Not sure what diet to go on?

kaylakris7

I planned on going on a low-carb diet at the start of the new year, as I've had success in the past with it. I wasn't able to maintain my weight loss though.

I thought about just doing a low-calorie diet, which is something that will be easier to follow long-term, but my issue is cravings. On a low-carb diet, I lose my appetite, which is why it was easier to stick to. The thought of eating bacon & eggs every day again makes me nauseous though, haha.

I know I need to do something, as the older I get, the more I see how my weight is causing some health concerns.

I tried making a "Pros" & "Cons" of each, and I'm still lost at what to do. Any other "diet" suggestions or tips? Thanks!

elphie754

Why not just eat at a calorie deficit?

auddii

Don't follow a specific diet. Eat the foods that sound appetizing that you are able to eat in a calorie deficit. Done.

juggernaut1974

Any (successful) diet, by definition has to be "low-calorie" (or at least "lower-calorie"). That's how diets work. You eat less calories than you burn.

Low-carb is but one of a variety of choices that you can choose to help you eat less calories. Low-carb in and of itself doesn't make you lose weight, unless you're also lowering total calories because of it.

Your post hit on really both the biggest plus and biggest minus of low-carb. Many people report that it does tend to help keep you fuller (protein and fat being more satiating for some people than carbs), but the problem can be adherence if you don't plan to eat that way long-term.

So all that said, my advice is pick a style of eating that you can stick to long-term. If you think you can stick to low-carb long term then it sounds like it's worked for you in the past...but you HAVE to stick to it. If you don't think you can, then I'd try simply just reducing portion sizes, make somewhat different food choices (you can certainly reduce carbs, without having to go on a strict low carb plan), get some exercise, etc.

nordlead2005

elphie754 wrote: »

Why not just eat at a calorie deficit?

Pros:
* Guaranteed to lose weight (by definition)
* Get to eat whatever you choose
* Simple
Cons:
* isn't a fad diet

vivmom2014

kaylakris7 wrote: »

I thought about just doing a low-calorie diet, which is something that will be easier to follow long-term, but my issue is cravings.

What are the cravings?

nutmegoreo

Eat what you want within the calorie range given. Will everyday be perfect, probably not. Will you never have cravings, probably not. What you will have, is time to learn about what foods keep you full longer, which ones fuel your workouts, and how to fit things like restaurants and gatherings in with your regular life so that when you are ready to maintain you have already been practicing these things. Be consistent (log your more challenging days when you feel you haven't made the best choices and be clear on the big picture). Set realistic goals. Be patient. Be kind to yourself when you are having a challenging time.

ETA: take pictures for comparison (despite being down nearly 40lbs, I can't see the difference in the mirror, but pictures are obvious). Also take measurements. The scale is not always our friend, so don't give up when you see occasional gains on the scale, it happens.

kristen6350

In my opinion, just because a certian diet made you lose weight, doesn't mean it works. A weight loss plan ONLY works when you can lose sensibilty and keep the weight off. Something that teaches you how to eat to maintain.

So many of my friends have said to me "well, Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, etc" worked but I couldn't keep it off once I wasn't losing any more. Well, then, it didn't work. It obviously didn't teach you anything.

Log your food, move more (a regular exercise plan that you can stick to long term is the best). Eat things you want within reason (aka, a serving of ice cream, weighed, not the whole pint). Keep within a calorie deficient (a reasonable one, that doesn't feel very restrictive). Do this regularly. I promise the weight will come off. Then when the weight does come off, add in a snack or two to maintain and do this for life.

htimpaired

The eat less and move more diet.

rankinsect

Another reason I would say to avoid the low-carb for you: you don't like it, and you likely can't stick to it for a lifetime. As you found out, maintenance is harder than loss. As much as possible, the diet you have during weight loss should reflect the diet you will have in maintenance - it's practice.

If low-carb kept you less hungry but you get sick of it, why not borrow some of the low-carb meal ideas that were keeping you satiated (higher protein meals in particular) and mix those with the other foods you like, so you are overall eating at a modest and sustainable deficit?

I have certain meals I know are very filling for me (some are high in protein, others high in complex carbs) and I try to include one of those options on most days, and then I can fill other things in that are enjoyable but less filling. I try to avoid days of only foods that are not very filling to me.

Asher_Ethan

Don't think of it as a diet. Think of it more like a change of life. Start logging everything you eat. Don't make it too aggressive though.

Bonny132

I eat a low carb diet and it works for me, but then again I am inventive with my food, and I ENJOY the food I eat. I love playing around with spices, I make great slow cooked meals and I have discovered new vegetables I never used to eat before. No "diet" will work for you unless you enjoy what you eat.

In my humble opinion this is the trial and error phase for the rest of our lives. No one can give you the answer CICO is the goal, but how we get there is an individual journey. We can advice and tell you what works for us.

I suggest you make a list over what foods you normally eat that you really enjoy. Your findings might fit into a diet or you might be able to just swap unhealthy foods for lighter alternatives. Look at your portion sizes. Are they too big? Mine always creeps up over time, I now have my "diet" plates that are smaller sized dinner plates that helps me control my sizes as my mind wants to see my plate full.

bpetrosky

kaylakris7 wrote: »

I planned on going on a low-carb diet at the start of the new year, as I've had success in the past with it. I wasn't able to maintain my weight loss though.

I thought about just doing a low-calorie diet, which is something that will be easier to follow long-term, but my issue is cravings. On a low-carb diet, I lose my appetite, which is why it was easier to stick to. The thought of eating bacon & eggs every day again makes me nauseous though, haha.

I know I need to do something, as the older I get, the more I see how my weight is causing some health concerns.

I tried making a "Pros" & "Cons" of each, and I'm still lost at what to do. Any other "diet" suggestions or tips? Thanks!

Perhaps the bolded above is a sign you need to consider ways of making sustainable, permanent changes to your habits than a temporary diet plan. It sounds like low carb isn't sustainable for you.

You could try finding your calorie target in MFP and adjusting your portions of your customary meals to fit within that target and making lower calorie substitutions that you enjoy. That may bring you longer term success.

beemerphile1

The "Eat anything I want but eat less diet" works well.

Orphia

beemerphile1 wrote: »

The "Eat anything I want but eat less diet" works well.

Yep. It's worked wonderfully for me.

melonaulait

Eat less, move more is basically perfect for somebody who has cravings a lot, like me. I can plan ahead a day of the week of 5 days where I get to eat anything I craved, but I try to make it as portion appropriate as I can! It's really pretty satisfying.

Sabine_Stroehm

bpetrosky wrote: »

kaylakris7 wrote: »

I planned on going on a low-carb diet at the start of the new year, as I've had success in the past with it. I wasn't able to maintain my weight loss though.

I thought about just doing a low-calorie diet, which is something that will be easier to follow long-term, but my issue is cravings. On a low-carb diet, I lose my appetite, which is why it was easier to stick to. The thought of eating bacon & eggs every day again makes me nauseous though, haha.

I know I need to do something, as the older I get, the more I see how my weight is causing some health concerns.

I tried making a "Pros" & "Cons" of each, and I'm still lost at what to do. Any other "diet" suggestions or tips? Thanks!

Perhaps the bolded above is a sign you need to consider ways of making sustainable, permanent changes to your habits than a temporary diet plan. It sounds like low carb isn't sustainable for you.

You could try finding your calorie target in MFP and adjusting your portions of your customary meals to fit within that target and making lower calorie substitutions that you enjoy. That may bring you longer term success.

Granted, the bolded seems to hold for some 90% of dieters, including those who use MFP.

zoeysasha37

bpetrosky wrote: »

kaylakris7 wrote: »

I planned on going on a low-carb diet at the start of the new year, as I've had success in the past with it. I wasn't able to maintain my weight loss though.

I thought about just doing a low-calorie diet, which is something that will be easier to follow long-term, but my issue is cravings. On a low-carb diet, I lose my appetite, which is why it was easier to stick to. The thought of eating bacon & eggs every day again makes me nauseous though, haha.

I know I need to do something, as the older I get, the more I see how my weight is causing some health concerns.

I tried making a "Pros" & "Cons" of each, and I'm still lost at what to do. Any other "diet" suggestions or tips? Thanks!

Perhaps the bolded above is a sign you need to consider ways of making sustainable, permanent changes to your habits than a temporary diet plan. It sounds like low carb isn't sustainable for you.

You could try finding your calorie target in MFP and adjusting your portions of your customary meals to fit within that target and making lower calorie substitutions that you enjoy. That may bring you longer term success.

This ! No special diet is needed! Get yourself a food scale and learn portion control and moderation!
Calorie deficit is all you need to lose weight. Low carb would not be sustainable for life for me either. But moderation would be!

ultrahoon

Unless you have a specific medical condition, just eat less than you burn. Log your food honestly and accurately, and science takes care of the rest.

cnbbnc

I liked low carb too but found it hard to stick to long term. What I've chosen to do this time around (besides simply sticking to a deficit) is to lean a bit more towards protein, and just limit my simple carb consumption rather than restrict it restrict it entirely.

Eating this way keeps me full, keeps my energy up, and it really has curbed my carb cravings. It seemed like the more simple carbs I would eat the more I wanted, but I don't experience that now.

angelexperiment

Try carb cycling like the Chris Powell close more lose more! I lost 30 on it. It is nice bc you have a free day and every couple days healthy carbs in moderation.

ninerbuff

"Diets" usually are only short term. The goal is just to lose weight, but through eating programs that one CAN'T SUSTAIN.
Better choice would be to just eat what you like to eat, but just reduce the overall volume. In other words, just eat at a calorie deficit.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

kshama2001

kaylakris7 wrote: »

I planned on going on a low-carb diet at the start of the new year, as I've had success in the past with it. I wasn't able to maintain my weight loss though.

I thought about just doing a low-calorie diet, which is something that will be easier to follow long-term, but my issue is cravings. On a low-carb diet, I lose my appetite, which is why it was easier to stick to. The thought of eating bacon & eggs every day again makes me nauseous though, haha.

I know I need to do something, as the older I get, the more I see how my weight is causing some health concerns.

I tried making a "Pros" & "Cons" of each, and I'm still lost at what to do. Any other "diet" suggestions or tips? Thanks!

When I do the following, I don't have cravings:

1. Get sufficient sleep
2. Exercise regularly - when I get the happy hormones from exercise, I'm not prone to seeking them from food.
3. Get sufficient protein in relationship to carbs. I'm not low carb, but reducing carbs and upping protein worked for cravings for me.
4. Take a magnesium supplement. This can be especially helpful premenstrually.