Managing a Proper Diet?

[Tim]

Since I've started working again, I've cut out junk food 100% (I was never a chocolate fan anyway), I'm slowly cutting back on my coke intake (which isn't easy) and I've slowly been losing weight. I know for a fact I need to do proper exercise, but at the moment that'll have to wait a bit due to a few personal reasons.

 

My major question is how do you maintain a proper healthy diet that will help my body slowly lose the fat back to my old normal weight? I know what I can and cant eat, but the problem is because I still live at home, I basically have to eat what everyone else eats, and 35% of the time, its shit food that isn't healthy. How do you figure out "okay, this is the food I need per week, this is what I'll eat, this is what I'll cook for this night and this night etc".

 

It just seems so freaking difficult to manage EXACTLY what you have and should eat and is it easily practical? last thing I need is stress from not eating the right thing on 'x' specific day etc.

[Poppet]

I suggest water, I myself swapped from soda to water and dropped 20 pounds of fat fairly easily from dropping off so many calories.

 

I'm also in a similar food situation. In general avoid foods that are high in calories and fats like; crisps, French fries, or ice cream. Try to eat in food groups and there is nothing wrong with eating junk foods now and then.

 

 

You really only need to lower your usual intake and increase your activity to start losing weight. More just equals faster weight loss.

[enfield]

i'm going to suggest http://www.reddit.com/r/keto/ and http://www.reddit.com/r/Paleo/, the way the majority of Redditors are successfully losing weight/saying healthy.

 

 

What I do is my mom gives me $250 a month for food, and I order grass-fed pet food (ground beef and organ meats mixed together), and beef fat which i render from a farm in texas (slankers). I cook a lot of meat 1-2 times a week, the rest stays frozen.

 

In addition I eat olive oil, butter, coconut milk, unsweetened chocolate, and cheap vegetables, which i steam. I put lots of spices on everything which makes everything taste very nice. also i eat a bit of fruit and fish.

 

if you can get in ketosis and stay there that's probably the easiest way to lose the weight (of course people do having varying results, some of which is explained by individuals' variant of the Apo4 gene). but trying it for a month wouldn't kill you. and hopefully your family would be accepting of you eating that way for a period.

[Poppet]

Ohhh, yes keto is a good option if you have the resources for it.

 

Assuming the junk food you have is low in carbs.

[Tim]

I just don't eat junk food in general anymore because it just made me feel miserable afterwards.

 

This keto thing doesn't really make much sense to me, just says " I, personally, eat everything. Leafy greens, beef, pork, chicken, fish, and eggs are a part of my regular diet."

 

...how does that in any way help? it doesnt explain what I should eat and just says "drink a lot of water. basic knowledge. :\

[Iamdan]

Keto seems good, I don't know too much about it but I gather the idea is to eat lots of fat, to condition your body to use fat as energy.

 

I would do research before sticking to the paleo diet. The idea that we are built to eat food from a tiny era of our history isn't a well thought out one. For the majority of the time we have been plant eaters, and the benefits of grains have been proven over and over.

 

 

Like you I'm not big on planning my meals, which is why intermittent fasting suits me really well. Food tastes better, I can eat at a deficit of calories and I don't feel as hungry as I would grazing all day, and I spend less time preparing food and planning meals.

 

It's not for everyone but the results are out there.

 

http://www.leangains.com/

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3286673

 

Chicken breast is really healthy and versatile. (and it's a good reason to buy nandos sauce) Frozen vegies are cheap and easy. Protein shakes are also healthy and easy - I blend whey with milk, a banana and a bit of 100% peanuts peanut butter. Fruit, spag bol and eggs and brown rice are all good too.

 

An easy dinner for me might be:

 

Chop a chicken breast in cubes, throw in pan with oil. Add a diced onion, ginger and garlic after a couple mins until chicken is brown and onion is going clear. Dump in soy sauce and frozen vegies, cover and cook for a bit longer while you clean up.

 

I stick with the basics like that. Cheap, tasty, healthy and quick to prepare.

[enfield]

keto says you should eat some meat, some vegetables, some good sources of fat, and restrict the carbs. And that if you do all that, you'll return to an optimal body weight for yourself soon enough. If you don't know what vegetables or meat you like, or how to cook them, then i think you can find plenty of recipes on r/keto.

 

most people find a simply seasoned steak and a vegetable with some butter to be really satisfying.

 

I'm not sure what clarification you're seeking..maybe it has to do with transitioning to choosing what you eat more consciously, instead of someone choosing for you. that understandably takes some time.

[jimmy_jim]

Dan's said it best IMO, what's your current weight and what are you looking to get too? Or how much are you looking to lose Tim? I remember you were trying to get lean at one point, what you're aiming for will determine your diet, but just cutting out fast food and as much sugar as possible does wonders.

[Tim]

I have no idea how much I am because no one in this damn house has a pair of scales. (Which im buying tomorrow because its annoying) I'd estimate ~75 kg and I'm hoping to drop back to 65, 60 if possible. (my original genetic body structure is quite skinny due to mom's genetics)

 

Less I look like my old man the better and when I WAS skinny back at 17 I was by far the most happiest with my body.

[Carbi]

you do know, your weight is not even much? About 70 kg is pretty normal. (depends on how tall you are ofcourse)

Just, try to eat abit more healthy, less snacks ect.

and, if you wanna lose weight you could aswell keep eating normally and just go jogging abit twice or three times a week for 30 mins

[Faux]

I just don't eat junk food in general anymore because it just made me feel miserable afterwards.

 

This keto thing doesn't really make much sense to me, just says " I, personally, eat everything. Leafy greens, beef, pork, chicken, fish, and eggs are a part of my regular diet."

 

...how does that in any way help? it doesnt explain what I should eat and just says "drink a lot of water. basic knowledge. :\

 

I haven't read much into keto, but basically it works by burning fat stored in your body.

 

It's harder than you think because your body takes a couple days before it goes into ketosis. You need a lot of self control to stick with it.

 

If you've ever tried to go carb free, it's tough because you start craving sugar/carbs. Also, too much meat gets tiring fast. You have to vary the cooking all the time. You can't just walk into a Chinese restaurant and order chicken and you think you're getting it carb free because it could be doused with sugar-based sauce or breaded with flour, etc.

 

But it is effective.

[assassin_696]

Keto seems good, I don't know too much about it but I gather the idea is to eat lots of fat, to condition your body to use fat as energy.

 

I would do research before sticking to the paleo diet. The idea that we are built to eat food from a tiny era of our history isn't a well thought out one. For the majority of the time we have been plant eaters, and the benefits of grains have been proven over and over.

 

Completely disagree about the "benefits" of grains. I was sceptical about the paleo thing for a while but I gave it a shot about a month ago and haven't really looked back. I'd say I'm about 90% compliant, I occasionally stray when I eat meals out and stuff when I can't avoid things. I was a pretty fit and active 21 year old before but now I am much stronger and have a lot more energy than I used to. I also haven't been ill since I started, which is great because I've had winter colds for the last 15 years of my life. I drink whole milk because I lift weights a lot. Paleo isn't some cult thing based on eating like a caveman, it's just a scientific assessment of "in general, what foods are healthiest to eat?" Turns out those are mostly meats and vegetables.

 

To the OP, I'd just say don't get neurotic about what's good and bad. Obviously avoid processed foods and sugary foods. I'd say eat carbs according to your activity levels, I have more carbs post-workout and because I exercise quite a lot. This is a pretty good guide about what to eat and what to avoid: http://talktomejohnnie.com/diet/what-should-i-eat

[highlanders]

Keto helps you stick with the right number of calories because fats, proteins and veggies fill you up more. Also you lose your water weight, making you look 5-10 lbs-ish slimmer than you actually are.

 

I liked how it made me feel when I tried it, however I missed eating my fruits. It's probably a good diet for people that only eat bad carbs though, like pasta, pizza and all that jazz.

[enfield]

wow so many people here are welcoming to paleo/keto ways of eating :).