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2 Questions

RAVENS_GAL86
  • By RAVENS_GAL86
  • Posted January 5, 2009 at 6:27 am · 15 replies
  • Shared with the public
1 Recommendation

Morning all,

While walking the dog this morning, 2 questions that I always have poped into my head....

1. is it better to eat a lite meal before you exercise or after?

2. you need to eat to lose weight?
I sometimes only eat 2 to 3 small meals and walk 3-4 times a day but i do not lose any weight or very little.

I've cut out sweets, sodas, salt(for my High Blood presure) but need to cut all together my Carbs. And eat more Vegs.

I know my friends will know the answers

Explore topics in this journal entry and replies:

Exercise Burns

15 replies

DebraC

I'm not an expert but my trainer told me if I eat a light meal to make it an hour before exercising. Then later after my exercise I often make a protein shake. What I have been doing is small meals every 3 to 4 hours, including a protein and a complex carb like veggies, fruit, whole grain. I've cut the sugar and all the fattening snacks and instead am eating whole foods, lots of veggies and some fruits; lean protein like chicken or turkey breast, baked salmon, tuna, beans. I've cut my coffee to one cup of black coffee in the morning and drinking tons of water. I try not to eat after 6pm if I'm doing a regular bedtime; usually after that if I want something I get a cup of tea.

catspah

Yes, you need to eat to lose weight. Your body will hang on to the fat and lose the muscle if you do not give it enough calories and nutrients. And it's the muscle that BURNS the fat!!

Determine the appropriate number of calories you need to lose weight for your size and eat all of them! As you lose, the number of calories will decrease. And be sure to eat them as healthy as possible. Don't eat them all in ice cream. (Not assuming you would.....but I have certainly tried.) :)

freya

When I walk early, I often don't eat before except for maybe a half glass of orange juice. Then I try to eat pretty soon after I get back or I start feeling low blood sugary. If I workout later, I definitely have to eat a snack first: banana, yogurt, Kashi bar, fruit/nut/seed trail mix, something like that. If I don't, I can really tell the difference in my performance and stamina.

The first couple of months after I joined NBC, I used the food journal at FitDay.com and found it very very helpful. If you think you might be undereating, you should really journal for a while to make sure you're getting enough calories. I've read many takes on whether small meals spread out is best or not but always they seem to agree that too few calories is as detrimental as too many.

RAVENS_GAL86

Debra,

Thank You for the tips and suggestions... I need to stay on this diet and healthy life style from now on... if I want to live a long healthy life... Have a great day

Carolyn

RAVENS_GAL86

Thank you for your great advice...

See I knew my friends would not let me down..

Have a great Monday..

RAVENS_GAL86

I guessI need to start writing down what I eat... was never much for weighing my food or counting points, but I really need to start... and once I do I can watch the pounds come off...

Dgrant

Carolyn, let me just give you one piece of advice -- don't try to live on a severely restricted diet. Try to have a lot of variety and interesting things to eat. Try new things. As one who has been there, done that -- eating a severely restricted diet will potentially lead to discouragement, which will then lead to gradually going back to old habits of eating. I started out last year (after my CABG x4) eating a very restricted diet of low fat and low carbs (because I'm also diabetic), but I quickly learned that if I don't have some variety and a little more quantity, I would gradually go back to some old and dangerous habits. So, yes, I am not losing weight as quickly as I'd like -- I still have about 7 or 8 pounds that I need to lose -- I'm not gaining anymore (well, other than those 3 pounds over the holidays, but that's coming off SOON!). I eat a very satisfying diet these days rather than severely restricted. I stay below 30 grams of fat per day, but I allow myself a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, good seafood, a little sweet in the way of puddings, low fat graham crackers, etc., things like that. I have found that if I eat dessert after dinner, I'm not nearly as tempted to over-snack later in the evening. Just that little dessert of a fruit salad or a butterscotch pudding, or something like that, will curb my sweet tooth enough that I feel satisfied (I'm a sugar-aholic BIG TIME).

So, I guess what I'm saying is -- don't cut out ALL carbs, it is not a realistic way of life. Cut out BAD carbs, yes, but eat whole grain breads and crackers some (not overdoing it), eat fruits and veggies (which also contain carbs, but mostly complex carbs that are good for you).

Anyway, that's my advice -- it's worth about what you paid for it, so it's really up to you, of course. I just wanted to share that......I've done it wrong for so many years, it's just been in the last year that I've finally got my eating act together!!!

Dana

catspah

I don't weigh my food, or count my points, or calories or anything. But I DO write it ALL down. I saw a show once with John Stossel (spelling?), about journaling and diet. A group of women in a study lost weight just by writing down everything they ate. It keeps me focused on my portions and nutrients, without the undue burden of looking up calories or points and trying to figure out how many points are in my tuna salad when I don't use nearly as much mayo as normal tuna salad would have.

I don't mean to tell you NOT to count these things. If you want to, and if you are good at it, go for it. But know that you can still get with the program without concentrating on those details.

On the other hand, having had experience with counting points and calories (sounds like you have also), I already know that I have to eat very little to get in my small amount of calorie allowance for the day. Anyone without that experience should probably spend several months counting calories or points just so they get the idea.

I am SO full of advice this morning! I think I will go practice my Zumba class now. Zumba on everyone! Or whatever workout you prefer. :)

RAVENS_GAL86

thank Youfor the great advise... with all the support I know i can do it..

RAVENS_GAL86

great thank you for the great words of wisdow.. what is Zumba?

Carolyn

catspah

Zumba is a Latin dance workout. Very, very fun! I teach it, and take classes from other instructors. They also have Zumba Gold for beginners and seniors. You can check it out here: https://www.zumba.com/us/

I was a dancerette in high school and very thin. I started gaining weight after high school. Now I'm 47. I started looking a few years ago for some way to move my body that I enjoyed. I couldn't stick with any exercise because I hated it.

First I found a ballet class! I loved it. It was all older women like me. But there was no cardio to it, of course. Then I tried belly dancing. It was okay. Then I went to tap and jazz classes at a local dance studio, also geared toward adults. I still take those classes, and even do the recitals every year.

But a couple of years ago, I found Zumba! I was in love at first sight. I love that my favorite instructor starts a new set of routines every two weeks. If I go often enough, I can learn the routines and I know what move is coming up. I can add my own flavor. It's a mixture of dance and fitness moves.

After five months I'd lost 15 pounds. But no more came off, because I didn't change my diet. Anyway, then I became an instructor. I love making up routines and leading the class. It's just so much fun. But even thought it's a great workout, I have to stop eating so much food, and sweets, to lose the weight. So, here I am.

I'm sure it's not for everyone! But it is definitely my workout savior! :)

carmelbabe

Well I workout with a trainer 3 days a week and what has worked out best for me is to eat a breakfast with a nice balance of carbs and protein. If I eat too many carbs, my blood sugar drops too quickly so I try to have some protein. Also drinking a protein shake afterward helps your muscles to build and recover from exercise. I like the GNC Whey protein. It tastes good too!! Also after my workout I eat some almonds or an apple...something just to take the edge off especially if my blood sugar has dropped a bit low. Hope that helps! I found it's kind of a trial and error thing!! Good luck!

nursey_97

definately eat a little before you exercise, your body needs something to burn. I usually have a good breakfast after exercising, but make sure you do eat, build up muscle because that is what will burn off the inches. Drink plenty of water about 1/2 your body weight in ounces. Good luck!

RAVENS_GAL86

Thank You to everyone for your great advise... That is why I love this web site it is an answer to my prayers... Everyone is so nice and helpfull...

gr8tobamom

You definitely need to eat to lose, perhaps you aren't eating enough afterall. If you don't keep a food journal, perhaps you should try that. Then you can see where you need to make improvements :)

And about eating before you workout....I will sometimes eat a banana or something like that before (if I have them handy). Nothing too big cuz then you could get cramps or an upset stomach. I may start my fruit smoothies again...I make those with protein powder and frozen fruit (& water as the liquid lol). They are good and filling too!

Good luck!

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