An Engineer's Guide To Weight Loss(teddziuba.com)
teddziuba.com
An Engineer's Guide To Weight Loss
http://teddziuba.com/2008/05/an-engineers-guide-to-weight-l.html
39 comments
Yeah, that was weird. To me playing soccer is just about the most fun thing in the world.
second that. It is one the most geek friendly sports, it can be from very relaxing to very competitive (depending on who you are playing with). You don't have to be huge, extra tall, have any extra abilities to be decent in soccer.
And I love that there are soccer field sprinkled all over SF, and plenty of co-ed leagues (which tend to be more fun).
Plus, having a great run, gives you a certain natural high, that it is just awesome. Running all the way to Golden Gate Bridge from my home and back, feels just great.
And I love that there are soccer field sprinkled all over SF, and plenty of co-ed leagues (which tend to be more fun).
Plus, having a great run, gives you a certain natural high, that it is just awesome. Running all the way to Golden Gate Bridge from my home and back, feels just great.
> It is one the most geek friendly sports,
Soccer is _the_ jock sport in Europe.
Ultimate Frisbee is geek friendly even here, though.
Soccer is _the_ jock sport in Europe.
Ultimate Frisbee is geek friendly even here, though.
huh? I am european, and everybody plays soccer back home. I mean everybody (girls a little less, but usually at the beach). I hope you don't think everybody is a jock.
Are you FAT, you would be a great for a golie (if playing small goals). Are you tough, but kinda slow, play defenese. Do you have great endurance, then midefield, are you good at sprinting and shooting, then offense.
In soccer there is a place for everybody, as long as you can run some.
Ah, probably ultimate frisby is a very geeky sport, in kinda lame way. It is a very demasculating sport.
Are you FAT, you would be a great for a golie (if playing small goals). Are you tough, but kinda slow, play defenese. Do you have great endurance, then midefield, are you good at sprinting and shooting, then offense.
In soccer there is a place for everybody, as long as you can run some.
Ah, probably ultimate frisby is a very geeky sport, in kinda lame way. It is a very demasculating sport.
I am from Europe, too.
Ultimate did not feel demasculating the last time I played. It is a very competitive sport but in terms of physical aggression is almost the opposite of soccer. You have to run a lot, too.
As soon as I am back home I'll go back to juggling, unicycling, lock picking and walking on a slackline. The real geek sports.
Ultimate did not feel demasculating the last time I played. It is a very competitive sport but in terms of physical aggression is almost the opposite of soccer. You have to run a lot, too.
As soon as I am back home I'll go back to juggling, unicycling, lock picking and walking on a slackline. The real geek sports.
Soccer is _the_ jock sport in Europe.
Yeah, it's strange. I convinced a friend who was visiting from Holland for a semester to play on a team with me, but he said he'd never do that at home.
Yeah, it's strange. I convinced a friend who was visiting from Holland for a semester to play on a team with me, but he said he'd never do that at home.
I walk for 5 miles every evening. It's not very strenuous exercise, but I'm always happy to do it (thank you BBC comedy on radio 4). I suspect doing something easy 7 times a week beats blowing off something hard every day.
The diet part was only hard for two weeks, which I got through by having only one day's food in the house at a time. Now not eating that much just feels normal.
The diet part was only hard for two weeks, which I got through by having only one day's food in the house at a time. Now not eating that much just feels normal.
The real engineer's guide to weight loss:
"The Hacker's Diet"
http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/
Written by John Walker, author of Autocad. He claimed to have solved every problem he had except weight loss, so he just treated it as another engineering problem. Very interesting read for those with scientifically oriented minds. The Palm software is cool, too.
"The Hacker's Diet"
http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/
Written by John Walker, author of Autocad. He claimed to have solved every problem he had except weight loss, so he just treated it as another engineering problem. Very interesting read for those with scientifically oriented minds. The Palm software is cool, too.
I've been following The Hacker's Diet (had 7kg to lose to get to my 'ideal' weight) and it's been relatively easy. At some point I plan to blog all the data, but I've been consistently losing about 0.6kg per week since I started 5 weeks ago.
Quick summary of what has worked for me:
1. Stopped eating anything between meals. I probably cut out 12 cans of Coke, 2 chocolate bars, and 2 cakes/treats per week. I estimate this at 2,640 kcal alone
2. Started listening to my stomach so that I'd stop eating when I was full, and didn't take second helpings that I didn't actually need.
3. Have been following the exercise plan and now avoid taking lifts or escalators.
4. I am not counting calories for my meals since excluding my between meals rubbish I eat fairly balanced food.
Also I'm saving money... basically I'm losing weight, feeling better and saving about 26 Euro per week. Since I plan to cut out that stuff permanently I'll be able to afford a spanking new iPhone after 6 months.
Lose Weight, Save Money, Feel Better, Get an iPhone!
Quick summary of what has worked for me:
1. Stopped eating anything between meals. I probably cut out 12 cans of Coke, 2 chocolate bars, and 2 cakes/treats per week. I estimate this at 2,640 kcal alone
2. Started listening to my stomach so that I'd stop eating when I was full, and didn't take second helpings that I didn't actually need.
3. Have been following the exercise plan and now avoid taking lifts or escalators.
4. I am not counting calories for my meals since excluding my between meals rubbish I eat fairly balanced food.
Also I'm saving money... basically I'm losing weight, feeling better and saving about 26 Euro per week. Since I plan to cut out that stuff permanently I'll be able to afford a spanking new iPhone after 6 months.
Lose Weight, Save Money, Feel Better, Get an iPhone!
I read that guide, too, some time ago. Unfortunately, I am not overweight -- so no iPhone for me coming soon.
I hope you have made progress in the two months since you posted this. I developed an iPhone app called FatWatch, which is modeled after The Hacker's Diet Palm application. Perhaps you can get an iPhone now, if you justify it as an aid in your weight loss effort. :-)
"... The real engineer's guide to weight loss ..."
I'd follow a diet by an engineer as much as I would listen to algorithms from Nonagenarians from Okinawa.
Okinawans (Japan) have the longest life expectancy on Earth due not only to a good dose of genetics but through a) regular hard physical work, b) good diet and c) community of friends ~ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/long.html
Following the link shows me a great application. But listening to Engineers about food, exercise is a waste of time. While engineers may be educated. They are also stupid. Take for an example ~ http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/e4/exercise.html some of the reasoning in the HD diet:
Here's a couple.
1) Exercise a lot
2) Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, some meats and stay away from processed foods.
3) Eat with other people (reduce chance of eat too much)
4) Practice, "'hara hachi bu', eat until your four-fifths full" ~ http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2257391.htm A peculiar Japanese concept to counter over-eating.
Part two is becoming a problem as Industries have sprung up claiming to solve this and substituting unprocessed foods with highly processed foods. Good for making money, bad for health.
I like Ted, foul and potty mouthed as he is. He's made of the stuff "Goo-Micro-Hoo" software corps wants in employee. Well educated, hard working. The mould of hacker that will do everything to avoid exercise. I went to my hacker cousins birthday a month or so back. I had to give up my usual game of "spot the fit bastard". Playing a game of cricket in the park was a fun experience. These engineers exhibit the same boolean logic as Ted. It's ironic listening to hackers like Ted whine about how exercise is hard. Just like Jocks complaining Calculus should be removed from math because it's too hard.
Now if he'd just get off his arse, exercise and eat well.
I'd follow a diet by an engineer as much as I would listen to algorithms from Nonagenarians from Okinawa.
Okinawans (Japan) have the longest life expectancy on Earth due not only to a good dose of genetics but through a) regular hard physical work, b) good diet and c) community of friends ~ http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/long.html
Following the link shows me a great application. But listening to Engineers about food, exercise is a waste of time. While engineers may be educated. They are also stupid. Take for an example ~ http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/e4/exercise.html some of the reasoning in the HD diet:
1. Exercising consumed time.
2. Exercising was not programming.
3. Therefore, by exercising, less
time was available for programming
Here's a couple.
1) Exercise a lot
2) Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, some meats and stay away from processed foods.
3) Eat with other people (reduce chance of eat too much)
4) Practice, "'hara hachi bu', eat until your four-fifths full" ~ http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2257391.htm A peculiar Japanese concept to counter over-eating.
Part two is becoming a problem as Industries have sprung up claiming to solve this and substituting unprocessed foods with highly processed foods. Good for making money, bad for health.
I like Ted, foul and potty mouthed as he is. He's made of the stuff "Goo-Micro-Hoo" software corps wants in employee. Well educated, hard working. The mould of hacker that will do everything to avoid exercise. I went to my hacker cousins birthday a month or so back. I had to give up my usual game of "spot the fit bastard". Playing a game of cricket in the park was a fun experience. These engineers exhibit the same boolean logic as Ted. It's ironic listening to hackers like Ted whine about how exercise is hard. Just like Jocks complaining Calculus should be removed from math because it's too hard.
Now if he'd just get off his arse, exercise and eat well.
When I saw the link at HN I figured it was this. Thanks for posting it.
yeah, except that the hacker diet /kinda/ sucks. It's the sort of solution someone comes up with by assuming no existing solution is worth anything, and striking out on their own. There's some insights, but mostly it's stunningly naive and banal.
The real secret is to eat fresh, whole, minimally processed food. It doesn't matter if it's organic, free-range, hormone-free, genetically engineered, or anything else, as long as the first three hold.
That said, anything is better than nothing.
The real secret is to eat fresh, whole, minimally processed food. It doesn't matter if it's organic, free-range, hormone-free, genetically engineered, or anything else, as long as the first three hold.
That said, anything is better than nothing.
I disagree with the exercising part. Playing pick-up and adult league sports around town is far more satisfying and less boring than an elliptical or treadmill machine. As a bonus, you get to satisfy some of your social needs as well.
I play Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball. I sucked at first, but eventually it taught my brain to think and react in new ways and I got better - which is pretty cool! For a guy like me who moves to a new city every two years, the social benefit of being part of the Ultimate Frisbee network cannot be overstated.
I play Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball. I sucked at first, but eventually it taught my brain to think and react in new ways and I got better - which is pretty cool! For a guy like me who moves to a new city every two years, the social benefit of being part of the Ultimate Frisbee network cannot be overstated.
My goodness, if he'd advertised his thoughts as "The Cholera Diet: a great way to lose 20kg" they could hardly be less attractive.
If he could discover why he desires cheeseburgers so much then perhaps he could find a way to _want_ to eat less. As it stands he is using force on himself and there is a heavy psychological price tag for that, as he acknowledges. This will effect the rest of his life in ways he may not appreciate.
If he could discover why he desires cheeseburgers so much then perhaps he could find a way to _want_ to eat less. As it stands he is using force on himself and there is a heavy psychological price tag for that, as he acknowledges. This will effect the rest of his life in ways he may not appreciate.
"The Cholera Diet"
There used to be a diet bar named "Ayds".
In the early 80's people just stopped buying them. Nobody wanted Ayds anymore.
There used to be a diet bar named "Ayds".
In the early 80's people just stopped buying them. Nobody wanted Ayds anymore.
I am in the top 5% of fitness of those above 30. My weight has been consistent for more than 12 years. I have more muscle today than I did 12 years ago.
Frankly, I have never followed any diet. I simply limit my carbohydrates to a level that matches my physical activity. I eat about 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight and limit fats. I lift weight three times and try to run about 2 times and it works.
All those micro-managed diet programs have never worked for me. The main thing is to enjoy your workout and to enjoy the fitness lifestyle.
Frankly, I have never followed any diet. I simply limit my carbohydrates to a level that matches my physical activity. I eat about 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight and limit fats. I lift weight three times and try to run about 2 times and it works.
All those micro-managed diet programs have never worked for me. The main thing is to enjoy your workout and to enjoy the fitness lifestyle.
Lame article. First of all, that system (I've tried it) sucks. It requires constant attention and effort. I'd be surprised to meet anyone who's male and can be bothered to count their calories every day for more than 1 or 2 weeks (though some girls seem to manage, but they really care). You won't lose much weight in 1-2 weeks, so this system will only result in making you feel bad for yet again failing to lose any significant weight.
As I propose in my article here: http://www.inter-sections.net/2008/01/02/feedback/ - you need a good, timely, but also effortless system of feedback. Something that requires you to carry a notepad and add up numbers every day is a still-born failure.
The system that worked extremely well for me was much simpler: weigh yourself every day (including body fat %). Plot that on a grid, and that'll provide you motivation enough to keep your calorie intake down.
As an engineer, you should be aware that there's a few key vital behaviours that, if you implement them, typically make all the difference. According to various food associations, there's 3 vital behaviours for losing weight:
- Weigh yourself every day
- Eat breakfast every day
- Have a way to exercise at home
Since I lost 10kg in 3 months by doing just 2 out of those 3 (but going heavy on the "weigh yourself" bit by actually charting my weight and BF%), I can say that it certainly seemed to work for me.
As I propose in my article here: http://www.inter-sections.net/2008/01/02/feedback/ - you need a good, timely, but also effortless system of feedback. Something that requires you to carry a notepad and add up numbers every day is a still-born failure.
The system that worked extremely well for me was much simpler: weigh yourself every day (including body fat %). Plot that on a grid, and that'll provide you motivation enough to keep your calorie intake down.
As an engineer, you should be aware that there's a few key vital behaviours that, if you implement them, typically make all the difference. According to various food associations, there's 3 vital behaviours for losing weight:
- Weigh yourself every day
- Eat breakfast every day
- Have a way to exercise at home
Since I lost 10kg in 3 months by doing just 2 out of those 3 (but going heavy on the "weigh yourself" bit by actually charting my weight and BF%), I can say that it certainly seemed to work for me.
I'd be surprised to meet anyone who's male and can be bothered to count their calories every day for more than 1 or 2 weeks
I take it you don't know any bodybuilders, or any guys in a weight-class sport, like wrestling, boxing, BJJ or MMA.
I think exercise can be feedback unto itself. Performance gains in strength training and calisthenics come surprisingly fast.
I take it you don't know any bodybuilders, or any guys in a weight-class sport, like wrestling, boxing, BJJ or MMA.
I think exercise can be feedback unto itself. Performance gains in strength training and calisthenics come surprisingly fast.
(serious) body builders:
a) aren't normal (they're a small minority)
b) don't have 50 pounds of extra flab
This article is obviously not targeted at body builders.
This article is obviously not targeted at body builders.
You assume males can't count calories. I know plenty who can, and do when the circumstances require it.
Literally counting every calorie gets old quick, but I think everyone should be able to estimate their calorie intake. It doesn't take long to calibrate your own intuition; after a week of paying close attention, most people should be able to guess the calorie contents of a plate of food.
Literally counting every calorie gets old quick, but I think everyone should be able to estimate their calorie intake. It doesn't take long to calibrate your own intuition; after a week of paying close attention, most people should be able to guess the calorie contents of a plate of food.
Agreed. I started counting calories a couple weeks ago. Once you get the hang of it, you can estimate pretty well. In most cases, you don't need to know _exactly_ how many calories you take in. Ballpark works just as well. If you're coming close to the limits you set for yourself, stop eating.
I did that too. The problem is, this system does not work "just as well". Certainly did not for me or anyone else I've spoken to. The "rough calorie intake" thing breaks down because our lives are not as regular as you imply. There are times when you will pig out, go on a bender and eat a load of food while drunk, and that's very natural and normal in today's society. At that point you need a feedback system that works whether you're sober or not.
Sadly, a general resolution to "watch your calories" just doesn't do it.
In order to work, a weight-loss system has to remind you each day of where you're at (in perspective with where you've come from). Ultimately there's only two measurements that count: your weight and your body fat percentage. Measure those every day and you'll be much further on the way to weight loss than by calorie counting. Sure, being aware of your rough calorie intake is useful supporting data, but you need to measure the end result to get the "proper" feedback.
The end result of weight loss is not calorie intake, it's loss of weight. If you want to achieve that end result, you need to measure it. Sounds simple enough, no?
Sadly, a general resolution to "watch your calories" just doesn't do it.
In order to work, a weight-loss system has to remind you each day of where you're at (in perspective with where you've come from). Ultimately there's only two measurements that count: your weight and your body fat percentage. Measure those every day and you'll be much further on the way to weight loss than by calorie counting. Sure, being aware of your rough calorie intake is useful supporting data, but you need to measure the end result to get the "proper" feedback.
The end result of weight loss is not calorie intake, it's loss of weight. If you want to achieve that end result, you need to measure it. Sounds simple enough, no?
The suggestion isn't for calorie counting to supplant regular weighings, but to supplement it.
Also, the end result is fat loss, not weight. Which is why I think weight is not the best metric, but performance in physical tasks. (As most people can't get their bodyfat percentage checked regularly, and performing various physical tasks is what allows you to keep or increase muscle mass while losing body fat.)
Also, the end result is fat loss, not weight. Which is why I think weight is not the best metric, but performance in physical tasks. (As most people can't get their bodyfat percentage checked regularly, and performing various physical tasks is what allows you to keep or increase muscle mass while losing body fat.)
A good scale which uses impedance to give a reasonably accurate measure of body fat % is fairly cheap nowadays, fyi. I got mine for about £25 in the UK. It's accurate enough to tell you whether your fat is dropping overall, week after week - just make sure you measure at the same time each day (ideally, just after waking up, before having breakfast).
I used one once, and I was skeptical about its accuracy, since it required gender and activity level as input. I still prefer performance as a metric, because it measures fitness.
What most people who have never counted calories don't realize is that once you know general counts for the foods you consume the most and once you realize what portion size corresponds to those calories, you're not doing that much counting. The reason is that most of us tend to eat the same types of food, You're only learning a bit at the beginning. After that, there is very little thought that goes into it and it becomes almost second nature because you get used to specific portion sizes for the main staples in your diet. You just have to be a little more careful of those "indulgence" meals or days or anything that might throw your count way off.
This article was terrible. Staying fit is easy if you can have a great time doing it. I work out with friends and try to play as many sports as I can with people whose company I enjoy. The self-discipline with respect to eating can be tough, but he's right, if you can keep your intake low for a couple of weeks you won't find yourself wanting to eat so much all the time.
why should i care, i have the body of a god : http://www.huongsengrand.com/
South Bronx Paradise!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_%28Aqua_Teen_Hunger_Force_...
Seriously though, if coffee is an appetite suppressant, what about the sugar and cream most people put in their coffee? Not to mention the fact that coffee servings can come in large containers too.
And recommending smoking to replace drinking? Surely he can't be serious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_%28Aqua_Teen_Hunger_Force_...
Seriously though, if coffee is an appetite suppressant, what about the sugar and cream most people put in their coffee? Not to mention the fact that coffee servings can come in large containers too.
And recommending smoking to replace drinking? Surely he can't be serious.
Start smoking, eat more ice cream, drink lots of coffee... Hm... Seems to be the old fashioned type of engineer.
http://crossfit.com
Enough said.
Enough said.
Chew more times per bite and use smaller plates. Reduces available food and taking longer to eat let's your brain realize you're not hungry anymore.
Start training for an Ironman. Worked for me (-16 kg).
I hike in the mountains regularly (with a 50 pound pack) and spend 6-8 hours a week in the dojo. :)
> Caffeine is an appetite suppressant.
It is not.
It is not.
Bzzzt! Wrong attitude. If you hate the exercise you are doing, find another one, there are more sports than anyone can count. If you hate healthy food, learn to cook, I guarantee that anyone who knows what they are doing can prepare a healthy meal that tastes better than pizza or a burger.
Setting out to make yourself miserable is setting out to fail.