Permanent diet may equal longer life

[Beemnseven]

It also isn't clear whether caloric restriction would extend human lives by very much, UCLA evolutionary biologist Jay Phelan said. He has combined results from animal studies with data on men on the Japanese island of Okinawa who ate 17% fewer calories than men in Tokyo. He calculated that reducing intake by 35% would extend the human life span by just two years.

Two years is two years, but still -- if that's the payoff for a life of starving and denying yourself, I'm not all that impressed.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Two years is two years, but still -- if that's the payoff for a life of starving and denying yourself, I'm not all that impressed.

I've been doing a reduced calorie diet for a few months now, and there's no starving involved. I'm actually pretty surprised at how much I can eat and still be in my target range. I've lost 20 pounds this summer so far and it's been pretty easy.

[Beemnseven]

That's about what I need to lose; maybe more like 25-30 lbs.

Can you give me a run-down on what you're eating and the quantities involved?

My biggest problem is late-nite munchies. Around 9 or 9:30 or so, I start getting the urge to pig out.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

That's about what I need to lose; maybe more like 25-30 lbs.

Can you give me a run-down on what you're eating and the quantities involved?

My biggest problem is late-nite munchies. Around 9 or 9:30 or so, I start getting the urge to pig out.

I have an app on my iphone where I track everything I eat. That's the key, you really need to count your calories. It's a pain at first but eventually it becomes part of your routine and it really makes you think about what you're eating.

Based on your starting weight you'll need to determine how many calories you actually need everyday. Check out a site like this to get a basic idea

Perfect calculator to determine whether you are overweight or not. | AHealthyMe.com

Basically, I stay between 1500-2500 calories per day. It's a good idea to mix up your calorie intake from day to day to keep your body guessing.

Exercise is of course a big part. I do at least 30 minutes of cardio 3-4 days per week and I also mix in some weights as well. I cut way back on red meat and alcohol too. When I do drink it's mostly light beer.

I can post some samples of what I eat on a daily basis later. I've got to run now.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I have an app on my iphone where I track everything I eat. That's the key, you really need to count your calories. It's a pain at first but eventually it becomes part of your routine and it really makes you think about what you're eating.

Based on your starting weight you'll need to determine how many calories you actually need everyday. Check out a site like this to get a basic idea

Perfect calculator to determine whether you are overweight or not. | AHealthyMe.com

Basically, I stay between 1500-2500 calories per day. It's a good idea to mix up your calorie intake from day to day to keep your body guessing.

Exercise is of course a big part. I do at least 30 minutes of cardio 3-4 days per week and I also mix in some weights as well. I cut way back on red meat and alcohol too. When I do drink it's mostly light beer.

I can post some samples of what I eat on a daily basis later. I've got to run now.

Literally?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Basically, I stay between 1500-2500 calories per day. It's a good idea to mix up your calorie intake from day to day to keep your body guessing.

See I definitely don't see 2500 as a "reduced calorie" diet. Probably not even 1500. The FDA recommends 2000 a day for the average person.

It sounds to me what you're doing is just counting calories, eating healthy foods, and exercising. I'd call it the common sense plan.

When I saw the news story the other night about reduced calorie diets, I was thinking the extreme. All the people do is eat fruits and veggies, practically. They're hyper skinny, to the point where it appears skin is sagging off bones. I don't think you're on that plan, you're on the one that any doctor in the world would recommend, which is the one that works - common sense.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

That's about what I need to lose; maybe more like 25-30 lbs.

Can you give me a run-down on what you're eating and the quantities involved?

My biggest problem is late-nite munchies. Around 9 or 9:30 or so, I start getting the urge to pig out.

I lost 30 pounds, without changing my diet, when I moved to Colorado and started hiking mountains. You could always try that, if you like hiking.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

That's about what I need to lose; maybe more like 25-30 lbs.

Can you give me a run-down on what you're eating and the quantities involved?

My biggest problem is late-nite munchies. Around 9 or 9:30 or so, I start getting the urge to pig out.

Here's a sample of a typical day:

breakfast:
1 nutrigrain blueberry bar - 130 calories
2 homemade low fat waffles with a tiny bit of no sugar syrup - 210 calories

lunch:
2 grilled chicken sausage links - 260 calories
steamed mixed veggies (2 servings) - 120 calories

dinner:
1 broiled chicken breast - 213 calories
1 medium bake potato (dry) - 163 calories
1 large mixed greens salad w/cheese and croutons - 200 calories

snacks:
cheez-its (100 cal pack)
baked tortilla chips with salsa - 150 calories
goldfish crackers (100 cal pack)
1 mini drumstick ice cream cone - 130 calories

exercise
30 minutes on stair climber moderate intensity - burned 372 calories

Net calories for the day: 1404

I hear you on the late night snacking. But if you have a snack mid morning, mid afternoon, and another one a few hours after dinner, you shouldn't get those late night cravings. Plus I drink a lot of water, 8 glasses/day at least is a must. And I simply don't allow myself to eat after 8pm. Counting your calories really helps you realize what you're putting into your body.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Here's a sample of a typical day:

breakfast:
1 nutrigrain blueberry bar - 130 calories
2 homemade low fat waffles with a tiny bit of no sugar syrup - 210 calories

lunch:
2 grilled chicken sausage links - 260 calories
steamed mixed veggies (2 servings) - 120 calories

dinner:
1 broiled chicken breast - 213 calories
1 medium bake potato (dry) - 163 calories
1 large mixed greens salad w/cheese and croutons - 200 calories

snacks:
cheez-its (100 cal pack)
baked tortilla chips with salsa - 150 calories
goldfish crackers (100 cal pack)
1 mini drumstick ice cream cone - 130 calories

exercise
30 minutes on stair climber moderate intensity - burned 372 calories

Net calories for the day: 1404

I hear you on the late night snacking. But if you have a snack mid morning, mid afternoon, and another one a few hours after dinner, you shouldn't get those late night cravings. Plus I drink a lot of water, 8 glasses/day at least is a must. And I simply don't allow myself to eat after 8pm. Counting your calories really helps you realize what you're putting into your body.

Thanks for the info; that doesn't sound so bad. I don't know about the dry baked potato though, I'd probably choke. I'm trying to incorporate more fish in my diet, and I know I have to exercise more.

I'm about 6'3" and flucuate between 240 and 250 with most of it around my waistline and my face. So something's got to be done.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Thanks for the info; that doesn't sound so bad. I don't know about the dry baked potato though, I'd probably choke. I'm trying to incorporate more fish in my diet, and I know I have to exercise more.

I'm about 6'3" and flucuate between 240 and 250 with most of it around my waistline and my face. So something's got to be done.

I'm 6'3 and was 246 when I started doing this, now I'm 223. I'd like to get down to 200 eventually.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm 6'3 and was 246 when I started doing this, now I'm 223. I'd like to get down to 200 eventually.

That's pretty much exactly where I am. I'm 6'3 and I was 252. I was hardcore working out and watching diet, but last holidays through me off. I'm at around 225 now, I was down to 223 at my lowest, still trying to work down toward 200 or so.

I lift 3 times a week and I do cardio 4-5 days a week and I've noticed that since I started lifting again (I hadn't in a few years due to a bad shoulder) my body has changed tremendously, my weight loss may have slowed, but I'm definitely adding muscle and getting more defined.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Here's a sample of a typical day:

breakfast:
1 nutrigrain blueberry bar - 130 calories
2 homemade low fat waffles with a tiny bit of no sugar syrup - 210 calories

lunch:
2 grilled chicken sausage links - 260 calories
steamed mixed veggies (2 servings) - 120 calories

dinner:
1 broiled chicken breast - 213 calories
1 medium bake potato (dry) - 163 calories
1 large mixed greens salad w/cheese and croutons - 200 calories

snacks:
cheez-its (100 cal pack)
baked tortilla chips with salsa - 150 calories
goldfish crackers (100 cal pack)
1 mini drumstick ice cream cone - 130 calories

exercise
30 minutes on stair climber moderate intensity - burned 372 calories

Net calories for the day: 1404

I hear you on the late night snacking. But if you have a snack mid morning, mid afternoon, and another one a few hours after dinner, you shouldn't get those late night cravings. Plus I drink a lot of water, 8 glasses/day at least is a must. And I simply don't allow myself to eat after 8pm. Counting your calories really helps you realize what you're putting into your body.

Some of my favorite stuff. I love nutrigrain blueberry bars. I have a hard time just eating one. And I would bathe myself in cheez-its if it was socially acceptable.

For the stair climber, do you use the normal stair stepper, or the actual stairs that rotate (called a stepmill)? I use the rotating stairs. It's great cardio. I'm drenched after 30 minutes on level 5.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Some of my favorite stuff. I love nutrigrain blueberry bars. I have a hard time just eating one. And I would bathe myself in cheez-its if it was socially acceptable.

For the stair climber, do you use the normal stair stepper, or the actual stairs that rotate (called a stepmill)? I use the rotating stairs. It's great cardio. I'm drenched after 30 minutes on level 5.

I use the regular stair stepper, that thing kicks my ass enough as it is. 30 minutes and I look like someone dumped a bucket of water on me LOL

[Beemnseven]

Matty, another question about the diet you're on -- I guess you have to totally swear off fast food, right? If you're famished, and you don't have any food with you, where do you go and what do you get?

Fast food completely destroys my waistline and my wallet.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Matty, another question about the diet you're on -- I guess you have to totally swear off fast food, right? If you're famished, and you don't have any food with you, where do you go and what do you get?

Fast food completely destroys my waistline and my wallet.

I was never a big fan of fast food to begin with so that was never an issue with me.

For lunch I hit sandwich/salad type of places, and most grocery stores have kick ass salad bars. I'm also a big sushi fan. Packing a lunch is really the best thing to do but I'm pretty lazy when it comes to that. I always keep good snacks on hand in my desk too.

I'm not always eating salads though. Had pizza for lunch today, just one slice and a bottle of water.