balanced diet? Of course they aren't. you'd be much better off eating spinach, broccoli, or green beans, but that point isn't clear when you just say "eat your vegetables". Certain vegetables are excellent food sources while dieting, and others have no place in a calorie restricted diet.

6/15/2010 10:57:47 AM

Quote :

"Fruits are loaded with sugars"

And usually enough fiber to not make a difference.

6/15/2010 11:01:41 AM

Quote :

"Everyone in this thread is sacrificing and doing their best. Let's save the argumentation for couch potatoes. As long as someone is in this competition, they deserve the benefit of the doubt and we should respect their decisions. Whatever they are doing, whether or not it is the most optimal, is certainly better than what they were doing before!"

6/15/2010 11:05:24 AM

In the past week, I gained 3 lbs I mean weight loss is good, but I'm bulking up in my arms, shoulders, and back, while toning my abs, stomach, and hips. I'll probably lose some water weight in the next couple days because I'm sick... I'll be off to the gym after I leave the doctor's though. I'll post a picture of my progress in Friday.

6/15/2010 11:34:02 AM

team eli owns, weight gain is solid .

6/15/2010 12:24:33 PM

Quote :

"Man, iced coffee >> normal coffee, particularly when it's 85 degrees at 9 a.m."

this

I love iced coffee.

6/15/2010 12:49:45 PM

I'm still going at the thought that everyone NEEDS yogurt

seriously?

6/15/2010 2:09:56 PM

I like to eat a cup of low fat yogurt in the mornings as a snack to tide me over till lunch

6/15/2010 2:14:32 PM

I don't need it, but I do love half a whole wheat english muffin with vanilla yogurt and blueberries on top

6/15/2010 2:16:25 PM

that's fine

I don't have a problem with yogurt, so much as the argument that

Quote :

"but what about beneficial bacteria which have been shown in countless studies to improve health, including reducing cholesterol and blood sugar, lowering blood pressure, decreasing the incidence of diabetes, heart diesease,etc."

ALL of those benefits can be seen without the consumption of yogurt...to say otherwise is wrong

6/15/2010 2:22:49 PM

just do what works for you. don't worry about what other people are doing or saying...

6/15/2010 2:34:41 PM

To a point, I agree with you. But you have to understand that the reason a lot of people don't have "beach bodies" is because they keep making the same common mistakes. Sometimes people need to learn about proper diet and exercise.

6/15/2010 2:35:53 PM

yea that's true... There's been some good advice ITT for sure and I've been using it.

6/15/2010 2:39:26 PM

question for the experts...What effect does alcohol have on building muscle? I know it can derail a diet in terms of weight loss, but purely from a bulking stand point what does drinking a few nights a week do when combined with an otherwise very healthy diet and ample protein intake?

6/15/2010 2:41:20 PM

Alcohol is probably my biggest roadblock to reaching my goals. I've decided I'm going to all but give up the casual two or three beers just sitting on the couch watching a game or movie or whatever.

On the weekends, I'm going to go out but I'll DD and only have a few light drinks. I mean I'm not the kind of person that NEEDS alcohol to be sociable in a bar environment but I do like the taste of good beer so it sucks but I'm going to do this.

6/15/2010 2:51:09 PM

depends. drinks here and there probably wont affect much. you will have extra calories that may end up as fat though.

excessive drinking on the other hand...

Quote :

"When you consume alcohol, a substance is produced in the liver that is toxic to the release of testosterone. This substance decreases the concentration of testosterone in the body, resulting in lower muscle mass and definition"

Quote :

"Another area that alcohol affects when it comes to muscle building is your ability to recover. Since alcohol is a toxin to the body, energy is going to have to be expended in order to remove it from the system"

Quote :

"then theres dehydration which can give feelings of fatigue and lower physical performance."

Quote :

"Aside from ATP, the next source for muscular work is stored muscle glycogen. Unfortunately, though, when you consume alcoholic beverages, alcohol synthesis will take precedence over glycogen synthesis, resulting in decreased stores in the muscle cells. When you go to do your next workout, your body will have less energy to run on, causing fatigue to set in early."

the key is moderation. having some drinks wont derail your progress.

[Edited on June 15, 2010 at 2:56 PM. Reason : ]

6/15/2010 2:55:27 PM

^^^

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=2522955&pagenumber=1#post351956445

Excerpt:

Quote :

"Health issues aside, it should be clear that the regular consumption of significant quantities of alcohol is absolutely detrimental to one's efforts to improve body composition. However, we all know its consumption is woven into the very fabric of our society, so most of us are not going to do away with it completely. We will have to be content with merely minimizing the negative consequences of its consumption. Other than the numerous specific recommendations that appear in the body of this article, the main general thing you can do is limit total consumption."

[Edited on June 15, 2010 at 2:57 PM. Reason : ]

6/15/2010 2:55:50 PM

^^alcohol shuts down protein synthesis temporarily while the body is trying to break down the alcohol in your system. Having several drinks within a day or two of a workout is a surefire way to make you get weaker, not stronger. Alcohol also messes with the function of insulin and growth hormone, so nutrients are shuttled correctly.

I think I remember reading that alcohol lowers testosterone production and elevates estrogen levels in men due to suppressed HPTA activation, but I don't know how accurate that is or if it only occurs after heavy alcohol consumption. I would think you'd have to be on a two week bender before you see these results if at all, but I don't know.

FWIW, pot is guaranteed to fuck up hormonal balances in men.

6/15/2010 3:05:01 PM

Quote :

"Fruits are loaded with sugars, and the vegetables that are staples of most breakfasts are nothing more than overglorified sources of calories. do you think corn and potatoes are really important to a balanced diet?"

I don't want to continue this argument, but just want to clarify one thing:

I never said to consume corn and potatoes... I hardly ever consume them myself. NON-STARCHY vegetables... I hope that will prevent people from assuming what I meant.

OK, another thing: As for fruits having sugars:

I realize that there are 2 camps of nutritionists; one (vast majority) says to avoid red meat and saturated fat, and consume grains and beans. The other (small minority) says to consume red meat, coconut oil, and severely decrease/eliminate grains and beans (again going back to the paleo diet). The reason is because studies done to see the effects of red meat and saturated fat on the body have been inconclusive (both conclusions can be reached).

However, the ONLY thing the 2 camps (i.e., nutritionists the world over) are in agreement over is to consume [lots of] fruits and vegetables. Why? Because all studies ever done on fruits and vegetables have shown benefits. Amount of sugar is not the end all, but the GI of foods. Fruits while "loaded with sugars" have low glycemic indices. (most of them)

(again, please don't assume I am talking about bananas here... NON-STARCHY fruits and vegetables... I have made my position plenty clear)

[/argument]

6/15/2010 3:06:04 PM

http://www.ayushveda.com/dietfitness/don%E2%80%99t-drink-and-train/

6/15/2010 3:15:43 PM

i need to join this...will post before pic/goals tonight

6/15/2010 4:28:02 PM

i could be wrong but i don't think yogurt is unique because of it's probiotic-ness ( )
aren't most fermented foods probiotics?
like olives, saurkraut, miso, certain breads, and maybe some fake meat like tempeh and maybe tofu??

and then there are prebiotics like honey and vinegar.

i could be very wrong about this, just thinking aloud.
ill look it up later :-*

6/15/2010 4:29:07 PM

Quote :

"You have just tracked: Coffee (4 calories) Lucy Williams and 5 others like this "

haha

6/15/2010 4:41:35 PM

how are you tracking calories on facebook?

6/15/2010 5:24:51 PM

you can link up the dailyplate with facebook and publish your updates

6/15/2010 5:27:33 PM

one 12 oz can of Coors Light = 0.0 grams of fat

THAT IS THE KEY

6/15/2010 5:27:35 PM

I'm on a Coors Light diet.

6/15/2010 5:42:43 PM

^^ 0g of cholesterol too!

6/15/2010 6:04:22 PM

Quote :

"fattie:"

more like hottie...love me some amazons

6/15/2010 7:00:11 PM