What Should I be Eating to Lose Weight??? - nothing seems to be working!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, my MD says that most of the weight guidelines and food intake (pyramids, etc...) guidelines in the United States are incorrect, erring on the side of too much (weight and food). Ideally from a health prespective, your waist circumference should be half of your height. Of course, if you are naturally an exaggerated pear shape, that would have to be recalibrated. Each person's ideal weigh is something they should really discuss with their doctor but it is likely less than most Americans would think. Also, I think someone misunderstood, if you want to weigh 130 lbs you don't eat 1300 to LOSE weight, you eat 1300 to MAINTAIN your weight at 130. So, if you currently weigh 160, you could eat 1300 cal/day and you would eventually weigh 130 lbs. Or, if you want to lose it more quickly, eat less, say 1,000 cal/day until; you reach your goal weight and then eat that amt of calories per day to maintain. As long as you are meeting your bodies nutritiuonal needs, there is no actual number of calories one has to eat. I am telling you, most of the dieting and body weight information that is generally accepted as truth by the American public, is nothing but myth. The truth is that skinnier is usually healthier (we are not talking about anorexia or bulimia here as those are disease in whoich your body's nutritional needs are ignored). Also, the older you get the fewer calories your body needs. Have you noticed that the US is not only one of the only countries in the world where older people tend to be fat, but also has the highest rate of obesity in the general population? Its because the way we look at food is totally wrong, even on most of the "official" levels like the FDA's food pyramid..

So, Eat 3 small meals a day with no snacking in between. Really watch out for sugar, it is the worst thing for you, and MUFAs are the best kind of fat to have in your diet (nuts, seeds, olives, avacados, the good oils, etc...). Drink lots and lots of water and take a pharmaceutical grade mutli-vitamin. I personally aslo take an Omega-3 as I think it helps keep my hair and skin looking exceptionally healthy. Also, weighing your self every day is a good thing. It lets you see right away if your weight is creeping up. Its a habit of most skinny people.

I agree with some of what you say. However 3 small meals a day does not keep your blood sugars regulated. Very dangerous.
Please OP see a nutritionist!

[Anonymous]

"you eat 1300 to MAINTAIN your weight at 130"

Well, this must vary from person to person. I eat 2000 calories a day to maintain a weight of 125, although I do exercise regularly. I cut back to 1700/day if I want to drop a few pounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"you eat 1300 to MAINTAIN your weight at 130"

Well, this must vary from person to person. I eat 2000 calories a day to maintain a weight of 125, although I do exercise regularly. I cut back to 1700/day if I want to drop a few pounds.

Agreed. That does not take the % lean muscle mass into account, which varies from person to person. A man (assuming more lean muscle mass) would have to eat more calories to sustain a weight of 140lb than a woman would eat to maintain the same weight. And of course you'll need to adjust the calories depending on how much you burn (or don't burn).