More on refeeds, mental strategies for dieting

[NorwayFitness]

Hey Steel !

I'm soon to be going on a bulking phase myself. Not sure how extended though...

You're kind of looking forward to it , aren't you...

Don't forget you need to post pictures as you go along and get leaner...

NF

 

[valerie]

Hi Steel-sounds like you are on the right path, just take it one step at a time and don't look too far out. The snickers tip reminds me of a commerical that says you are what you eat and shows a woman from behind walking and on each of her butt cheeks is a huge cinnamon bun! Always cracks me up.

The dieting doesn't last forever and you will learn tons about yourself in the process.-valerie

 

[JJFigure]

Ceebs - you're awesome for pointing out the low seratonin level link and periods. I've been super hungry and bitchy ALL week even though I haven't changed anything drastically; then I took a good look at my scheduled and realized I'm pms'ing. So you found 5-HTP works, huh?

I think my coworkers are secretely hoping I lose this competition in September so I won't go on to the next level in October.

 

[JJFigure]

Oh, I forgot to add my favorite saying. I get so tired of hearing people say - I'm going to try and lose weight, or I'm going to try and stop smoking. None of these "tryers" ever seem to succeed, which brings me to my saying.

Trying is for losers.

 

[Ceebs]

Ceebs - you're awesome for pointing out the low seratonin level link and periods.

You're welcome! 5-HTP is amazing stuff, and it's always comforting to realize that there are physiological reasons behind what seems like unmanageable hunger - a serotonin deficiency in this case - it's not simply a matter of willpower.

Besides my experience that I detailed in my previous post, I've got my mother taking it, and she's so much happier. Her company looks like it's about to fold, and her usual reaction in this kind of situation would be to turn to food. I suggested that she take it to help deal with the stress of changing jobs, 100mg twice daily as far away from meals as possible, and she's dropped 5 pounds (some of which I have no doubt is water) in the last couple weeks due to the fact that she's simply not feeding emotional hunger anymore.

You can read more about 5-HTP here: http://www.5-htp.net/

 

[SteelWeaver]

Mmm ... I may have to try 5-HTP sometime. Maybe next time I diet (never), lol. For now I think I'm just gonna suck it up and be a hard-ass. Well, at least until next month, ha ha.

JJ, no kidding on the folks who are gonna "join the gym next week". Like, OK, fine, yeah, like I believe you. Then why won't you come down there with me right now?

This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately - the people I associate with, and the people to whom I no longer wish to give the time of day. Certainly there are people I know who now find me as dull as macadam on a cloudy day, but I think it can fairly be said that I find them even duller - I never noticed until I quit drinking that drunk people talk the biggest load of meaningless nonsense imaginable, which is fine if you wanna just take a load off once a month or so, but around here, socialising = getting pissed, and if you don't drink, you need to be persuaded to do so. I don't understand how anyone can have a meaningful conversation if they can't remember it the next morning.

That sounds kind of off topic, but I think the thing with dieting or comp. prep is that one really needs to either be a hermit or try to only associate with people who support one's goals. I'm pretty unsociable anyway, so the first suits me, but every now and then I have to deal with time-wasters - I've even started surprising myself with how brusque I can be - I just straight up and say "You're not going to the gym because you're too lazy - you don't want it enough. And that's fine, but then please don't show me your cellulite and whine about it. I've told you the way, now set off on your journey, or let me past ..."

I'm just so aware of the clock ticking, and how much I still want to do ...

Is that too hardass?


(I might add, though, that it took me a few tries before I quit smoking ...)

 

[JJFigure]

I feel exactly the same way. I get so tired of people coming up to me in the gym, grabbing the roll around their gut (cause I just wanted to see THAT), and wasting my time telling me how they've been dieting for all of three weeks and it still isn't going away. Then, they further waste my time by telling me EVERYTHING THEY EAT!! Leave me alone damn it, and let me keep lifting!!

I don't mind helping people if they are really serious, but those people are hard to find. Everyone has an excuse. The minute you even mention limiting alcohol intake (let alone giving it up) or keeping a diet log, they just say 'I can't do that'. They just want me to tell them there's a magic pill out there that will do the job for them. Most people just don't understand how much work and sacrifice it takes to lose fat (w/out losing muscle, of course).

I really find I have no patience anymore. None of my friends understand this world at all and have a tendency to peer pressure me when it comes to drinking (it's just one night, what'll that hurt?), so I do tend to become a hermit too. I'm glad I discovered these boards though, because at least I know there are other people like me out there.

I'm glad you brought this up, Steelweaver, because it's been on my mind a lot lately too.

 

[SteelWeaver]

We're totally on the same wavelength here, JJ. I think, overall, I'm more tolerant when I'm not dieting, but that's only been 2 months of this year, grr. (Never again, not twice in one year, unless a week apart). If someone really really wants to learn, I'll go out of my way to help them, but you're right, the majority, when confronted with the fact that they have to quit drinking (mostly), pasta in the evening, starbucks mochas ... start prepping meals at night, carrying them around in a cooler ....

Wait a sec! Are we NUTS? LMAO! j/k

Most people just don't understand how much work and sacrifice it takes to lose fat (w/out losing muscle, of course).

lol. And it's probably a good thing they DON'T know right off the bat, or even those who DO manage to start would never even get that far

 

[JJFigure]

Maybe we're a little nuts - did I just say that out loud?

Just think of the pictures, baby!

 

[MS]

You can try 5HTP. It works well for some folks and not at all for others (including me). There seems to be a lot of individual variation the brain uptake of 5HTP.

One thing to be aware of when tinkering with supps such as 5HTP is that you may be working against yourself in the larger picture. Even if if DOES help you reduce your carb cravings in the short term, there is some evidence that is also reduces thermogenesis (body heat/calories burned). It is prolly much better to not take the 5HTP but leave the high carb refeeds in place since these will also boost serotonin, but with the added bonus of boosting your metabolism. This just means you need to have your refeeds before your serotonin levels get so low that you go off the deep end. And of course the refeeds need to be large enough to get a significant metabolic/serotonergic/leptinergic boost........

As always, nature makes it bloody difficult to supplement our way out of the miseries of dieting!