I think there's something wrong...

Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
I think there's something wrong...
26
Fri, 07-27-2007 - 11:59am

with my scale.


I've been walking for 45-60 minutes everyday and

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Registered: 10-30-2005
Fri, 07-27-2007 - 3:07pm
I think maybe bodies sometimes have a lag time that makes it hard to see really how they're working. Like I'll be eating a ton but the scale doesn't change, or I'll be eating hardly anything and it doesn't change, etc. But then the scale will change when I seem to be doing nothing out of the ordinary. I imagine my body like someone being interviewed on tv or radio by someone across the world, where they don't hear the questions until a minute after they're asked, and then there are these strange silences and then everyone's talking at once and the conversation becomes really awkward and frustrating.
ok, that's sort of a strange analogy - much worse than the road trip one you so kindly gave me. But ultimately, I don't know if looking at a scale every day is always the best thing. Bodies do respond to what we do for them, but not always in the way or time we expect. Sometimes it's best to just trust in the body and only check in periodically, maybe once a week, with the scale.
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Registered: 06-10-2007
Fri, 07-27-2007 - 3:16pm

I was born with several degrees and accumulated many more through my teen years.

I have never had a weight problem, being on the slim/athletic side. But at 32 (34 now) an annoying belly started to protrude. Wasn't bad just by itself however looked very out of place with the rest of my frame. I hated it. So this spring I went ahead and joined a gym. The instructor said no amount of walking or treadmilling was going to help and that I needed to do vigorous cardio, aerobics and weight training to keep my metabolic rate up throughout a 24 hour period, along with restricted calories and fat burn pills - if I wanted to see quick progress. I did exactly as I was told (takes commitment and discipline) and sure enough, three months later my tummy shrunk to the point where its on the same level as my chest ! No six pack yet but working on it. It will be another few months. The hard part is to now keep it the way it is.




Edited 7/27/2007 3:23 pm ET by c2shiningc
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Registered: 06-10-2007
Fri, 07-27-2007 - 3:30pm
>>You will absolutely lose weight by walking!<< For us men, bellies are notoriously hard to get rid of. I should have clarified that. Yes you will shed some pounds walking. The question is how much are you willing to walk. You could walk to the nearest grocery store and lose nothing, and you could also walk to Mexico and wither away.
Avatar for cl_shywon
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Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 07-27-2007 - 4:33pm

Your analogy completely makes sense!

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Registered: 11-17-2004
Fri, 07-27-2007 - 11:45pm

And where did you get your degree in nutrition? Everything you've said contradicts everything I have read.


I agree. Severly restricting your caloric intake, while it will make you lose weight initially, your metabolism is going to slow down and your body is going to go into starvation mode, feeding first off of muscle then off of fat because it doesn't know when it's going to get any nutrients next. And intense cardio is good, but ANY kind of exercise is better then nothing, and it's not necessary to work out for an hour each time. Different things work for different people but I wouldn't be doing either of those things.

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Avatar for mhash
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 07-28-2007 - 1:26am

For me it takes almost a year before I notice a difference when I work out and focus on eating non-processed, fresh foods. I don't weigh myself, just check my body shape and belt. This way I don't worry about a lb here or a lb there. I see this as a lifestyle change rather than a temporary/diet type of thing. If I work out regularly and just be a fresh veggie/fruit/fish type of diet then I'll make out in the long run. No processed/fast/ready made foods.

Mark

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Registered: 01-26-2006
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 10:48am

Oh, pay no mind. I REALLY don't buy that walking doesn't help you lose weight, esecially since it's a proven fact that those who live in the city are generally healthier than people who live in the suburbs/rural areas and it's BECAUSE we walk more. I'd say I walk probably at least 40 minutes a day without even trying, whether it be from the bus to work, to the subway, down the block to the store, whatever.

Anyway, is it possible that you're gaining muscle? Do you FEEL any better/healthier?

I just read Mark's post and I agree, processed foods are the DEVIL. :) I do eat some as a treat or if I'm craving something, but I must say I eat a thousand times healthier when I shop at stores like Trader Joe's (which is also ridiculously cheap) or Whole Foods rather than your typical supermarket. I still eat some fatty foods (macaroni and cheese is my weakness and guilty pleasure), but they're usually not processed, so I feel better about it.




Edited 7/30/2007 10:54 am ET by cml7721
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2004
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 11:38am

I've never been to Trader Joe's, but I've heard they're actually more expensive than regular supermarkets.

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Registered: 01-26-2006
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 11:42am
People seem to think that for some reason. I told a friend of mine that I went there and he (he's a goofy guy anyway) asked me if I was rich or something. To the contrary, I always end up checking my receipts because I think they've forgotten to charge me for something because I spend so little. :) There have been times that I buy one or two really good cheeses, wine, and a ton of other groceries and I spend 30-something dollars. I recommend it. :) Whole Foods, on the other hand, is ridiculously over-priced...and pretentious...I just don't like it. I shop there occasionally, but mostly for convenience, I won't do a big shopping trip there.
Avatar for mhash
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 07-30-2007 - 11:57am

I don't believe in diets for that implies a short term "fix." I look to changing my lifestyle which also means my day-to-day eating habits. I decided to go veg-aquarium which means fish with veggies, no meat. This also meant that I stayed away from pre-processed, quick (microwavable), packaged food.

My younger brother dropped below his college weight (he's over 50 yrs old) from his bachelor diet of eating out when he changed his eating habits.

Mark