no results!

Question
QUESTION: So, I did what most people do, and made a new years resolution to lose the baby weight!  Iam 5'7, and I weigh around 150lbs.  I began doing a strictly aerobics workout, and started eating Lean Cuisines for lunch and a sensible breakfast and lunch.  I did that for about 4 months, and seemed to hit a plateau.  I then switched to a more intense aerobics workout 2 times per week, and upper and lower body weights, same eating style.  I have been doing this for 4 months.  All together, I have worked out for 8 months, and have not got the results I want, and I don't understand.  Help?!

ANSWER: Hi Justine,
Greetings and thank you for your question.
My response on this is controversial, but nonetheless, I volunteered to be an "Expert" so I could share my weight loss experiences with others.  As such, you get the "real story"... here's what happened to me.  

I was the only person weighing over 300 lbs. in my "high stepper" aerobics class (complete with hand weights).  I actually used to take 2 classes in a row daily. I did this for 2 years. Eventually, my knees hurt like crazy and I quit.  I did not lose any weight.

I then took up hiking... I hiked for 3 hours at a time up the hills of Idaho where I live, at least 3-4 times a week for a year.  I arrived back home drenched with the results of my workout... I did not lose any weight.

So for the folks who go on and on about the benefits of strenuous excerise, I ask this... show me your results.  I have never met anyone who has lost weight due to exercise alone.

Why do I think that exercise does not help?
I think it all gets back to insulin production, which is governed by our level of internal stress, which is governed by our internal conversation or "self talk."

As long as we feel we are not desirable the way we are, we then pick these hoops to jump through (sometimes literally)
so that we can "punish" ourselves and get the bodies we think we will get after all the punishment.  Problem being that "punishment is stressful" and, the second it starts, our insulin production increases... and we grip our body weight in preparation for the next onslaught of stress.

In my experience, if you want weight loss results, go Atkins.  Eat low carb, no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no fruit.  Base your eating program on proteins, olive oil, vegetables, unsweetened yogurt.  This type of eating delivered much more weight loss result for me than any form of exercise ever did.

Best,
Mary Jo

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The primary health risk of the Atkins' Diet is dehydration. After carbohydrates are significantly reduced, ketosis begins and the dieter initially looses liver glycogen. This storage of carbohydrates is lost because the body does not have enough glucose to maintain blood sugar so it turns to the liver glycogen. Glycogen consists of a large number of water molecules and when the body converts glycogen to glucose, the water is lost from the body. This explains much of the initial weight loss on the Atkins' Diet, rather than Atkins' claim that the initial weight loss is fat (1). The large amount of water loss poses the risk of dehydration, but is not the most potentially severe consequence of the Atkins' Diet. The high fat content may put the dieter at risk for coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia (high blood fat), and hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol). The high protein content may put extra strain the kidneys, which can lead to electrolyte imbalance, decrease the kidneys' ability to absorb calcium, which could lead to the early stages of osteoporosis (5). The results of a study conducted by the University of Kentucky after a computer analysis of a week's worth of sample Atkins' menus report that a dieter is at risk of cancer, among other serious risks (4).  

Answer
Hi Justine,
I applaud your research on the supposed problems of lowcarb eating.  There is no shortage of this... problem being that it is all written by folks who either had no weight to lose, or did not lose any weight because they did not or could not follow a lowcarb eating plan.

Please consider that your subject line on this question was "no results."  I personally could have signed the same subject line before I started lowcarb eating... I had no results.  Life was insane... I counted calories, I exercised, I drank water, I counted my "chews", I had my stomach stapled... twice...still, no weight loss.

I suggest that we most rally against the things we most need to do.  I was firmly against the Atkins program until I tried it.  Even after I was on it, I hated it.... but it worked... and I doubt that I lost 100 lb. of weight from my liver.

There is lots of supposed pseudo-nutrition hype on the evils of lowcarb eating, but I have yet to find any actual deaths/surgeries/physical maladies legitimately associated with the Atkins program.

Justine, as an aside, I suggest that you check out the topic of Candida or yeast infections.  This is a source of strong biological/cellular resistance to lowcarb eating because the yeasts feed on the sugar.  

Best,
Mary Jo

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