78 replies to this topic

[Nymh]

I didn't say eliminate carbs completely. If you're going to eat bread, eat whole grain. That's good for you. I also mentioned eating fiber. Which is found in vegetables such as green beans, broccoli, etc. Fiber is a form of carbs. I said limit yourself. People don't limit themselves. And that's issue. Unfortunately, it's also the case that processed, simple sugar filled products such as pasta, white bread, etc are cheaper then the healthy products such as whole grains, vegetables, and meat. I could go to the store, buy a bag of pasta for about a buck, a can of tomato sauce for like 70 cents, and feed en entire family of four with that.

Now you're backpedaling. Your first post was pointedly against all forms of carbs (you even hated on apples for crying out loud). Carbohydrates are not "bad for you." Bran cereal is not "bad for you." Yes over-eating carbs is not good for you but neither is over-eating in general. It's the amount that makes the poison.

[Coops]

Now you're backpedaling. Your first post was pointedly against all forms of carbs (you even hated on apples for crying out loud). Carbohydrates are not "bad for you." Bran cereal is not "bad for you." Yes over-eating carbs is not good for you but neither is over-eating in general. It's the amount that makes the poison.

So eating an apple, with 22grams of pure simple sugar is not bad for you then? It's essentially eating some candy. There are other portions of an apple that is healthy for you. But the carb portion is not because we've modified the apple so much, it's grown to be sweet, juicy and delicious...because that's what sells. And I didn't backpedal. I mentioned in my first post that eating certain carbs was okay. Particularly fiber carbs. I also mentioned, at least twice that regulating your carb intake was important. As for bran cereal, just look up the glycemic index in most bran cereals. Eating high/medium GI foods is good if you're planning to exercise. Otherwise, it just messes with your blood sugar and can be bad for you.

EDIT: Also I love apples. Especially green ones. But I also love candy. And potatoes. That doesn't mean they are necessarily the first thing I should choose to eat for health sakes.

Edited by Niva, 18 March 2012 - 12:15 PM.

[Nymh]

So eating an apple, with 22grams of pure simple sugar is not bad for you then? It's essentially eating some candy.

No it's not; and no, it's not.

[Dangocat]

So eating an apple, with 22grams of pure simple sugar is not bad for you then?

It's not "bad" for you. Eating a piece of candy is not "bad" for you either, although of course apples have way more nutritional value. Eating 10 pieces of candy is not healthy, but I doubt you're going around over-eating apples.

But it's all about balance. There are plenty of people eating healthy diets that include carbs like rice, pasta, fruit, etc, and there are also plenty of people avoiding carbs who don't exactly eat healthily. I personally just stay away from starchy foods, staples like rice, bread, pasta, potatoes, but I'll include fruit in my diet because because they're packed with a lot more valuable stuff than say, potatoes.

[NapisaurusRex]

because they're packed with a lot more valuable stuff than say, potatoes.

What.

Potatoes have more potassium than bananas, ~20-40% of RDA for Vitamin C, ~110 calories and are fat-free.

Could you really ask for more?

[Turnip]

i'm not precisely at a "healthy" weight i suppose. i mean, by Army Standards, i'm technically overweight by about 10lbs, but i know part of that is about genetics (i'm slightly below average height, and i have a stocky build). i am muscular, but the stomach area is really where the rest of my fat is. even when i was 25lbs lighter, i still had a little bit of a gut, and that's why i'm taking this stuff. it's "supposed' to target the areas of abnormal fat

Don't forget that muscles weigh more than fat~

What.

Potatoes have more potassium than bananas, ~20-40% of RDA for Vitamin C, ~110 calories and are fat-free.

Could you really ask for more?

Mmmyes well, I remember hearing that the more colour a fruit/vegetable has, the healthier it is! And potatoes are pretty darn white (when peeled/mashed anyways), although bananas aren't much better really Lots of starch up in there~ But everything is fine if you eat things in reasonable amounts!

[Cyo]

So eating an apple, with 22grams of pure simple sugar is not bad for you then?

Maybe you shouldn't be buying the variety that's been bred to be as sweet as possible?

[phalkon]

Don't forget that muscles weigh more than fat~

very true, which i'm sure is partially the case. i've got legs like Vegeta.... and my arms are pretty toned, it's just tummy fat, really. and maybe another few pounds spread out for good measure. winter weight?


but like i said, i'll be making a collection of befor and after pics (as SFW as possible)

[Turnip]

very true, which i'm sure is partially the case. i've got legs like Vegeta.... and my arms are pretty toned, it's just tummy fat, really. and maybe another few pounds spread out for good measure. winter weight?


but like i said, i'll be making a collection of befor and after pics (as SFW as possible)

Yeah, it could just be a bit of fat to keep ya warm~ Not to mention Thanksgiving and Christmas aren't all thaaat far apart! Yay huge, delicious dinners! ♥


Good luck~ :3

[Boggart]

Omg please no one cut out carbs from your diet. Your brain will actually degenerate without consuming enough carbs. The problem is that most people consume WAY TOO MANY CARBS because it's just... so easy to do so.

A bagel contains like 50 grams of carbs, which is just 100% unnecessary. I am not one who consumes too many carbs because outside of rice, I don't really eat much candy, drink soda nor do I eat fruit (:3). I eat way too much protein though. While it is a good idea to cut excess carbs, such as not eating pasta for dinner everyday, never limit yourself to not eating carbs to be thin. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER.

And sure, one can argue that humans weren't meant to process carbs, but we adapt to our new carb-heavy environment and many people CAN break down carbs very easily. Hence why some people can have lactose even as adults even though the normal route is that we should all have an intolerance to lactose by our teens.

[phalkon]

on a side note, Day 3: http://wp.me/prOBt-C

[Nymh]

Omg please no one cut out carbs from your diet. Your brain will actually degenerate without consuming enough carbs. The problem is that most people consume WAY TOO MANY CARBS because it's just... so easy to do so.

I had a friend a few years ago who went on a low carb diet, and she ended up fainting a few times and getting quite sick. Her body was in ketosis, her blood sugar plummeted and she had to go to the hospital. While ketosis is great and all because it burns fat, it can also lead to gout, kidney disease and organ failure (just a few of the many things on the list of what ketones can do to your body).

You can't just restrict one thing from your diet and expect it to work miracles. I wish that Atkins retard had never published a book because now everyone thinks that carbs are the devil and not eating them is the secret to being thin and healthy.

on a side note, Day 3: http://wp.me/prOBt-C

Oh yay phalkon, thanks for linking to your blog! I love reading what you write and I'm interested in learning about what you're doing.

[Boggart]

on a side note, Day 3: http://wp.me/prOBt-C

Not gonna lie, if these drops were to actually work and somehow target fat and not muscle, that sounds extremely tempting...

Even if it's actually just due to consuming 500 calories a day. I think I consume about half of that in just sugar and cream in my coffee. Blurg.

[ilovepolkadots]

#1. 500 calorie diet is just silly
you are conditioning your body to store fat more effectively
(the skivvy:: by consuming so few calories you are telling your body that you are going through a "starvation" phase thus it because more efficient at storing fat)

#2. i noticed you are doing little cardio
if you want to burn fat you need to be running (long duration, low intensity) you want an exercise that is highly oxidation in nature
this will ensure that the main energy substrate (fuel) you are using is fat - thus aerobic glycolysis should be the metabolic process you are aiming for

doing targeted excercises has been shown to help marginally
(i noted you were doing p90x - abripperx to target your belly fat)
which could be helpful when paired with the above described cardio - instead of 30minutes of abs however
why don't you just do 8-10 minute abs
things like planks, crunches, 7-inches, bicycles, etc - this is what i do and find it to be most effective

#3. losing more than 1-2lbs a week is ineffective if you want to keep the weight off for a long period of time
if you are interested i will look up the original studies this information came from, but from studying at my uni this is taught in every exercise sport science and nutrition class i have taken
if you want to see long term; lasting! results you should no be losing more than 1-2lbs a week

[Mishatu]

if you want to burn fat you need to be running (long duration, low intensity) you want an exercise that is highly oxidation in nature
this will ensure that the main energy substrate (fuel) you are using is fat - thus aerobic glycolysis should be the metabolic process you are aiming for

Interesting, because my wellness professor says that while you burn a higher percentage of fat, you burn more fat overall with high intensity exercise i.e. 50% fat-burning of 100 calories in 20 minutes vs. 30% fat-burning of 200 calories in 20 minutes, or 50 calories from fat being burned compared to 60 being burned. Obviously this example isn't 100% accurate, but it demonstrates what I'm trying to say.

So yes, low-intensity exercise has a higher percentage of fat-burning, but you will burn more fat at high-intensity simply because you are burning more calories overall.

[ilovepolkadots]

Interesting, because my wellness professor says that while you burn a higher percentage of fat, you burn more fat overall with high intensity exercise i.e. 50% fat-burning of 100 calories in 20 minutes vs. 30% fat-burning of 200 calories in 20 minutes, or 50 calories from fat being burned compared to 60 being burned. Obviously this example isn't 100% accurate, but it demonstrates what I'm trying to say.

So yes, low-intensity exercise has a higher percentage of fat-burning, but you will burn more fat at high-intensity simply because you are burning more calories overall.

calories aren't all equal
just because you are burning more calories during high intensity does not mean it is fat

i don't want to say your professor is wrong, but given the information you have presented the logic is not very sound

during high intensity exercise the metabolic systems you use are:: creatine phosphagen and anaerobic glycolysis systems
carbohydrates are the energy substrates that theses systems use to fuel the muscles with ATP
if it is not found free flowing in the blood then it will use muscle glycogen

with that being said none of these systems follow an all or nothing principle
you are never completely anaerobic or aerobic when exercising - there is a mixture
but the majority of the substrates being used in these systems is still clear::
anaerobic (high intensity, and generally low duration as depletion of muscle glycogen is one cause of fatigue) uses carbohydrates as a substrate
aerobic exercise uses mainly fats and encourages lipolysis from adipose tissues

(+) not to mention the huge benefits to the cardiorespiratory system long duration, low intensity exercise can bring

also this does not have to be just running - biking and swimming are other easy options to stimulate this metabolic process.

[Mishatu]

calories aren't all equal
just because you are burning more calories during high intensity does not mean it is fat

i don't want to say your professor is wrong, but given the information you have presented the logic is not very sound

during high intensity exercise the metabolic systems you use are:: creatine phosphagen and anaerobic glycolysis systems
carbohydrates are the energy substrates that theses systems use to fuel the muscles with ATP
if it is not found free flowing in the blood then it will use muscle glycogen

with that being said none of these systems follow an all or nothing principle
you are never completely anaerobic or aerobic when exercising - there is a mixture
but the majority of the substrates being used in these systems is still clear::
anaerobic (high intensity, and generally low duration as depletion of muscle glycogen is one cause of fatigue) uses carbohydrates as a substrate
aerobic exercise uses mainly fats and encourages lipolysis from adipose tissues

(+) not to mention the huge benefits to the cardiorespiratory system long duration, low intensity exercise can bring

also this does not have to be just running - biking and swimming are other easy options to stimulate this metabolic process.

Ah, but I did not say that all calories were equal. I did grant that a higher percentage of fat calories are burned at a lower intensity, but just because that is the "fat-burning zone" does not mean that it is particularly efficient. I would far rather exercise harder and burn more fat in general than try to stay within that "fat-burning zone".

Also, a higher-intensity exercise will get the heart pumping harder sooner, increasing cardiovascular benefits. I have gotten my heart pumping more in 60 seconds of intense workout than in 60 minutes of walking. (yes, personal experience)

Please note, I am not arguing your most basic logic, that low-intensity exercise burns a higher percentage of fat. It is where you take that premise that I am arguing.

[ilovepolkadots]

Ah, but I did not say that all calories were equal. I did grant that a higher percentage of fat calories are burned at a lower intensity, but just because that is the "fat-burning zone" does not mean that it is particularly efficient. I would far rather exercise harder and burn more fat in general than try to stay within that "fat-burning zone".

Also, a higher-intensity exercise will get the heart pumping harder sooner, increasing cardiovascular benefits. I have gotten my heart pumping more in 60 seconds of intense workout than in 60 minutes of walking. (yes, personal experience)

Please note, I am not arguing your most basic logic, that low-intensity exercise burns a higher percentage of fat. It is where you take that premise that I am arguing.

i did not say "cardiovascular" i said "cardiorespiratory" there is a major difference

also you use arbitrary numbers to prove a point
o.0 ones that you admitted to making up...


also it has been shown that the hearts of long-distance runners/marathoners (long duration, low intensity) had an increase stroke volume which results in a lower blood pressure as the heart is more efficient (i think all would agree more healthy) at pumping the blood through the system, creating the same cardiac output but with a lower heart rate.

[shrouded]

This is hyper-generalized and not true. Carbohydrates are not bad for you. Your body and brain REQUIRE carbohydrates to function.

Massive intake of refined and processed sugars (such as are found in candy, non-diet sodas, syrups and good ol' table sugar) is bad for you.
Eating legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables (sources of complex carbohydrates) is not bad for you, regardless of how many people jump on the "low carb" bandwagon.

Now it's you who is impressing me with your knowledge I hate when people say carbohydrates are bad for you. So an apple has 22g of carbohydrates, well guess what the majority of them are the result of the sugar content. Refined sugar, white flower, and other processed ingredients are what make food bad for you. I'd hardly say that the carbohydrates in oats, brown rice, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and beans are bad for you.

also it has been shown that the hearts of long-distance runners/marathoners (long duration, low intensity) had an increase stroke volume which results in a lower blood pressure as the heart is more efficient (i think all would agree more healthy) at pumping the blood through the system, creating the same cardiac output but with a lower heart rate.

Sadly I am not a part of that fortunate group. I trained for long-distance races for 4 years, using caffeine to boost my race performance for the final year. While I was an excellent and nationally ranked runner and have now moved on to collegiate road cycling I STILL have issues with high blood pressure. Just to note I don't drink coffee anymore because of the issues with high blood pressure. I'm 19 and I'm having these issues. It freaking blows.

Another personal experience tidbit. The first year of my competitive career I had an issue with excess body fat. I had to train with 20 minute or longer sessions of continuous running in order to burn off existing fat. After 20 minutes most people's bodies resort to using fat for energy. The best way to lose weight is to build up cardiovascular strength and cycle/run for extended periods of time. I dropped my percent body fat to 7% from 11% in a year, which is a big deal when your race weight is 135. I was able to eat almost anything I wanted while running 40 miles a week in season and 70-90 out of season. Eating whole foods, taking vitamins, and limiting my intake of processed foods really helped me drop the fat around my stomach. Of course it's difficult for 95% of the population to run that far or with the same level of intensity, but cardio work for 20+ minutes and eating whole foods will help you a lot.

Edited by Shrouded, 19 March 2012 - 10:17 AM.

[ilovepolkadots]

Sadly I am not a part of that fortunate group. I trained for long-distance races for 4 years, using caffeine to boost my race performance for the final year. While I was an excellent and nationally ranked runner and have now moved on to collegiate road cycling I STILL have issues with high blood pressure. Just to note I don't drink coffee anymore because of the issues with high blood pressure. I'm 19 and I'm having these issues. It freaking blows.

my boyfriend is an ACC 800meter runner and also has high blood pressure
after keeping a two-week diary of his food intake i found out that his hypertension was related to insanely high sodium intake and low water consumption

i have cut him down to 1500mg max per day
and got him a water bottle

you should check out your sodium intake :3!
& also make sure you are hydrating properly, especially considering your high level of activity
& & a did you know:: 1% dehydration can influence exercise performance?!

Edited by ilovepolkadots, 19 March 2012 - 10:21 AM.

[shrouded]

my boyfriend is an ACC 800meter runner and also has high blood pressure
after keeping a two-week diary of his food intake i found out that his hypertension was related to insanely high sodium intake and low water consumption

i have cut him down to 1500mg max per day
and got him a water bottle

you should check out your sodium intake :3!
& also make sure you are hydrating properly, especially considering your high level of activity
& & a did you know:: 1% dehydration can influence exercise performance?!

I'm in the ACC! I go to Virginia Tech. What school does he go to? My 800m time was only 1:56 in high school. I don't eat sodium nor do I salt any of my food. I eat the dining hall food which is typically low in sodium unless I splurge and get something salty. I drink a moderate amount of water, probably less than necessary. Now that it's warming up I'm sweating a lot more when I ride so I've increased my fluids. My BP is typically in the pre-hypertension range, but it occasionally spikes up. It's just the pressure when my heart beats that is high, my pressure between beats is between 60-70.

[ilovepolkadots]

I'm in the ACC! I go to Virginia Tech. What school does he go to? My 800m time was only 1:56 in high school. I don't eat sodium nor do I salt any of my food. I eat the dining hall food which is typically low in sodium unless I splurge and get something salty. I drink a moderate amount of water, probably less than necessary. Now that it's warming up I'm sweating a lot more when I ride so I've increased my fluids. My BP is typically in the pre-hypertension range, but it occasionally spikes up. It's just the pressure when my heart beats that is high, my pressure between beats is between 60-70.

we are both at UNC - i can't remember his times xP!
i have found that our dining hall items are actually quite high in sodium
and when you take into account the quantity of calories you have to eat to stay at a steady weight it is easy to go over 2,000mg a day

also are you taking your BP yourself? or going to the doctors office?
i take my boyfriends resting BP and HR when we wake up in the morning (really sexy right?)
but this ensures that it is actually the resting rate, and i can track the changes
since sometimes going to the doctor and having your vitals taken can make you nervous (higher BP, and HR) especially if you are pre-hypertensive, etc
also stress can be a big factor sadly - which is hard to curb when you are competing and going to school

[Nymh]

Crazy, I have high blood pressure too! And I am a runner. Weird

My heart rate gets super high when I run, in the range of 180 BPM. I find it kind of odd though because I feel fine physically, can still talk and could run for days but my heart is going nuts. So I'll run a mile or two and then walk like 1/4 mile to get it down to 120 BPM, then start jogging again for another couple miles.

Blood pressure has been high for several years now. Maybe I should start taking my medicine again hrm...

[shrouded]

we are both at UNC - i can't remember his times xP!
i have found that our dining hall items are actually quite high in sodium
and when you take into account the quantity of calories you have to eat to stay at a steady weight it is easy to go over 2,000mg a day

also are you taking your BP yourself? or going to the doctors office?
i take my boyfriends resting BP and HR when we wake up in the morning (really sexy right?)
but this ensures that it is actually the resting rate, and i can track the changes
since sometimes going to the doctor and having your vitals taken can make you nervous (higher BP, and HR) especially if you are pre-hypertensive, etc
also stress can be a big factor sadly - which is hard to curb when you are competing and going to school

I go to the university health center every two weeks and I do it myself every few days. It has a lot to do with stress for me. In high school I literally never felt stressed. I didn't even know what it felt like until I came here. I jumped right into e-school and I don't find post calculus mathematics as easy as algebra haha


I'm guessing your boyfriend is O'Neal or Michael Jacobs

Crazy, I have high blood pressure too! And I am a runner. Weird

My heart rate gets super high when I run, in the range of 180 BPM. I find it kind of odd though because I feel fine physically, can still talk and could run for days but my heart is going nuts. So I'll run a mile or two and then walk like 1/4 mile to get it down to 120 BPM, then start jogging again for another couple miles.

Blood pressure has been high for several years now. Maybe I should start taking my medicine again hrm...

180 isn't too bad of a HR when running. Typically your max is 220-age. If you're 40 then you have a pretty hot body for a 40 year old.

[ilovepolkadots]

I go to the university health center every two weeks and I do it myself every few days. It has a lot to do with stress for me. In high school I literally never felt stressed. I didn't even know what it felt like until I came here. I jumped right into e-school and I don't find post calculus mathematics as easy as algebra haha

I'm guessing your boyfriend is O'Neal or Michael Jacobs

meh - yeah then i would relate it to stress and/or genetics

also

180 isn't too bad of a HR when running. Typically your max is 220-age. If you're 40 then you have a pretty hot body for a 40 year old.

this for sure
that is not bad for a target heart rate

and if you are taking a stimulant a "pounding" heart during exercise could be related to that
just watch when you take your medicine and when you work out