Question About Losing Weight?

[Dan...]

If we're looking at it purely in terms of weight gain, we've got to take into account that a body with a high amount of muscle mass burns more calories at a standing state than one with a lower muscle mass percentage. So a top body builder could get away with it without gaining too much fat but our man here couldn't.

The point about McDonalds Vs. Almonds isn't the case at all. There are very different types of fat that have very different effects on the body. Junk food like McDonalds contains high levels of satuates and trans fats which cause weight gain and are linked to high colesterol and heart disease. Almonds in comparison are high in monounsaturated fats which reduce the risk of heart disease and lower colesterol, aid strength and aerobic training and protect the body from injuries. They also decrease after meal rises in blood sugar levels.

From a purely weight loss perspective, a high monounsaturated/almond enriched low calorie diet is more effective at losing weight than a low calorie diet high in complex carbs. People who eat nuts at least twice a week are much less likely to gain wieght than those who never eat them so they lower the risk of weight gain.

It's more about the type of fats that you consume rather than purely the amount.

This is full of misinformation. The bolded in particular is trash.

Enjoy getting your daily fat requirements from teaspoons of olive oil and plain almonds while I eat ice cream.

Honestly, you people try to make this all so complex. It isn't, stop trying.

Calories in vs calories out. Eat at a caloric deficit of 500-700 below your maintenance level.

Eat 1g of protein per pound of lean body mass.

Eat 0.4g of fat per pound of bodyweight.

Lift heavy weights.

Profit.

A gram of fat is a gram of fat. A gram of protein is a gram of protein.

Also I saw that you think its essential to "never miss a meal". I fast for up to 18 hours per day on a daily basis. Meal timing is irrelevant to body composition.

[Dan...]

to the bodybuilders at the top level i say have at it, you are doing something right, clearly, and dont need me to tell you what to do. light weight, baby.
those guys also use ungodly amounts of drugs (hormones, steroids, *******, etc) to get like that.

on the bold
you are correct. initially one would still lose weight if he's using (through biological processes and the work that he has done) more than he's eating.


keep in mind that a big mac, decent sized order of fries, and a soda is going to be half of the calories you've allowed for each day. probably more.



and on the last part, there's more to it than that. the way you carry your weight is affected by the food you eat.
just look at a serious drinker.
you've also got your heart to worry about. if you're trying to lose weight i'd go with nuts over macdonalds

So it sounds like you are starting to agree to me. You are now dis*****g what he would eat at McDonalds and how that would fit in. At no point did I advise him to go eating large fries and soda. I don't eat fries when I eat McDonalds. Typically I get one of the large burgers and chicken nuggets or dippers. However, he could get the fries if he wanted to. Sure it would be a little tougher to fit it in, but it could be done.

"The way you carry your weight is affected by the food you eat." Care to explain that?

And for the last time, this is not about general health. Start another thread if you want to debate general health impacts of food. He wants to reduce his body fat percentage. That is his sole aim for this thread. Again, whether you get your protein and fat requirements from almonds or McDonalds, it has no impact on body composition or weight loss. None. This isn't opinion, this is fact.

[F l i c k e r]

lol. I'm with Dan. It's not rocket science. It's all hard work and dedication.

I particularly do HIIT. High intensity interval training. So it's a blend of cardio and plyometrics. I have enough muscle from Football(american) so I don't lift really. I may lift a dumb bell to keep my muscles in that tense state. So they don't forget the feeling of being tense, so I don't struggle during workouts to get back into that mode.

I eat what I can. No strict diet but I already know what to eat and not to eat so it's not an issue for me. I try to eat frequently just so my metabolism can keep working. In hope to eat away the fat on my body.

I have no clue where I am at. I'm hoping low 190s. If I am at or around 191(football playing weight). I will be happy as hell. Anything more than 193 is a big disappointment, regardless of how fit I am. I'm trying to drop my BF% to that gold zone where you can see the cobblestones.

Remember though TS. If cut/defined abs is what you really want. Fat has to be removed from head to toe. Meaning it has to come off legs, ass, arms, neck etc etc. Usually the gut is the last place for it to come off. lol

[New England]

So it sounds like you are starting to agree to me. You are now dis*****g what he would eat at McDonalds and how that would fit in. At no point did I advise him to go eating large fries and soda. I don't eat fries when I eat McDonalds. Typically I get one of the large burgers and chicken nuggets or dippers. However, he could get the fries if he wanted to. Sure it would be a little tougher to fit it in, but it could be done.

"The way you carry your weight is affected by the food you eat." Care to explain that?

And for the last time, this is not about general health. Start another thread if you want to debate general health impacts of food. He wants to reduce his body fat percentage. That is his sole aim for this thread. Again, whether you get your protein and fat requirements from almonds or McDonalds, it has no impact on body composition or weight loss. None. This isn't opinion, this is fact.

what's to explain? eat junk food for a year after being fit and eating healthy for a long period.
take a look at a heavy drinker. thats a build developed through diet (drinking)

or the chin // face // hands of somebody who eats out for dinner every night


and on the second bold i couldnt disagree more.
you're better off eating healthy food with the limited amount you're allowing yourself each day when you are losing weight. there is more to it than what i'm gathering you believe is important (what you've mentioned, calories, grams of protein, and grams of fat)
a lot more to it than that.

you can only eat so much a day with the limited diet you're proposing.


i mean really? you dont think that the amount of fat a person carries is dependent on the type of food they eat, and not simply the amount it provides in calories and the weight in grams of fat and protein?

you really think that a person who eats identical numbers of said units of energy (calories) // masses of fat and protein with a diet of pure macdonalds will be no less flabby than an identical person eating healthy foods?
that's just not the case dude.
and no, i'm not in agreement with you other than the points i specifically agreed with
you arent smug enough to think that "bodybuilders at the top level" was referring to you, right?

[Dan...]

what's to explain? eat junk food for a year after being fit and eating healthy for a long period.
take a look at a heavy drinker. thats a build developed through diet (drinking)

or the chin // face // hands of somebody who eats out for dinner every night


and on the second bold i couldnt disagree more.
you're better off eating healthy food with the limited amount you're allowing yourself each day when you are losing weight. there is more to it than what i'm gathering you believe is important (what you've mentioned, calories, grams of protein, and grams of fat)
a lot more to it than that.

you can only eat so much a day with the limited diet you're proposing.


i mean really? you dont think that the amount of fat a person carries is dependent on the type of food they eat, and not simply the amount it provides in calories and the weight in grams of fat and protein?\

you really think that a person who eats identical numbers of said units of energy (calories) // masses of fat and protein with a diet of pure macdonalds will be no less flabby than an identical person eating healthy foods?
that's just not the case dude.
and no, i'm not in agreement with you other than the points i specifically agreed with
you arent smug enough to think that "bodybuilders at the top level" was referring to you, right?

Yes, that is precisely what I believe. I will say it again. A gram of fat is a gram of fat. A gram of protein is a gram of protein. A calorie is a calorie. This all applies regardless of the food types. In terms of body composition, where you get these macronutrients from is irrelevant.

Agree to disagree mate. In my view you don't really have any clue about the mechanics of nutrition or weight loss so there really is no point to continuing to discuss it. The OP can just make up his mind for himself or, alternatively, do his own research. I personally would suggest the stickied threads in the 'Losing Fat' and 'Nutrition' sections on the bodybuilding forum. These summarise the relevant studies and information well and provide a good, clear guide to how to effectively lose weight whilst maintaining muscle mass.

EDIT: Also, I should point out that I do not eat McDonalds every day. Or even junk food daily. I'd say I eat McDonalds once a fortnight on average. I do prefer whole and healthy foods. The majority of my macro requirements are met through chicken breast and thigh meat, eggs, beef. This is basically because I am cutting at 1900 calories and I can eat more of them. However I do very much enjoy cheesecake and ice cream.