Diet question(s)

[peeonme]

I went on a diet about 2 weeks ago, it allows me 1410 calories per day. I keep track of my caloric intake on a web sight called lose It.com, also this sight allows me to enter exercises
and then subtract that amount of calories burned from the intake that I have listed for that day.
So for today I have burned 380 calories, consumed 1034, this leaves abut 756 for the day.
In effect they say that I have only consumed 654 in calories when allowing for this that I have used up.
So I wonder if I am getting enough nutrients in to my system, am I kind of starving myself?

 

[KaraBulut]

Short term dieting is not going to starve the typical westerner. Most people have more than adequate fat stores to sustain a short-term caloric deficit.

With this said, you would be better off eating more and exercising more. When you start with >1800kcal per day, you'll find that you will have more energy for exercise.

 

[peeonme]

Thank you, the reason I asked is that I was beginning to feel a lack of energy, I will up my intake.

 

[Benvolio]

Thank you, the reason I asked is that I was beginning to feel a lack of energy, I will up my intake.

Numerous studies have shown the very low carb diet is the fastest and in many respects the easiest. Since you do not measure and count calories, it is easier logistically. Carbohydrates stimulate insulin which for many people, sets up a craving for more. Eliminate carbs and it is easier to control eating. If carbs a very low the diet becomes ketogenic with ketones providing energy. You will feel more energetic, believe me. I suggest you google low carb diets and read part of the studies.
Most will say you do not need to totally eliminate carbs but in practice you need to experience NO carbs to feel what the diet is about. If you start eating as many carbs as allowed, it will always fail.

 

[KaraBulut]

Thank you, the reason I asked is that I was beginning to feel a lack of energy, I will up my intake.

The trick of successful weight control is to find the balance between meeting the caloric needs your body (and your brain) and being active enough to consume the calories you take in plus use of some stored fat.

Lagging energy during a diet is usually a sign that your body is trying to conserve energy by lowering your metabolism and inducing you to sleep more.

 

[Benvolio]

If a calorie counting diet works for you, fine. But it is the hardest diet for several reasons and for most people it does not work.

 

[KaraBulut]

If a calorie counting diet works for you, fine. But it is the hardest diet for several reasons and for most people it does not work.

Actually, that's not really an accurate statement based upon recent studies. What seems to be the common success factor in weight loss programs is structure and behavior modification. Programs like Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers were rated high. Low glycemic index/low carb diets also rated high.

Extreme low calorie diets, do-it-yourself diet programs and other diets that did not include structure and counseling did not provide for long-term weight loss. The programs that had long-term success provided structured meals, methods to help dieters make healthy choices via point systems (indirect calorie and glucose index evaluation) and provided counseling- either individual or in support groups.

Source

Based on their analysis of the studies, the researchers found Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers were backed by clinical trials that lasted 12 months or longer and showed program participants had a greater weight loss than nonparticipants. “Given these findings,” the authors write, “it may be reasonable for clinicians to refer patients to Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.” NutriSystem also produced more weight loss at three months than counseling or education alone, but the authors were unable to find any long-term trials of that program. Participants in the very-low-calorie meal replacement programs lost more weight than nonparticipants in trials lasting from four to six months. But the authors found only one long-term study, which showed no benefit from such a program at 12 months. The authors noted that very-low-calorie programs also carry higher risks of complications, such as gallstones.

Programs based on the Atkins diet — high in fat, low in carbohydrates — also helped people lose more weight at six months and 12 months than counseling alone. The approach “appears promising,” the authors write. No definite conclusions could be made about Slim-Fast and the Internet-based programs.

 

[Benvolio]

Other studies have verified the merit of low carb diets.
The structured aspect of the programs helps to overcome one of the problems with calorie diets: you need to shop for small amounts of food, measure and cook small amounts, and in the end get very little to eat. You need to spend much time thinking about meals, but eat little. It is much easier if the small meals are selected and prepared for you. "Here this is all you get now. "

 

[KaraBulut]

Other studies have verified the merit of low carb diets.
The structured aspect of the programs helps to overcome one of the problems with calorie diets: you need to shop for small amounts of food, measure and cook small amounts, and in the end get very little to eat. You need to spend much time thinking about meals, but eat little. It is much easier if the small meals are selected and prepared for you. "Here this is all you get now. "

It was a surprise to most people that the studies have agreed diets like Atkins did work for weight loss. The challenge is sticking to extreme carb restrictions. The typical modern diet does have a lot of hidden carbs and restaurants that offer low carb meals are hard to come by in the US.

There's actually a nice cottage industry in many major cities of companies offering pre-packaged meals (much like Jenny Craig does). a few of the bigger cities even deliver the meals to your home or workplace.

 

[Benvolio]

.

It was a surprise to most people that the studies have agreed diets like Atkins did work for weight loss. The challenge is sticking to extreme carb restrictions. The typical modern diet does have a lot of hidden carbs and restaurants that offer low carb meals are hard to come by in the US.

There's actually a nice cottage industry in many major cities of companies offering pre-packaged meals (much like Jenny Craig does). a few of the bigger cities even deliver the meals to your home or workplace.

I think it is much easier to stick to very low carb diets than calorie restrictions. In a low carb one does not worry about the amount of food, although you tend to eat less, studies show. The protein and some fat are satisfying while a little carb sets up a need for more. Low carb diets are best seen as no carb diets because, as you say, the hidden carbs are hard to avoid. When low carb diets fail it is because the person starts out thinking he can eat, say, 50 carbs so he is likely to foucus on those carbs and end up eating too many.