After ‘The Biggest Loser,’ Their Bodies Fought to Regain Weight

Actually, it's after ANY large amount of weight lost due to calorie restricted diets, even WFPB no S-O-S ones. Some of the Star McDougallers frequently mention how they have to eat less and less starch, less calories, first to lose those last few pounds, then to maintain their lower weight. Some Stars lost over 100 pounds, regained, and lost them again. 

Doctors, especially obesity experts, have known about this happening for DECADES, which is why they now push for weight loss surgery and weight loss meds. 

After ‘The Biggest Loser,’ Their BodiesFought to Regain Weight
Contestants lost hundreds of pounds during Season 8, but
gained them back. A study of their struggles helps explain
why so many people fail to keep off the weight they lose.
By GINA KOLATAMAY 2, 2016

And this is the Obesity Journal article  about the study referred to in the above article.

Original ArticlePersistent metabolic adaptation 6 years after “The Biggest Loser” competition

In conclusion, we found that “The Biggest Loser” participants regained a substantial amount of their lost weight in the 6 years since the competition but overall were quite successful at long-term weight loss compared with other lifestyle interventions. Despite substantial weight regain, a large persistent metabolic adaptation was detected. Contrary to expectations, the degree of metabolic adaptation at the end of the competition was not associated with weight regain, but those with greater long-term weight loss also had greater ongoing metabolic slowing. Therefore, long-term weight loss requires vigilant combat against persistent metabolic adaptation that acts to proportionally counter ongoing efforts to reduce body weight.

Jeff Novick Says: BREATHE

I was rummaging through the old Jeff Novick newsletters earlier today and came across this one on meditation called Building Genuine Health: One Breath At A Time. He describes his discovery of meditation through a pamphlet on Transcendental Meditation (A biggie when I was in my late teens back in the 1970's and made famous by the Beatles when they met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi).

Like Jeff, I've meditated for years, but I love the way Jeff's cousin Sheila does her meditations!

Does It Really Hurt?

Does It Really Hurt?

This is a "must read" article! A short quote:

Most people sharing space with you at that moment would have no idea of the epic battle going on inside you as you ferociously and desperately debate yourself over your upcoming food choice. Sometimes we win that battle, and sometimes we don't. We may reach for the pie, smile at the person standing next to us, and  say, "Oh, well. Just this once won't hurt." And, it doesn't. If anything, it brings on a full-body wave of release. We actually sigh out loud sometimes with the bliss of it. Our shoulders drop as our muscles drain of tension.

Our eyes may even glaze over a bit as we go to our happy food place where our taste buds sing and our heart soars. Dopamine, after all, is the very same chemical that is released when we fall in love.

So, it's true, then. Just this once really doesn't hurt at all. In fact, it feels really good. However, when I close my eyes and picture myself having that bite of pie followed by the full-body melt, it's hard not to also imagine the images we've seen of crack addicts in the movies. Just picture the wild-eyed, jonesing addict on the floor, leaning up against the dirty wall of the crack house, tourniquet tight around her upper arm. She inserts the needle into her vein, pushes the plunger, and we see that same body melt, the same release, the same eye glazing we ourselves get when we eat the pie.

Today's Reading from "The Tao of Joy Every Day" Book

November 23
Day 327

The Holistic Self

Perhaps due to the great advances in science and technology, we have a tendency to divide, sort, and categorize everything. The body is divided into the nervous system, lymphatic system, digestive system and so on. Even the mind is divided into the id, ego and superego in Freudian psychology.

The Eastern approach also involves categorization, but there is a greater emphasis on interconnectedness. Both the mind and the body are seen in a holistic light where everything has an effect on everything else. Indeed, even the mind and the body are recognized as inextricably connected.

One principle we can derive from this is that if one wishes to sharpen the mind, one cannot rely only one reading, learning and other mental activities. One must also work on the body. This means both exercise and nutrition. This is one of the reasons many sages exercise regularly and either choose a vegetarian lifestyle or limit their consumption of animal products. At higher levels of cultivation, one can sense the effects of food on the mind, and a diet rich in plant-based foods is considered the best choice for mental clarity.


The Tao Today

Most of us are not operating at peak efficiency, either physically or mentally. Your body and mind are capable of so much more. Think about them as the sages do, not as separate parts, but as an interconnected whole. Look for ways to work on both body and mind to be at your strongest and clearest.

The Tao of Joy Every Day

365 Days of Tao Living

Derek Lin

2011

Tarcher/Penguin Press

ISBN: 978-1-58542-918-9

The book's offical page on the author's site

Amazon page

Derek had once written on his forums, The Tea House, that he follows the food program of Dr. John McDougall. And Derek's writings have been recommended by people on the McDougall forums. Unfortunately I can't link to Derek's post itself because the original version of that board was closed because of excessive spamming. The new Tea House is doing quite well and is so-far spam-free.

VeganMoFo Day 16 - Mindful Eating

After everything that went wrong yesterday, at least I did one thing right - I was mindful of everything I ate. I ate with peace, without killing, without violence. Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a nice essay on Mindful Eating. Enjoy.