The problem with Volumetrics.... - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

ennay · 12-13-2007, 11:06 AM

I dont follow volumetrics the book, but when I am eating healthily it is very similar. Lots of veggies that really bulk out a meal for very few calories. Salads, soups, etc.

The problem comes when I go off plan. My stomach isnt shrinking, its stretching. Now when I DO have a binge I can do so much more damage. I can eat more without feeling any physical discomfort.

hmmmm.... of course the IDEAL solution would be to figure out why I binge and stop that

Not really looking for any suggestions, just making an observation.

mandalinn82 · 12-13-2007, 12:18 PM

I run into the same problem! 19/20 meals I eat at home - control the calories, fill up on tons of veggies, and yes, have giant portions. For the 1/20 meals I eat out, I have to be SO careful not to overeat...my home portion size is WAY different from what I should be eating in a restaurant.

Still, I'd rather than 1/20 meals be a little high than to feel like I'm getting starved the other 19/20, ya know?

rockinrobin · 12-13-2007, 12:25 PM

I also load up on tons and tons of veggies. But luckily, I'm still at the point when I do go off plan, planned - or unplanned, that I simply can not eat as much as I used to. Or even close. Or even close to close. And boy, it's a good thing. It amazes me. Even if I want to keep going, I simply can't. That's just how much pain my stomach gets into. I know though, that if I keep pushing it - that my stomach WILL start to stretch again. And that TERRIFIES me.

JayEll · 12-13-2007, 12:28 PM

Interesting observation. I've simply gotten used to eating less food! I fill up a LOT faster now--I couldn't eat a full meal at most restaurants if I had to.

Here's an interesting study:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...articlekey=648

It says that stomach capacity may actually shrink, but also stretch sensors in the stomach become more sensitive again, when one reduces food intake.

Jay

Heather · 12-13-2007, 12:42 PM

Interesting article, Jay!

rockinrobin · 12-13-2007, 12:51 PM

Yes, interesting article.

It doesn't surprise me though. I am well aware of just how much my stomach has shrunk. The only thing that does surprise me, is that there were such drastic results in only 4 weeks time. The truth is, it could have been that quickly for me, though I doubt it. I just don't remember.

I'm surely though, that just as quickly as it shrinks, it can EXPAND once again - just as quickly. My luck - probably quicker.

nelie · 12-13-2007, 01:16 PM

It may depend if you practice volumetrics with 3 largish meals per day or if you spread out using small meals during the day. I personally use the smaller meal per day method and it is hard for me to eat a lot when I eat out because I'm used to smaller meals.

I don't follow volumetrics but I do tend to eat a lot of fiber (A LOT) and things that volumetrics teaches.

JayEll · 12-13-2007, 01:27 PM

Hey rockinrobin,

I think there were such drastic results in 4 weeks' time because it was a pretty drastic program--600 cals a day!

Of course, the participants were under medical supervision. And, the average weight lost was a bit over 18 pounds in those 4 weeks, which is pretty darned swift.

It would be interesting if they do a follow-up study on the same people to see what happens to them afterward.

But it does show one reason why gorging oneself is such a bad idea...

Jay

baffled111 · 12-13-2007, 01:37 PM

Ennay, I've noticed the exact same thing and has been a niggling worry recently. I don't specifically follow volumetrics, but I do eat as large a quantity of food as I can within my calorie budget (so, many, many veggies). It's all very well and good when there are plenty of veggies to fill up on, but when there aren't, well, I eat rather alot. Actually, I suspect that, cup for cup, I eat more food now (and certainly more often) than I did when I was overweight.

ennay · 12-13-2007, 01:55 PM

Well and lets compound my "problem" with marathon training and nursing. In August my maintenance calories were around 2700/day. Even spread out over 6-7 meals it was A LOT of food. Coming back down to earth has been really hard.

But I have noticed times when my normal breakfast stuffs me and times when my normal breakfast ...I am starving by 8 am.

gailr42 · 12-13-2007, 07:26 PM

I rarely eat out, or when I do, there is a salad bar, so I am not really sure what would happen. I do have to say that filling up on veggies, soup etc a la volumtrics has made loosing weight much less painful, mentally and physically than other diets I have tried. I can see myself eating this way forever. I can't see myself eating thimble sized portions forever.

I probably eat more volume of food than I did before I started loosing. It might be all in my head, but I feel like having a stomach full of spinach, bean sprouts and tomatoes makes me less likely to want to binge on something calorie dense. I also think that not letting myself get too hungry is very important. I guess, like a lot of things, it's a trade off.

Ennay, it must have been fun eating 2700 calories a day.....sigh.

ennay · 12-13-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gailr42

Ennay, it must have been fun eating 2700 calories a day.....sigh.

Sadly, when the body NEEDED 2700 calories a day it WANTED 3500. It really wasnt as much easier as you would think.

Tealeaf · 12-13-2007, 10:42 PM

Volume has always been a problem for me. I want to eat. Alot. All at once. And spread out over several times a day. I just want to eat like a horse!

I need a way of convincing all the parts of my brain that I don't need to be constantly stuffing my face with a ton of food.