Is it best for weight loss if you don't diet all the time?
914776
It's not entirely true that simply maintaining the same caloric intake each day will quickly halt weight loss--if it were, then people who are starving wouldn't look as if they are starving!  However, we each have what's refered to as a Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is the amount of calories that are required simply to maintain our bodyweights.  By consuming this amount--while neither going far above or below it--our bodyweights stabilize and refuse to go anywhere.  BMR is actually quite easy to figure out, and follows the formula below.\n\nMEN:  Take your bodyweight and add a zero to the end of it.  Now add double your bodyweight.  For example, a 200lbs man would do the following--2000 + 400 = 2,400.  A 200lbs man's BMR is 2,400 calories per day to maintain that weight.\n\nWOMEN:  Take your bodyweight and add a zero to the end of it.  Now add your bodyweight.  For example, a 120lbs woman would do the following--1200 + 120 = 1,320.  She'd require 1,320 calories a day to maintain her weight.\n\nSince a McDonald's small combo meal can easilly contain 2,000 plus calories depending on the food items and drink, it's little wonder that these calories are easy to get each day.  It's also far too easy to exceed!  And that's why keeping yourself on the losing end (as far as weight's concerned) is so hard in the land of tasty and fast foods.\n\nAs far as excercise goes... we're designed to be fat.  I'm not saying to just give up and grab a bag of chips, though!  I'm saying that our bodies are designed to burn as little energy as possible and store energy to prepare for the next time food's scarce.  In today's world, however... food's abundant, and this threat simply isn't a modern concern for most of us.  So instead of facing famine... we go on to the next feast.  But we're still carrying around millions of years' worth of evolutionary instinct to be as lazy as possible, lest we burn too much of our precious energy reserves.  That's why we have to push ahead with our excercise routines, continually challenging ourselves with new endevors and new goals.  We have to constantly fight against the instinct to put off hard work (how many of us have to force ourselves to work out?  ALL of us!)--we have to stay focused and drive ahead!  Otherwise, yes, the same old workout routine will yeild no results at all.  In fact, we'd soon become disinclined to work out at all, seeing no point to it.  It has to be exciting and challenging--and each time we meet a new goal... we instantly have to set the bar higher, or we lose it all by stagnating.\n\nIt's funny that you mention dieting all week, yet having "free" days on the weekends.  Many--myself included--find it easier to stay on a clean eating routine if we allow ourselves periodic "cheat" days.  I would always allow myself one meal or snack that I ordinarilly wouldn't have had every three or four days of dieting, and have never found that this hurt my endevors.  (As a sidenote, I'd often do photo shoots, for which I would lower my bodyfat percentage to 3-6%.  Ordinarilly, I keep my bodyfat right around 10-15%, depending on what the mirror's telling me.) This is something that one must experiment with until they suit it to their own lifestyle, but does make it easier not to stray completely away from the diet plan.
1097955
You can decrease weight through diet alone, but you won't be building up ANY of the underlying muscle tone that helps firm your body up and increase your metabolism (as a pound of muscle takes up less space than, and burns more calories than, a pound of fat).  Being "thin" but having no muscle tone isn't best for your body because you will still have a high body fat percentage.  You can weigh 100 pounds and still have 30% body fat.  Do yourself a favor and work out... if you don't like aerobic exercise, at least lift weights a few times a week.
306500
Depends if you want to keep the weight off!! Fad diets are good for losing weight fast, but they are short-term solutions to a long-term problem. The only way to lose weight and keep it off is by making lifestyle changes. I'm a member of www.sparkpeople.com (a free weight-loss program), which specialises in just that.\n\nGood luck
805607
Losing weight isn't about dieting - If you can go for the rest of your life counting every calorie or without having a beer then great, Losing weight is more to do with changing your life style. If you are human and living in the real world then have a beer, you are not going to get your beer gut back from one weekend with the lads.. you have proved you can lose the weight and it wont do any lasting harm to your diet.. go for it and have one for me while your at it.. be warned though.. if you haven't had a drink in a while you wont be able to drink half as much as you used to.
284481
Diet pills could help you lose weight for a short time, but it is not a permanent fix. Also, diet pills usually have negative side effects. You may lose weight using them, but the moment you stop, the weight will be right back on. The most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is with diet and exercise.
147464
Cut down on portions.  Make it a rule to leave a meal satisfied, but not full.  Increase your exercise.  Its my opinion that you need a certain amount of exercise to trigger weight loss.  But I'm not an expert.
1113762
don't have dinner - \nit works for me \nIf I want to lose weight I never eat anything after 7pm  \nit really works -  have a good breakfast and a big lunch\nthen if you are hungrey at night eat an apple \nif you really want to do it - YOU CAN\n\ngood luck
503193
don't be bulimic.  it can make you lose weight, but you're killing your body. don't.
435905
Diet pills and diets don't really help you lose pounds. You just lose water weight. One thing that really helped me with losing weight was drinking plenty of water, eating lots of vegetables for digestion and eater frequent smaller meals. That way your body isn't stressed out and holding onto extra weight because it thinks you're in starvation or stressful times.
108067
Most people agree that "diets" aren't a long-term solution. Lifestyle changes are needed to effect a long-term weight loss. Try Weight Watchers. Journaling what you eat, weighing-in each week, attending meetings and regular exercise are your best solutions.
486602
Listen, there is no easy way to losing weight. Weight loss occurs when calorie output is less than calorie input. So in other words you burn more than you eat. If you were to do this without exercise, you would not be allowed to eat too many calories. \n\nYou really need activity to lose weight as it increases your metabolism and burns what you ate in the day. If you don't you will not have great shape. Many people that are think have high body fat % so they are still not healthy. You need to consider the fact that if you want to maintain a healthy weight exercise can assist in maintaining your weight once you reach your goal. \n\nMany people lose weight and then gain it back cause they stop exercising and healthy eating. The only way to maintain your weight is to be consistent and following a healthy eating and exercise plan for life.
185302
A well balanced diet, with an active life style will help you lose weight.  A diet that lacks carbs or protiens any other of the food groups isn't a good method.
809268
never because you're depriving yourself of food.\nalthough they do work in the short-term, in the long-term they're very dangerous as you'll regain all the weight that you lost.\n\nthe best way to lose weight is to regulate what you eat, cut down on your emotional eating, and to work out more.
1137022
hi, you dont need a diet. to lose weight, just eat less and healtily and excercise. Dont try diets, as they dont contain all the vitamins and minerals you need, so they could hurt you. Also, diet lasts only for a short period of time. When you lose weight, you start eating as you did before. You need to change your lifestyle and keep it during your whole life! If you wont, youll gain weight again, thats for sure! Ive tried both diets and rational eating and excercise, so i know what am i talking about. \nDont eat low-fat food, it contains lot of harmful chemicals and because of lack of fats your body is not able to use vitamis it contains. (some vitamins must dissolve in fat in order to "do their job". If there is no fat, your body cant use them!)\nEat lot of vegetables, fruit and drink non-low-fat milk, eat as few sweets as possible (you dont have to exclude them completely, because it may happen that after a long time you havent eaten them, youll buy "tons" of them and eat them at once! This is not very healthy :-) Eat 2-3 small sweets per week and know that its no "sin" :-) However, the most important part is excercise! You cant expect to lose weight if you dont move. You dont have to do any special things, just forget about your car if possible- walk or use bicycle instead, dont use elevator- walk, at least 2-5 stages, dance and swim.\n I wish you good luck and strong will. Im sure youll be happy, healthy and feeling great soon!
561188
I think that no diet is really any good but if you really need a diet then just eat your three main meals a day but cut down on the starch and sugar, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits and if you feel hungry don't snack in between meals but drink a glass of skim milk to keep you full. As for exercise anything goes,as long as you're not sitting around but actually participating. And walk aroun more often for example don't take the lift but the stairs. Hope this helps I lost 12kg in a month but I was consistent.
68027
The atkins diet is good for quick loss but not a long- term diet to do! At least that is what i think!
227741
I have been a dieter all my life.  Talking from experience, the healthiest one to me is "Weight Watchers".  This diet seems to fit in with any life style and if sweets are your thing, you can have desserts, good ones.  Joining a group you get support that is really important for your success.  Diet with a friend too.  This is all so a plus for helping you to accomplish your goals. You can lose  weight fast and safe and the Weight Watcher plan is a life style any one can live with.  Go for it!!!