One thing that was very helpful to me, a Dr. Naiman published a .PDF on “time restricted eating” or intermittent fasting that really breaks it down. It’s probably still online somewhere. I copied it and refer to it now and then just to reinforce what ai know.
One of the things he pointed out, when we utilize “one meal a day” and restricting calories especially, we naturally start to pay very close attention to what we DO eat. Since we aren’t eating very much, or very often, it looms large. The ingredients themselves, the preparation and presentation.
I think he terms it “mindful eating”. We become very aware of just exactly what it is we are putting into our bodies, and I think that’s true. I don’t drink Soda very often. Once in a while. But, to me, a corn-syrup laden soda pop tastes like crap. Not very sweet, kind of a sour after taste, slimy film. But a good old cane-sugar soda pop is crisp and tasty. If I’m going to “sin” from a diet perspective, I’m gonna do it right.
Quality ingredients cost more usually. But if we cut our calories in say, a third or half as part of our new lifestyle, there is money in the budget for an upgrade. One of the cool things, all those perfectly serviceable clothes hanging in the closet - they fit again! For some that saves a lot of money too.
Sometimes you’ll hear the experts say everyone got fat eating “inexpensive carbs”. That isn’t really true. Chips and soda and candy are the most expensive things in the store! It isn’t even close. Corn chips are made with field corn, iirc, some sort of industrial grease, and salt. The bag itself (and transportation costs); advertising - that’s why they cost 7 bucks for this twee little sack.
To feed my salty snack cravings I pop corn in bacon grease or usually coconut oil. Even beef tallow is tasty. Won’t screw gut up. A 10 pound bag of taters is about the same price as an 8.3478 oz bag of chips. “Ho-jos” or potato spears are pretty tasty, olive oil with lots of salt, garlic, spices and such.
A lot of recipes I like are very simple, almost like the fewer ingredients the better. Chili, or maybe hamburger casserole. Meatloaf. Even a tuna sandwich will about the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Time is most definitely an ingredient, and so is hunger. What’s weird about fasting - after the initial break-in period, hunger is gone. “Did I eat today??” isn’t unusual. “Hm .. let me think… No!! Well, heck let’s have a pizza!”
Amusingly the people who have never tried it will authoritatively declare that although IF works in the real world, it can’t possibly work in theory, or that it is dangerous. One study cited maybe an increased risk of heart attacks.
Maybe, but heart disease is Already a huge factor with Obesity. Ya pays yer money and takes yer chances. What is better, 75 pounds overweight or maybe getting down to (and maintaining) a healthy weight?
If I limit to 1200 calories a day I drop around 15-20 pounds a month regardless food
It seems adkins diet helps by confusing metabolism with no carbs
But in any event just eating less
The cabbage soup system for five days also jump starts
But if u really want to modify metabolism eat raw plant food especially juicing for a couple weeks but man that is hard for me
It drops weight and purges your gut etc
Historically I just eat less
And no desserts
If I falter a day I double down
Fasting is effective
I’ve gone around a week with only straight pure juices maybe 8-12 ounces a day
But again that’s taxing
It’s just discipline like a clean car or home or getting up when you’d prefer to sleep
People today especially women aren’t as shamed by fattiness as in my youth back in father knows best era lol
Though you will notice tonier zip codes have trimmer women toting their de rigeur Louie bags lol
My wife is five foot with huge boobies and only weighs 103-110 depending and after lots of kids
I’d love to only weight 200 but man I’d be hungry a lot
Five years ago circumstances beyond my control I had five kids at home and worked every day many hours and did everything for 7 months
I lost much weight despite eating all I wanted
So there is that but I was worn out lol