re: Why is it so hard for most people to lose weight?

I fought the battle for years.....I'd lose 30, yet gain 40 back over time.

I said frick it, tired of the yo-yo syndrome, and had bariatric surgery...vertical sleeve gastrectomy...on 5/16/18.

So far, as of this morning, I have lost 80 pounds, and several jean sizes.

I think my wife is putting cocaine in my lunch, I have so much energy. I never was diabetic, cholesterol was always below 160 or so, overall, triglycerides were low, HDL's were good....

I am off blood pressure meds, and walking 5 miles every evening, and joined a gym last week.

My goal is to be back at my college graduation weight of 225 within 18 months. I started out at 380.

Worked for me.....

True...never had any issues with blood work, except pressure. I'm 53, 6'2", and was just a big dude....


My wife is 5'10" that's a skinny mini, and has cholesterol issues, but nothing else.....and she's an avid runner....

There was this really interesting study done where two group of people were given a small meal. Both groups received the exact same meal. Think like.. a Lunchable type meal.

The first group was given the meal at a table they were sitting at. The meal was served on a plate with silverware and napkins and a drink. The second group was given the meal casually while standing and visiting.

30 minutes later, both groups were offered a treat. Most participants in the first group turned down the treat because they "just ate a meal". Most participants in the second group accepted the treat, because in their mind.. they only had a snack 30 minutes ago.

This proved that people tend to only hold themselves accountable for the actual meals they sit down and consume. They also tend to think that eating healthy/clean foods cancels out the other stuff. Opting for plain chicken breast and vegetables is a great decision, but if you're swinging by Starbucks and grabbing a frozen coffee drink and a bagel on your way to work, standing in line for a mall pretzel and Coke Icee when you go shopping, etc. .. you're not eating as well as you think.

Look at our healthy snacks. Nuts, avocados, etc. are all good fats. They provide nutrients and can be satiating. However, a lot of people's brain says "Nuts and avocados are healthy!" and eat 700+ calories of it in one sitting.

This is a serving of almonds. How many people do you know actually eating that amount?

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Whatever the bad one is.

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That's the one I meant. It doesn't matter. You can stop looking at it.

What this thread has proven is there is a myriad of different ideas about weight loss.

The truth is, the best way to lose weight/be healthy is different for everyone, as the cause is different for everyone.

That said, unless you have a specific systemic illness preventing it...everyone can lose weight with the right plan.

Yes, it is easier for some than others due to genetics. Just like it's easier for some people to get ripped in the gym than others.

At the end of the day, all scientific ward studies (which are the only ones that count as every ounce of food you ingest is accounted for) have shown that the makeup of macros has no bearing on weight loss.

It's 100% calories in vs calories out.

Macros come into play in 2 ways.

1) If you eat at a calorie deficit without eating enough protein you will lose muscle along with the fat.

2) If you have eaten a lot of refined carbs and sugar for many years your hormones (insulin, cortisol and leptin primarily) are probably out of whack and disrupting your metabolism (and more importantly your brain).

So the best thing when staring to lose weight is to figure out how many calories you burn per average day (this calculator provides a good estimate TDEE) and eat 10—15‰ less than that. But you have to track what you eat using a calorie calculator until you know what you're doing or it won't work. Adjust accordingly as time goes on.

What most people don't realize is that as you lose weight, your metabolism decreases a certain amount because A) you are moving around less weight when you exercise & B) your body likes to maintain its current weight and will fight to keep homeostasis.

Therefore, as you lose weight you should adjust your daily calories to be even less than before.

Once you do this for 3 to 6 months you will have an idea of how your body responds and can maintain without being so diligent with recording everything.

Low-Carb diets work well because they help remove sugar cravings, rebalance hormone levels and provide more satiety so you're not as hungry eating fewer calories as you would be on a low fat diet. But it's not the only way.

As many have said before, no one on Survivor gets fatter...

Boys taught to use vitamix in 6th grade would change things.

i am struggling to lose weigh. I now weigh 240 pounds

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i am struggling to lose weigh. I now weigh 240 pounds

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Do a 72 hour water fast. Break the fast with a ketogenic diet. Do an 18/6 IF protocol in conjunction with a ketogenic diet. Watch the weight fall off.