Slim4Life

[K_Mac]

Don't you think fasting for 20 hours and eating for 4 is a lifestyle change?

[Darren.]

Good luck with your diet, man.

 

My wife and I use MyFitnessPal on our iPhones

which basically tracks the calories we consume.

 

Add in exercise and I lost 30 pounds, but added

a few over the summer with birthday parties, etc.

 

Back to tennis, walking and disciplined calorie 

tracking for me.

 

A buddy of mine got taken off his depression meds

which he's been on for 20+ years after he went on

a Ketogenic diet and lost 24 pounds...

 

FWIW.

[Fun4Me]

Don't you think fasting for 20 hours and eating for 4 is a lifestyle change?

 

 

 Maybe I should have said least intrusive lifestyle change. I'm basically skipping breakfast, eating lunch, and sometimes an early dinner. Rest of the time I'm drinking water. It's been the easiest thing I've ever tried to lose weight with so far. 

[Fun4Me]

The fasting part, while it helps with tricking your body to use up the glycogen storage so you can burn fat instead, isn't really part of the weight loss thing. Sure it works for losing weight, but it also works for gaining weight. If I ate 7000 calories in my 4 hour period I would gain. Body builders use fasting too. The fasting part is mostly used to expel toxins as well as other benefits.

[K_Mac]

Maybe I should have said least intrusive lifestyle change. I'm basically skipping breakfast, eating lunch, and sometimes an early dinner. Rest of the time I'm drinking water. It's been the easiest thing I've ever tried to lose weight so far.

I wish you well. I think short-term you're probably OK. I question whether you can properly fuel your body long-term though. As Deacnh03 said, losing weight can be an unhealthy process. Losing muscle for the sake of making a weight is a lose/lose process. Messing with your metabolism is a tricky thing. Good luck.

[Fun4Me]

I wish you well. I think short-term you're probably OK. I question whether you can properly fuel your body long-term though. As Deacnh03 said, losing weight can be an unhealthy process. Losing muscle for the sake of making a weight is a lose/lose process. Messing with your metabolism is a tricky thing. Good luck.

 

It's just maintaining whatever calorie intake one wishes to use for whatever result they desire, same as any other person who would diet or not diet. it's no different than someone that eats 6 meals a day, I'm just giving my digestive system longer rest periods. There's no rocket science in it. It's calories in vs. calories out in most cases, although the people who would want us to spend money on their way would have us think different. 

 

To each his own though.

[K_Mac]

While I've learned much along the way I sure don't have all the answers. I certainly have nothing to sell. I am convinced that proper nutrition is not as simple as calories in and out though. It may not be quantum mechanics, but what we consume and when are essential parts of maintaining a very complex machine.

I also know that what works for one may not work for others. After many years of trial and error I have learned that the hard way. Knowing your body and having the discipline to do what needs to be done to maintain fitness and health is a life-long process that may be simple, but it's not easy for most of us. Good luck on your journey.

[Fun4Me]

While I've learned much along the way I sure don't have all the answers. I certainly have nothing to sell. I am convinced that proper nutrition is not as simple as calories in and out though. It may not be quantum mechanics, but what we consume and when are essential parts of maintaining a very complex machine.

I also know that what works for one may not work for others. After many years of trial and error I have learned that the hard way. Knowing your body and having the discipline to do what needs to be done to maintain fitness and health is a life-long process that may be simple, but it's not easy for most of us. Good luck on your journey.

 

 I don't have all of the answers either, nor am I trying to sell anything. I'm just offering up what I'm trying and, how it's going.

 

I would also agree that there are better ways to fuel one's body than others. I will admit that I do sometimes eat less healthy than I could, but there are some times that I eat healthier as well. The only reason I'm not trying anything different, other than the fasting, is because I want to see how well it works by itself. I imagine I will incorporate cleaner eating, and more exercise along the way. 

 

Nothing in life is easy. If it was, we'd all have it. I never meant to imply that losing weight was easy, only that the method i'm using now is the easiest I've tried so far. 

 

Calories in vs. calories out, while probably oversimplified, is crucial for weight loss/gain/maintenance. There are ways of breaking it down from there, whether it be nutrition, exercise, etc. but I don't know too many people who can eat 1500 calories a day and gain weight, nor do I know many people who can eat 7000 calories a day and lose weight.

 

Anyhoo, I don't want to make this thread about me, just wanted to throw what i'm doing into the mix for anyone interested. 

[gardnerjigman]

Day three (last day) of prep is under way! Yesterday evening went pretty smoothly. I fished a tournament with a buddy and got second. I was actually starving when I got home. Another plain Jane hamburger patty. Yah... Lol. Today is going pretty well. I'm feeling good, rested, full of energy. Looking forward to the meeting with the nutritionist tonight to set up the real game plan and get back to some normal food with variety. 

 

 

There are 1000 ways to lose weight, but I'm taking this approach as a confidence "bait". I've seen it work, and now I'm invested. I think of it as a give a man a fish, feed him for the day, teach a man to fish, feed him forever. So, translated to, tell me to work out and eat right, I'll fall off the wagon. Teach me to eat right and work out while I'm being held accountable, that is a habit that should last a life time. 

 

 

Maybe I'm all wrong in this, but I'd much rather give it a shot rather than do nothing. 

 

Will update after the meeting tonight.

[K_Mac]

Gardnerjigman it sounds like you are doing a lot of things right! If an old fat guy like me can do it, most anyone can! Keep up the good work. It is easy to get discouraged. This is a long-term process... A marathon, not a sprint. PM if you want to howl at the moon or eat a couple of dozen doughnuts. Good luck.

[Jigfishn10]

Good luck gardnerjigman!

 

I had my run at it over a year ago losing 30 plus lbs. I can't lift weights anymore but running treadmill and road is my mode of exercise these days. Learning how to mix exercise and nutrition takes time and discipline. Getting to the point of knowing how your body responds to different foods and workout schedules is where the discipline really pays off with your life style adjustment moving forward. Like so many mentioned above, after you achieve your goal, its about choices after that.

 

Again, I wish you all the luck with your goal.

 

John

[lo n slo]

Good luck G Man! Please keep us posted.

[gardnerjigman]

Walking in for our meeting in 5!!!!!

[Fishing Rhino]

I've started a plan that seems to be producing results. I started 2 weeks ago and have lost 10 pounds so far. It consists of intermittent fasting, along with trying to control the amount of calories I take in.

 

Right now, i'm trying to see how much I can lose without changing what I eat, compared to what I ate before the plan started. 

 

I fast for 20 hours a day and eat during a 4 hour window. During that 4 hour window, I enjoy the same foods I did before I started, I just don't eat more meals after that, if it's high in calories.

 

EX. yesterday I had a pizza buffet. The day before, I had a 1 meat combo from the local BBQ joint, and topped it off with an ice cream cone. Some days I will eat other things that give me the ability to eat a few meals during the 4 hour period.

 

I could eat cleaner, go more towards a ketogenic diet, exercise more, etc, and probably boost the amount I lose right now, and I may do that in the future, but I want to see if I can do it without any real lifestyle change first.

 

That contradicts the theory that it's better to eat several small meals than to gorge yourself at a few.  Supposedly the constant eating raises metabolism while fasting tends to slow down metabolism since the body thinks it is starving.

 

Diets come, and diets go.  Eat no carbohydrates.  Eat complex carbohydrates.  Grapefruit diet.  Dr. (fill in the blank) diet.  There is something for everyone.  Weight watchers, Nutri System.  And the beat goes on. 

[gardnerjigman]

Just got out. Down 6lbs in 3 days! Wife is down 4lbs in 3 days.

Got our plan, which is still fairly restrictive but way better than the prep plan!!!! Will probably just do weekly updates from here on out!

[Fun4Me]

That contradicts the theory that it's better to eat several small meals than to gorge yourself at a few.  Supposedly the constant eating raises metabolism while fasting tends to slow down metabolism since the body thinks it is starving.

 

Diets come, and diets go.  Eat no carbohydrates.  Eat complex carbohydrates.  Grapefruit diet.  Dr. (fill in the blank) diet.  There is something for everyone.  Weight watchers, Nutri System.  And the beat goes on. 

 

This Is a pretty good read on the subject, but there's a plethora of info out there.

 

http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

[Fun4Me]

 

 

Double post.

[K_Mac]

This Is a pretty good read on the subject, but there's a plethora of info out there.

http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

An interesting article. For me it supports my conclusion that while there is more than one way of fueling the body, there are nutritional requirements that must be met to keep it performing properly. Less meals mean more attention must be paid to insure these requirements are met. The last paragraph of the article sums it up very well: Long-term adherence to a well thought out plan is what works. Thanks for the link.

[Fishing Rhino]

I do not have the slightest idea of just where the truth lies, but I'm a cynic, and by nature am suspicious of any "study" or article that is in fact an advertisement.  Can you say Kevin Trudeau?  Get a Bowflex this or that and in two months you will look like an Olympian gymnast.

 

What I have no doubt about, is that there is no one size fits all, when it comes to anything related to our bodies.  We have different allergies.  We respond to medications differently.  (See the list of contraindications on any "medicine" be it prescription, or over the counter.

 

The trick is to find something that works for you, and something that you can stick with.  Eat less, exercise more.  As long as you are taking in fewer calories than you are burning, you will lose weight.  But will that loss be fat, or muscle?

 

Walk or cycle, do not run, or better yet, swim.  Running is tough on the joints.  Avoid high impact exercises.  Work out in a pool.  Resistance with next to no impact.  Good for those with arthritis, etc.

 

I wish you all success in the worthwhile endeavor to lose weight and/or get in shape.  And if something works for you, that's great.

[fishinfiend]

Just got out. Down 6lbs in 3 days! Wife is down 4lbs in 3 days.

Got our plan, which is still fairly restrictive but way better than the prep plan!!!! Will probably just do weekly updates from here on out!

 

 

That a good start bro but most likely that is lost water weight. The best approach is most often the most undesirable approach for those looking to lose weight.  Eat smart, train hard and do cardio.

 

How much did this program cost you?

 

 

 

I used to be over 350 pounds and lost around 200 pounds now.

[Jigfishn10]

I followed the Eat Stop Eat I.F. protocol for a month and it does work. This is similar to the I.F. protocol that Fun4Me is following. You fast for a 24 hour period and then restart your normal eating habits after that. Best time for me was eat my last meal at 6 pm prior to your fast. Eat again the next day at 6pm so you're tricking yourself that you eat every day.

 

Basically, I.F. is designed to reduce your weekly caloric intake by a days worth of calories. It really took its toll on my workout schedule tho, It really drained my energy levels for not only the day I fasted but for a day or 2 afterwards.

 

It can be effective if you have the discipline to stay on it. I'd rather the 400 - 500 calorie blocks every 3 hours to maintain energy levels and supposedly, to amp up your metabolism.

 

Science has not supported any diet out there, but for me, I stick with the old addage of burning more colories than that is consumed along with a training schedule that doesn't mean spending hours at the gym. 30 minutes a day, 5 day per week is what works for me.

[K_Mac]

That a good start bro but most likely that is lost water weight. The best approach is most often the most undesirable approach for those looking to lose weight. Eat smart, train hard and do cardio.

How much did this program cost you?

I used to be over 350 pounds and lost around 200 pounds now.

Way to go with the weight loss! "Eat smart, train hard and do cardio" is the magic bullet people are looking for; most are looking for something a little easier though.

[fishinfiend]

thanks dude, you too!

[gardnerjigman]

Weekend was tough guys. My dad came in town and we had friends over Sunday for football Sunday. Dad and my daughters enjoyed his famous lasagna (by far my favorite meal) Saturday, and then they all enjoyed pizza and wings on Sunday. My wife and I however at grilled chicken and broccoli for lunch and sirloin steak, half of a baked potato and green beans for dinner. 

 

Yesterday we had eggs in the morning with cucumber and skim milk. Ate an orange and apple for lunch. Then had grilled tilapia with half baked potato and steamed broccoli. 

 

The funny thing is I'm not craving food. As in not hungry. I smelled the lasagna, pizza and wings and wanted to eat it simply because I knew it tasted fantastic, but wasn't hungry at all. We stayed strong this weekend thankfully. Gonna go weigh in today to see if there was any progress since Friday. 

 

 

As far as the price goes, I'm not going to hide anything from you guys. My wife and I did something a little different "plan" wise with slim4life, and are experimenting with some things. After it's been under my belt for a bit. I'll break down costs for exactly what you need (we all know they are gonna sell it regardless if you "need" it or not). Be patient on that one, and I'll get all the have to haves down for you. 

 

Stay tuned!

[fishinfiend]

Good luck, sir. Thats awesome you and your wife are doing it together. I wish you the best of luck. This will be one of the greatest gifts you can give yourselves.