Weight loss 2016 | Page 31 | The Compost Bin | Forums

The best way to GAIN weight is to go on a diet! Sure restriction seems to 'work' - especially at first, but the last leg of the dieting cycle is REgain. Don't think so? Here's what registered nutritionists and dietitians have to say on this -

easytapper said

Jain said
The best way to GAIN weight is to go on a diet! Sure restriction seems to 'work' - especially at first, but the last leg of the dieting cycle is REgain. Don't think so? Here's what registered nutritionists and dietitians have to say on this -

I agree completely.  I'm not really considering it a diet.  It's more of a matter of making better decisions.  Also, with my goal being to eat healthIER, it's not really about losing weight.  That's more of a side effect.  So far, I'm not missing anything.  If I want something, I have it.  Just smaller portions or slightly smarter choices.  Also, what I'm doing now, it's something I can do long term (unlike Atkin's or something like that).

As an aside, my son and I are very active in Scouting.  Well when he gets older, if he wants to go to any high adventure camps (Philmont, Sea Base, Northern Tier, etc.) they have pretty strict BMI guidelines.  For my height, I need to be under 225.  Also, if he sees me being healthier, maybe it will strike a chord with him.

Sorry easytapper, but there isn't an 'easy' answer to this issue, in fact you may want to know about -

Orthorexia is characterized by an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be 'unhealthy'. The term orthorexia derives from the Greek literally meaning 'correct appetite', but in practice meaning 'correct diet'. It was introduced in 1997 by Steven Bratman, M.D., to be used as a parallel with other eating disorders, such as anorexia. Orthorexia is not considered to be an eating disorder according to the American Psychiatric Association, and is not mentioned as an official diagnosis. The term was coined by Bratman who claims that in rare cases, this focus may turn into a fixation so extreme that it can lead to severe malnutrition or even death. Even in less severe cases, the attempt to follow a diet that cannot provide adequate nourishment is said to lower self-esteem as the orthorexics blame themselves rather than their diets for their constant hunger and the resulting cravings for forbidden foods.

When one tries to make use of EXternal guidelines your INternal needs and desires eventually override 'good intentions' and then you are back where you started with MORE to battle too. The sad truth is that we are all born with a built in ability to choose and limit our eating. However we too soon learn overriding 'rules' about food and eating, the worst of all is to distrust one's own body. Reconnecting with that INner wisdom is possible, but its a process that takes time and a lot of releasing 'learned' rules and ideas about food (which is simply pleasant fuel). The bonus is that once those EXternal, imposing rules are dropped in favor of honoring your own body, your body does relax its fight with you and often 'releases' excess that it really doesn't want to carry around anyway. (But does so because of many reasons). Plus peace with food and eating is sooooo much more delightful than fretting over every mouthful.

I would 'challenge' the Boy Scout's BMI guidelines as discriminatory and unenlightened! There's such a thing as HAES (Health At Every Size) and BMI is flat out not a very 'measure' either. You are NOT a 'number'!!