Diet Advice

[JaggyNI]

Wasn't too sure where to post this but since I'm a newbie thought this would be the best place!

I've always been naturally skinny, and I've always played some form of sport (football, hockey, now getting into cycling!). I'm still only 19 now but in the best I was able to eat whatever the hell I wanted and wouldn't notice any extra weight. Now that I'm a bit older I'm beginning to notice that I'm starting to get a bit of a beer belly! Want to nip this in the bud as quickly as possible and for that I realise I need to properly sort out my diet.

So my question is; what sort of things should I definitely avoid eating, and what would you guys recommend for snacks? It's all too tempting for me to come home from work and just pie out on crisps, chocolate biscuits Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[sabian92]

Whole grains are good, fruit/veg are good obviously, and portion control is a big part of it too.

Avoid stuff like fizzy drinks, chocolate and the like in any sort of large quantities. You don't have to be completely ignorant of them as long as you eat them in a small portion. The odd pint down the pub is fine as well but obviously going for 10 pints then getting a kebab on the way home is probably not going to help your beer gut

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Oh! Bout ye?!

 

[MattHB]

While its likely that you do have some beer fat building up, beer belly can also be caused by weak pelvic muscles which then allow the pelvis to rotate forwards, thus pushing your belly fat out. I read the other day that failing to stretch after situps can cause a shortening of these muscles having the same effect. So people doing lots of situps can actually make the beer belly look worse!

I have very weak/shortened pelvic muscles so I'm about to start Pilates to try to rectify it.

Obviously though, alcohol is one of the worst things for fat in that area as has already been said.

 

[BrumJim]

Cut out the sweet stuff- chocolate, cakes, fizzy drinks. Double bubble, as they give you calories at the start, then 1.5 hours later you feel hungry again (sugar rebound) and then scoff some more.

Alternatively, just size your portions down. Like you, aged 19 I could scoff 2 rounds of sandwiches, chocolate bar, piece of fruit, pack of crisps, for lunch without putting on weight. That didn't include the mid-morning and late afternoon snacks. I cut out the crisps and chocolate bar, and stopped putting on weight.

Beer belly could be due to beer. Clue is in the name. There are lots and lots of calories in beer.

 

[JaggyNI]

Oh! Bout ye?!

Haha bout yeeee?!

Thanks for all the responses, will take them all on board. I've cut down on the beer a lot over the last year, hardly ever drink now! Problem is definitely what BrumJim says, I'm easily able to scoff that much for lunch and could go for even more, guess I just need to cut down on my portions and forgot the fizzy drinks etc. as you all have said! As I type I'm drinking a cool glass of coke... maybe my last one for quite a while? haha.

 

[MattHB]

It's amazing how fast you get used to diet options of fizzy drinks. A year ago I wouldnt have spat in a glass of diet coke, but after that long its odd that you don't notice

 

[GreenMambaGreen]

If you have beer belly I'd say lay off the beer!

Eat a lot of the good stuff (we generally know what that is), only eat some of the bad stuff some of the time. A little bit of chocolate or the odd fizzy pop isn't bad just don't go crazy. Its nice to treat yourself from time to time.

Eating healthy for me is my default setting. I enjoy the food, but also the fact I'm looking after my body. But I can still have double portions of my Mothers apple pie. Or eat a roast dinner that could generally serve a family. When the occasion presents itself.

Don't be afraid to try new foods, dishes, meals and as you get older try the foods that you think you don't like, taste changes. The more food types you like the more interesting food/eating can be. The more you have to choose from the less you will choose pie and chips. Things also become habit forming. So try and get good habits.

A varied diet is the best diet in my opinion. Also keep reading, keep learning. keep trying. You will learn what suits you best.

 

[Peteaud]

Quote from Dr Nick

"You need to focus on the neglected food groups, such as the Whipped group, the congealed group and the Chocotastic!"​

So

Just dont eat any of the above food groups.

 

[colly]

It can help to not load up on carbs. Don't cut them out totally but maybe just eat less bread, cereals, spuds etc.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

It can help to not load up on carbs. Don't cut them out totally but maybe just eat less bread, cereals, spuds etc.

Care to share why you would cut carbs? (the human bodies main energy source)

 

[colly]

Care to share why you would cut carbs? (the human bodies main energy source)

OK. The OP said he was naturally skinny and has in the past been able to eat whatever he wanted with no noticeable effects, but had noticed he was gaining some extra belly flab. That would suggest that he is taking in more in calories than he is burning and as I understand things the first place to show excess energy stored as fat is the midriff. Calories are found easily in carbs and cutting down on what are now traditional sources of energy such as cereals, bread and spuds would help redress the balance.

It sounds like he is an active lad but the time to act is when you first notice those couple of extra lbs not when they have turned into a couple of extra stones.

I'm not suggesting he drops carbs. completely but limiting them might help. Of course things like cakes, biscuits, and booze won't exactly help either.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

OK. The OP said he was naturally skinny and has in the past been able to eat whatever he wanted with no noticeable effects, but had noticed he was gaining some extra belly flab. That would suggest that he is taking in more in calories than he is burning and as I understand things the first place to show excess energy stored as fat is the midriff. Calories are found easily in carbs and cutting down on what are now traditional sources of energy such as cereals, bread and spuds would help redress the balance.

It sounds like he is an active lad but the time to act is when you first notice those couple of extra lbs not when they have turned into a couple of extra stones.

I'm not suggesting he drops carbs. completely but limiting them might help. Of course things like cakes, biscuits, and booze won't exactly help either.

Carbs aren't the problem on their own. Rarely (if ever) are..


ps: 1 gram fat = 9 calories
1 gram carbs = 4 calories

 

[colly]

Carbs aren't the problem on their own. Rarely (if ever) are..

True, but it's about balance. A good mix of protein, carbs and fats together with plenty of vegetables of all sorts is what we all need.