I need to lose weight, and I need help starting

[realisticphish]

I'm a 21-year old college student, male, 6 feet, and weigh in the upper 300's (my scale's batteries have run out, and I'm too cheap to buy new ones).

I'm reasonably active, I lift weights, walk a mile at least every day (I don't own a car), yet I have yet to lose a pound. I eat a balanced diet, BUT, I think it's quantity that hurts me. I don't like desserts, but I tend to eat a lot of the main course, whatever it is. I've tried to reduce it, but I just can't seem to do so. So, I've decided to try a caloric approach. I don't have a number yet, I'm going to talk to a doctor about that first, but does anyone have a link to a good site for caloric values in food? I'm hoping that giving myself a limited amount per day will help me reduce the amount I eat, and thusly push toward a permanent change.

If anyone has any advice on how I should start, what I should eat, or whether the above is a fucking stupid idea, I'd be glad to hear it :hi:

[Longhorn]

1. Two great sites for tracking calories:

www.sparkpeople.com
www.fitday.com

There's a Democratic Underground team at Spark People: http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp

Good luck!

[realisticphish]

2. thanks

:)

[AllieB]

3. Since you're young and active, you may have thyroid or insulin resistance

At your age, you should be effectively burning calories just by the activity you described. Make sure you have your thyroid checked to rule out metabolic issues. Allergies to grains, gluten, and/or dairy can also make people gain weight. You may want to try a low-carb, high-protein diet to rule out insulin resistance. Cutting calories and fat don't necessarily help people with insulin resistance.

Carbohydrates, aside from the indigestible ones, all break down in the body into straight sugar. Most people's body's run off "blood sugar" to function. Carbohydrates cause an insulin spike when ingested relative to the amount eaten and also relative to how fast they break down. For instance a honey bun will break down into glucose much faster than spinach. Insulin is the hormone responsible for driving this sugar into the body's cells for use. This is how the body begins storing fat. When you eliminate carbs, or at least are very restrictive of them, your body switches its system to burning fat for fuel instead of sugar. Carbohydrates are turned into mostly palmitic acid (a saturated fat) which is what is stored mostly in your belly. This is why saturated fat and cholesterol are being blamed for coronary heart disease, when really they are innocent.

Some books to look at:

Life Without Bread
Protein Power
Protein Power Lifespan Program
Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution
Atkins for Life
Dr. Atkins Diabetes Revolution
Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Solution
Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Diet
Dangerous Grains
Neanderthin
The Paleo Diet

[cmd]

4. Check with your health care center.

If you are a student at OSU they could probably put you in contact with a nutrionist to work with you. There may even be some trials going on at the hospital that would help you.
Make use of that resource even if you feel uncomfortable about it. You are paying for it. It costs far more in the outside world for up to date information like that.

If you are not at OSU, contact them anyway. There are people there who are just itching to help someone like you. Best of luck.