Too Fat To Fit ?

[bricelythgoe]

Good luck!

[O'Callaghan]

Alas, to overcome hypertension I have had to give up soup completely! Even so-called 'low sodium' soup has massive amounts of sodium compared with most other foods. AFAIK the only other thing that is quite as bad as soup is hotdogs.

The way the labelling system works here in the USA, 'low' only means less than the regular version of the same thing, so it depends where you start out. So, for example, regular soup has so massive a sodium content that soup with a merely very high sodium content can be labelled as low sodium soup. OTOH, goat's cheese all has low fat content compared with cow's cheese of the same variety, but it can't be labelled as low fat cheese because it isn't a special version with less fat than exactly the same variety of cheese that's also made with goat's milk. To err is human, but to really screw things up you need a civil servant to make up the rules!

The only time I have had soup in at least the last five years was when my wife made it from scratch, as there is no other way to get soup with genuinely low sodium levels except for home made. As for hotdogs, I tried vegetarian corndogs only to be shocked to find that even those had too much sodium, not reading the nutrition label until after I had eaten a couple of them.

Sorry if this is veering towards being a thread hijack. All I really meant to say was, if you plan to go on a soup diet, be sure you don't have high blood pressure before you start.

[vmac3205]

Good luck to you. Captmac and I are on the Paleo Diet and it is working very well for us. He is out of the SWK kilts I bought him last summer and in to his wedding MacKenzie. About 6 of the guys who work for me are going it. So far, we have lost about 300 lbs between us all. The best part, no food weighing, measuring or counting points. And all the vegies and fruit you want! I'm chomping on celery with almond butter as I type.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I went on the cabbage soup diet several years ago and, coupled with increased exercise, managed to take several inches off my waist in thirty days. The down side? As with most diets the monotony of eating the same food for a month was maddening. That said, even a moderate diet (such as Rex suggested) and an increase in exercise (two sets of twenty sit ups, twice a day for 30 days) will often take two or more inches off your waist without your dropping more than a pound or two. In June I took delivery of a new kilt (which fit perfectly when it arrived). Following my own advice it is now cinched up to the first hole on the straps, and will probably have go back to Barbara Tewksbury sometime after he holidays to be taken in a few inches to get me back to that middle hole.

[Kilted Rogue]

I know this option isnt for everyone. but 18 months ago, i started a 90% vegetarian diet. We eat fish and about once a month we will have meat. Its more like eating the way ppl ate when meat was for the rich and well not so much for the poor. I have lost over 15 lbs and an inch or so off my waist. I do bike about .75 miles to work daily. i was doing that before the change in diet.

this can be done and you can return to a modified meat eating diet when your ready, all you have to do is watch your portions and dont overindulge to often.

I still drink a few beers or glasses of wine a week.

[Foosinho]

All I really meant to say was, if you plan to go on a soup diet, be sure you don't have high blood pressure before you start.

I have a family history of hypertension (we had "fake salt" when I was a kid because of my Dad), and a few years ago routine checks of my blood pressure showed it was "elevated". It's back down to normal, probably just because I've lost a little weight, but as a part of cleaning up my diet I've started trying to watch my sodium intake. It's astonishing how much of our food (if you don't prep from scratch) has tons and tons of sodium. Literally shocking. I try to stay away from high-sodium foods, but I still eat pretzels, for example. When I'm out grocery shopping there are items I've picked up, turned over to look at the nutritional panel, and immediately put back upon looking at the sodium number.

Ironically, I had some blood work done last week, and my sodium levels were actually a little below "normal".

I know this option isnt for everyone. but 18 months ago, i started a 90% vegetarian diet

My wife is vegetarian, so I am mostly so by association. When I do eat meat, it's smaller portions, and usually chicken. Reducing meat intake is good for our health, and good for the environment. Problem was, I was eating relatively healthy foods, but just still way too much of it. (Still love a prime rib, or a nice cut of beef. It's just a treat, now, instead of "the usual", and it's usually the petite cut instead of the 16oz cut. Makes it all the more enjoyable!)

I'm not really a fan of "fad" diets. I think most diets that involve eating in strange patterns won't work in the long run, because you won't maintain that eating behavior. IMO, it's all about finding a healthy way to eat on a normal, daily basis. For me, that was smaller portion sizes, and more water.

I can justify staying away from that crappy light beer since I don't drink it that often. If I'm going to have a beer, it's going to be a good, dark, full beer, not some watered down rice beer. I'm not pumping myself full of them, so I can justify the increase in calories/carbs (not that I'm counting, just making healthier individual choices). Life's not worth living without the occasional pizza and beer! Just not the entire pizza in one sitting, and just not an entire case of beer. Not anymore, anyway - 19 was a long time ago.

[nh_maclean]

I'm curious about the soup diet too!

I'm just back at the gym after a 4month hiatus (and about 12lbs gained). I'm doing the cardio in the AM 5x week (either hill or speed intervals) and weights 3x week (shooting for mostly combound moves).

Once this routine's down, I'm going to tackle the eating on a more aggressive mode then what I'm doing now.

I'm shooting to drop 15-20lbs or at least convert most of it over to muscle

Good Luck!
Noah

[dfmacliam]

If that paleo diet is what I believe it is.. that is the best way to go.

For me.. eating basic meat and vegetables with no processed foods..no white foods.. flour, potatoes, sugars, rice, dairy, ect.. eat slowly.. and allow myself to get full without over eating..

I had a gastric bypass, and that is how I eat now.. I have lost the taste for fried foods, and actually prefer grilled meats.. no carbonated drinks.. no alcohol..basically a natural diet.. and I eat smaller meals.. and snack between meals..

I also take the time, and read the labels now... you will be surprised to learn the amount of salt in some so called healthy items.. and the amount of sugars in others.. I find that things sweetened with Splenda, are better for me, than with corn syrup or sugars.

I have learned that if I do not suppress my urges to eat, but to eat what my body really craves.. I tend to eat healthier, and less likely to overeat.. It has been a lifestyle change, and not a diet..

I will say.. this is what I do.. I do not have the body of a model.. LOL.. but from where I was.. to now.. I am happy..

[vmac3205]

If that paleo diet is what I believe it is.. that is the best way to go.

For me.. eating basic meat and vegetables with no processed foods..no white foods.. flour, potatoes, sugars, rice, dairy, ect.. eat slowly.. and allow myself to get full without over eating..

I had a gastric bypass, and that is how I eat now.. I have lost the taste for fried foods, and actually prefer grilled meats.. no carbonated drinks.. no alcohol..basically a natural diet.. and I eat smaller meals.. and snack between meals..

I also take the time, and read the labels now... you will be surprised to learn the amount of salt in some so called healthy items.. and the amount of sugars in others.. I find that things sweetened with Splenda, are better for me, than with corn syrup or sugars.

I have learned that if I do not suppress my urges to eat, but to eat what my body really craves.. I tend to eat healthier, and less likely to overeat.. It has been a lifestyle change, and not a diet..

I will say.. this is what I do.. I do not have the body of a model.. LOL.. but from where I was.. to now.. I am happy..

Yes, that is pretty much the paleo diet. It's amazing how salty prepared food is. Once you have the salt flushed out of your system it's very noticable.

[piperdbh]

I went vegan 3 years ago, and dropped some weight, which wound up in me cinching my Newsome up to the first holes.

Here's some unsolicited advice: be careful with the cabbage soup diet. My aunt and uncle tried it a few years ago and lost muscle along with fat. I'd recommend checking with you doctor regularly as you progress with it. On the other hand, for you it might work brilliantly and you end up healthier than ever. Let's hope for that!