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[iapetus]

http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/

Suddenly it all makes sense.

 

[Matlock]

Here's the cliffs notes version:

cheetohs and mountain dew

 

[iapetus]

Actually, the abbreviated version is more like:

Eating too much food and doing no exercise (mainly eating too much food) makes you fat. Eat less food and do more exercise.

This may hurt a little.

 

[evil ways]

I swear for a moment there I though the thread title said "The Hooker's Diet". Damn I need a new prescription.

 

[kumanoki]

The Hacker's Diet works if you're willing to think about losing weight constantly for the next six months. I guess it depends on how bad you want to lose weight.
For me, it went like this:

Week 1: Total dedication. Charting my weight, eating well, hungry.

Week 2: Results! One pound down, about forty to go! Woo-hoo!

Week 3: Meh. Tired of being hungry. I'll just eat a little more.

Week 4: Back to original weight.

 

[iapetus]

I figure it shouldn't be too hard to get into a habit of eating less. If I can cut down on my giant lunches at work I should save time, money, and lose weight.

 

[kumanoki]

Hey, I'll go in with you on this. I've done it before. I know it's effective. It's just a matter of dedication.

So here's my plan:

I'm 6'1", 270 lbs.
I'm the heaviest I've ever been. I want to get back down to something reasonable. Ideally, I'd like to get down to a healthy 215 lbs. Realistically I'm shooting for 235. I practice kyudo three days a week, which involves a twenty minute bike ride both ways. That'll help.

I burn anywhere between 2260-2825 calories a day.

So, breakfast- alternate between two scrambled eggs and yoghurt. 200cal/ 150cal

lunch- lemon pepper chicken salad.* 300cal

dinner- low fat, very green dinner. 1000-1500cal

That's an intake of anywhere from 1450-2000cal a day.

2825-2000=825
825x7= 5775 = About a pound and a half a week. I know I won't be that stringent, though.

It will take me about 30 weeks.

*Lemon pepper chicken salad
One chicken breast w/o skin, pan fried in low fat oil
Season with pepper, lemon juice, ginger powder
Serve over a bed of romaigne and iceberg lettuce
Add red, yellow, green peppers, carrots, celery to taste
Cheese is okay, too.

 

[iapetus]

Cool. I'll run the numbers tomorrow when I get home. Maybe even pick up a set of scales on the way home...

 

[aoi tsuki]

Wake me when there's a fad miracle diet for skinny as hell pseudo vegetarians.

 

[kumanoki]

Wake me when there's a fad miracle diet for skinny as hell pseudo vegetarians.

Schlotzki's Deli, perhaps?

 

[aoi tsuki]

Schlotzki's Deli, perhaps?

Psuedo vegetarian as in only fish, eggs, and dairy. Combined with a high metabolism and poor regular eating habits, you have little potential for gaining weight.

For some reason, i feel like chanting "you don't win friends with salad".

 

[kumanoki]

Psuedo vegetarian as in only fish, eggs, and dairy. Combined with a high metabolism and poor regular eating habits, you have little potential for gaining weight.

For some reason, i feel like chanting "you don't win friends with salad".

You and I are on exact opposite ends of the weight spectrum. And I know people telling you 'just eat more' doesn't help.

 

[aoi tsuki]

You and I are on exact opposite ends of the weight spectrum. And I know people telling you 'just eat more' doesn't help.

i'm on the exact opposite of most peoples' weight spectrums. i know what i have to do - eat a steady, blanced diet or at least a steady amount of carbs and protein along with excercise, but it's just that i have to dedicate myself to it, and i haven't done that yet.

i think it also sucks that fat people suffer more persecution publicly than those of us who exist in two dimensions.

 

[Prospero]

I lost twenty pounds in two months on the Hacker's Diet. All the diet requires is common sense, along with a tolerance for a constant slight but nagging hunger. But it works, and I haven't gained the weight back, almost a year later.

 

[Do The Mario]

If you guys want to get fit I wouldn’t make it over complicated, just start exercising regularly/waking maybe running most importantly you will feel better about yourself just by exercising regularly.

Don’t focus purely on long term goals, weekly goals like eating healthy 5 or 6 days of the week tend to work much better.


Kumanoki seems to be doing most of what I posted anyway, good luck man.

 

[kumanoki]

I lost twenty pounds in two months on the Hacker's Diet. All the diet requires is common sense, along with a tolerance for a constant slight but nagging hunger. But it works, and I haven't gained the weight back, almost a year later.

Twenty pounds in two months? Wow. You musta been starving! Three pounds a week? Jeebus!

As for me, I plan to drink water only. No teas, no colas. I don't drink colas, anyway, so it's no problem. No alcohol, either. That's the tough part.

 

[Seth C]

I've lost 57 pounds since June. It can be done.

 

[Prospero]

Twenty pounds in two months? Wow. You musta been starving! Three pounds a week? Jeebus!

The first week was the hardest--after that I got used to it.

One thing I didn't truly realize until the Hacker's Diet is how much socializing in American culture revolves around consuming high-calorie food products when you're not hungry. Going to the movies? Of course you're going to get a tub of popcorn, soaked in butter. Sitting at a desk at work? Of course you're going to have a bag of chips there beside you, and near the end of your workday you're obviously entitled to a Milky Way bar to get you through that last hour or so. Going out to a pub with friends? Of course you'll get a basket of fries and onion rings, maybe even a burger, even though it's midnight. Going out for lunch? Of course you'll go to the all-you-can-eat buffet, where you can get your money's worth.

Giving up the socialized high-calorie eating (especially in the face of continual peer pressure from friends and co-workers) was the hard part for me, not doing the math with the calorie count.

As for me, I plan to drink water only. No teas, no colas. I don't drink colas, anyway, so it's no problem. No alcohol, either. That's the tough part.

I gave up colas permanently--I've had one during the past six months, and I found it to be so sugary that I couldn't finish it. For alcohol, I didn't give it up entirely, but I did switch from drinking beer to drinking Scotch and bourbon exclusively.

 

[kumanoki]

The first week was the hardest--after that I got used to it.

One thing I didn't truly realize until the Hacker's Diet is how much socializing in American culture revolves around consuming high-calorie food products when you're not hungry. Going to the movies? Of course you're going to get a tub of popcorn, soaked in butter. Sitting at a desk at work? Of course you're going to have a bag of chips there beside you, and near the end of your workday you're obviously entitled to a Milky Way bar to get you through that last hour or so. Going out to a pub with friends? Of course you'll get a basket of fries and onion rings, maybe even a burger, even though it's midnight. Going out for lunch? Of course you'll go to the all-you-can-eat buffet, where you can get your money's worth.

Giving up the socialized high-calorie eating (especially in the face of continual peer pressure from friends and co-workers) was the hard part for me, not doing the math with the calorie count.

You'd think it'd be easier to diet in Japan, but it's actually very difficult. Food goes bad here really quickly, so you have to eat your fresh food within a couple of days. That, coupled with the fact that a lot of Japanese food is not healthy (contrary to popular belief; sushi is great, but there's a whole list of J-food that's swimming in calories, like katsudon, anything yaki, ramen etc, etc,), and unless you have a Japanese mama cooking your lunch and dinners for you, you're not going to get healthy meals unless you make them yourself.
And a low-carb diet? Fuggedaboutit. It's all rice and noodles over here. Japanese people look at you like you've got a penis growing out of your forehead when you say you eat toast for breakfast. Pfft. Like a bowl of rice every morning isn't the exact same thing.
When it comes down to it, socialization in most cultures revolves around eating. Izakayas, Japanese restaurant/bars are the perfect example. Going out with your friends on the weekends makes it incredibly hard to stay focused, and you look like a party pooper when you don't drink and hardly touch your favorite foods.

Living in Japan has driven home the fact that it's the exercise that keeps you healthy, because Japanese people eat a ton of nasty, unhealthy shit- just like Americans. And Jesus Christ, the Japanese smoke like fvcking stacks. The thing is, most Japanese people are involved in some kind of activity to keep them healthy. Sports, judo, kyudo, kendo, kempo, jogging, soccer, rugby, you name it. It's cool to live in a place where most people look at activity and exercise in a positive light. That's why I started kyudo.

 

[iapetus]

Holy crap. Just discovered exactly how overweight I actually am, and it's not pretty. I knew I was turning into a bit of a fat bastard, but it's official - I'm now obese. I hold the NFL fully responsible, and will be suing in due course.

So, my goal now has to be to plummet from 110kg (240 pounds) to 82kg (180 pounds) in as short a time as it is healthy to do so. Twenty pounds in two months sounds like a sane enough target to me.

Although, of course, worrying based on a single measurement is against the spirit of the Hacker's diet. I'll start the regular weighing in tomorrow morning, and see what happens when I start being able to put a moving average together. Meanwhile, deserts are out, and food servings are halved.

 

[Tarazet]

How about a way to safely gain 20 pounds? I've tried everything. My appetite just won't let me eat too much. I'm getting a bit sick of this stick-figure physique.

 

[kumanoki]

I figured if I can stop biting my nails, I can certainly do this.

Do any of you who've dieted before have a significant other? If so, does the eventual weight loss and subsequent energy gain make it more difficult to relate to someone who isn't going through the same changes you are? (i.e. "I need to lose weight." "I wish I'd done what you're doing." "I don't feel like doing anything strenuous right now.")

If I can break the 100kg barrier, I'll throw a freakin' party.

 

[kumanoki]

How about a way to safely gain 20 pounds? I've tried everything. My appetite just won't let me eat too much. I'm getting a bit sick of this stick-figure physique.

Perhaps you could try eating a normal-sized, high-calorie meal. Lots of protiens and carbs. You don't have to stuff yourself, you only need to get more calories in.

 

[Tarazet]

Perhaps you could try eating a normal-sized, high-calorie meal. Lots of protiens and carbs. You don't have to stuff yourself, you only need to get more calories in.

I eat normal-sized meals every day, 3 of them. The portions are sometimes a little bit small, but I definitely don't leave out the calories intentionally. I eat dessert and snack on salty stuff too...

 

[Prospero]

[...]a lot of Japanese food is not healthy (contrary to popular belief; sushi is great, but there's a whole list of J-food that's swimming in calories, like katsudon, anything yaki, ramen etc, etc,)

There are two Japanese restaurants within a five-minute walk of my apartment--one is authentic, one less so. I used to order a huge plate of chicken and vegetable tempura at least once or twice a week. I miss those days, but I still treat myself now and again.

The thing is, most Japanese people are involved in some kind of activity to keep them healthy. Sports, judo, kyudo, kendo, kempo, jogging, soccer, rugby, you name it. It's cool to live in a place where most people look at activity and exercise in a positive light. That's why I started kyudo.

Oh--right about the time I started dieting, I took up Dance Dance Revolution, playing for about a half-hour a day. Even as little activity as that ensures that you can eat just about whatever you want, and still stay healthy.

How about a way to safely gain 20 pounds? I've tried everything.

Have you tried peanuts, or cashews? Nuts have more calories packed into them than any processed snack food, and most of those calories are from fat. I have a 24 oz. jar of honey-roasted peanuts sitting on my desk right now, and according to its label it has 3,840 calories, which is double my usual calorie intake for a single day (and nearly triple what my calorie intake was when I was on the diet). Now, it'll take me about two weeks to consume this jar of peanuts, but if I didn't exercise restraint I could easily go through it in a day.

 

[iapetus]

Oh--right about the time I started dieting, I took up Dance Dance Revolution, playing for about a half-hour a day. Even as little activity as that ensures that you can eat just about whatever you want, and still stay healthy.

I like the sound of that - might invest in a decent quality dance mat rather than an exercise bike.

 

[McLesterolBeast]

I went from 185 down to about 165 (this term) just by token of the fact that I live more than a 5 minute walk from a convenience store or fast food restaurant.

If the food isnt there, im too lazy to get any. Hunger be damned, the lazy factor always wins.

 

[kumanoki]

UPDATE: I started dieting on Feb. 1st.
Here we are one week later and one kilo (two pounds) lighter.

122kg ---> 121kg
268lbs ---> 266lbs

This week I've had the pleasure of eating Peruvian rotisserie chicken, palak paneer curry, and tacos. Cutting those portions in half really makes a difference. And what a surprise for me, too. I never knew that you could eat less and still be satisfied. Kick ass. Week 2, here we go!

 

[Trakball]

Hey Kumanoki, what kinda tacos are you getting in Japan? It's just a funny concept to me; I'm less than a hour from Mexico so I'm a taco snob

 

[kumanoki]

Hey Kumanoki, what kinda tacos are you getting in Japan? It's just a funny concept to me; I'm less than a hour from Mexico so I'm a taco snob

Crap. Really crap. We have to get imported Old El Paso shells at like four dollars box. But, you make due with what you have, you know? You can get salsa and what-not. Sour cream, although easy to come by, costs five dollars for this little tiny tub the size of a yogurt cup. We still eat happy. MMmmmmm-tacos!

I wish I were that close to the border. Flour tortillas. Mmmmm.

 

[Trakball]

Crap. Really crap. We have to get imported Old El Paso shells at like four dollars box. But, you make due with what you have, you know? You can get salsa and what-not. Sour cream, although easy to come by, costs five dollars for this little tiny tub the size of a yogurt cup. We still eat happy. MMmmmmm-tacos!

I wish I were that close to the border. Flour tortillas. Mmmmm.

Heh, that's funny man. I wish I could get the delicious sushi that must be a dime a dozen where you're at. Grass is always greener.

 

[kumanoki]

UPDATE:

Feb. 1st ---> 122kg
Feb. 10th --->118kg

I'm making this work, guys.

 

[Prospero]

UPDATE:

Feb. 1st ---> 122kg
Feb. 10th --->118kg

I'm making this work, guys.

4 kg. in ten days? You're losing weight fast.

 

[iapetus]

Not in the spirit of the Hacker's Diet, though. 10 days is only enough to give you one day's worth of data.

By the same standards, I've lost 5kg too.

 

[Prospero]

I wasn't hardcore enough to do the stuff with the charts. Whenever I stepped on the scale in the morning and weighed two pounds more than I did the morning before, I'd just ignore it.

 

[pjberri]

Exercise is the easiest way to lose weight from my experience. Jogging doesn't do a lot, but playing sports and doing things like situps both work really well, and you'll get a bit more toned, too.

 

[iapetus]

Are the rest of you guys still going? I've lost about a stone and a half (10kg) so far, even with the Superbowl (the one day in the year where it is ordained that even dieters must consume much beer and pizza) stuck at the start of the diet.

Or, to put it in more realistic terms, my belt is now tighter by two holes.

 

[kumanoki]

Are the rest of you guys still going? I've lost about a stone and a half (10kg) so far, even with the Superbowl (the one day in the year where it is ordained that even dieters must consume much beer and pizza) stuck at the start of the diet.

Or, to put it in more realistic terms, my belt is now tighter by two holes.

Still going. I'm hovering around the 117-116kg (257lbs) mark right now. Still eating healthy, still drinking only water. Portions are smaller. I've noticed that I couldn't eat as much as I used to even if I tried. It hurts. Also, I've had a lot more energy lately. I'm considering doing some cardio, as well.

 

[Prospero]

I actually started back on this for a little while this week, to do some maintenance work (my weight's hovering around 163, up from around 160 a year ago, when I finished the diet). I want to drop down to 155, which is supposedly around my "ideal" weight according to insurance charts and things like that.