The trials and tribulations of Liz on her quest to loose weight.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Listed as a spam blog!
Im not sure why i got listed but i did have a link on the template going to my home page. It was meant to be under every post but ive moved it up to the top and renamed it so it seems less spammy.
Either way its very lol.
So ive lost like 24.5kg so far - i have 31.5 to go before i hit 90kg.
My brother seems to have given up paying the kids to encourage me to loose the weight.
Nobody really seems to have noticed other than the odd person. I mean HELLO! IVE LOST A SHITLOAD OF WEIGHT!
Im not *THAT* fat that you just dont notice it.
My tummy is now going down though, and i can fit into a couple size smaller pants. I havnt really gone out and bought anything new because i plan to keep on loosing it. No point wasting money on clothes im only going to wear for a couple months.
So i have one pair of pants that fit for going out. and lots of my old shirts fit (Im wearing one i got 5 years ago for slackware)
Foods with "Negative Calories"
- apples
- apricots
- artichokes
- asparagus
- beet greens
- beets
- blackberries
- blueberries
- broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- buffalo fish
- cabbage
- cantaloupe
- carrots
- cauliflower
- celeriak
- celery
- cherries
- chervil
- chicory
- Chinese cabbage
- chives
- clams
- cod
- corn
- crabs
- cranberries
- cucumbers
- currants
- Damson plum
- dandelion greens
- eggplant
- endive
- flounder
- frogs legs
- garlic
- grapefruit
- grapes
- green beans
- honeydew
- huckleberries
- kale
- kohlrabi
- kumquats
- leeks
- lemons
- lettuce
- limes
- lobster
- loganberries
- mangoes
- mushrooms
- muskmelons
- mussels
- mustard greens
- nectarines
- okra
- onions
- oranges
- oysters
- papaya
- parsley leaves
- parsnips
- peaches
- pears
- peas
- peppers (capsicum)
- pineapple
- pomegranates
- prunes
- pumpkin
- quince
- radishes
- raspberries
- red cabbage
- rhubarb
- rutabagas
- salsify
- sauerkraut
- scallions
- sea bass
- shrimps
- sorrel
- spinach
- squash
- steaks
- strawberries
- string beans
- tangerines
- terrapin
- tomato
- turnips
- watercress
- watermelon
Monday, August 14, 2006
Burning calories - the fast way, and the slow way
In January's Food Magazine we gave a list of of calorie expenditure for different physical activities in our 'What the Doctor Reads' report. Since then we have received several letters requesting information on calorie use for more sedentary behaviour.
Some teachers, for instance, wrote to say that they would find information about sedentary activities useful, to help children make the comparison between playing sport and watching sport.
Two tables follow, one showing calorie expenditure during sedentary behaviour, the other showing calorie expenditure during different activities over a 20 minute period.
Energy expenditure and activity - sedentary behaviour | |
Kcalories | |
Using TV remote control | <1 |
Getting up to change TV channel | 3 |
Sitting, talking on the phone, 30 min | 4 |
Letting dog out of the back door | 2 |
Walking the dog, 30 minutes | 125 |
Using pre-cut vegetables | 0 |
Washing, cutting vegetables, 15 min | 12 |
Using auto car wash | 18 |
Washing and waxing car, 1 hour | 300 |
Using a lift, 3 floors | <1 |
Walking up 3 floors | 15 |
Sending email to colleague, 4 min | 2 |
Walking and talking to colleague, 4 min | 6 |
Shopping on-line, 1 hour | 30 |
Shopping, pushing trolley, 1 hour | 200 |
Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings (77) 2002 |
Burning calories during different activities | |
Activity | Kcalories used in 20 minutes of activity |
Aerobic dancing - low intensity, equivalent to walking | 80 |
Aerobic dancing - medium intensity, equivalent to jogging | 130 |
Aerobic dancing - high intensity, equivalent to running | 170 |
Bed making | 100 |
Cleaning windows | 60 |
Cleaning stairs | 65 |
Climbing stairs (72 steps per minute) | 95 |
Climbing stairs (92 steps per minute) | 130 |
Cycling on flat ground ('own speed') | 125 |
Dancing (waltz) | 130 |
Dusting | 70 |
Gardening | 110 |
Golf | 100 |
Knitting | 25 |
Office work (general) | 25 |
Operating electric sewing machine | 25 |
Playing cricket | 160 |
Playing pool | 65 |
Playing squash | 200 |
Playing tennis | 140 |
Playing football | 140 |
Playing table tennis | 90 |
Playing cards | 40 |
Running (speed unspecified) | 190 |
Sitting typing | 30 |
Walking on the level (1-2 km per hour) | 45 |
Walking on the level (4-5 km per hour) | 85 |
Watching football | 40 |
Source: Human Energy Requirements: A manual for planners and nutritionists, by WPT James and EC Schofield, published by the Oxford University Press (1990). |
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Monday, August 07, 2006
Weight Loss Plateau
Why Does a Weight Loss Plateau Occur?
A plateau may occur because (1) your body simply wants a "rest" to cope with your calorie-reduction; or (2) your calorie-intake is in balance with your calorie expenditure; or (3) you have reduced your calorie-intake too low. If your calorie-intake is too low, your body thinks there is a "famine" and slows down your metabolism (how fast you burn calories) in order to conserve calories.
How Do You Start Losing Weight Again?
(1) Raise your metabolism (and calorie expenditure) by increasing your activity level. This boosts your metabolic rate and usually re-starts weight loss. For example, if you exercise for 20 minutes each day, increase this to 25-30 minutes each day, and weight loss should resume. If you are already exercising quite hard, try varying your workout routine. For example, if you do 20 minutes cardio and 30 minutes strength-training, switch them around.
(2) Avoid going too long without food. Going without food for long periods can also trigger a weight loss plateau. Ideally eat something (e.g. piece of fruit) every 3 hours (women) or about every 5 hours (men). This reassures your body that food is plentiful and facilitates calorie-burning.
(3) Try to be patient. Your weight loss plateau will disappear, I promise. But it typically takes anything between 1-4 weeks.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
50 Biggest Dieting Mistakes
50 mistakes made by dieters
1. Going on a diet that is NOT a manner of eating that can't be adhered to for life.
2. Believing they can eat cabbage soup every day.
3. Obsessing over counting calories.
4. Weighing in more than once a week.
5. Not drinking enough water.
6. Drinking sugar-laden drinks, such as lemonade, sodas, gourmet coffees, fruity blends, etc.
7. Eating more bread, pasta and potatoes than proteins, lean meats, fruits and vegetables.
8. Consuming processed foods more often than fresh foods.
9. Taking the benefits away from vegetables and fruits by overcooking them.
10. Having a negative, defeatist attitude.
11. Blaming others for their shortcomings.
12. Being quick to judge.
13. Not having a plan.
14. Not being aware of the nutritional benefits or harm of what they consume.
15. Finishing every last bite even after they are full.
16. Going back for seconds.
17. Eating at all-you-can-eat buffets and getting their money's worth.
18. Skipping breakfast.
19. Starving all day, thinking it’s the only way to lose weight.
20. Bingeing after falling off the wagon and then waiting until tomorrow to get back on track.
21. Thinking they are genetically destined to be fat.
22. Not believing they have the ability to change.
23. Confusing fat with a personality trait.
24. Thinking they are unattractive.
25. Not living each day to the fullest. Thinking that will come when they are thinner.
26. Wasting time.
27. Not finishing tasks they start.
28. Postponing tasks that need attention.
29. Rationalizing.
30. Thinking pills, powders or potions are more powerful than they really are in realizing weight loss.
31. Thinking of exercise as a must do or chore.
32. Not scheduling exercise as a vital part of their day or week.
33. Indulging in alcohol often.
34. Watching sports rather than participating in sports.
35. Watching television more than one hour a day.
36. Not giving much attention to personal hygiene or appearance.
37. Refusing to read self-improvement materials on a regular basis.
38. Giving up and resigning to being fat.
39. Finishing the food off others' plates while doing dishes.
40. Tasting and nibbling on the food while cooking.
41. Baking cookies, pies and cakes more often than at holidays.
42. Always having candy in dishes for guests, but eating more of it themselves.
43. Buying unhealthy snack items for the kids but eating it themselves.
44. Not having vegetables and/or fruit with each meal.
45. Serving more carbohydrates than any other food group for meals.
46. Thinking dieting -- not total lifestyle change -- will lead to lasting weight loss.
47. Not visualizing themselves actually living a healthy lifestyle.
48. Not taking vitamins and proper supplements.
49. Consuming fast food on a regular basis.
50. Waiting for tomorrow to get started rather than RIGHT NOW!
If you see yourself in any of these mistakes, then it is time to change. After all, what do you have to lose?!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Always eat more than 1200 calories a day!
-The heart needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The kidney needs 12% of the calories (144 cals)
-The Liver needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The brain needs 23% of the calories (276 cals)
-The skeletal muscle needs 30% of the calories (360 cals)
You should also think about calorie cycling. You see the human body adapts to our environment and to our lifestyle. So if you eat the same caloric intake each and every day, the body adapts. So you need to stay one step ahead of the body. On a cardio day, decrease your calories by 200, and the next day increase it by 200. Do this a couple of times per week, and hopefully you will avoid the dreaded plateau. Besides you are moving away from needing to focus on fat loss, now you should focus on keeping the muscle mass and growing it. At 5'5 and 17% body fat, your "weight" includes alot of lean muscle. So your BMI may not be accurate.
Muscle is called "active tissue" because it requires a lot of energy to maintain itself. In fact, every pound of new muscle you add to your body will burn about 60 calories per day. That can really add up. Look at the chart below:
The Fat Burning Effect of Muscle
Pounds of New Muscle | Pounds of fat burned per month | Pounds of fat burned per year |
1 | 0.5 | 6 |
3 | 1.5 | 19 |
5 | 2.6 | 31 |
10 | 5.1 | 62 |
12 | 6.2 | 74 |
15 | 7.7 | 93 |
20 | 10.3 | 123 |
By adding just 10 pounds of muscle to your body, it will burn off 62 pounds of fat over the next year! And it will keep burning those extra calories year after year. That means that when you've lost the fat, you can eat a lot more and not gain back the fat. Also, with less fat and more muscle, your body will have the lean, toned, fit look that every man aspires to.
So by combining aerobics with strength training, you can transform your body in the shortest possible time, and keep it lean and muscular year round without starving yourself on a low-calorie diet.