clevermanka (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
clevermanka) wrote2010-02-24 04:14 pm
clevermanka) wrote2010-02-24 04:14 pm
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Update on calorie restriction experiment
For anyone interested in my alternate day calorie-restricted eating success:
Last week went well. I set MWF as my low-cal days and stayed below (just barely below) 500 calories each day. My calories those days are coming from animals and vegetables. No grains, no fruit. From my food statistics on FitDay, I decided I needed to up the protein and lower the fat, so I cut out my morning coffee on those days and replaced it with Earl Grey tea, which I can drink with no cream or milk. I went from 154.2 to 150.6.
I was up a pound on Tuesday. From now on, it's only Saturday morning weigh-ins so as not to get depressed and risk mid-week food consolation.
Today I am doing fine on just tea and water. I'm hungry, but not lightheaded or stomach-crampy. I wonder if I can slowly lower my calorie intake on MWF to the point where I can do intermittent fasting instead of low-calorie days. I had disastrous results with intermittent fasting a couple years ago, but I tried it by jumping into the deep end of the pool instead of making a slow change like this. IF (intermittent fasting) is the easiest way for me to manage a calorie-restricted diet, and since calorie-restriction seems to be far and away the leader in proven longevity methods...well.
I considered going wheat-free again, and that is to help with weight loss. But until I go three weeks with no loss, I'm going not going focus on eliminating any particular foods. I won't go out of my way to eat wheat, but if a plate of dumplings throws itself in front of me on a high-calorie day, I'm certainly not going to swerve to avoid it.
One thing I do need to get more serious about is the refined sugar. I'm allow myself little indulgences on all my high-calorie days and that needs to stop. Once a week. I need to limit the refined sugar to once a week.
I also need to start moving again, but that's a different issue, and one I'm not going to address until I feel a little better health-wise. I'm still coughing, and I'm still having sleep issues.
Last week went well. I set MWF as my low-cal days and stayed below (just barely below) 500 calories each day. My calories those days are coming from animals and vegetables. No grains, no fruit. From my food statistics on FitDay, I decided I needed to up the protein and lower the fat, so I cut out my morning coffee on those days and replaced it with Earl Grey tea, which I can drink with no cream or milk. I went from 154.2 to 150.6.
I was up a pound on Tuesday. From now on, it's only Saturday morning weigh-ins so as not to get depressed and risk mid-week food consolation.
Today I am doing fine on just tea and water. I'm hungry, but not lightheaded or stomach-crampy. I wonder if I can slowly lower my calorie intake on MWF to the point where I can do intermittent fasting instead of low-calorie days. I had disastrous results with intermittent fasting a couple years ago, but I tried it by jumping into the deep end of the pool instead of making a slow change like this. IF (intermittent fasting) is the easiest way for me to manage a calorie-restricted diet, and since calorie-restriction seems to be far and away the leader in proven longevity methods...well.
I considered going wheat-free again, and that is to help with weight loss. But until I go three weeks with no loss, I'm going not going focus on eliminating any particular foods. I won't go out of my way to eat wheat, but if a plate of dumplings throws itself in front of me on a high-calorie day, I'm certainly not going to swerve to avoid it.
One thing I do need to get more serious about is the refined sugar. I'm allow myself little indulgences on all my high-calorie days and that needs to stop. Once a week. I need to limit the refined sugar to once a week.
I also need to start moving again, but that's a different issue, and one I'm not going to address until I feel a little better health-wise. I'm still coughing, and I'm still having sleep issues.