Does this sound Ok for a daily food intake in an attempt to lose a bit of weight?

Question

I don't plan on keeping it up forever, just a diet akin to this for a few weeks or so. :)

2 boiled eggs

2 slices of watermelon

1 tomato

1 slice of bread

2 potatoes

I would like to lose some weight, would this diet be little enough to do so effectively?

Also, this is probably too hard to answer, but I'm 5'9 and about 160/5lbs, how long would I have to keep this up for?

Thanks ;)

Answer 1

That sounds pretty good to me, and the egg's will give you protein so you won't feel too starved. However, the quickest way I lost weight was to skip dinners since dinner's are one of the huge factors of gaining weight (because after you eat, you sleep and you're body doesn't burn the fat off). You can eat normally during breakfest and lunch (just don't eat too much sweets!) and you can lose up to 2lbs a night.

People lose weight at different rates so I can't predict how long you have to keep it up

Answer 2

I don't think that's enough food. Definitely not enough veggies. Add another full meal with protein and greens and you should be fine.  

Answer 3

That diet will make your brain think that you are starving so it will try to hold on to every calorie you eat and will fight weight loss.  You will do better by eating more, and exercising more.  At 160 pounds you need about 2000 calories a day or  more just to maintain your current weight.  

In order to lose one pound you need to create a calorie deficit of 3500 calories through either less food or more exercise.  So to lose 10 pounds you need to have 35,000 fewer calories than your body actually needs to maintain its weight. Consider that most people consume no more than about 2500 to 3000 calories a day, and a brisk walk for 60 minutes probably burns no more than between 300 and 500 calories depending on your body weight, and you will see how long it would take to lose 35,000 calories worth of weight.   We don't know how much weight you want or need to lose, but you can see how you have to think about it.

There are a few common sense things that work, even though there doesn't seem to be a lot of common sense around when it comes to weight loss.

Keeping a food journal really does help.  It will give you a much better sense of how much you are eating, and when, and why.

Make a few small changes - walk everywhere, always use stairs instead of elevators, walk on escalators, get up and move around at least once an hour if your work or your life in general is sedentary, walk every day, use a pedometer. Walking 10,000 steps a day is a really good idea. Build up to a long brisk walk everyday, or most days.  Be more active and watch less TV and spend less time on the computer.

Start a weight lifting routine. It will help increase your metabolism and make you feel and look better in so many ways. Join a gym. Possibly you can find one that has someone who specializes in weight lifting programs for beginners. Weight lifting will increase your metabolism as well as improve posture and appearance overall.

In terms of diet, cut out or reduce things like junk food, pop, fat, fast food. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish.   Particularly if you choose a vegetarian lifestyle include natural peanut butter, hummus, dried fruit and nuts.  Pay close attention to getting the nutrients your body needs to be healthy.  Drink plenty of water, at least 8 big glasses a day, and more if it is very hot, it you sweat a lot, or if you are exercising intensely. You will begin to see changes in your body.

Check out websites about nutrition, exercise, weight training, etc.  Here are a couple of helpful links.

http://www.nutrawatch.com/

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_ea...

http://weightloss.about.com/cs/fitness/a...

http://www.thepumpingstation.com/trainin...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/fe...