Brat's lower fat diet experiment.

[CF-OC_gal]

OK not sure exactly where to start. Here is the thread behind this post. A couple of years ago I had tried the Perricone diet for fun (it looked like healthy choices but weirdly restrictive, using lots of foods I like) so here is a page right off the Perricone diet except I added a morning coffee, I'll have to wean off of this if I am to avoid a major caffeine withdrawl headache.

Morning weight today (may2) - 131lbs

Breakfast (7:30am - 8:15am)
6 oz water
12 blackberries
1/4 canteloupe (3" wedge)
1egg+2 whites+1/4 tsp org. canola oil scrambled eggs
1/2 cup oatmeal
8 oz org. coffee + 1 Tbsp cream (tasted like black )

So far today:
By cal: 22% P, 38% C, 40% F
By grams: 26%P, 53% C, 21% F

This is a lot of food to me. I had to choke down the oats. My stomach feels overfed right now. I also got up 30 min. earlier and walked the dog. Even though it is still below freezing in the morning and there was a light drizzle, my Asian-Canadian community was still conducting their slow movement morning exercise ritual in the park. Mostly seniors. I love it!

11:30 am-12pm ish (feeling like something's not right now)
16 oz water
15 almonds
1 apple

3:15 pm
At last I can see the fridge
1/2 c FF cottage cheese (what the hell - there's not taste to this stuff?!?)
1" fresh pinapple chopped into it
sprinkle of walnuts (was supposed to be 1/4 cup but they were bad so I had to pick the chunks I could out again)
- Opps I couldn't tell if I had eaten so I had another 1/2 cup of cottage cheese with fresh hot cherry pepper and chives chopped in. The taste was better but why am I still hungry? (I'd die for a thick peanut butter on rye sandwich right now made with butter on the bread)
16 oz water

8oz green tea

6pm
hand ful of baby carrots while cooking
110 gm broiled salmon fillet
2 cups chopped romaine lettuce with 1.5 tbsp oilive oil + 1/2 lime juice and 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 cup steamed asperagus
10 black berries
water

hungry hungry hungry
8:45pm workout (wanted food in my stomach type workout)

hungry hungry hungry
1/4 cantalope wedge
8oz unsweetened soy milk and 1 egg white

hungry hungry hungry (bugging me can't sleep type of hunger)
(did get @ 8x8 oz water)

[Zoetastic]

I'm excited to see your progress on this. Keep us posted
Z-

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by Zoetastic

I'm excited to see your progress on this. Keep us posted
Z-

Here's the fitday link

[cursor]

It looks like you're off to a solid start. It'll be interesting to watch your FitDay journal and see how the food intake goes. By the way, I think that you'll be just fine with your target of 93 grams of protein for the day. Given your stats, that comes to about 0.9 grams per pound of lean body mass. 1800 calories sounds like a reasonable start. Don't be afraid to adjust as times goes by.

I noted from your exercise journal that you do quite a bit of exercise. In one of your latest workout routines, I counted 21 sets. I do about half that much (that certainly doesn't mean that need to do what I do). Personally, I find that I burn out quickly (grow disinterested in maintaining my flow of workouts) when I exceed 15 sets per workout.

[CF-OC_gal]

Thanks for the encouragement.

As far as my exercise routine goes, you probably noticed I was/am following an 8 week plan using my own weight level. It only stopped working for me when my day/work-work got more intense. I'm back at it this week with a limit of 3 sets per exercise that means no more than 18 sets total. If I get even busier I'll cut back more until off season.

As of this post my stomach is aching with hunger.

[cursor]

So ... that over-filling breakfast is now spent?

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by cursor

So ... that over-filling breakfast is now spent?

Oatmeal always leaves me hungry within the hour (it's the "new" chinese food) unless of course I have it with a couple of tbsps of cream.

Around 13 years ago I did the lowfat thing and got great results. I limited my fat consumption to an average of 30 grams per day. I got real lean but I had a big base to start with as I was out of shape and fleshy. Went from 195 lbs. to 165 lbs.

About a year ago I decided to log my food consumption and automatically begin with a lowfat regiment. I discovered that I was constantly hungry and I wasn't getting the same results as I did the previous time. Of course, I was not out of shape and fleshy but maybe 10 pounds higher than where I wanted to be at 175 lbs.

I discovered that, for me, I felt better and achieved greater results when fat comprised 25% or more of my daily food consumption. Naturally, the good fats are better than the bad fats. I felt more fulfilled and achieved greater results this time around. I believe I felt the best when my consumption was 50% carbs - 25% protein - 25% fat.

Having experimented with different combinations of carbs-proteins-fats, I believe it all boils down to calories like Jack LaLane once said when asked what he thought about some of these fad diets. I think Jack hit the nail on the head.

Good luck with your lowfat experiment. If you get real hungry, just go to bed.

[CF-OC_gal]

Thanks for the insight perini. I may never get out of bed!

[SNPiccolo5]

The only thing I can guess is that you need more fiber. Try eating more vegetables even during the day (not just at night). Also, I think apples are a LOT more filling than berries.

It also just may take time for your body to adjust. Being used to a high fat (even though, in your case, it was healthy fat) diet is bound to make you hungry if you reduce fat suddenly like this. I'd say if you can stick it out you should see a difference in several days.

Also, I don't know how much water you drink, but lots of us drink way more than the recommended 64 oz. This helps keep one self full.

-Tim

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by SNPiccolo5

I'd say if you can stick it out you should see a difference in several days.

Also, I don't know how much water you drink, but lots of us drink way more than the recommended 64 oz. This helps keep one self full.

-Tim

I just don't understand what kind of difference to expect? I felt great eating the way I did before. (I drink @8 oz a day. More kills my appetite.) I don't understand what the point of trying to stay full is. It only reduces my desire to take in calories. It's obvious that I am able to maintain my weight (therefore need the calories) the way I was eating before.

About that fibre, fruits,nuts and oatmeal have fibre too. 5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables a day is recommended. From yesterdays eating I ate @11-13 servings. The tactics that everyone are recommending for me are strategies for weight loss and that is not my goal. It is my fear. I have been eating "dirty" in order to maintain. It may not be the best way but it seems to have worked. I feel sooooooo much better at 20% BF than I ever did at 13%.

I do appreciate the comments. I am trying to generate discussion. :

[cursor]

There does seem to be this obsession with being able to see one's abdominals ... but at what cost (in terms of 1. how you feel, and 2. how much attention and energy is required to maintain those visible abs)? "What is the lifestyle that I want to live?"

[CF-OC_gal]

Originally Posted by cursor

There does seem to be this obsession with being able to see one's abdominals ... but at what cost (in terms of 1. how you feel, and 2. how much attention and energy is required to maintain those visible abs). "What is the lifestyle that I want to live?"

My sweetie would lose interest in me fast if at 47 my sole goal outside of work was to look good in a bikini! He doesn't need a trophy wife...actually he has one already in me. The reasons why are just are less superficial and fleeting.

YOu know, Jack Lalanne has a tremendous body ... for his age. Some how those 3 little qualifying words make the whole abs thing ridiculous in my mind. Purely physical attraction-wise, I'd take a guy with a young Steve Reeves body over an 80 year old in shape Jack Lalanne body anyday. There is nothing like a young face and skin - it's God's work, not ours. I admire people who stay fit and in shape, but when I've lusted it was for youth. Thankfully my partner takes me out of that whole world and just motivates me to stay healthy so that we can enjoy our time together to the fullest.

Last night I delivered a large job to a client and stayed 2 steps behind him carrying the order into the warehouse. He was breathing hard (not because of my awesome abs) when he put his container down, while I let out a big sigh, took a breath and asked "next?"

[CF-OC_gal]

Here is yesterdays analysis: http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJ...&Month=4&Day=2

So I ate just over 1400 calories, 43% fat, 31%carbs, 27% protein.(91gms)

You guys who are taking flax seed oil better record it in your food journals or your fat % is a lie. It was the olive oil and almonds that shot this day through the roof. YOu are damned if you do damned if you don't.

Woke up late today. Felt like a slug, headachy, low energy, past hunger into spasmotic stomach and almost dry heaves. A typical diet transition day. I won't judge it for a week or so although my muscles feel like limp s--t and I'm already way behind in my schedule of things to do today.

May 3 Journal

[CF-OC_gal]

OK looking at yesterday ,my problem is not high fat it is low carbs. If I was to get an additional 500-600 calories in per day in pure carbs then I would hit both an acceptable pcf ratio and a better calorie level (1900-2000)


So where do I find fat free health carbs in a compact package 2-3x 200-300 calorie serving. A salad or plate of green veggies is not going to cut it. How about beans?