TiddlyPom

That's very true. As Nike say... Just do it!

Petals

Actually people can put on weight just because they are over weight without increasing their food intake.

Got this from the horses mouth as I have a specialist doctor who specialises in eating disorders and nutrition problems.

Also there are a lot of reasons other than food that make people put on weight, for example if we are diabetic and take meds or have insulin like type 1 for some people they stay the same weight, for others they put on weight so its a double edged sword.

If we have sleep apnea we put on weight, I had this diagnosed just over a year ago and find myself slowly losing weight, the condition alters the way the brain triggers food, its serious and if you snore and your partner thinks you stop breathing get it sorted. Otherwise it causes a myriad of problems with health.

Anti depressants also put weight on some people.

Its funny if someone gets thin then its ok but if someone puts on weight its not ok and they become the figure of fun for lots of people when they have no idea what the person is going through.

Cortisone which people have to take for certain conditions also puts on weight. After my daughter had her brain operation it was just like someone had pumped her up and it was the drugs she had to take to stop the swelling in the brain.

So before you get on the diet have a health check

DeadVim

Good advice that.

paulry

My own overweight problem is entirely cumulative. Over 18 years or so I've gradually put on a kiliogram or a kilogram and a half each year without doing anything to shed it. Since arriving in Australia the rate of increase has if anything sped up a bit, probably from a combo of no longer smoking and currently being jobless but I'm convinced its also down to the very fat and sugar laden food over here because if anything I've eaten a fair bit less. I have noticed that here in Australia there are a lot of people who are so fat that they make the lower range of morbidly obese people look almost like bean poles. We hardly ever saw anyone like that in the UK, it would be interesting to understand why that is. Is it really easier to get very fat here?

So here I am now with a slowly-built-up mountain of lard to get rid of. I'm on day three of the diet and things are looking promising so far. The weighing scales are playing up though so I'm not relying on them. Using instead clothes that are currently very tight on me and measuring my success from there. This might even be a better way of doing it because with weighing scales we expect to see a change every time we step on them - and it can be extremely defeating when one day there's no loss or worse: a gain!

So far the Dukan diet seems okay. I feel good, strong and healthy. But definately looking forward to graduating to phase two in a few days time and its wider range of allowable foods
What a big shame that alcohol is disallowed. Give me a beer and salted peanut diet any day!

TiddlyPom

But you can't blame it on the food... You're the one putting it in your mouth. I don't think there's any difference in processed foods here or in the UK... it's an end user problem. There's always a choice!

I work with someone who's still on this diet... she's lost a lot of weight on it and looks great. It really worked well for her and she still continues to do the third phase of it. I asked her about it today for you and she reported it was great - she still does a 'one day a week protein' thing.
If you're looking for a beer, then have a low carb beer when you start your second phase. Add it to your one 'celebration' meal per week.
I was amazed how much protein you consume on the Dukan diet... there's a lot so remember to drink a goodly amount of water!

paulry

Thanks for your encouraging words.

Day five now. Not seeing much/any noticable change yet. The sodding tight pair of trousers are still tight but the top button seems tantalisingly closer to the buttonhole ...maybe if I breathed in? Oops, already am. The warped weighing scales appears to be consistently showing a reduction of about 5kg . If it's a true reading and I believe that it might be then its a great start. Bearing in mind that as mentioned in the book a good half of it could be initial water loss. But still...

In Exile

the only diet that works in my opinion is the "eat less calories. move about more" diet. thats ultimately what they all boil down to.

It has to be a lifestyle change, usually incorporating an increased excercise regime.

DeadVim

Discounting any medical/genetic issues.

I blame cake retention.

paulry

I blame the cake makers

In Exile

That Mr Kipling. Such an arsehole!

DeadVim

Blessed are they.

paulry

Ah the Stargate diet

Burbage

I prefer the Turducken Diet.

DeadVim

Linda McCartneytastic!

TiddlyPom

Bear this in mind... fat cells are stubborn. Your body will realise you're losing weight and try to stop it at some point. Drinking lots of water will fool your body into not stopping it (because it stops dehydration). There's a long and complex scientific article you can read, but that's it in a nutshell above.

I found that two weeks of sticking to a diet will start to show a difference... and you'll need to lose an average of 12lb before anyone will notice and compliment you on it... so keep going and hang in there.