Drummer Cafe Community Forum

Yeah, my wife and I had a kid...Okay, that's not at all true...WE did the nasty...SHE had the baby!  LOL!!  Nevermind all that...She gained weight, I gained it with her.  She lost it after 9 months...I didn't.  That's the problem.  I need to know if anyone knows any good diet plans so I can shed about 50 pounds in a fairly short abmount of time.  My new band will be gigging in about a month and a half and I'm not in the physical shape I need to be to start sweating like that and be able to survive a 4 hour gig.

Thanks,
Brent

Hi Brent,


Congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your son Conner.

This is what has been working for me to get off the extra 25 pounds I gained in college and on the road...<I'm half way there in just a month>My motivation is to get really ripped and lean for my video which I plan to make when my hands are better.


No sugar.  This means splenda in my hot tea and coffee <can't cut out the caffeine yet :P>, and no prepared foods that are high in sugar, such as certain bbq sauces, ketchups, sodas, canned fruits, syrups, etc.  Also, for me, no fruits during this induction phase due to sugar levels, but will phase them back in slowly after I lose the last 10 pounds.  Also, since I cut out the sugar, I haven't been "crashing" in the afternoons after lunch.

Secondly, no white flour products, or foods high in carbs.  This includes potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, crackers, powdered soups, etc.  Its the "refined carbs" that make people gain weight.  The truth is one has to be careful of all the manufactured lab foods.  Even though they may be "low fat", they are often filled with junk.  In my opinion, you're better off counting carbs and eating purer foods.  I've been limiting my carbs to 30g a day, max.  When the body doesn't have carbs to burn for fuel, it will go to the fuel backup, a.k.a. "stored fat" for energy.  

I've been cooking for myself as much as possible.  <i have all kinds of cool recipes I've made up if anyone is interested. :D>  Being creative and fun is the key, so it doesn't get boring or bland.  Lots of lean protein <i before e except after t?>, grilled veggies, homemade soup...I get a lot of stuff at the Deli, like yummy cheeses <horseradish cheddar--yum> and tasty meats such as peppered turkey breast, etc.  <What I'm trying to figure out is the no nitrate thing, though...is there any ham or bacon that has no nitrates?>

I eat LOTS of green veggies , salad, etc. with every meal.  <While I'm trying to lose the last 10 pounds, I will refrain from a few high carb veggies such as beans <except green beans>, corn, carrots and peas, but will phase them back in slowly and eat them in moderation when I get to my goal weight.  Meanwhile, there are lots of other veggies that are low in carbs that I like.>

No fried foods of course.

Lots of water and exercise.  A minimum of walking at least 20 minutes a day, combined with stretching, ab crunches, etc.  I try to get in a gallon of water a day.  

Use olive oil or Pam for cooking...

I substitute mashed cauliflower for mashed potatoes, light heavy cream for milk, low carb wraps <like at subway> for bread.  If I have to do the fast food thing, I take the bun off and get a salad instead of fries.

I also take all kinds of vitamin supplements.

Oh, if you like beer, get Michelob Ultra or Miller Lite if they don't have the low carb beer.  That was hard for me at first because I love darker beers like Shiner Bock and Bass, but I've gotten used to it. :P  

Darn I miss pizza...and tater tots...and potato chips...and chocolate ice cream.... >:(

Xena is correct-the Atkins diet works!  I weigh what I did in high school, but I know a few people who did the atkins diet and dropped some tonnage-and kept it off.......

I was trying to refrain from "titles" due to its controversial nature. ;)  Buy yeah, quicksfoot busted me---it is the Atkins diet. ;D

Now, I was soooo skeptical about this until I read his book.  I started looking at labels and realize now he was right.  I get a lot of crap from people when I tell them I'm on the Atkins diet, <they seem to think this means all you eat is fatty meat all day and clog your arteries, but for me it means 2 things---no sugar, no white flour, period>.  In the book I learned we have just been given a lot of wrong information about our bodies/metabolism,diet, etc. in the past 2 decades.  As he calls it, the "low fat fiasco"...

I bought the South Beach book, which is a "modified Atkins diet", but its not for me due to much of the preparation time required for meals.  I'd rather grab a piece of meat and cheese, roll it up in a ball instead of go through all time it takes to cook the South Beach meals.  But I would recommend checking into it to see if its one that will work for you.  <Okay, the real truth why I can't do the South Beach---no bacon allowed, ever.   ;D  True, bacon grease is really gross in a solid state, so I wipe it off really well/soak it with a paper towel before I eat it.>

How's the soda intake with such a diet?  I may or may not try such a diet out—I am overweight, even though all it amounts to, really, is a big belly.

I mean, is Diet Coke okay in large amounts?  How's your general soda intake, Xena?

I used to enjoy a coke once in a while, but now that is strictly off limits.  The amount of carbs in once coke is around 35g, which exceeds a whole day's worth of eating.   And all the sugar, oh my goodness...

The first week I was dying for a coke in the middle of the night--so I popped one open and had 3 sips <ok, chugs> and made myself pour the rest out.  I know, though, that the soda thing would probably be the toughest part for you, being the the soda enthusiast you are  ;).  On the Atkins diet, one can have unlimited sodas that are 0 Carbs and 0 sugar, such as, yes, Diet Coke.  Well, you're supposed to lay off the caffeine, so if you find one that's caffeine free, that's all the better.  I think there's also some new Sprite drink called Zero...

<Wow, can you guys believe my typing?  Thank the Lord, I think my hands are healing.  :)>

As far as weight training, which is especially important for us women to tone those thighs and butts, I'm only doing lower body machines and cardio because my hands aren't strong enough yet to hold or support any weights.  Unfortunately, I can't do any push ups yet, either, because its too much weight on the hands, but I'm looking forward to being able to lift weights again.

[minor derail]
Yes, very good news about your hand healing up!
[/minor derail - carry on]

Sugars and Carbs in ANY form are to be avoided!  Stick with things like flavored Calistoga water, or diet coke (and rum) When you start counting Carbs.  Sugars and Carbo elimination is the key.  You can still eat most of the good stuff you like....but you should p/u the A. book (Xena is right about not naming brands and junk, or Bart and his cronies will nip ya) and read it.  Its sooooo simple, and IT FRIKKEN WORKS-
A good friend of mine did a sort of study on me, and how I weigh the same now at 44 as I did in high school, and I basically have been doing the A. diet all my life!  And dont be an extra cushion on the sofa-EXERCISE and A. diet is how you do it........

 :)

One more tip, try not to eat late at night before going to bed!  I'm breaking that rule right now, though, as I'm making turkey-spinach-green pepper-green onion-jalapeno burgers <breadless><with my secret seasonings ;)>, topped with mushrooms and smoked gouda and sharp cheddar on a bed of avocado at 11:00 at night, but at least its not on a bed of fries!

I'm hoping to drop a few with diet & exercise.  I've never been much for diet plans.  I try to each smaller portions, more salads, take the stairs, drink more water, and hit the gym a few days a week for treadmill, cardio & some easy weights.  I'm hopng to drop a snare-drum's worth by summer.  :)
 

Yes, pick up the book and decide if its right for you.  The book is what will make you understand why it works, contrary to what we've been taught and "fed" <pun intended> all these years.  

You know what?  I'll just give you my book if you don't want to spend the $---we need to hook up anyway and hang.  Sometime if you can get a babysitter, Animal, you and your wife should come out to one of  my, or my old man's gigs.  Call me and I'll being you the book if you want. :)

Right on Xena-yer cool........thats what friends are for-

"keep smiling, keep shining, knowing you can always count on me, for sure...thats what friends are for!"  :)

Great--now I have that song in my head!

Dave: re: your signature and "ultracrepidarians":

Incase anyone is wondering its meaning, I webstered it:  Here's what it says:

Part of Speech:   noun, adjective
Definition:   beyond one's knowledge or province; pertaining to opinions given on matters beyond one's knowledge; also written ultra-crepidarian
Etymology:   from Latin `beyond the sole'

 ;)

Yeah, my current favorite word.  I think I first read it in "Mental Floss" magazine about a year ago.  I try to not be one.  :)

I looove that magazine!  Great bedtime reading!

   Don't the Diet sodas contain aspertame? Isn't aspertame pretty bad? Dunno, just what I've heard from a few people.

False, says Snopes, along with a barrage of cites at the link (http://www.snopes.com/toxins/aspartame.asp)

Presumably being a sesquipedalian ultracrepidarian is even more to be avoided.  ;D

See, the thing with specific diets is this: most diets as published will have some sort of beneficial effect. But not in and of themselves - it's largely because they make you pay attention to what you're eating and the exercise you are (or aren't) doing. The major benefit of any specific diet is emotional: you basically need something to hang your motivation on. And you're more likely to do that with one that somehow appeals to you. It doesn't matter if the appeal is intellectual ("hmm, this one says to avoid A, B and C; that makes nutritional sense, I'll go for that") or emotional ("I really like what this person has to say, he makes me want to look after myself better" or "several friends say this works, I'll give it a shot"). Others use different "hooks" - for example, regular humilation at WeightWatchers (which you can now enrol for online, by the way), or (as in my case) sprouting a classic case of type II diabetes mellitus.

Ultimately, as Jasper Carrot once said, the fundamental problem is that this hole (points to mouth) is bigger than this hole (points to fundament). After that, it's just down to willpower.  ;D

True.  For me, a structured plan is easier to follow. You know what, Moose?  You sound like Plato.  Seriously---he discusses similar "appeals"--intellectual, emotional in his works... ;D

Stress, cigarettes, lots of coffee and only eating once or twice a day keeps me fit and trim.  

   Thanks for the link. But it didn't really make any sense. It began and concluded by saying that it isn't bad for you but the middle told otherwise. Things like this make me wonder:

   
and this.......

Yep.

A couple of thoughts...

I lost 40 pounds on the low carb diet.  I got used to the lifestyle and maintained for many months.  Ultimately though, the exercise slowed when I reached goal and eventually stopped.  The rather bland diet started to crumble and eventually fell.  

It's "easy" to lose weight, but much harder to keep it off.  I've been thinking about climbing back on the wagon, but I just don't want to waste the time if I can't keep it off.  That said, I'm fairly certain that with moderate portions, few sweets and at least minimal exercise it shouldn't be too hard for me...  Now I've just gotta get back into it...

You're quoting from debunked text.

FDA calls aspartame, sold under trade names such as NutraSweet and Equal, one of the most thoroughly tested and studied food additives the agency has ever approved. The agency says the more than 100 toxicological and clinical studies it has reviewed confirm that aspartame is safe for the general population." (http://www.aspartamearchives.org/default.php)

The overwhelming body of scientific evidence clearly shows that aspartame, even in amounts many times greater than what people typically consume, is safe and not associated with adverse health effects. (http://www.aspartamearchives.org/archieves/2.php)

From Health Canada (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/index.html):

There is no evidence to suggest that the consumption of foods containing this sweetener, according to the provisions of the Food and Drug Regulations and as part of a well-balanced diet, would pose a health hazard to consumers. (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/cs-ipc/chha-edpcs/e_aspartame01.html)

As to the allegations concerning the methanol in aspartame:

(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/food-aliment/cs-ipc/chha-edpcs/e_aspartame02.html)[/b][/size]

Not supported.

While methanol is a by-product of aspartame digestion, it is not foreign to the human diet. The pectin in many common foods including fruits and vegetables and their juices contains low levels of methanol and substances that are metabolised to methanol. A cup of tomato juice would provide about six times more methanol than a cup of aspartame-containing soft drink. Dietary methanol, whether it comes from aspartame or common foods, is present at levels too low to cause any health problems. It does not accumulate in the body but is metabolised through normal metabolic pathways to formaldehyde, then to formic acid and finally to water and carbon dioxide.[/url]

Again, the moosetication dictionary comes out, ragged pages and all.

"The author used words much as a dog would use a lamp-post: more to mark than to illuminate."

Now I have to get out my special Latin Moosetication Dictionary.   ;D

Well, yes.  Whatever is your point anyway? ;D ;)

Okay, here is my 2 cents on the diet. I have ttried a lot of diets in the past year including Atkins. All of them had short comings. The common thread was that you can lose weight fast, but you put it back on just as fast.

As some of you know, about 2 months ago I started "Boot Camp" with a personal trainer. Besides getting into a regular excercise routine, the biggest thing he educated me on is my diet. I eat 7 small meals a day. This turns your body into a metabolism machine. By eating in this manner your increase your metabolism, thus you start to lose weight. When I first started this way of eating, I literally could not eat everything that my trainer told me I needed to eat in a days time. I also had a hard time believing that I could lose weight this way.

Granted, what I eat is not the most fun food in the world, but it is filling, and I have lost 25lbs in 7 weeks, and I have 4 more to go to reach my goal weight. After you reach your goal, then you go into a maintainence diet, which is not as restrictive on the types of food, but still eating 5 small meals a day instead of 7.

The excercise goes hand in hand with the diet. However, all excercise and no diet will not give you the results you are looking for. If you are interested in the specifics of what my diet is made up of, just PM and I will send it to you.

Well, I'm sure Rolfing couldn't hurt!

;D

Bad news Joe

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/waistsizepredicts/waistsizepredicts&floc=HR-1-L1 (http://channels.netscape.com/ns/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/waistsizepredicts/waistsizepredicts&floc=HR-1-L1)

What's another word for Thesaurus?

Ah, frig.  I feel woozy now.  I'm glad you showed me, though. :)  

We'll see what happens here...

It seems I've hit a plateau on the scale.  >:(  While I'm temped to say "Screw this, I'm going to have some fettucini alfredo or biryani...", I'm going to stick to it and focus more on how my clothes fit, and how I feel, as opposed to the scale.  Muscles weigh more than fat anyway!  Point here, don't get discouraged or fall off the wagon.  :)  Be positive.

  I read a great quote today that I thought I'd post here as it holds some relevance to the topic.

  "It's better to be fat but fit than to be skinny but malnourished".

  I've chosen the step-up machine & skipping rope for my diet.

  Peace

I wish I had a personal trainer.  Maybe someday when I'm rich and famous.  I think I would drive them crazy.

Well, a couple of months ago I hit the highest weight I've ever weighed.

Not a great idea as you get older.

I've lost 14 pounds in the last 6 weeks or so.  In my case, I've basically stopped eating ANYTHING between meals.  Small breakfast, sensible lunch and dinner.  That's it.  NO SNACKS.  Once I get by the first week or two on that, I can do it ok.  I've got at least 13 pounds to go, we'll see if it keeps working.

i'm at a plateau, too, but it's coz i had a really bad chocolate setback ::) it all turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy from there. you know the thinking pattern: 'well, i failed, so i must be a failure, so what's the point of trying, so i guess i should eat more chocolate...'

if you fall off the wagon, you hafta get back on it. i got back in the gym and with the weights. you know, weights are a beautiful thing. they help you keep burning fat even after the fact. i discovered i have more energy for them at night, so that's when i go for it. we have a gym in my building and i go late, when no one's there [i haaaaaate working out with other people around].

anyhow, there ain't no simple solution. well, actually there is: sensible eating and regular exercise. but it's hard to always live that way.

nonetheless, 40 is encroaching, and i simply refuse to ring in the event with extra pudge, so i am currently highly motivated. when i hit my goal weight, i am going to buy myself the skinniest, sexiest, most butt-defining jeans i can find, and prance around in them, complete with stilettos and bippie top. damned if i'll give in to failure!!!!

i didt eat 4 like a month an lost 40 lb, true effin story, plus im 15 so i guees its easy 4 me

don't eat sugar, don't overindulge, drink a lot of water.  "ripped fuel extreme" works pretty well when used properly.  don't eat b/t meals, either.

ya gotta eat between meals! just not junk.

nuts, smoked salmon, veggies 'n yogurt dip, fruit, a little cheese, brothy soups, even a small sandwich [cukes] on dense, dark bread is good. food stabilizes your metabolism and keeps you from pigging out later on.

when you don't eat, or start starving yourself, your metabolism slows down in preparation for starvation. it's a survival mechanism. worked great in the forest, not in our car-crazy culture.

eat! eat everything -- just eat good, whole foods in smallish quantities. drink water. eat slowly and chew yer food.

occasional fasting is good, too, but only a supervised one, and preferably when you have a few days off from work or school. fasting is too stressful to do in high-stimuli environments.

and if you lift weights, you can eat a little bit more!



shoot, i'm fargin' hungry now. :o

Here's trick that has *really* worked for me:
1) get a notebook
2) put it in the kitchen
3) write down a daily log of *EVERYTHING* you eat.
4) be honest and rigorous. record it all.

Yes, its a pain. Yes, it's annoying. But it forces you to be accountable and conscious of everything you put in your mouth. It has helped my willpower, because I didn't want to see that '2 slices chocolate cake' staring at me on the page.
I'm using this technique now as part of a program to lose about 15 pounds.

Ok, as of last Friday's "weigh in" I've lost a total of 16 pounds since I started trying to lose some weight.

Basically, I eat three good meals a day and LAY OFF THE JUNK FOOD.  Also been drinking lots of water.

I hit a high of 207 just around Christmas and now I'm 191.  I'm shooting for 175-180.

We'll see if I can report any more weight loss each week!

i'll try to join you in the weekly weigh-ins. i try to avoid those, especially because i've been stuck in this plateau phase. but maybe i'm adding muscle, and that's why the numbers ain't budging.

so far i've only lost 8 pounds. a few people have said they see a difference, but i don't. i do feel a little more energized, though. and very motivated, which is key. the challenge has been coordinating dinner and exercise. been having some late nights at work, and sometimes i exercise without eating or vice-versa, which isn't a great approach.

i'm still determined to reach my goal!

Hey Smogg -- keep it going!!
I just got back in the gym after a huge hiatus too!
I got real focused on learning a bunch of new drumming and the new job is busting my butt.. Lots of other new committments, and it all added up to the big -
"Nah,, I'm not working out any more.. Used to.. Wish I had the time now.. "

But, Like you.. Not giving in any more!!!!! Gotta make the time!!!
 >:(

I read the replies and they went off topic a little. The guy (Hi Animal) and his wife just had a lovely baby. Do any of you know what that means?
The food intake intake increases due to testing baby food, you suffer sleep depravation which upset normal eating routine so you snack. You don't have time to cook a decent meal now so you snack and the baby eats fine. You get stressed as you havn't a clue to bringing up babies so you dissapear to the pub for relief drinks, which you have to double the intake as you need to get home to assist the wife. Fitting in drum practice between nappy changes becomes a battle and you are tired so eat lots of sugars to give you energy. Stay in shape!...round is a shape, be happy that you can get away for a 4 hour gig  ;D ;D ;D

I'm just about to start hitting the gym again. Been a long while since I last went and it's sure to hurt a bit but I feel pretty slow and tired so I really need to do this. Nice to know I am not alone!

Down to 188.  That's 19 pounds since Christmas.  

Not trying to be annoying, but it's a motivating factor for me to post the results.  8)

Keep it coming!
Think of it this way - that's equivalent to 19 bags of sugar ...

yeah, rock on, big daddy!


oops. i mean small daddy

;D


definitely post your results -- it's motivating for you AND us!


i had a great workout yesterday and day before. it felt like something was happening. i wish i could magically morph to a size 2, but i guess slow and steady wins the race.

Just for the record, I've totally fallen off the low-carb wagon. :P
Since I started playing gigs again, it seems Jack in the Box is always right there on the way home at 3am.  :P

I'm still on the "Eat Less Food and You Will Lose Weight" diet.  It involves discipline and sacrifice.  I've looked for the new "discipline and sacrifice made easy" pills, but I guess they're not on the market yet.

I've lost 20 pounds as of today.