What works For You?

Blackdawn_70631
Blackdawn_70631 Posts: 283 Member
edited November 24 in Food and Nutrition
I've known some people who lost weight on water and salad alone. Some who stopped soda and fried chicken and lost weight. Even drinking smoothies.
I have been experimenting for years, seeing what works best for me, and discovered that drinking protein in the morning with coffee, not milk, makes a big difference with me not gaining weight. Even when I haven't worked out due to work, injury or illness. Or all three.
The weight stays the same. I'm not losing, but at least I wasn't gaining.
This is what works for me.
What works for you?

Replies

  • Eating all the foods I love in moderation.
  • sixxpoint
    sixxpoint Posts: 3,529 Member
    The same ^

    Other tips would be to hit your minimum macronutrient goals and stick to whole foods vs. (processed foods).
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    I eat what I like in portions that I can keep a good calorie deficit with.

    I do have some rough goals, though. On workout days, I eat extra protein - typically just pick one of my favorite relatively lean meats. On rest days, I eat more carbs, but I pick starchy foods, not sweet ones, as sweet foods tend to leave me hungry again soon after.

    I plan all my meals in advance, down to the number and kind of snacks I can have that day (and there's always 2 - 3). I don't plan when I eat them - I eat them when I need them. Planning in advance makes the willpower aspect a lot simpler, as all the decisions are made for me already.
  • Debmal77
    Debmal77 Posts: 4,770 Member
    calorie deficit
  • Azuriaz
    Azuriaz Posts: 785 Member
    Steak works best. As much as I can afford and all I can eat. When I can't afford to get all of my calories from steak: eggs, butter, cheese, ground beef, turkey thighs, chuck roast, whipping cream in my coffee. I'll throw some mushrooms, peppers, baby spinach, and broccoli in now and then, too.

    Disclaimers:
    Your results may vary.
    If you're diabetic don't start low carb without telling your doctor, your medications may need adjusting (downward, which is not a bad thing).
  • kiittenforever
    kiittenforever Posts: 478 Member
    Green tea, vegetables, salads, SARDINES and lots of water . Totally avoiding alcohol completely and the gym almost daily.
  • Azuriaz
    Azuriaz Posts: 785 Member
    Green tea, vegetables, salads, SARDINES and lots of water . Totally avoiding alcohol completely and the gym almost daily.

    Yeah this one too, unfortunately. Darn alcohol munchies! Special occasions only now. :(

  • Linzon
    Linzon Posts: 294 Member
    Eating all the foods I love in moderation.

    This!

    Tomorrow is Blizzard day for me, yay!
  • Kitnthecat
    Kitnthecat Posts: 2,075 Member
    Eating real food as close to nature as possible, making sure I eat lots of fat and keeping my carb intake low is working wonders for me! I have lost 57 pounds in the past year, and I eat what I want and feel satisfied.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Definitely keeping calories in check. That's the main thing. For me though, eating plenty of protein helps a lot because it keeps me feeling pretty darned full. When I'm full I don't have urges to mindlessly snack.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    What works for me is knowing my TDEE (Total Daily energy Expenditure), taking a small cut from that and making it my daily calorie goal. Pretty much what MFP does for you if you're entered all your information correctly and goals realistically.

    I eat foods I like, aiming to meet my goals - yes, meet them, not fall well short of - calories as well as proteins, fats and carbs. I'm in this for life, so doing some sort of diet or program that I don't plan on doing forever ain't gonna fly. I've reached my goals and maintained the loss while still enjoying holidays, parties, vacations, eating pizza, burgers & fries, ice cream, cocktails, beer & wine....really it's just a matter of calories in and calories out. Eat a bit less than what you burn all day, and weight comes off. Exercise helps - using your muscles is always a good thing, plus it means more cals to eat. Bonus.

    But yeah, cals in/cals out, patience and realistic goals has been key for me. Works great and I still enjoy life. :blush:
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    edited September 2015
    High-fiber breakfast, usually berries and granola or cereal. Lunch and dinner are up for grabs. Very low-fat, lots of fruits and veggies, though. I didn't set out to eat a high-carb diet, but it worked out that way.

    Exercise is very important for me. I don't lose when I don't exercise. Mostly swimming and walking, some exercise tapes. I do some kind of exercise every day.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    A low carb high fat diet works best for me. I can not moderate sugars and starches so I skip them altogether. As long as I don't have any, I don't crave any and am very happy to go without. A burger without a bun is great. A steak with veggies minus the potato is a good meal. If I have a little bit of sugars and starches... It's a slippery slope.

    I also like to eat my calories late in the day. In the morning I usually have no more than protein powder and cream in coffee. I like to save a bowl of nuts for an evening snack.

    I haven't needed exercise to lose weight, but I am slowly adding more back in for better health.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    Thinking inclusively and not exclusively about food. Eating foods I like daily. Knowing that if I eat X, then I'm going to need to eat Y later.

    Thinking "what nutrients do I need, what foods have them, and how can I make my overall diet include what I need while allowing for things I want".

    So basically being knowledgable about foods and nutrients is critical.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited September 2015
    Eat light during the workweek.
    Don't diet on the weekends.
    Eat high fiber (45g daily goal).
    Stay active all year round.

    This is what makes weight control easy for me.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Same food, less of it. More exercise. Bye, bye 122 pounds.
  • lizzocat
    lizzocat Posts: 356 Member
    What works for me is packing my breakfast lunch and snacks 5 times a week, and then being much more moderate on the weekends (I go out, I drink, I eat different things, but maybe in smaller portions)
  • BarbieQLoo
    BarbieQLoo Posts: 16 Member
    lizzocat wrote: »
    What works for me is packing my breakfast lunch and snacks 5 times a week, and then being much more moderate on the weekends (I go out, I drink, I eat different things, but maybe in smaller portions)

    Definitely packing works for me. I eat mostly fruits, vegetables, nuts, and meats. I don't shy away from bread but try to minimize how much I eat. My friends meal plan, but I haven't figured out how to fit that it my schedule yet.
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