Park food for dieters

My MAIN concern is good health....sure, I'm now a few pounds overweight (and the scary part is that I *keep* gaining). But when people eliminate whole CLASSES of foods based on content, I get concerned about their overall nutrition. Trace minerals and the like have an *amazing* influence on health. Supplements and such MAY help stave off some of the consequences, but we already covered the issue of *absorption*, so I guess there's no need to re-visit that aspect.

If you are seriously overweight and NEED to drop some weight, do whatever YOU need to do....my main concern is one of overall HEALTH...
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"Like most problems in life, it's nothing that can't be solved with a little bending"...Bender, Futurama

I couldn't agree more Gator. Overall health is better served with a varied diet. Nothing should be completely eliminated, which is not really what Atkins does. If you read up on the Atkins diet, they tell you to only cut out major carbohydrate groups for the induction part of the diet. The levels after induction have you slowly adding carbs back into your diet and counting "net" carbs, which is total carb count minus dietary fiber. Once people on Atkins find what carb level works for them and keeps them maintaining their weight, they can stay at that level for a long time. The one problem with Atkins is that the weight loss in the beginning is mostly water weight. Also, after a prolonged period on the induction part of the diet which is inherently low calorie, the body reacts negatively, meaning the metabolism slows down to compensate. A slower metabolism is BAD.

Now, I'm not for or against Atkins. I am, however, a proponent of a high-protein diet. Protein leaves you feeling fuller longer, and so does fat. Complex carbohydrates leave you feeling full if they are high in fiber, like oatmeal, yams, vegetables, etc. Essentially, fat burns in a carbohydrate flame. You need a certain amount of carbs to produce results over a long period of time. It's just best to stick with complex carbs, vegetables and some fruits like apples and berries. Here's a sample of what I eat during the day in case anyone is interested:

Breakfast (post workout) - 2 servings protein powder made with one cup fat-free milk, one cup of Kashi Go-LEAN crunch cereal with 1/2 cup of fat-free milk

Snack - one medium apple with protein bar/drink

Lunch - one large can of chunk chicken or tuna mixed with fat-free mayo and relish, 1/2 cup of brown rice, celery and carrot sticks (sometimes I'll have some yams instead of rice)

Afternoon Snack - one protein bar, 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter

Dinner - 6 to 7 skinless chicken tenders OR 2 turkey burger patties, assorted veggies

Evening snack - 1 serving of protein powder mixed with 1/2 cup of fat-free milk

I supplement with a creatine powder as well as various vitamins and minerals. Now, this is just what I've made for myself in terms of diet. This, coupled with cardio and weight training has helped me lose over 50 pounds and keep it off, plus I'm still losing! Of course I give myself a cheat day every now and then, like a pizza at California Pizza Kitchen or a mexican food restaurant. It's important to give yourself a little treat every now and then.

Justin
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Never look a gift horse in the mouth, because horses have very bad breath

Ever had a bowl of Kashi SoyMeal crunch? I mean, Go-Lean Crunch?

It's not quite as disgusting as regular SoyLean, but for 70% of normal people, the diet would end right there. Ptoooeey.

If you start a 'diet' with dry toast and a piece of bark, you're guaranteeing your own failure. Do you start working out by loading a bar with 300 pounds and benching? Heck no. Neither is a diet based on austerity very freakin' bright.

A weight-loss mentality evolves over time. Remind yourself that you're going long-term, that you are going to fail at times and that when you do, it's not the end of the world. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, analyze your setback and try again. It took 2-3 years of futility before I chanced upon the Carb Addict's diet, another couple years to wean off the 'everyday buffet' mentality and only now (as in January) have I ventured into running. I'm no marathon speicalist, but I start every day with a workout and two miles now. It's just another step in the road.

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

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rollergator said:
My MAIN concern is good health....sure, I'm now a few pounds overweight (and the scary part is that I *keep* gaining).

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You have got to be *****ting me! Bill, you are like the *one* person on this board who is more anorexic than I am. Unless you've really balloned up in the last year, I cannot buy you being overweight.
lata, jeremy
--who has a physical coming up on Monday

Hey Ya'll, after being on the Atkins diet since April 8th (the first 3 weeks being the strict "introduction period") and most of the rest of the time has been used to slowly up my daily carb count without going over 45g of net carbs, and four "planned" instances of going off the diet, I am happy to say I have gotten 37 pounds lighter.

Now, I have been building more muscle as well, so I have gained more mass there, but thats good.

I decided to go back to the Intro shortly after my 3-day gorge of resort food when I went to the Bahamas recently (my second Bahamas trip this year) (Its nice to be rich!)

Anyway, With combined upper and lower body workouts with plenty of Cardio, and a low Carb intake, I was able to drop a decent amount. Now I can get into Intamin rides once again without using a shoe-horn.

I am continuting to do a "life maintenance
phase" , with of course, periods of planned cheating. So, when I take my annual trip to the State Fair and my annual week-long coaster trip, I can eat all kinds of bad food for a bit, and go right back on the diet soon after without any really bad results.

Well, Im hoping to drop another 25 or so before my 30th Birthday in November, so here we go.....

CoastermanJ is correct. My experience is that I would level out at some point and stop losing if I kept my carb intake too low. So I'd eat more fruit or add some pasta for a week, increasing my carbs with things that are GOOD for me. then I'd drop my carb intake back to the on going weight loss level, and would lose another pound or two the following week.

That's why John Peck can still lose weight even with his "planned" instances of going off the diet.

I've been on the maintenance diet since coaster season began, but cheating more with ice cream, pasta and potato salad. I'm still holding steady between 128 and 130 lbs. But I'm thinner in the waist than I was back in May. I suspect I've gained more muscle with all the exercise I get, especially all that walking at parks.

My goal back in January was to hit 120 pounds, the weight I was at when I got married 23 years ago. But it's unrealistic for me to stay completely away from all those summer foods I love. Ice cream can do me in if I'm not careful.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Yes, a big thing on this diet is to be realistic. Its not all going to come off in a week, and each person is different. A "reasonalble goal" is always a good start. Weighing before the diet and once a week thereafter is important as well so you can track your progress.

Im also finding many more things i can eat without putting a lot of carbs in me. For example, I can get some low carb bread (3 net carbs per slice, a bunch of turkey or bolonga ( between 2 and 3 net carbs per slice) and make a sandwinch thats less than 20 net carbs. Or, I'll make a roast beef dinner with onions and carrots instead of potatoes.

I really miss fresh baked high carb bread, though :(

Looks like I'm going to have get another picture of John Peck in the pink BeBop Blvd car at MiA to replace the current one I have. ;)

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

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GregLeg said:
...I believe "all things in moderation" is the right approach. (This coming from a diabetic...

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Actually, everyone should consider looking into the diabetic diet. It is actually nothing but a healthy, well balanced diet. My wife is diabetic and I have found myself slowly adapting to her diet, feeling better and slowly losing weight because of it.

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Mac Forever.

Oh yeah, maybe now I'll actually be able to get into that little Pink Car without taking a half hour to do so and take even longer trying to get out :)

This should make anyone avoid eating....

http://www.internalmemos.com/memos/memodetails.php?memo_id=1662
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Harry Baer IV

"It's not going to stop 'til you wise up..."