Desperately need help in losing weight.

[ebenjoe]

This is after just 4 years of regularly eating fast food:

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I've never been overweight in life before 2010. After a few years of lollygagging, I figure I'll now get back into proper shape again. I was supposed to starting January, but hey what are you gonna do.


Anybody know how to do it? I've never really went on a diet as I never needed to, and I never bothered to work out either. Should I go on a liquid and vegetable diet?


and it's not like I did nothing but east food food, by the way. I still played sports, jogged, and what have you. And of course, I didn't choose to only eat fast food, but never the less I'd eat it moreso than the average person a month, and am now in the sorry state I am now.

I'm thinking of doing a liquid and vegetable diet. Would you recommend it?

[Boss Man]

Hi Joe, good to speak with you.

Personally I wouldn't recommend that, as you might not get enough protein and then you're in danger of losing muscle which could actually cause fat gain, as 1lb of added muscle burns an extra 45-50 calories, but conversely, losing muscle could have the opposite effect.

Also you could struggle ot get enough of the nutrients required to sustain good bone health and if the bones thin enough the fracture risk could occur if the bones became intolerant to the impact of exercise.

Even people who do vegan bodybuilding would probably use legumes, mushrooms, seeds and grains for protein sources as well.

What times do you eat at and what foods do you eat at those times?

[Hanssen1]

I certainly would not go for a liquid diet. Anyone who I have ever come into contact with that started that way would instantly bounce back and gain weight. I think that Bossman gave some solid pointers on what to address. Look at how many calories you take in and then go from there.

[Boss Man]

Liquid diets can be a bit hit and miss, especially if they are a cleanse type regimen and when you're talking about products like Isagenix, they can often cause weight regain immediately within the first week.

[traininghomeandaway]

Hello ebenjoe

Well it goes without a doubt that the main thing is to eat healthy but I just recently hear about the thing called "The Acid to Alkaline Balance in Your Body" and I also wrote an article about that on site...so I just copy the text here...

The Acid to Alkaline Balance in Your Body

The battle of the bulge. A never-ending roller coaster. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but always, it seems, you end up gaining back anything you’ve lost. What causes this roller coaster effect? Is it the type or duration of exercises you are doing? Are you cheating on your diet too much? Are you still eating a diet full of processed, unhealthy foods?

The answer could be all three, or it could be related to something much simpler; your acid to alkaline balance in your body.

“The acid/alkaline what?” you say. The acid to alkaline balance in your body. It may just be the best diet to lose weight. A diet high in foods that create a lot of acid in the body can lead to weight gain and general poor health. A healthy diet plan high in alkaline foods contributes to the opposite effect.

So what are these mystery best diet foods and how do you choose the right ones? Read on and learn which foods to avoid and which foods to eat more of.


Acidic Foods

Many foods that make the ‘acid-forming’ list might surprise you. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean they are unhealthy, just that eating less of these and more of something else could be beneficial. This is not a comprehensive list:

-Dairy products including eggs, milk and cheese
-White flour products including bread, pasta, crackers, etc.
-Anything with refined sugar
-Caffeine
-Alcohol
-Soda
-Animal proteins including beef, pork, lobster, salmon, oysters, turkey, bacon and others
-Nuts such as cashews, peanuts and pecans
-Vegetables including corn, squash, olives and lentils
-Fruits such as cranberries, blueberries, plums and prunes
-All manner of whole grain including wheat germ, quinoa and barley

This list goes on and varies depending on the source. However, every source pointed to a few acid-forming no-no’s: Refined sugar, white processed flour products, whole grains, alcohol, soda and caffeine.


Alkaline Foods

Here is a list of alkaline foods. Note the complete absence of junk and processed foods.

-Vegetables such as alfalfa sprouts, barley grass (not barley grains,) broccoli, beets, cabbage, celery, collard greens, garlic, green beans, kale, mushrooms, peas, peppers, rutabaga spinach, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and wheat grass

-Fruits like apples, avocados, bananas, coconut, grapes, melons, oranges, pears, pineapple, strawberries, mangos and papaya

-Almonds, chestnuts
-Tofu, whey protein and tempeh
-Probiotic drinks/cultures
-Vegetable juice

As with the acid-forming list, the alkaline list is not comprehensive, and may include different items depending on where you find it. However, the common thread between all sources is the high content of colorful vegetables, especially greens.


What does Your Body Need?

According to medical website WebMD, your body balances its own chemistry, and nothing we eat can change that, at least, not for long. Eating acid-producing foods can temporarily change your pH, however, and Alkaline Diet proponents believe that these frequent acid-increasing changes can have long-term negative side effects.

One source offers the following guidelines for optimum pH balance:

-60% alkaline foods and 40% acid-producing foods for best results
-80% alkaline foods and 20% acid-producing foods for people with poor health


Benefits of Alkaline Foods

The body is able to better digest an alkaline diet while absorbing the higher nutrient content typically present in these foods. There are several benefits as a result, including Increased energy, weight loss, improved overall health, disease prevention, and generally feeling healthful and energetic.

Additional benefits of a healthful alkaline diet may include increased libido, better moods or control over moods, and lower stress levels.


Signs You are Acidic

A diet high in acid-producing foods can cause a lot of problems, both in the short term and the long term. Some common side effects from having an acidic pH balance include poor digestion, joint pain, frequent heartburn, kidney stones and skin problems.


Common Sense Approach

We all know that chocolate chip cookies, ice cream and potato chips are not health food. Most folks are also well aware that fresh fruits, vegetable and whole grains are among the best diet foods.

What many people may not have been aware of is that some foods considered to be healthy have made it to the ‘acidic foods’ list. Does this mean you should avoid these foods altogether? Not necessarily.

Remember the acid to alkaline dietary balance mentioned above. The goal is to take in the majority of your foods from alkalizing food choices, limiting the acid-producing choices. As everyone is different, listen to your body and note the effects of any dietary changes you make.

You can also use the common sense approach: It’s unlikely anyone ever got sick or died from a diet of corn, lentils, whole grains and blueberries, but you can bet they’ve gotten sick or died from indulging in excessive sugar, alcohol and tobacco.


Should You Try It?

The Alkaline diet approach may or may not be the best diet to lose weight, but for a healthy diet plan, this is an excellent choice. However, your body is both acid and alkaline by nature, and automatically balances itself. So if this dietary approach works, it is because it encourages you to make a shift to healthful whole foods with lot of fruits and vegetables and plenty of water.

Recent research also suggests that the Alkaline Diet may help prevent health problems like diabetes, colon cancer and kidney stones, while improving heart and brain performance and maintaining strong bones and muscles.

Eating a healthful diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sugar and processed foods is a smart move that is sure to help you lose weight and keep it off. So start incorporating alkaline foods in your diet today, and see just how healthy you can be.

All the best and let me know what you thought about that.

Take care

[Boss Man]

I would have said an orange being a citrus fruit is acidic not alkaline .

I'm pretty sure fruits like pears and apples are classed as sub acid fruits, so they are slightly acidic as well, or should be.

[traininghomeandaway]

hello Boss Man

Thanks for your reply but about those fruits then you are right but I am right as well...
Citrus fruits: Lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruits are acidic in nature but have alkaline properties when consumed.

Thank you

[Alinshop]

I certainly would not go for a liquid diet. Anyone who I have ever come into contact with that started that way would instantly bounce back and gain weight. I think that Bossman gave some solid pointers on what to address. Look at how many calories you take in and then go from there.

So true! I learned long ago that fad diets and or "lose weight quick" diets usually come back to haunt you in the end. I tried the Atkins diet once and lost 12lbs in 2 weeks, but gained 20lbs back within a few weeks of coming off