We all knew this anyway, didn't we? And yet, we buy the books, we join the different programs, we look for an advantage.
Doctors studied more than 800 overweight people for two years in Baton Rouge, La., and Boston who wanted to lose weight. About 60% were woman, 40% men. They established calorie levels, and then assigned the people to one of four diets (all were structured within heart-healthy guidelines):
* Low-fat, average-protein
* Low-fat, high-protein
* High-fat, high-protein
The results? They were about the same. People lost about the same amount of weight and kept the same amount of weight off. And they reported about the same level of satisfaction.
Which leads us to just one conclusion, again: There's no magic in it. We just have to eat less, and/or exercise more, to get those pounds to budge.
Check out the full story:
https://www.empowher.com/news/2009/02/26/want-lose-weight-just-eat-less-diet-study-suggests
Does this mean you shouldn't join a weight-loss plan? No! What it should mean is that you should look for the one that works best with your life. Don't worry about whether it's the latest thing or an old standby. Don't get roped into thinking that one will work where others won't. Look at the alternatives, look at your lifestyle, and pick a plan that is suited to YOU.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment3 Comments
I think you all bring up excellent points. Overall, I agree that it's not even so much the eating less and exercising more combination that is key to weight loss, but like the anonymous poster wrote above, just finding something that you will stick to. How many of us have started out all excited and gung ho to lose weight, saying things like "no more Oreos! No more pizza!", only to start eating both again in like 2 days? Been there, done that, that's for sure. I also really like the point that you didn't gain the weight overnight, so it's not going to come off overnight either.
Overall, I really like the way diet recommendations finally seem to be more common sense. I was tired of reading about the plans that seemed so extreme and hard to stick with in the real world. I'm also not crazy about the idea of giving up an entire food group.
I'd love to hear from people on what did work for them, and also, why they think it did.
February 26, 2009 - 11:00pmThis Comment
Well...it also depends upon your activity level. As a distance runner, I probably consume more calories than the average person because I can burn well more than 2000 calories over one long run. You need to consume about what you burn, or burn what you consume.
Let's not forget the low-carb, high protein diets, like Atkins, that have been popular, as well. This plan wouldn't work for marathoners or other very active people. There are those who have regained all the weight they lost on such a program, and this type of program can lead to health problems like kidney failure and high cholesterol.
Generally speaking, the number of calories needed to lose weight are:
Teens 1200-1800 calories per day
Women (non-active) 1000-1200 calories per day
Women (active) 1200-1500 calories per day
Men (non-active) 1200-1500 calories per day
Men (active) 1500-1800 calories per day
Factors include age, height and weight, as well as activity level. My personal, optimum "normal" caloric intake, for example, is over 1800 calories. I think I'm a good 20 lbs overweight, even though my BMI doesn't indicate that (my photo sure does, though, lol!).
While weight loss may not be rocket science, it surely isn't easy for some of us, especially those of us "of an age." Sure, portion control for a good many folks may be a necessary habit to learn. But, eating less may not necessarily be the answer for the average person; eating better probably is.
Just my humble take on all of this.
February 26, 2009 - 5:57pmThis Comment
For me the key has been to choose a plan that I'm likely to stick with.
And also to be patient with my fitness goals. I didn't gain all the weight and get out of shape in a month and I can't expect to get back into shape after a month. I like to set my goals out 6 months or so. It keeps me from scale and mirror induced neurosis!
February 26, 2009 - 5:00pmThis Comment