anyone else trying to lose weight

[djansen]

One of the biggest things with soda aside from the sugar (and not many know either) is that the carbonation effects your ATP production, which effects fat stores and I believe will even cause some water retention (ie bloating). So even diet soda is bad for more than the obvious reasons...

Wait, so your saying carbonation effects ATP production? please elaborate. And please explain the relationship between ATP and fat stores.
thank you.

[Clear]

Im trying to gain weight. Im 22 yrs old at 6ft and 115 lbs and im healthy as a horse. But getting called skinny sucks on a huge level

Good luck to everyone!

Ectomorphs have an extremely hard time gaining muscle weight. It really sucks for us. I havent gained much muscle mass but I have gained more definition and strength with eating 1.5g of protein per 1# of body weight, the more protein you can eat the better! Lifting should be short and intense!!! (I was doing a workout based on Body by Science, it works)

I would also check in if you have any food allergies or intolerances. (grains, dairy would be the first two I check into)

[djansen]

Ectomorphs have an extremely hard time gaining muscle weight. It really sucks for us. I havent gained much muscle mass but I have gained more definition and strength with eating 1.5g of protein per 1# of body weight, the more protein you can eat the better! Lifting should be short and intense!!! (I was doing a workout based on Body by Science, it works)

The more protein the better is not always the case, and taking 1.5g of protein per lb is prob a bit excessive. There seems to be no benefit above 1.2g per lb and some would argue that's even too high. To gain mass with a primary focus on maintaining a caloric surplus a large percent of those calories should be CHO not protein.

And saying that workouts should be short and intense is a blanket statement. your training should be dictated by your goals. Also new data suggests that muscle hypertrophy may be better stimulated by volume over intensity.

[jbean7916]

I'm trying to lose weight big time. I've recently lost over 100lbs and am currently at a stand still. Even PT isn't helping . I still have about 20-30lbs I want/need to lose. I've tried doing different work outs. Those last few lbs are being stubborn haha.

I'm considering checking if there are any decent pills to help me burn more during my workout. I just hate taking pills and stuff.

I gained a lot of weight after a car accident a few years ago that left me unable to walk for almost a year. I'm almost as good as new now, and am able to once again rock climb and mountaineer which has helped me lose most of the weight. Not drinking soda also helped immensely. I only drink water now. However, I still have a pop every now and then. Pretty much only when I go out to eat.

I know I'll never be 116 again, but I'd like to be at a healthier range. Aiming for 120-130. I'm rather short, so that is a healthy weight for me.

I did a diet program 3 years ago that I'm starting again and it had a "plateau breaker" portion for when you hit that point. It consisted of 3 days of 2-3lbs of protein/day (the more red meat the better) and all the raw greens you can eat combined with 96oz of water a day.

No starch and no sugar.

It helped me break through a stubborn spot.

sent from my EVO

[Trogdorpheus]

Wait, so your saying carbonation effects ATP production? please elaborate. And please explain the relationship between ATP and fat stores.
thank you.

The reason our bodies function is a constant flux of energy (ATP). One of those critical components is Oxygen, and when you drink carbonated beverages (I could be confusing this with something else now...) you increase the Carbon in your bloodstream. Our bodies regulate oxygen through pH, and with an increase in Carbon you effectively decrease the oxygen solubility level by lowering that pH. With less oxygen, less energy. Less energy, less activity. Less activity, higher fat stores.

The fat stores / ATP relationship is less related to the carbonation as it is the sugars in soda. Excess sugar will be broken down to produce ATP from glucose. This is readily made from the sugars ingested. With these sugars being so readily available, your body will never need to convert its stored energy (glycogen/fat) to glucose for production of ATP.

The same is, to some degree, true of alcohol.

EDIT: Also, my personal take on the protein comments. I typically try to consume 1-1.2 grams of protein per lb of my goal weight. So lets say I was trying to put on an additional 10 lbs, then I'd be eating an additional 12grams of protein + 1.2 per lb I currently weigh.

[djansen]

The reason our bodies function is a constant flux of energy (ATP). One of those critical components is Oxygen, and when you drink carbonated beverages (I could be confusing this with something else now...) you increase the Carbon in your bloodstream. Our bodies regulate oxygen through pH, and with an increase in Carbon you effectively decrease the oxygen solubility level by lowering that pH. With less oxygen, less energy. Less energy, less activity. Less activity, higher fat stores.

I was not aware of carbonated water increasing carbon in the blood having a negative impact. not saying its wrong but I have never heard of it. Here is a quote from an article I found and now i'm curious.
One knock against carbonated beverages is that they add excessive amounts of carbon dioxide to the blood, throwing out the blood's acid-base status. However, the Washington University researchers were able to show that the cyclists' blood acidity was exactly the same when using carbonated and non-carbonated drinks (the blood easily handled the increased absorption of CO2). Some individuals have also worried that carbonated beverages might interfere with the oxygen-transport capacity of the blood, but there is little basis for this concern.

The fat stores / ATP relationship is less related to the carbonation as it is the sugars in soda. Excess sugar will be broken down to produce ATP from glucose. This is readily made from the sugars ingested. With these sugars being so readily available, your body will never need to convert its stored energy (glycogen/fat) to glucose for production of ATP.

The same is, to some degree, true of alcohol.

So are you proposing a low carb diet?

EDIT: Also, my personal take on the protein comments. I typically try to consume 1-1.2 grams of protein per lb of my goal weight. So lets say I was trying to put on an additional 10 lbs, then I'd be eating an additional 12grams of protein + 1.2 per lb I currently weigh.

I would agree here. You ever heard of Alan Aragon?

[Clear]

The more protein the better is not always the case, and taking 1.5g of protein per lb is prob a bit excessive. There seems to be no benefit above 1.2g per lb and some would argue that's even too high. To gain mass with a primary focus on maintaining a caloric surplus a large percent of those calories should be CHO not protein.

And saying that workouts should be short and intense is a blanket statement. your training should be dictated by your goals. Also new data suggests that muscle hypertrophy may be better stimulated by volume over intensity.

Ectomorphs have an extreme hard time gaining muscle mass. 1.2g/lb doesnt help me at all and wont help most ectomorphs. 1.5g/lb gives me a little gain but not much at all. My K intake is 40% protein 30% carb and 30% fat. I eat no grains, legumes, white potatoes or dairy products. (Minus the few occasions that I "Cheat")

It isnt a blanket statement if you read the book that I posted along with my statement.

I did a diet program 3 years ago that I'm starting again and it had a "plateau breaker" portion for when you hit that point. It consisted of 3 days of 2-3lbs of protein/day (the more red meat the better) and all the raw greens you can eat combined with 96oz of water a day.

No starch and no sugar.

It helped me break through a stubborn spot.

sent from my EVO

The reason why diets dont work or dont work for long term is because you have to change your life style. You cant expect to drop 30# and continue your old life style. One part of what you said makes me think (I guess it doesnt make those doing the diet think about it) If your consuming a ton of meat, a ton of greens with water and you drop 2-3# why not do this the whole diet?!

[djansen]

Ectomorphs have an extreme hard time gaining muscle mass. 1.2g/lb doesnt help me at all and wont help most ectomorphs. 1.5g/lb gives me a little gain but not much at all. My K intake is 40% protein 30% carb and 30% fat. I eat no grains, legumes, white potatoes or dairy products. (Minus the few occasions that I "Cheat")

It isnt a blanket statement if you read the book that I posted along with my statement.

Sure ectomorphs may have a harder time adding muscle then meso or endomorphs but its not like they defy protein metabolism. There is an amount where excess protein is going to have no effect on on protein synthesis. Do you know what percent protein plays in energy production during exercise? roughly 2% and maybe 5-10% in prolonged exercise. So I find it hard to believe that you wont gain on 1.2g protein provided adequate calories.

And do you have an allergy to grains, legumes, white potatoes or dairy products? If not what is the reason for avoiding them? And if its stated in the book you are referring to I hope he has valid proof (scientific literature?) for this claim and not just his opinion.
Each one of those foods has benefits and unless you have a specific allergy to them recommending others to avoid them is ridiculous.

[Clear]

Each one of those foods has benefits and unless you have a specific allergy to them recommending others to avoid them is ridiculous.

Depending on who the study was done for, some studies show grains are great, others show they are dangerous, it all depends on which you want to believe. I never recommended anyone to avoid them. Go back and re-read.

Mark posts plenty of studies in his posts so I will just link to his threads.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-g...are-unhealthy/

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/definitive-guide-grains/

[python_addict]

Wow I have learned so much from this thread lol alright anyways lost another 2 pounds since posting this thread but I have to take a break my body hurts so bad