pandemic detox and diet

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I haven't gained weight during the pandemic probably because I was already overweight to begin with. But my neighbors are all trying a detox/diet because they have gained weight. I started yesterday the love diet = berries and meat for a week then adding things back in. Anyway I'm going to do it a week and then the veggies and then debating doing the whole 30. What lifestyle change have people done and how long was it successful? Was it a permanent change? Did you stick with it? Have you continued for years after?

[disneysteve]

"Diets" don't work.

If you want to get healthier and feel better, you need to make permanent and sustainable lifestyle changes. A great deal of it is psychological. In many ways, it is similar to good money management.

Instead of "I can't afford it" you have to think "I choose not to spend on that".
Instead of "I can't have that" you have to think "I don't want that".

Focus on the outcome. Why do you want to eat better? Why do you want to lose weight? Why do you want to exercise regularly? Focus on the fact that you will feel better, have more energy, breathe easier, have more stamina, sleep better, and be more productive, along with living longer to be there for those you love.

Also, and this isn't directed at you personally, but there is very often an underlying mental health issue in obesity. Depression, anxiety, abuse, life stresses, etc. Getting a handle on the health issues may require also getting proper care for the other issues. That may, in some cases, require professional treatment and potentially medication if appropriate. For example, if someone self-medicates with food because they are in an abusive relationship, handing them a diet book simply won't fix their problems.

Just as I have chosen throughout life to not participate in the American spending epidemic, I have also made a conscious choice not to participate in the American obesity epidemic. Both of those choices put me in a small minority, about 30% in both cases oddly enough. In fact, many people find that when they finally get their spending and finances under control, they suddenly start losing excess weight. There are a lot of connections between the two issues. When you're not stressing so much over how to pay your bills and how much debt you've got, your body functions better. There are hormonal changes that take place when you're constantly stressed that impact your ability to lose weight.

As for the meat and berries diet, no - just no. Eating a super unbalanced diet like that for any period of time, especially a diet loaded with animal fat, isn't healthy under any circumstances. Go with the tried and true - balanced, 4 food groups, lean meats, high fiber, plant-based proteins, lots of water, whole grains, limit animal and saturated fats and processed sugars. Exercise 30 minutes per day 3-5 times a week. Do a combination of cardio and strength training. And if you do have any psychological stuff going on, get the appropriate help to deal with that.

[bjl584]

I agree with Steve. Crazy diets where you have to eat weird combinations of foods for certain time periods do not work. It is a lifestyle change that you need. Balanced diet and good food that you can do longterm. Longterm as in, the rest of your life. You can't possibly eat berries and meat for the next 20 years. That is why diets like that don't work. Exercise, eat right, and the rest will fall into place.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Nope the berries and meat is a week to get off sugar and see. The whole 30 isn't a diet actually you aren't supposed to get on the scale. You are supposed to eat unprocessed foods and see how you feel. It's an elimination diet then you add things in 1 at a time. I wanted to try it and see how bad I am with lactose and if I should fully cut out milk. I only did an semi-elimination diet when I had kids and was breastfeeding but that was unsustainable.

[riverwed070707]

I'll bite. I had packed on some pounds during quarantine and before. I'm not much of a dieter, but typically when I start feeling out of my comfort weight range, I do a cleanse to cut bloat and jump start healthier eating. Settled on doing a bone broth cleanse for the first time. LOVED IT so much. I didn't get cravings like I normally do on juice cleanses and never felt hungry. I did 3 days of just bone broth followed by 4 days of bone broth + a healthy dinner. My energy level was low during the first 3 days but back to normal now. Meals should be scheduled to take place over 10-12 hours so you have a 12-14 hour fast in between dinner and breakfast. Continuing the rest of the month with 2 non-consecutive mini fasts (bone broth only days) each week and a high protein, low carb diet the rest of the time. I've dropped 10 lbs rather quickly without feeling deprived.

[Mercury1989]

Yes now everyone is facing the same problem. Lockdown was something that no one anticipated and those with overweight, including me who use to walk every morning 10 km I reduced in this and obviously the number of kgs increased considerably. Being locked in the house I started looking for information about diets that help to lose weight without much movement and I came across thishttps://www.modernfit.com/programs/n...ull-ever-need/ It is a list that helps you lose weight even though you don't need to get some food out of your daily intake.

[ua_guy]

What lifestyle change have people done and how long was it successful? Was it a permanent change? Did you stick with it? Have you continued for years after?

I've been working from home full time since late Feb? or thereabouts. I call it the Covid diet for childless couples who co-exist wonderfully under the same roof. I'm no longer confined to a cubicle in an office full of toxic people and their bad energies. No more commuting in traffic, no more getting up early to spend excessive time "getting ready" just to sit in a car for a while.

I hope it's a permanent change. It's had a noticeable (positive) effect on my sleep, happiness, daytime mood, and drinking habit (less). The dog is thrilled. The husband is happier too, as he gets to enjoy the same. We eat lunch together and sometimes escape for a quick walk during the daytime. We both feel more energetic and more compelled to exercise and do things around the house. We've even dropped a few pounds.

We could do this for years.

[Thrif-t]

I've been walking a lot but also eating a lot more dessert and food in general! I haven't gained during covid but I've gained 7# in the last year and I'm not happy! Yesterday when i went to the doctor my blood pressure was higher than it's ever been. It's still normal, but I tend to run a little lower than normal and I don't want to go on any medicine, so I'm going to be a lot more observant about what I eat!

When I went to work I'd eat greek yogurt for brkst and a salad for lunch. Now that I've been home, I'm eating a lot more bread; toast for brkst, sandwiches for lunch. I gotta cut that out! And being almost 54, well the pounds don't just come off, it'll probably take me 2 years to lose 7# and by then I will have given up. That's the hardest thing! Doing everything right and not seeing the scale move, ugh! Oh and having a DH that's a fantastic cook who cooks with all fattening ingredients; cheese, sour cream, regular cream, butter. When I tell him not so much, he scoffs at me, says that's what makes it good. And it does! I sometimes find myself overeating just because it's so damn good! That's another thing I need to be more aware!! So far I'm healthy, no meds and that's how I want to keep it!

[SamMacDonald]

I agree that all the diets work, but after you finish it all the lost kilos return back. And everything is very individual not everyone is suitable for certain diets. So, the best way is to learn how to eat correctly and follow always the right nutrition. You can find here some interesting programs for losing weight that can help you to achieve the desired weight https://www.modernfit.com/programs/n...ight-watchers/. And do not forget to drink a lot of water and move more.