I put on 10 kilos last autumn, and drank so much over Xmas and new year I am on the wagon for 6 weeks to get in shape for skiing.

I need a support group, anyone else? Any tips?

I put on 10 pounds over the last 3 months of the year. Whoops!

The same happened last year and I took it off in 2 months, so I’m aiming to do the same this year and go an extra 20-25 while I’m at it.

I’m starting by tracking everything I eat, no matter how big or small. I generally don’t say I’ll cut any one thing out, I just have to plan for it, which tends to mean very little if any drinking as my calories tend to get so restricted that I get woozy if I drink them with no nutritional value instead of eating them. I also naturally cut out sweets and junk food as they’re not “worth it” either. But I get treats now and again, just so’s I don’t go crazy.

I’m exercising a few times a week right now, but not super seriously. In February, once the hunger pains have subsided and I’m well into my better eating habits I’ll kick that up to a specific schedule and work towards specific goals. One habit at a time works best for me – trying to change too much at once tends to make me fail at all of them.

...by "detox" I assumed you meant some sort of cleansing or fasting.

I want to try a fast one day soon, to cleanse the system properly.

PurpleJedi said:

...by "detox" I assumed you meant some sort of cleansing or fasting.

I want to try a fast one day soon, to cleanse the system properly.

When my parents ordered me, they sprang for the self-cleaning colon.

CarrieMpls said:

I put on 10 pounds over the last 3 months of the year. Whoops!

The same happened last year and I took it off in 2 months, so I’m aiming to do the same this year and go an extra 20-25 while I’m at it.

I’m starting by tracking everything I eat, no matter how big or small. I generally don’t say I’ll cut any one thing out, I just have to plan for it, which tends to mean very little if any drinking as my calories tend to get so restricted that I get woozy if I drink them with no nutritional value instead of eating them. I also naturally cut out sweets and junk food as they’re not “worth it” either. But I get treats now and again, just so’s I don’t go crazy.

I’m exercising a few times a week right now, but not super seriously. In February, once the hunger pains have subsided and I’m well into my better eating habits I’ll kick that up to a specific schedule and work towards specific goals. One habit at a time works best for me – trying to change too much at once tends to make me fail at all of them.

I haven't really stopped eating at all, just the snacks and cut back on coffee and cut booze out. But the beer in the fridge is calling!!

I have never worried about weight, I just used to pick up on the excersise do a few press ups or go for a run, this is the first time I have made a concerted effort. Its really mental.

PurpleJedi said:

...by "detox" I assumed you meant some sort of cleansing or fasting.

I want to try a fast one day soon, to cleanse the system properly.

No nothing serious or potentially damaging, just a reprieve for my body that had to cope for a month of excess.

I dont think fasting is healthy, neither are supliments or fad diets. I need something that I can live with and enjoy.

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

...by "detox" I assumed you meant some sort of cleansing or fasting.

I want to try a fast one day soon, to cleanse the system properly.

When my parents ordered me, they sprang for the self-cleaning colon.

PREDOMINANT said:

PurpleJedi said:

...by "detox" I assumed you meant some sort of cleansing or fasting.

I want to try a fast one day soon, to cleanse the system properly.

No nothing serious or potentially damaging, just a reprieve for my body that had to cope for a month of excess.

I dont think fasting is healthy, neither are supliments or fad diets. I need something that I can live with and enjoy.

I've posted this before...

...but I've read that the human body is DESIGNED to function effectively in a state of hunger. Part of our hunter-gathered evolutionary past. It's only recently that we have been blessed with nearly limitless and readily accessed food. So we fill our intestines faster than they can process the stuff. By the age of 30, the average American male has XXXlbs. of undigested red meat sitting in their intestines.

That being said...I used to work with a lady from Bulgaria, who swore by fasting. She would do it once a year. Not eat anything for a week (liquids only). She told me that the first day or two are difficult (weakness, irritability, etc.) but the the body kicks into survival mode and begins to digest and process whatever is in storage. Part of that results in toxins being removed from the body (allegedly...again this is what I was told). Basically, she told me that the stuff that exits your body during that time makes you GLAD that you're getting rid of it. (Sorry for the ick factor.)

I dunno. I'm tempted to try it. But you obviously need a week off from work to do that.

PurpleJedi said:

PREDOMINANT said:

No nothing serious or potentially damaging, just a reprieve for my body that had to cope for a month of excess.

I dont think fasting is healthy, neither are supliments or fad diets. I need something that I can live with and enjoy.

I've posted this before...

...but I've read that the human body is DESIGNED to function effectively in a state of hunger. Part of our hunter-gathered evolutionary past. It's only recently that we have been blessed with nearly limitless and readily accessed food. So we fill our intestines faster than they can process the stuff. By the age of 30, the average American male has XXXlbs. of undigested red meat sitting in their intestines.

That being said...I used to work with a lady from Bulgaria, who swore by fasting. She would do it once a year. Not eat anything for a week (liquids only). She told me that the first day or two are difficult (weakness, irritability, etc.) but the the body kicks into survival mode and begins to digest and process whatever is in storage. Part of that results in toxins being removed from the body (allegedly...again this is what I was told). Basically, she told me that the stuff that exits your body during that time makes you GLAD that you're getting rid of it. (Sorry for the ick factor.)

I dunno. I'm tempted to try it. But you obviously need a week off from work to do that.

I wonder how this would affect my running? Could I still lift weights? I dont know if a person who works out on the regular could do this?? Interesting...

PREDOMINANT said:

I put on 10 kilos last autumn, and drank so much over Xmas and new year I am on the wagon for 6 weeks to get in shape for skiing.

I need a support group, anyone else? Any tips?

Hello! Happy new year. Say hi to everyone from me.

You jammy bugger - where are you going to ski?

I've still got lots of chocolate and cheese and bottles of mulled wine in my house, so i've got to get rid of all that (in my tummy) before I detox. But i'm running at least every other day at the moment and also playing lots of dance games with the kids... so I figure that all helps.

I put on 10 pounds over the holidays.

PurpleJedi said:

PREDOMINANT said:

No nothing serious or potentially damaging, just a reprieve for my body that had to cope for a month of excess.

I dont think fasting is healthy, neither are supliments or fad diets. I need something that I can live with and enjoy.

I've posted this before...

...but I've read that the human body is DESIGNED to function effectively in a state of hunger. Part of our hunter-gathered evolutionary past. It's only recently that we have been blessed with nearly limitless and readily accessed food. So we fill our intestines faster than they can process the stuff. By the age of 30, the average American male has XXXlbs. of undigested red meat sitting in their intestines.

That being said...I used to work with a lady from Bulgaria, who swore by fasting. She would do it once a year. Not eat anything for a week (liquids only). She told me that the first day or two are difficult (weakness, irritability, etc.) but the the body kicks into survival mode and begins to digest and process whatever is in storage. Part of that results in toxins being removed from the body (allegedly...again this is what I was told). Basically, she told me that the stuff that exits your body during that time makes you GLAD that you're getting rid of it. (Sorry for the ick factor.)

I dunno. I'm tempted to try it. But you obviously need a week off from work to do that.

Myth.

http://www.snopes.com/hor...lcolon.asp

tinaz said:

PurpleJedi said:

I've posted this before...

...but I've read that the human body is DESIGNED to function effectively in a state of hunger. Part of our hunter-gathered evolutionary past. It's only recently that we have been blessed with nearly limitless and readily accessed food. So we fill our intestines faster than they can process the stuff. By the age of 30, the average American male has XXXlbs. of undigested red meat sitting in their intestines.

That being said...I used to work with a lady from Bulgaria, who swore by fasting. She would do it once a year. Not eat anything for a week (liquids only). She told me that the first day or two are difficult (weakness, irritability, etc.) but the the body kicks into survival mode and begins to digest and process whatever is in storage. Part of that results in toxins being removed from the body (allegedly...again this is what I was told). Basically, she told me that the stuff that exits your body during that time makes you GLAD that you're getting rid of it. (Sorry for the ick factor.)

I dunno. I'm tempted to try it. But you obviously need a week off from work to do that.

I wonder how this would affect my running? Could I still lift weights? I dont know if a person who works out on the regular could do this?? Interesting...

I tend to believe that if you're fasting, genuinely fasting, then you'd put a hold on ANY exertion.

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

I've posted this before...

...but I've read that the human body is DESIGNED to function effectively in a state of hunger. Part of our hunter-gathered evolutionary past. It's only recently that we have been blessed with nearly limitless and readily accessed food. So we fill our intestines faster than they can process the stuff. By the age of 30, the average American male has XXXlbs. of undigested red meat sitting in their intestines.

That being said...I used to work with a lady from Bulgaria, who swore by fasting. She would do it once a year. Not eat anything for a week (liquids only). She told me that the first day or two are difficult (weakness, irritability, etc.) but the the body kicks into survival mode and begins to digest and process whatever is in storage. Part of that results in toxins being removed from the body (allegedly...again this is what I was told). Basically, she told me that the stuff that exits your body during that time makes you GLAD that you're getting rid of it. (Sorry for the ick factor.)

I dunno. I'm tempted to try it. But you obviously need a week off from work to do that.

Myth.

http://www.snopes.com/hor...lcolon.asp

Bubble.Burst.

Thanks.

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

Myth.

http://www.snopes.com/hor...lcolon.asp

Bubble.Burst.

Thanks.

Oh, come on. You can't really have believed that. Can you imagine what it would feel like to carry around undigested food?

Here' s a hint: it's painful as hell. Sweetie has had a couple bowel obstructions in the past (due to scar tissue from Crohn's disease) and they landed him in the hospital. Even having a small back-up is going to cause a problem, because your bowel wants to keep that shit moving. (Pun intended.)

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

Bubble.Burst.

Thanks.

Oh, come on. You can't really have believed that. Can you imagine what it would feel like to carry around undigested food?

Here' s a hint: it's painful as hell. Sweetie has had a couple bowel obstructions in the past (due to scar tissue from Crohn's disease) and they landed him in the hospital. Even having a small back-up is going to cause a problem, because your bowel wants to keep that shit moving. (Pun intended.)

So then the giant "beer bellies" that Americans are sporting more & more are just fat?

PurpleJedi said:

Genesia said:

Oh, come on. You can't really have believed that. Can you imagine what it would feel like to carry around undigested food?

Here' s a hint: it's painful as hell. Sweetie has had a couple bowel obstructions in the past (due to scar tissue from Crohn's disease) and they landed him in the hospital. Even having a small back-up is going to cause a problem, because your bowel wants to keep that shit moving. (Pun intended.)

So then the giant "beer bellies" that Americans are sporting more & more are just fat?

Yes.

Haven't started yet, but this weekend I'm making this soup that's suppose to be a detoxing soup, suppose to eat it for 4 days, seems kind of hearty though. But I think it'll be worth the try.

PurpleJedi said:

tinaz said:

I wonder how this would affect my running? Could I still lift weights? I dont know if a person who works out on the regular could do this?? Interesting...

I tend to believe that if you're fasting, genuinely fasting, then you'd put a hold on ANY exertion.

Oh helllllll nooooooo

Genesia said:

PurpleJedi said:

So then the giant "beer bellies" that Americans are sporting more & more are just fat?

Yes.

I'm not so sure it's 100% fat, but I am not saying it's impacted fecal matter/undigested food and needs an enema "cure" either

I know my own belly has gotten bigger over the years, and while it's got a little fat on the outside, it seems that my abdoman has also just gotten bigger underneath. It's just not very jiggly.

It may just be a imple case of taking in more food than we need over a long period of time, and while it is not all turned to fat, our guts gradually stretch and now simply contain more material than they did when we were younger?

But regardless of the cause, I think the solution is the same. Eat less, exercise more.

[Edited 1/5/12 15:57pm]

^^^Actually that theory is somewhat confirmed by the link to the John Wayne story--the part about Elvis.

They claim the drugs slowed the metabolism, so his digestive system worked more slowly and his guts stretched out and held more food.

I would imagine that as we get older our metabolisms slow with or without drugs. So our guts are more full of food than they were when we were kids.

NDRU said:

Genesia said:

NDRU said:

I'm not so sure it's 100% fat, but I am not saying it's impacted fecal matter/undigested food and needs an enema "cure" either

I know my own belly has gotten bigger over the years, and while it's got a little fat on the outside, it seems that my abdoman has also just gotten bigger underneath. It's just not very jiggly.

It may just be a imple case of taking in more food than we need over a long period of time, and while it is not all turned to fat, our guts gradually stretch and now simply contain more material than they did when we were younger?

But regardless of the cause, I think the solution is the same. Eat less, exercise more.

[Edited 1/5/12 15:57pm]

The reason men tend to have that "hard yet fat" belly is because male hormones make them more likely to accumulate fat under the abdominal muscles, as opposed to over the muscle and directly under the skin (as women are more likely to do). That's why men's guts tend not to jiggle - and why men have more heart attacks. Their fat accumulates around vital organs.

ah! Comforting

NDRU said:

Genesia said:

Yes.

I'm not so sure it's 100% fat, but I am not saying it's impacted fecal matter/undigested food and needs an enema "cure" either

I know my own belly has gotten bigger over the years, and while it's got a little fat on the outside, it seems that my abdoman has also just gotten bigger underneath. It's just not very jiggly.

It may just be a imple case of taking in more food than we need over a long period of time, and while it is not all turned to fat, our guts gradually stretch and now simply contain more material than they did when we were younger?

But regardless of the cause, I think the solution is the same. Eat less, exercise more.

[Edited 1/5/12 15:57pm]

Nope, it's fat. Even when it's hard.

Haven't you ever watched surgery or an autopsy on one of the science channels? That is aaallllll fat.

PunkMistress said:

PunkMistress said:

NDRU said:

I'm not so sure it's 100% fat, but I am not saying it's impacted fecal matter/undigested food and needs an enema "cure" either

I know my own belly has gotten bigger over the years, and while it's got a little fat on the outside, it seems that my abdoman has also just gotten bigger underneath. It's just not very jiggly.

It may just be a imple case of taking in more food than we need over a long period of time, and while it is not all turned to fat, our guts gradually stretch and now simply contain more material than they did when we were younger?

But regardless of the cause, I think the solution is the same. Eat less, exercise more.

[Edited 1/5/12 15:57pm]

Nope, it's fat. Even when it's hard.

Haven't you ever watched surgery or an autopsy on one of the science channels? That is aaallllll fat.

Hell, no! I don't want to know what evil lurks in the belly of man!

I can't handle watching that stuff anymore

Genesia said:

PunkMistress said:

Nope, it's fat. Even when it's hard.

Haven't you ever watched surgery or an autopsy on one of the science channels? That is aaallllll fat.

I love watching that stuff.

I lost weight in November and December. Same thing happened last year. Makes no sense, but I ain't gonna fight it.

Genesia said:

NDRU said:

I'm not so sure it's 100% fat, but I am not saying it's impacted fecal matter/undigested food and needs an enema "cure" either

I know my own belly has gotten bigger over the years, and while it's got a little fat on the outside, it seems that my abdoman has also just gotten bigger underneath. It's just not very jiggly.

It may just be a imple case of taking in more food than we need over a long period of time, and while it is not all turned to fat, our guts gradually stretch and now simply contain more material than they did when we were younger?

But regardless of the cause, I think the solution is the same. Eat less, exercise more.

[Edited 1/5/12 15:57pm]

The reason men tend to have that "hard yet fat" belly is because male hormones make them more likely to accumulate fat under the abdominal muscles, as opposed to over the muscle and directly under the skin (as women are more likely to do). That's why men's guts tend not to jiggle - and why men have more heart attacks. Their fat accumulates around vital organs.

Visceral fat. That's the kind that kills. Or so they say.

I need to quit smoking. Again.