So one my girlfriends friends went on a "portion control" diet

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst)
09/12/2014 at 14:25 • Filed to: None

He now eats less than she does (and she doesn't typically eat much at all compared to me).

He's also working out in all the wrong ways. One of my best friends was a personal trainer for many years, so I'm well aware of the do's and don'ts of the fitness world, and what he's doing is so incredibly stupid, it's ridiculous.

I found this, and it made me laugh.

I refuse to "diet." I follow the "eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full" diet. I'm about 5'8" ish and weigh a healthy 150, and I'm pretty skinny I would say. I'm the skinniest person in my family, by an unnatural degree. I workout regularly, and avoid fast food, candy and soda.

I don't do anything special! Maybe that's the trick? Either way, whenever going on a diet, see a nutritionist first. It's so easy to go very very wrong.

DISCUSSION (20)

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:29

Sounds like you are blessed with a rapid metabolism which also destroys your ability to empathize with others who are not similarly blessed.

Also, apostrophes are your friend.

For Sweden > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:30

150? Do you even lift?

yamahog > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:31

Is he trying to cut weight for some reason, or could he have an eating disorder? A lot of people don't consider that possibility in men, but it happens and it's just as serious as it is for women.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:32

Make sure you're getting a balanve of everything you need. Balance portion size with your level of excercise, extra protein (I use fresh chicken fillets) if you want to gain muscle. Added about 5 pounds of muscle recently and slightly reduced body fat by doing that and using dumbells/ push ups/ sit ups.

mcseanerson > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:33

I dieted perfectly and worked out every day, alternating upper and lower body with 20 minutes of cardio every day, and I didn't lose a pound for three months. Then I lost my job and quit dieting and lost 40 lbs. Also in highschool I didn't diet at all and just worked out and lost 75 lbs. I think dieting is a scam. Just don't eat crazy things and work out.

crowmolly > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:33

A diet is not something you "do". It's a description of your eating habits. Even nutritionists fuck this up.

If he goes into too much of a calorie deficit he's going to stall out. He needs to set it based of of his weight (or his body comp #'s if he's got em) and do that. It will be slower but healthier.

Nothing is worse than seeing somebody go too far, lose a ton of muscle, stall out, and then rebound to an even higher BF % number since their BMR is lower.

CalzoneGolem > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:41

Tip: Be born with a high metabolism.

JGrabowMSt > yamahog
09/12/2014 at 14:45

I'm pretty sure he now has an eating disorder. He doesn't listen to any advice whatsoever, about eating or working out.

I was telling my girlfriend last night, when he gets hurt, maybe it'll start to sink in for him.

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein
09/12/2014 at 14:48

My sisters have Thyroid issues. Nowhere did I perch up ignoring it. I am the only person in my immediate family who is not strictly overweight. I'm well aware it's a serious issue, try not to be too high and mighty.

I support my sisters in their efforts to work out, however there is a proper way to do it, and when they do things that will hurt them, obviously I don't. This guy is no different. He isn't eating, and he's over exerting himself repeatedly "working out." He'll get hurt doing it, and it's a matter of time.

JGrabowMSt > For Sweden
09/12/2014 at 14:49

Not anymore, my back can't do it.

yamahog > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:49

Hopefully he can get some help before that. Take a look at ANAD (Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) for more information. It's not something to take lightly and hopefully his girlfriend and friends can be supportive.

Bytemite > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:52

I am the same height and weight as you...and I also don't have to watch what I eat. It doesn't mean that everyone has our metabolism and genes. Some people that eat what we eat and exercise the way we exercise can still be fat. Same goes for people skinnier than us.

Textured Soy Protein > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 14:57

I'm not being high and mighty. I'm making fun of you because starting every sentence in a paragraph with 'I' comes off as narcissistic.

Especially when the 'I' things you're saying, come off as "I'm superior because of ____."

JGrabowMSt > crowmolly
09/12/2014 at 14:58

Yep, this is essentially where it's going. He's heavier set than most, but if I were to be a little rude about it, I'd say husky. Not fat, not overweight, just husky. I was told he wanted to "lose the giggle." For reasons I wont even bother getting into, he refuses to have any willing direct contact with me.

He's either a really good closet eater, or just isn't eating right now. I think calorie deficit is putting it really nicely, considering what I know about his refrigerator.

He's also increasing reps 2-3x. Having done a lot of weight training, I'd increase maybe 5lbs OR one set of reps, but nothing more. I've hit the wall a couple times, and from experience, I can say I never want to do that again. He's doing it consistently, so he's going to start destroying what muscle he has, because it's not getting replenished one tiny bit. Considering he did the portion control earlier this year, and is now pounding on himself, most of the reserves his body would normally have aren't there, or they aren't there enough to support any of what he's doing.

I know a few people who are active personal trainers, maybe I'll just convince my girlfriend to pass on their info and see what happens.

Regardless of whether he likes me to any degree isn't my concern, but he's heading straight for disaster, faster than he knows.

crowmolly > Textured Soy Protein
09/12/2014 at 15:04

This.

There are guidelines but there's no hard and fast set of rules that work for everybody.

crowmolly > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 15:06

Well, does he want to lose fat or weight overall? It matters. Fat is way harder to do.

JGrabowMSt > crowmolly
09/12/2014 at 15:09

Deep down, I think he wants to lose the fat, but he's a bit thick headed to do it the right way, and follow someone's advice, because I think he's under the impression it'll happen faster.

crowmolly > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 15:18

There's no "right way" for everybody. Professional figure and bodybuilding competitors (who make money or starve based on how fat they are) all use techniques suited for their own body.

He's probably going to realize he needs to do a lot more work on the treadmill and eat a lot more clean food to lose weight. But I am spitballing.

ACESandEIGHTS > JGrabowMSt
09/12/2014 at 17:08

Sadly, I think food is like Pandora's Box. Once you've decided you really really like delicious food and beer, it's very very difficult to deny yourself the awesomeness.

Plus, studies have shown that once you've increased your caloric intake to a certain extent, your body (brain mostly) will have that appetite forever. Done. Say you went all your young adulthood at 1,800 calories a day, but then increased that for 3 years to 3,000 calories and got fat. You can cut down to 1,800 calories again, and weight will come off, but your brain will tell you for the rest of your life that you're not eating enough. Healthy, yes. Hungry, always. Worse yet if you can't exercise as much, and obviously metabolism slows as you age.

It's a tough trap to fall into, but many many have, including me. I've dropped 30, 40+ pounds at a time to get down to a "college-age" weight... mature, but not fat. At that point, it's not just needing the will to lose weight, but having the will never to go back to your old life . That's a lot of will to exert for another 10, 20, 30+ years.

JGrabowMSt > ACESandEIGHTS
09/12/2014 at 17:23

I know it. I get plenty of cravings and once in a while I binge on something specific for a few days at a time (a few weeks ago it was chocolate chip granola bars, then it was potato chips, I've been hitting jelly beans the past few days way more than I should be). I also grew up with parents always telling me when I was hungry, never accepting that I couldn't be hungry at times. Looking back, portions were huge compared to what I actually eat on a normal basis now, but the temptation never goes away, even if I don't feel like I can actually keep it all down anymore.

I just think this guy is going about it in all the wrong ways, but he just wont listen to anybody about anything. He's been complaining a lot about overexerting himself the past few days, but wont slow down or eat right (if he's eating at all right now).

It's sad to me, many of the people I knew well in high school had tons of problems from cutting to drugs, and it's really sad to see it happen. I get bitter when I see it now because of how much people don't accept help when they really do need it. I've seen it happen, I know where it's going. I don't have to like the guy to give a shit, but what are you going to do.