My diet

paul4green

Okay so,

Last month, March 1st I started my diet.

Weight

March 1st = 15st 4lbs
April 2nd = 14st 6lbs

I had a BMI of 32.54
Now my BMI is 30.7
I exercise 40-60 mins a day on an exercise bike and/or walking.
I've been eating 1400 calories or less with no dietary modification.

Is this a good diet? I'm just looking for some tips

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

well if anyone's going to tell you if your diet is good or not you'll actually have to post it...

paul4green

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

well if anyone's going to tell you if your diet is good or not you'll actually have to post it...

But that is my diet, no major changes. More veg, less chocolate. As long as I say below 1400 calories I'm all good

just looking for a bit of helpful advice, if you care to give any!

Katgurl

You need to post up what you typically eat.

vitani

paul4green wrote: »

But that is my diet, no major changes. More veg, less chocolate. As long as I say below 1400 calories I'm all good

just looking for a bit of helpful advice, if you care to give any!

Why 1400? It seems low. I'm about 5 stone lighter than you and eat more than that.

UnknownSpecies

1400 sounds too low, you'll almost certainly burnout at some stage (speaking from experience here). What's your height? Male or female?

metamorphosis

low calorie diets can be very 'unhealthy', low calorie diets can be very 'healthy'

High calorie diets can be very 'unhealthy', high calorie diets can be very 'healthy' ...

See what I am getting at? Yes, energy is to be considered here, although at your current weight, it is a lower calorie intake than I might sometimes advise. Anyway, what FOODS are you eating? Then you can get actual advice. Like giving a typical days intake and quantity of food is what will get you advice on whether it is a decent way to eat, posting calories really is going somewhat blind on the matter.

paul4green

Breakfast : I'd usually have a standard portion of porridge with a tea spoon of sugar and slim line milk or 2 slices of wholegrain bread with 2 chopped tomatoes.

Lunch : usually soup and 2 slices of wholegrain bread

Dinner : normal dinner....spagetti bolognase etc.

I maintain a fat intake, otherwise my vit D tablets would go to waste :P

I do not drink sugary drinks/ tea etc.

only green tea with a slice of lemon.

is that enough information? sorry kinda new to the dieting world!!

Also I'm 5'8 and male

the groutch

very poor diet from what you've described, almost all carbs and nowhere near enough calories for your exercise levels.

listermint

not seeing enough protein, where are you getting protein from ?

SunnyDub1

Breakfast : I'd usually have a standard portion (what's a standard portion?) of porridge with
a tea spoon of sugar (no need for the sugar, sugar is sugar no matter how much of it you're using)
and slim line milk
or 2 slices of wholegrain bread (Carbs)with 2 chopped tomatoes.(not a very satisfying nutritious breakfast)

Lunch : usually soup and 2 slices of wholegrain bread (not a very satisfying or nutritious lunch either, are you not starving? :eek:again carb heavy lunch)

Dinner : normal dinner....spagetti bolognase etc. (carbs)

I maintain a fat intake, otherwise my vit D tablets would go to waste :P (nothing wrong with fat? fat is good if you eat the right source - coconut oil, nuts, avocados etc,! vit d... waste... huh)


**OK I'm just gonna be up straight and blunt: your Diet sucks.... Really bad! Where is your veg, fruits, protein intake?
You eat VERY little and a Very carb heavy diet.


Try something a long the lines of this.

Breakfast: Eggs,meat or oats(with no sugar)

Lunch: Salad - plenty of greens(lettuce,spinach,kale) Tomatoes, onions,peppers etc, Meat or fish (chicken, Turkey,tuna salmon).

Dinner: Meat or fish with plenty of veggies.

Snacks: Yogurt,nuts,berries.

Have a read at this http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055157091

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

ah, a teaspoon of sugar in his porridge isn't going to make a blind bit of difference in fairness
yeah it's better without it but if he likes it, he likes it.

paul4green

Why do carbs matter so much? We all require carbohydrates in a normal healthy diet. Our body requires glucose and unfortunately for humans we lack the enzyme to convert fatty acids to glucose. We can only utilise glycerol from triacylglycerol for this!.

Do you honestly think a salad would fill me up more than soup [homemade veg soup] and bread for lunch???
How is wholegrain bread with tomatoes not satisfying or nutritious? - sorry I don't have to same tastes as you???

fat is fat. Again it's bad to not eat any fat in your diet. Vit D is fat soluble. No fat = No Vit D absorption = Ricketts!!

I maintain 5 fruit and veg a day. I usually have these betwen meals to always feel like I've food in my stomach, supposedly this trains your body not to enter the dreaded " starvation mode".


It seems typical on this forum that if you eat carbs, you can expect to be ridiculed!!.

I'm not running my diet on excluding certain foods because of what they contain but on a calorie count. It's much more logical that way.
I eat meat so I probably get enough protein

Stench Blossoms

paul4green wrote: »

It seems typical on this forum that if you eat carbs, you can expect to be ridiculed!!.

No. If you eat excessive carbs (which you do btw) with little protein or fat then you get 'ridiculed' or, get given advice on how to change.

SunnyDub1

paul4green wrote: »

We all require carbohydrates in a normal healthy diet. Our body requires glucose and unfortunately for humans we lack the enzyme to convert fatty acids to glucose. We can only utilise glycerol from triacylglycerol for this!.

Yeah we do but not the carbs you are eating and the amount you eat each day :eek:
Eating Carbs isn't so much an issue, it's what carbs we eat and how much of it we eat. Your diet is FULL of simply carbs (processed foods). Look up the difference between complex and simple carbs

Do you honestly think a salad would fill me up more than soup [homemade veg soup] and bread for lunch???
How is wholegrain bread with tomatoes not satisfying or nutritious? - sorry I don't have to same tastes as you???

Emmm yes I eat salad for lunch nearly every day and feel satisfied after. add enough of the right stuff and it will fill you, like plenty of veg & proteins! Plus I don't feel bloated from eating a sh*t load of carbs after my salad :cool:
What exactly is nutritious about having toast and tomatoes has a main meal? Please do enlighten me:rolleyes:

fat is fat. Again it's bad to not eat any fat in your diet. Vit D is fat soluble. No fat = No Vit D absorption = Ricketts!!

fat isn't just fat. there are good and bad fats. I suggest you do some research on that also.

It seems typical on this forum that if you eat carbs, you can expect to be ridiculed!!.

No you just have a really crap diet that is basically just carbs.

I'm not running my diet on excluding certain foods because of what they contain but on a calorie count. It's much more logical that way.
I eat meat so I probably get enough protein

Really? cause IMO you are excluding all the important foods, proteins, good fats, complex carbs, veg.
Much more logical how?
The only meat I see in your diet is at dinner, so no you are not getting enough protein in your diet.

You came on here looking for advice, it was given to you.
You said in one post "sorry kinda new to the dieting world" so why come back and question the advice that was giving you when you clearly stated that you have very little knowledge of what a healthy diet is?
If you wanna continue your current high carb, low calorie diet because it's "much more logical" well good for you and good luck with it, cause you'll need it. :cool:

--Kaiser--

paul4green wrote: »

Why do carbs matter so much? We all require carbohydrates in a normal healthy diet. Our body requires glucose and unfortunately for humans we lack the enzyme to convert fatty acids to glucose. We can only utilise glycerol from triacylglycerol for this!.

Do you honestly think a salad would fill me up more than soup [homemade veg soup] and bread for lunch???
How is wholegrain bread with tomatoes not satisfying or nutritious? - sorry I don't have to same tastes as you???

fat is fat. Again it's bad to not eat any fat in your diet. Vit D is fat soluble. No fat = No Vit D absorption = Ricketts!!

I maintain 5 fruit and veg a day. I usually have these betwen meals to always feel like I've food in my stomach, supposedly this trains your body not to enter the dreaded " starvation mode".


It seems typical on this forum that if you eat carbs, you can expect to be ridiculed!!.

I'm not running my diet on excluding certain foods because of what they contain but on a calorie count. It's much more logical that way.
I eat meat so I probably get enough protein

LOL, first you ask for advice on a diet without detailing what you eat. Then when you do post up your diet you rail against the advice you requested

Sephya

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

No. If you eat excessive carbs (which you do btw) with little protein or fat then you get 'ridiculed' or, get given advice on how to change.

what are "excessive carbs"?

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

Your diet is FULL of simply carbs (processed foods). Look up the difference between complex and simple carbs

simple carbs ≠ processed food. a lot of fruits and vegetables are simple carbs.

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

fat isn't just fat. there are good and bad fats. I suggest you do some research on that also.

there is no such thing as good fats and bad fats, only essential fats and non-essential fats.

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

No you just have a really crap diet that is basically just carbs.

no, he has a poor diet that is mainly processed foods.

Stench Blossoms

Sephya wrote: »

what are "excessive carbs"?

2 portions of bread a day + pasta is excessive IMO.

Sephya

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

2 portions of bread a day + pasta is excessive IMO.

ok, its according to your opinion but why is it excessive?

--Kaiser--

Sephya wrote: »

ok, its according to your opinion but why is it excessive?

Both bread and pasta are mostly empty calories and provide little more nutrition than carbohydrates (plus plenty of ant-nutrients). Using them as a staple of a diet is not wise

Stench Blossoms

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

Both bread and pasta are mostly empty calories and provide little more nutrition than carbohydrates (plus plenty of ant-nutrients). Using them as a staple of a diet is not wise

^^^ this.

fussyonion

Agree about overloading on carbs not being good.

If I'm gonna have bread, I'll have it at one of the time day and only two slices and that's it; be it toast for breakfast OR as a sandwich for lunch, but never both and I wouldn't be having carbs with my dinner as well.

For me, I feel bloated if I overload on carb-heavy food.

OP, everyone's just trying to give your their opinions, which you DID ask.

Filling up on a big colourful salad (lettuce/tomatoes/peppers/cucumber/onions/radish, adding some tuna in spring water OR some lean shredded chicken will fill you up so much for your lunch, btw.)

Tiddlypeeps

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

You came on here looking for advice, it was given to you.
You said in one post "sorry kinda new to the dieting world" so why come back and question the advice that was giving you when you clearly stated that you have very little knowledge of what a healthy diet is?
If you wanna continue your current high carb, low calorie diet because it's "much more logical" well good for you and good luck with it, cause you'll need it. :cool:

This is horrible advice imo. People should ALWAYS question advice given and not just accept it in blind faith. Not one person in this thread has given a reasonable explanation for why the OP's diet isn't great, and to be honest I have no idea how any of you can tell his diet isn't great. He hasn't given any indication of portions. He doesn't say what ingredients are in his soup (could be filled with pulses), he doesn't say how much bread etc etc.


OP it might be worth your while using an app like myfitness pal or some other calorie counting app (if you aren't already) that will track your macro nutrients. You want to break down your diet into something like 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat. Those numbers can change a lot depending on your goal. Some people think carbs are the devil so they drop that right down and increase the others proportionally. If your trying to build muscle then you might want more protein etc. I would track that for a few days to see what your numbers come out as so that you can see what you need to address.

How you actually get those into you isn't as big a deal as some people make out. The only issue with simple carbs that I know of is that they give you a sugar rush and can make you feel lethargic soon after, making you crave more sugar/simple carbs. They also don't fill you very much so it's easy to overeat. Sure complex carbs are better than simple carbs, but if you are getting your daily calories and hitting your macros then it really doesn't matter that much. Your diet is much more likely to fail if you are constantly eating stuff you don't like and eating really healthy than eating stuff you like that is a little unhealthy but still hitting your target calories. So do what works best for you.

Something alarming about your post is how little calories you are eating. Your body has two numbers that you need to work out and be aware of related to energy expenditure. BMR (Basal metabolic rate) and TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). The BMR is essentially what your body needs to function, if you were in a coma your BMR is the number of calories the doctors would administer to you in a drip daily. Your TDEE is how much energy you use every day from just sitting at a computer typing to any exercise you do. To lose weight effectively you want to be taking in calories somewhere between those two values. Definitely at least take in your BMR everyday otherwise your metabolism will slow right down, this will have the knock on effect of making you put the weight back on very easily. Based on the BMI number you gave (unless you are very short) I reckon your calorie intake for weight loss would work out around 1600 to 1800.

There are a bunch of tools here to help you work out those numbers. http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

Best of luck and well done on the progress so far.

SunnyDub1

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

This is horrible advice imo. People should ALWAYS question advice given and not just accept it in blind faith. Not one person in this thread has given a reasonable explanation for why the OP's diet isn't great, and to be honest I have no idea how any of you can tell his diet isn't great. He hasn't given any indication of portions. He doesn't say what ingredients are in his soup (could be filled with pulses), he doesn't say how much bread etc etc.

That's your opinion, but the OP asked for advice & tips I'm entitled to give what I think is helpful and appropriate, and I think that most of the regular contributers to this forum will agree that my information and advice was relevantly helpful and accurate.
If you read correctly you would see that it was pointed out why and where the OP's diet isn't great. I can and did point out several things wrong with the op's diet.
Putting the carb issue and other to a side, are you honestly telling me having toast with a few tomatoes is a healthy nutritious main meal?

I'm only speaking from my own experience and knowledge.
while different diets and ways work for different people, I've been on one of them "diets" that the op is currently on - it may work now but I bet it won't last and work out in the long run. It's not all about counting and cutting calories.

Tiddlypeeps

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

That's your opinion, but the OP asked for advice & tips I'm entitled to give what I think is helpful and appropriate, and I think that most of the regular contributers to this forum will agree that my information and advice was relevantly helpful and accurate.
If you read correctly you would see that it was pointed out why and where the OP's diet isn't great. I can and did point out several things wrong with the op's diet.
Putting the carb issue and other to a side, are you honestly telling me having toast with a few tomatoes is a healthy nutritious main meal?

I'm only speaking from my own experience and knowledge.
while different diets and ways work for different people, I've been on one of them "diets" that the op is currently on - it may work now but I bet it won't last and work out in the long run. It's not all about counting and cutting calories.

You are perfectly entitled to offer advice to somebody that's asked for it, and it's kind of you to do so. What I was commenting on was that getting pissy at somebody because they question you is not ok. Just because somebody claims ignorance on a subject does not mean they cannot question an authority on that subject (I have no idea if you are or not, it's irrelevant anyway).


I'm not even gonna comment on weather I think that's a nutritious meal or not because it's irrelevant. He hasn't provided nearly enough information to comment on his diet. You made a specific comment on the quantity of carbs he was taking in when he has given you no indication of how many carbs he is taking in. Individual meals don't matter, all that matters is the big picture over the whole day (unless you have evidence to the contrary?). If he feels satisfied by a couple of slices of wholegrain toast in the morning (no idea if that's what he actually eats) then it doesn't matter, there are only about 150 calories in that anyway. The OP may very well not be eating well at all, but until he provides more info then it's pointless speculating.

I would disagree that it's not all about counting calories, but it's certainly not all about cutting calories (for reasons I laid out in my previous post). Counting calories can be a very important tool, even just for a while to give someone an idea of exactly how many calories they eat and roughly what calories/macro nutrients are in what foods. For weight loss the calories are the important bit, you can eat at Mc Donalds every day and lose weight if you have good control over your calorie count, you could maintain it too if you aren't under eating. The person doing that would feel awful and would probably spend most of the day feeling hungry, but the point still stands calorie counting is very important to the goal at hand.

I know someone who thinks rice is the low cal option for dinner and there are little to no calories in it. The same person thinks that a biscuit has a million calories. They find they aren't losing weight and they blame it on the odd biscuit that they broke down and ate instead of the mountain of rice they had with dinner each night. People can be shockingly ignorant on what they eat and tracking that for a while to see where the hotspots are is only going to be a good thing.

Just a note I'm not saying rice is bad, as with everything portion size and ratios to other foods are key.

paul4green

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

LOL, first you ask for advice on a diet without detailing what you eat. Then when you do post up your diet you rail against the advice you requested

I'm sorry that I'm new to this forum?????

Guys, I obviously didn't know that I needed to outline a whole weeks worth of what I eat for you's to get an adequate assessment of my diet.

I do eat 5 fruit a day, mainly raw peppers & cucumber slices [I love them].
I do watch my calorific intake religiously.
I do eat lean meats such as chicken breast.
I don't watch my carbs as much as I should [thanks for the advice :P ]

I eat a half bag of rice [200cal] with bolognase, not pasta as was thought. I don't eat this every day.

Is smoked coley oven baked fillets ok??

To though who gave me helpful advice, thanks. Some posters seem very aggressive on here, I got a little defensive. RED writing tends to be a sign of aggression[hint hint].

Update on the weight - 14st 4.5 lbs

Thanks again !

paul4green

SunnyDub1 wrote: »

Putting the carb issue and other to a side, are you honestly telling me having toast with a few tomatoes is a healthy nutritious main meal?

I don't think I even said this was my main meal, I have this for breakfast if I don't have time to make porridge

paul4green

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

This is horrible advice imo. People should ALWAYS question advice given and not just accept it in blind faith. Not one person in this thread has given a reasonable explanation for why the OP's diet isn't great, and to be honest I have no idea how any of you can tell his diet isn't great. He hasn't given any indication of portions. He doesn't say what ingredients are in his soup (could be filled with pulses), he doesn't say how much bread etc etc.


OP it might be worth your while using an app like myfitness pal or some other calorie counting app (if you aren't already) that will track your macro nutrients. You want to break down your diet into something like 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat. Those numbers can change a lot depending on your goal. Some people think carbs are the devil so they drop that right down and increase the others proportionally. If your trying to build muscle then you might want more protein etc. I would track that for a few days to see what your numbers come out as so that you can see what you need to address.

How you actually get those into you isn't as big a deal as some people make out. The only issue with simple carbs that I know of is that they give you a sugar rush and can make you feel lethargic soon after, making you crave more sugar/simple carbs. They also don't fill you very much so it's easy to overeat. Sure complex carbs are better than simple carbs, but if you are getting your daily calories and hitting your macros then it really doesn't matter that much. Your diet is much more likely to fail if you are constantly eating stuff you don't like and eating really healthy than eating stuff you like that is a little unhealthy but still hitting your target calories. So do what works best for you.

Something alarming about your post is how little calories you are eating. Your body has two numbers that you need to work out and be aware of related to energy expenditure. BMR (Basal metabolic rate) and TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). The BMR is essentially what your body needs to function, if you were in a coma your BMR is the number of calories the doctors would administer to you in a drip daily. Your TDEE is how much energy you use every day from just sitting at a computer typing to any exercise you do. To lose weight effectively you want to be taking in calories somewhere between those two values. Definitely at least take in your BMR everyday otherwise your metabolism will slow right down, this will have the knock on effect of making you put the weight back on very easily. Based on the BMI number you gave (unless you are very short) I reckon your calorie intake for weight loss would work out around 1600 to 1800.

There are a bunch of tools here to help you work out those numbers. http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

Best of luck and well done on the progress so far.

Thanks for the advice Really appreciate a good assessment.

I really don't eat pure carbs, I understand nutrition and dietetics quite well and actually study with Human Nutrition and Dietetics students. Many are my friends and they often give me solid advice on my diet
They've warned me not to believe these "fad" diets and aim to lose 1-2 pounds a week and approx 250 mins exercise. Currently on Easter holidays so I've been doing more [1hr/day] normally I do 30mins.

thanks though, I'll ask them about the BMR and TDEE

6am7f9zxrsjvnb

Paul4Green,you`re losing weight,you don`t feel faint.Well done!If I was you i would ignore the slightly militant opinions aired here...eat what you want.just eat a sensible amount of it..go for an `oul jog every second day and don`t worry about it:)

Stench Blossoms

SunnyDub1 gave good advice as it's based on experience. It's similar to my own experience and a lot of others here so I don't see why there is so much negativity.

Everyone thinks they've a perfect diet. Doctors are still recommending the food pyramid. It's regularly seen here that peoples diets are full of processed foods that are marketed at being 'healthy'. Nobody here is making money from giving you advice and 9/10 times the regular posters here are giving good advice.

Bit of gratitude wouldn't go astray.

paul4green wrote: »

, I understand nutrition and dietetics quite well and actually study with Human Nutrition and Dietetics students. Many are my friends and they often give me solid advice on my diet

So what did you come here for?

madma

paul4green wrote: »

Thanks for the advice Really appreciate a good assessment.

I really don't eat pure carbs, I understand nutrition and dietetics quite well and actually study with Human Nutrition and Dietetics students. Many are my friends and they often give me solid advice on my diet
They've warned me not to believe these "fad" diets and aim to lose 1-2 pounds a week and approx 250 mins exercise. Currently on Easter holidays so I've been doing more [1hr/day] normally I do 30mins.

thanks though, I'll ask them about the BMR and TDEE

So you already know it 'quite well' and your friends give you 'solid' advice??:rolleyes:

paul4green

Again, I'm new to dieting myself although I know a fair bit about it. Only looking for advice, which I can say I've gotten. A few snappy people but sure that's life!


Thanks guys!

Gorilla Rising

Raquel Nutritious Tablespoon wrote: »

Paul4Green,you`re losing weight,you don`t feel faint.Well done!If I was you i would ignore the slightly militant opinions aired here

Yeah! Shut up science!

Paul, I've read a good bit on the subject and while I'm no expert, the opinions voiced here are pretty much what any good nutritionist would give you.

Just have a look around the internet and you'll see that.

Nobody's saying cut out carbs, by all means eat them, but eat the right kind.

Also, from what you posted for a typical day, you're not really getting much protein.

Also, as for saying 'if you don't feel faint, carry on' - well that is mental advice and should be ignored.

Years ago I was on a horrendous diet and losing weight. I didn't feel faint, but it did me no good in the long run as regards sustainability, not to mention the long term affects of eating too little, which thankfully I changed before it long!

Make a life style choice about food and get creative in the kitchen - it's much more rewarding. Best of luck!

Magenta

paul4green wrote: »

is that enough information? sorry kinda new to the dieting world!!

paul4green wrote: »

Why do carbs matter so much? We all require carbohydrates in a normal healthy diet. Our body requires glucose and unfortunately for humans we lack the enzyme to convert fatty acids to glucose. We can only utilise glycerol from triacylglycerol for this!.

Copying big words from diet websites does not an expert make.

paul4green wrote: »

I maintain 5 fruit and veg a day. I usually have these betwen meals to always feel like I've food in my stomach, supposedly this trains your body not to enter the dreaded " starvation mode".

And how are we supposed to know this from the "typical day" you posted?
By the way, starvation mode is a myth. Hence why starving people tend to be very skinny.

Tiddlypeeps wrote: »

to be honest I have no idea how any of you can tell his diet isn't great. He hasn't given any indication of portions. He doesn't say what ingredients are in his soup (could be filled with pulses), he doesn't say how much bread etc etc.

It wasn't for the want of asking.