James, dude, there's no way in hell you can get in shape eating like that. You're gonna have to match a lifestyle change, and do it gradually with little substitutions here and there. For example, if you're drinking 2% milk, drop done to 1%, then in a month from now drop down to 0%. You won't be able to stick to the change if you eliminate all your indulgences at once.

i gave up lattes and mochas for lent... but i usually get them non-fat and sometimes sugar free (yes, they exist... but only if you like vanilla.)
Sure I sound high maintenance when ordering a non-fat, no whip, sugar free vanilla latte, but at least i am saving on the calories. ;) :p

Caffeine is terrible for you! I have never seen a study advocating caffeine to lose weight! My dietician will tell you that caffeine is bad bad bad! And I'd rather trust someone that I can see once a month that I know has a degree & studied diets & nutrition for 5 years that someone who I've never met & decided to write an article. They may have degrees too, but I'd rather stick w/ the tried & true than try some new fad.

Uhm caffeine in an ECA stack is proven for weightloss.

I've heard differently when you use caffeine through keto based diets though.

-Rudey

my doctor told me that caffeine causes you to be hungry - i forgot her exact reasoning but drinking caffeine usually leads to eating or snacking.

I can see if you were having 5 cups of joe a day for months on end. It can shoot your heart rate up.

But a cup every once in a while won't kill you. Same goes for soda... red bull... etc. Everything is fine in moderation... except maybe smoking... but that's my opinion.

Caffeine definitely ups your metabolism. The problem with it is that the primary ways people get their caffeine (soda, coffee with tons of milk/sugar/whipped cream/whatever, chocolate) are full of empty calories. But in moderation it's not going to be that bad for you.

Caffeine will up my metabolism for at least a half hour after I've drank a cup of coffee/mocha jo/diet coke/whatever but after that initial "high" wears off I'm dead as a doornail for hours after that! Usually convincing myself to just go home & sleep after I get off work. Its awful!

And maybe caffeine will work for others, but that is why I went to see a doctor-she is able to help me understand what will work for me & why! Everyone is different!

I've read that caffeine breaks down fat cells.
If you look at supplements geared toward cutting down (e.g. hyper cuts) they're all loaded with caffeine.

I don't need to drop 50 lbs, but 20 would sure help....
 

Hey James. I totally feel what you're going through right now. I just returned from Spring Break, and I felt like a cow the entire time (it doesn't help when the people you go on vacation with only weigh 100 lbs). I've been working out a lot lately, but I think my eating habits are getting the best of me. So, I started a new plan where I am doing cardio 3 times a week and I will weight train 2 times a week. The weekends are game for whatever workout I want, just as long as I do something.

Currently, I have a decent amount of muscle. I realize that muscle weighs more than fat, but I want to tone up the fatty areas by focusing on cardio, and then I'll tighten them with weight training. If I stick to it, I will be on this plan for the next 6 weeks, after which I will change up the routine. I'm not looking to lose 50 pounds...but 20 pounds sure would make me a happy person. No more sweets for me...unless they come from a box labeled Slim Fast or Healthy Choice. ;)

Good luck (we can be each other's moral support). :p

I don't think that's true. My caffine intake is ridiculous...(Yay for diet Coke), and it doesn't help me lose weight...unless it's water weight with all the trips to the lav!

Hey JAmes,

good luck on your venture.

I too just started working out recently...my goal is 35 pounds - lost 2 so far :p

Anyway, I was wondering why such a time limit on it? I mean, it took me 5-6 years to gain all the extra weight, so I'm not planning on losing it even within a year (although the trainers at my gym say I could reach my goal by September - I doubt it)

I'm still eating trash too - trying to be a bit more careful though (actually only had fast food once last week - which is good since i live a block from Mickey D's and smell it all the time!)

Well, keep working at it, and have faith!

Valkyrie-Now if only I could stop eating cheese. I should go vegan.
:eek: See, we have another thing in common !!! Cheese is my downfall (and potatoes of ANY kind).

James, it has been in studies that if you make ONE simple change. without any effort, you can drop 20 lbs in a year. This is without dieting and exercise. For instance, if you take cream in your coffee, switch to a low cal substitute. If you drink regular cola change to diet cola. Now doing this and adding some exercise will increase and speed up the action.
I have always believed that carbs were not our BEST friend, but in the end, it's ALL about calories and exercise. A little bit of fat
in your diet helps you feel satisfied.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS! The way I look at it, one substitution taking a year to lose 20 lbs...well what else are you doing during that time?

A BIGGIE-I don't know if you drink beer, but BEER IS THE ENEMY!
Oh, I know it's the best on a swealtering day, BUT IT'S THE ENEMY!!! G & Ts are much better-weight wise.
GET BACK ON YOUR PLAN! RAW-RAW!:D

James- You can do it! Believe me, if I can find a somewhat reasonable diet and exercise plan to stick to and lose weight (while still on corticosteroids!), so can you!

As you know, what I eat greatly affects my disease so I can't do some things a lot of other people can do. I already can't eat dairy, raw fruits and veggies, many cooked veggies because they have skins or shells on them and I can't digest them, pork, or red meat. Turkey is notorious for making you gassy, and the last thing anyone with IBD needs is more gas!:p So, I have...well... chicken, potatoes, rice, and Ensure. I can't stand the taste of fish and I'm allergic to shellfish. I do take Omega-3/Omega-6 pills twice a day to make up for that.

You'll find something that works, I promise! Drink lots of water, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further from the entrance to the store than you normally would. Every little bit helps!

ETA: or you could just get IBD. It's the best weight loss plan around. I lost 25 pounds in a week! Our support group motto is "Losin Weight Without Speed (or Sunflower Seeds!)" ;)