Don, great column! Here’s something that I’ve tried with some success: very filling breakfast, moderately filling lunch and not at all filling dinner. Or even just a piece of fruit. Harder to do for men, I assume, as my husband has attested. I have lost 20 pounds over two+ years with this method. Admittedly, harder to do when you go out to dinner!
They say we are what we eat, but for me the taste of food and sweets are life itself, what meaning would life have without them.
But I also went on a forced diet for health and lost 13 kg. and I felt good physically but with my taste sacrificed, I kept it for 2 years now I have started to return to sweets again, as soon as I take them off I go back to my low weight. But I feel happy when I eat sweets and this is not a little, what a serious challenge in our lives. How do we solve it?
Yesterday I ate a lot of traditional sweets and I was more than happy, food is a pleasure and we should not miss it! Yes, you are right, we should from time to time!
I had to laugh ... sort of ... because your story is exactly the same as mine and my husband's. Incorporating those mindful techniques has helped me a lot. Can't speak for my husband here because he still eats like he's starving to death, but I've taken the serving bowl from the table, use smaller plates to make the serving look bigger, and visits to our local bakery were cut to the point of being "special once-in-a-great-while events." Telling myself I'm not hungry has helped. And then, there's getting the flu. THAT'S when the weight comes off.
Sadly, I recently read that Stevia may not be a great replacement body-wise, like sugar, it affects our gut negatively. So, like sugar, stevia in moderation. I also use the Mark Twain rule Don. I love ice cream...Alden's organic's the BEST!! plus the Pump House in Minneapolis, oh, and Cold Front in St. Paul. You'll have to make a summer visit to Minnesota. I relate all too well to your dilemma, and have started to exercise more often. This is getting long, but seems important: I spend an hour on the mat every Saturday doing the easiest darn exercise with Jonathon Dregni who offers a free, live Pilates class at noon. It's almost boring, but does work my core, and helps me feel more grounded. Plus, I have a very light breakfast in order to do crunches [gentle, but bananas get in the way even!]. Plus, it's an entire hour of not thinking about eating. Thanks for inspiring me today.
Karen, Thanks for your answer about stevia and your exercise tips. My personal trainer runs me through my paces weekly and I try to follow up daily with weights, stretches, and Pilates-lite.
I bet just by reducing sugar you’ll see weight loss. Sugar/simple carbs bind water, too, so you may feel smaller fairly quickly but virtue of fluid loss.
Read Dr. Robert Lustig about the metabolism of sugar and what you can expect when it is reduced. A pearl from Dr. Lustig: eat your sugar treats gingerly in the mall—do not bring them home. That is where the damage tends to happen.
And yes, the scale is a verifiable source of fake news. Out out out!!
Don, great column! Here’s something that I’ve tried with some success: very filling breakfast, moderately filling lunch and not at all filling dinner. Or even just a piece of fruit. Harder to do for men, I assume, as my husband has attested. I have lost 20 pounds over two+ years with this method. Admittedly, harder to do when you go out to dinner!
Jeri, thanks for the suggestion. I'll make that my backup plan.
“Faulty intake valve” 🤣
Your wife is right (we wives are always right!) but as someone who has recently seen you, none of this is true… you look great!
Amy, you are very kind. You may also want to schedule a checkup with your optometrist.
Nope! My eyes are perfect! Cataract surgery… remember 🤣
They say we are what we eat, but for me the taste of food and sweets are life itself, what meaning would life have without them.
But I also went on a forced diet for health and lost 13 kg. and I felt good physically but with my taste sacrificed, I kept it for 2 years now I have started to return to sweets again, as soon as I take them off I go back to my low weight. But I feel happy when I eat sweets and this is not a little, what a serious challenge in our lives. How do we solve it?
Ermira, what a dilemma! Surely there must be a middle way that permits you to eat sweets now and then?
Yesterday I ate a lot of traditional sweets and I was more than happy, food is a pleasure and we should not miss it! Yes, you are right, we should from time to time!
I had to laugh ... sort of ... because your story is exactly the same as mine and my husband's. Incorporating those mindful techniques has helped me a lot. Can't speak for my husband here because he still eats like he's starving to death, but I've taken the serving bowl from the table, use smaller plates to make the serving look bigger, and visits to our local bakery were cut to the point of being "special once-in-a-great-while events." Telling myself I'm not hungry has helped. And then, there's getting the flu. THAT'S when the weight comes off.
Sue, it's always a joy to hear that my words resonated with a reader. But I hope I don't have to resort to getting the flu.
Indeed, not a fun weight-loss plan, but it is effective.
Sugar and flour in any form are my downfall…..I know what I need to do….its the doing that’s hard….
Amen to that!
Sadly, I recently read that Stevia may not be a great replacement body-wise, like sugar, it affects our gut negatively. So, like sugar, stevia in moderation. I also use the Mark Twain rule Don. I love ice cream...Alden's organic's the BEST!! plus the Pump House in Minneapolis, oh, and Cold Front in St. Paul. You'll have to make a summer visit to Minnesota. I relate all too well to your dilemma, and have started to exercise more often. This is getting long, but seems important: I spend an hour on the mat every Saturday doing the easiest darn exercise with Jonathon Dregni who offers a free, live Pilates class at noon. It's almost boring, but does work my core, and helps me feel more grounded. Plus, I have a very light breakfast in order to do crunches [gentle, but bananas get in the way even!]. Plus, it's an entire hour of not thinking about eating. Thanks for inspiring me today.
Karen, Thanks for your answer about stevia and your exercise tips. My personal trainer runs me through my paces weekly and I try to follow up daily with weights, stretches, and Pilates-lite.
Your cause is a noble one, young man. Sensible . . . but doable? Good luck. I'm gonna be really interested in your results!
Thanks, Wayne. Without scales or mirrors, I can declare victory at any time.
Hey, Don
Love this.
I bet just by reducing sugar you’ll see weight loss. Sugar/simple carbs bind water, too, so you may feel smaller fairly quickly but virtue of fluid loss.
Read Dr. Robert Lustig about the metabolism of sugar and what you can expect when it is reduced. A pearl from Dr. Lustig: eat your sugar treats gingerly in the mall—do not bring them home. That is where the damage tends to happen.
And yes, the scale is a verifiable source of fake news. Out out out!!
By virtue of fluid loss
Patty, thanks for the scientific perspective. Is there anything current on whether substituting stevia changes anything?
Congratulations on the Cool Grandpa!