Comments on: The Full Diet Break http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html Training and Nutrition advice, straight from the monkey's mouth. Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:56:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Graeme http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-6274 Graeme Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:40:10 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-6274 I read this article 2 months ago, shortly after restarting my long-stalled diet, and decided to schedule in a diet break. I lost 25 pounds in 3 months, and now I'm one week in to a two-week break. My body feels like it's on vacation, and looking forward to the break helped me stay on track during moments of weakness! I still have the food diary I kept during my first run at the diet. It spans a 16-month period during which I managed to lose 60 pounds -- 42 lbs in the first 5 months; a mere 18 lbs in the following year. As I look back at the old data, it's clear that my body was desperate for a break, but I still tried to trudge on... - The 10th week was my first bad week, but appears to be "just an exception" - By the 15th week, diet velocity was reduced for good - Weeks 23 and 24 were actually a slight calorie surplus. I was still trying to diet, but was losing the will. Things got progressively worse after that, until I gave up entirely. This time around, with regularly scheduled breaks, I'm hoping to finish the job! I really appreciate your no-bullshit and primary-literature-driven approaches to diet and exercise, Lyle. Thanks so much for putting all this excellent info on the web! I read this article 2 months ago, shortly after restarting my long-stalled diet, and decided to schedule in a diet break. I lost 25 pounds in 3 months, and now I’m one week in to a two-week break. My body feels like it’s on vacation, and looking forward to the break helped me stay on track during moments of weakness!

I still have the food diary I kept during my first run at the diet. It spans a 16-month period during which I managed to lose 60 pounds — 42 lbs in the first 5 months; a mere 18 lbs in the following year. As I look back at the old data, it’s clear that my body was desperate for a break, but I still tried to trudge on…
- The 10th week was my first bad week, but appears to be “just an exception”
- By the 15th week, diet velocity was reduced for good
- Weeks 23 and 24 were actually a slight calorie surplus. I was still trying to diet, but was losing the will.

Things got progressively worse after that, until I gave up entirely. This time around, with regularly scheduled breaks, I’m hoping to finish the job!

I really appreciate your no-bullshit and primary-literature-driven approaches to diet and exercise, Lyle. Thanks so much for putting all this excellent info on the web!

]]> By: Ryan http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-5562 Ryan Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:53:18 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-5562 Just a comment on the study mentioned in the article: I agree with the control aspect, and that dieting in "smaller chunks" can be more effective. I think that accountability could be playing a role here too. If the participants knew that they were going to be measured after the break, they may have been less likely to binge. I love my chocolate and manage to incorporate it into my diet - as long as I don't go over my macro-nutrient targets. And if I sometimes go over a bit, it's not the end of the world. Just a comment on the study mentioned in the article:

I agree with the control aspect, and that dieting in “smaller chunks” can be more effective. I think that accountability could be playing a role here too. If the participants knew that they were going to be measured after the break, they may have been less likely to binge.

I love my chocolate and manage to incorporate it into my diet – as long as I don’t go over my macro-nutrient targets. And if I sometimes go over a bit, it’s not the end of the world.

]]> By: Mattie http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-4868 Mattie Sun, 23 May 2010 18:01:02 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-4868 Lyle, I love the idea of diet breaks. All the points you made in your article have been spot on for me. As for the analogy of telling a cocaine addict to binge to help with their habit makes no sense whatsoever! I personally love staying strict on my diet and then rewarding myself (within reason) with a break. As previously mentioned, you are in control of the diet, not the other way around as is often the case. Preach on Lyle, preach on. Forever a fan, Mattie Lyle,

I love the idea of diet breaks. All the points you made in your article have been spot on for me. As for the analogy of telling a cocaine addict to binge to help with their habit makes no sense whatsoever!

I personally love staying strict on my diet and then rewarding myself (within reason) with a break. As previously mentioned, you are in control of the diet, not the other way around as is often the case.

Preach on Lyle, preach on.

Forever a fan,

Mattie

]]> By: lylemcd http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-4734 lylemcd Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:09:01 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-4734 In moderation, why is a cheeseburger or slice of pizza 'unhealthy'? If I use low fat cheese and 4% beef, why is a cheeseburger bad for me? What if I use lower fat cheese on a boboli shell with chicken breast and veggies? Is that unhealthy? Sounds like you're projecting a bit with this one. Perhaps you can't control your eating and you think everyone should be like you. That said, in a Guide to Flexible Dieting, I talk about the issue of trigger foods. In moderation, why is a cheeseburger or slice of pizza ‘unhealthy’? If I use low fat cheese and 4% beef, why is a cheeseburger bad for me? What if I use lower fat cheese on a boboli shell with chicken breast and veggies? Is that unhealthy? Sounds like you’re projecting a bit with this one. Perhaps you can’t control your eating and you think everyone should be like you.

That said, in a Guide to Flexible Dieting, I talk about the issue of trigger foods.

]]> By: sharon http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-4732 sharon Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:19:24 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-4732 Some thing people who have never suffered from overeating issues can't seem to grasp is telling a person with a food addiction that they can have free days or telling them to take a break from their diet is like telling a cocaine addict trying to get sober that they can have all the coke they want on Sundays or to help them stay sober to go on a week long bender. How does that make any sense? If you have eating issues there are some foods you should never eat again because they are trigger foods and people who are serious about losing weight need to accept this. I think weight loss programs who say you never have to give up what you love do this to hook people in because people don't want to be told they can never have a cheeseburger again or a slice of pizza and they will avoid those programs. People need to learn to love healthy food instead of creating programs that promise a cheeseburger for all their hard work eating all those yucky vegetables. Some thing people who have never suffered from overeating issues can’t seem to grasp is telling a person with a food addiction that they can have free days or telling them to take a break from their diet is like telling a cocaine addict trying to get sober that they can have all the coke they want on Sundays or to help them stay sober to go on a week long bender. How does that make any sense? If you have eating issues there are some foods you should never eat again because they are trigger foods and people who are serious about losing weight need to accept this. I think weight loss programs who say you never have to give up what you love do this to hook people in because people don’t want to be told they can never have a cheeseburger again or a slice of pizza and they will avoid those programs. People need to learn to love healthy food instead of creating programs that promise a cheeseburger for all their hard work eating all those yucky vegetables.

]]> By: TCO http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-4085 TCO Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:58:42 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-4085 And once you settle into being on program it is not "miserable". It is habitual. And once you settle into being on program it is not “miserable”. It is habitual.

]]> By: TCO http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-4084 TCO Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:57:50 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-4084 I ran straight through. See a few people who succeed with breaks, but a lot more who it throws them off stride. Better for the vast majority to rock on program. Through aniversieries, holidays, travel, etc. (There are simply too many "excuses" for any to be special...and yes I include funerals and alien landings in there...and dates and any of that crap). Oh...and no booze either. It's just mentally easier to rock at 100% and not have to go on/off of the groove. I ran straight through. See a few people who succeed with breaks, but a lot more who it throws them off stride. Better for the vast majority to rock on program. Through aniversieries, holidays, travel, etc. (There are simply too many “excuses” for any to be special…and yes I include funerals and alien landings in there…and dates and any of that crap). Oh…and no booze either. It’s just mentally easier to rock at 100% and not have to go on/off of the groove.

]]> By: Jon http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-2920 Jon Wed, 15 Jul 2009 23:37:11 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-2920 Lyle, Sorry - saw you answered the question already in the article. -Jon Lyle,

Sorry – saw you answered the question already in the article.

-Jon

]]> By: Jon http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-2916 Jon Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:16:40 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-2916 Lyle, Would a moderate increase in caloric intake via fat and protein be effective in restoring normal hormone levels or are carbohydrates necessary? Thanks, Jon Lyle,

Would a moderate increase in caloric intake via fat and protein be effective in restoring normal hormone levels or are carbohydrates necessary?

Thanks,
Jon

]]> By: admin http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/the-full-diet-break.html/comment-page-1#comment-2872 admin Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:33:01 +0000 http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/?p=2259#comment-2872 Jack: Both are involved. Stress in general can do nasty things to hormones but caloric restriction doesn't help. Nor does the body heal well in a deficit. If he's returning from an injury, he shouldn't be dieting in the first place. Jack: Both are involved. Stress in general can do nasty things to hormones but caloric restriction doesn’t help. Nor does the body heal well in a deficit. If he’s returning from an injury, he shouldn’t be dieting in the first place.

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