• halvar@lemy.lol
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    3 days ago

    Yeah I’m on calorie counting right now and while so far it’s going better than expected (started from well above my average weight and just got a deskjob, so I basically don’t move all day) in the past I did feel the momentum dying and eventually I always failed and I fear it’s coming again.

    • blarghly@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      This trend, where you feel initial motivation, but then motivation stalls and you fall off the wagon, is why calorie counting doesn’t work for most people. You aren’t a robot. You do not have an unstoppable iron will. You are human. You get hungry. You get bored. You get flat tires on the same day your friend invites you over for pizza and beer. Stalling out on calorie counting isn’t strange - it is what we would expect any normal person to do.

      A far better approach is to take a more wholistic approach to health, and let the fat loss follow naturally. Stop focusing on calories. Focus on eating whole foods, mostly food you cook at home. Eat more vegetables, eat more protein, drink more water. Avoid processed junk food. Avoid drinking your calories. Avoid added sugar, white flour, and vegetable oil. Find a couple different kinds of exercise that you find enjoyable, from soccar to hiking to zumba to powerlifting to mui thai, and do them regularly. Get good sleep, and get enough sleep. Reduce stress. Spend more time with friends, and meeting interesting new people. Spend time outside in the fresh air and sunshine.

      You’re far more likely to lose weight this way, because these aren’t a goal to hit by a deadline. They are just little choices to make throughout the day, course corrections you can make now and again, and fun things to do that add to the quality of your life.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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      3 days ago

      You don’t want to count calories that’s not the way to do it. What you want to cut down on his carbs, pasta potato that sort of stuff.

      • HonoraryMancunian@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Cutting out carbs will make you initially drop a lot of weight, but it’s just water weight. Ultimately people want to drop body fat, and cutting out a useful macronutrient isn’t the best way to do that. Calorie deficit is the only way. You’re best off cutting out calorie dense foods, and overly palatable stuff that doesn’t fill you up.

        • blarghly@lemmy.world
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          3 days ago

          Low carb dieting has a number of effects which can vary from person to person. Losing water weight can be one of those effects. Many people find it much easier to lose fat on low carb diets. I am one of those people. I just also like beer and pizza.

        • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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          2 days ago

          No much of my diet consisted of fact. Lots of cheese and lots of burgers and lots of fat and lots of potatoes.

          I’ve benefited enormously from not consuming the things that make me overweight and instead consuming the things that make me fall thus resulting in me not wanting to have a giant McDonald’s meal.