Best diet?
LiveLaughLove20172017
Posts: 4 Member
What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
8
Replies
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Weight loss is achieved through a calorie deficit, eating less calories than you burn. That is the "diet". Any diet plan with a name is just a way to get your body into a calorie deficit. The best way to go about it is to start logging your calories. Remember to log all drinks, condiments, cooking oil, fruits/veg/etc.8
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The one that makes you feel good physically and mentally, the one that suits your lifestyle and budget, the one that you could stick to long term11
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There’s not really a specific diet that works best for weight loss, just eat less calories. That’s it!
I know people are told that sugar/carbs are bad but it doesn’t really matter what you eat as long as you stay within the calories that MFP gave you. For me, it’s easier to eat less calories when I add a lot of vegetables to my lunch and dinner in order to feel full. I prefer a light breakfast, moderate lunch and heavy dinner but you might prefer to do it another way. Just play around with different meals and see what works best for you!
Also, weigh your food with a food scale or at the very least, measure everything with measuring cups and spoons.
I know you said you want to maintain a “healthy” lifestyle, so you might want to focus on whole grains, lean protein, fruit/vegetables, beans, nuts, and as little processed food as possible but just know that for weight loss alone, it doesn’t matter if you eat 1500 calories worth of healthy food or 1500 of cake. Don’t be afraid to have “unhealthy” food in moderation. You might find it easier to maintain a diet if you save some calories for something you really enjoy. Good luck!6 -
This one:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm
(Shameless self-promotion. ) 7 -
livingleanlivingclean wrote: »The one that makes you feel good physically and mentally, the one that suits your lifestyle and budget, the one that you could stick to long term
^ That one.
The one that allows you stick to your calorie goals and feel the most satisfied. The one that's reasonably balanced/nutritious and contains foods you enjoy eating. The one you can sustain with minimal effort.
Success comes from consistency and adherence - not from some fad diet you're miserable on and burn out/binge after two weeks because you can't stand it anymore.4 -
Listen to your body1
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The one that you can make your lifestyle for the rest of your life. If you can't stick to something forever, as soon as you are off that 'diet', the weight generally comes right back on.5
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The one that you can stick to that helps you adhere to a calorie deficit4
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What foods do you like to cook / prepare?0
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There is no such thing as a jump start, unless you're a motorbike.LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
Any diet that creates a calorie deficit, makes you lose weight as long as you stick to it.
The best diet for you is one you can and will stick to.
A healthy diet is balanced and varied.
You can eat whatever you want.
A healthy lifestyle is not just a healthy diet, but a healthy attitude.
Food costs money, but eating healthily is not more expensive than eating an unbalanced diet - you just have to plan, and not let yourself be fooled.
Use common sense.
People who want to take advantage of you, tell you what you want to hear.
Effective strategies often sound boring and ineffective.10 -
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There is no such thing as a one size fits all plan. Only snake oil sales people say that, or maybe Dr OZ. You need to decide what you are willing to follow for a lifestyle change all of the time. Anyone can lose weight. The trick is to keep it off. So really it is not a diet you are looking for it is a lifestyle change, that you can be comfortable with and stick with. Many people who have posted above me have stated this in a variety of ways, all great advice.2
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A sustainable one.
I wouldn't concern yourself with this diet and that diet. I'd honestly just find healthy foods that you like and enjoy and find a way to fit them in (with some treats) to the calories/macros that MFP recommends for your goals.
Something that you enjoy and can stick to long term is the best chance for success in your goals.4 -
LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
Be interested to hear the outcome on this. Im looking too!3 -
LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
There is no best diet, all diets have been proven to be equal when it comes to fat loss. Keto does give a person a psycological boost, because they tend to lose weight fast initially, but it's because it's the water weight and glycogen they lose and not fat for the most part.
The best diet is the one that helps you with your goals.2 -
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OP I agree with the others that the best diet is the one you can stick with, that enables you to eat at a reasonable calorie deficit and provides nutrition, satiety and enjoyment. The rest is up to you.1
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That's like someone stating that the world is flat....should we just stand there and ignore the fact what the person is saying is scientifically wrong because that's their opinion??? Those who have thyroid issues or some sort of diabetes do need to check with their medical doctor and will require a special diet given by a doctor, I'll give you that, but beyond that small percentage of the population, carbs alone doesn't directly cause anyone to lose or gain weight, the calories do.WinoGelato wrote: »
Why not?
Why question my opinion? I don’t see you picking apart anyone else’s post, is it my resting *kitten* face? Lol
I made a suggestion of a healthy balanced diet or the latter because It works for me. Some people have problems losing due to high carbs.
Just because something works for you doesn’t mean everything else is wrong.
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beard_runner wrote: »LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
Be interested to hear the outcome on this. Im looking too!
@beard_runner, have you read the responses already posted?2 -
WinoGelato wrote: »
Why not?
Why question my opinion? I don’t see you picking apart anyone else’s post, is it my resting b.ch face? Lol
I made a suggestion of a healthy balanced diet or the latter because It works for me. Some people have problems losing due to high carbs.
Just because something works for you doesn’t mean everything else is wrong.
Unfortunately neither of your recommendations specify the one thing that’s required for weight loss and that’s a calorie deficit. It’s possible to eat a healthy balanced diet that exceeds calorie requirements, as well as a low carb diet that fails to achieve a calorie deficit, and no weight loss will result.
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »beard_runner wrote: »LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
Be interested to hear the outcome on this. Im looking too!
@beard_runner, have you read the responses already posted?
Yes. I just meant its a topic I am interested in learning more about
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WinoGelato wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »
Why not?
Why question my opinion? I don’t see you picking apart anyone else’s post, is it my resting b.ch face? Lol
I made a suggestion of a healthy balanced diet or the latter because It works for me. Some people have problems losing due to high carbs.
Just because something works for you doesn’t mean everything else is wrong.
Unfortunately neither of your recommendations specify the one thing that’s required for weight loss and that’s a calorie deficit. It’s possible to eat a healthy balanced diet that exceeds calorie requirements, as well as a low carb diet that fails to achieve a calorie deficit, and no weight loss will result.
The fact the op has posted on mfp I already would expect they were using the calorie counting on here
We see countless people who come to these boards who either aren’t using MFP to track calories, or they aren’t logging accurately, or that they simply don’t think that calories matter because the mainstream media focuses on quick fixes and anti carb and other “diets” that fail to address the root cause of weight losses.6 -
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WinoGelato wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »
Why not?
Why question my opinion? I don’t see you picking apart anyone else’s post, is it my resting b.ch face? Lol
I made a suggestion of a healthy balanced diet or the latter because It works for me. Some people have problems losing due to high carbs.
Just because something works for you doesn’t mean everything else is wrong.
Unfortunately neither of your recommendations specify the one thing that’s required for weight loss and that’s a calorie deficit. It’s possible to eat a healthy balanced diet that exceeds calorie requirements, as well as a low carb diet that fails to achieve a calorie deficit, and no weight loss will result.
The fact the op has posted on mfp I already would expect they were using the calorie counting on here
We see countless people who come to these boards who either aren’t using MFP to track calories, or they aren’t logging accurately, or that they simply don’t think that calories matter because the mainstream media focuses on quick fixes and anti carb and other “diets” that fail to address the root cause of weight losses.
So you completely ignore the fact I suggested a healthy balanced diet first and jumped on the low carb part of what I said lol
Never mind it’s a good thing I know what mfp is like
A healthy balanced diet is important, for nutrition and overall health aspects and can also help with satiety. However just like the term “clean eating” it isn’t always specific enough to give helpful guidance to someone, nor does it have anything to do with weight loss.
If by knowing what MFP is like you mean a place that values science and logic over woo and pseudoscience, with patient veteran posters who have stuck around for years after achieving our own weight loss goals to try to help new posters wade through the BS about weight loss that can be so frustratingly perpetuated everywhere you look these days... then yes, I think that’s a good thing also.4 -
Hey All,
Friendly reminder to stay focused on the questions of the op. If you want to debate something another poster brings up please head on over to the debate board.
Its super easy to quote a few posts, copy and paste them into a debate thread, and pick up where you left off.
Thanks,
4legs
mfp moderator3 -
LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
there isn't really a way to jump start your weight loss. Depending on how much about your eating style you change you may see large water weight drops up front, or you may not. Cutting carbs and sodium usually result in the larges water weight drops, but thats not really fat loss, and it will come right back if you eat more of those again.
I personally eat pretty much everything I ate before going on my diet, just watch my portions better, and balance those items so they fit in my calorie goal. (for example, bulk up dinner with lots of veggies and eat one piece of bread instead of 2 to keep it lower calorie)
I don't really have advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it is such a subjective term and can mean grossly different things to different people. If you have specific goals feel free to elaborate and you may get better answers to that part of your question.4 -
The one that allows you stick to your calorie goals and feel the most satisfied. The one that's reasonably balanced/nutritious and contains foods you enjoy eating. The one you can sustain with minimal effort.
Success comes from consistency and adherence - not from some fad diet you're miserable on and burn out/binge after two weeks because you can't stand it anymore.
I'm not sitting on this anymore. Full disclosure.
AnvilHead, you helped me see the light. During the last decade, I was jumping on other diet bandwagons, food resets and combining protocols. One in particular, I really tried to wrap my head around. I went full cult, full tilt boogie. It never really made sense to me but I tried to convince myself that it did. In the end, I felt totally and completely duped by it. I would come here and read your posts. They were the counterbalance to all of that food malarkey and horsesheet.
Your posts helped me deprogram myself from dieting and food protocols. I began to see that many of these food protocols were written as a cover for disordered eating. Compartmentalized thinking and eating with a corresponding rule for every situation. They were leading others to adopt their rules and regulations for disordered eating.
Everything within my being began to rebel against it. The more I read what you had to say the easier it became to pull myself away from all it. I was here for a few years before I ever said anything. I still listen to what you have to say because it makes so much sense to me.
As we say out here in the sticks, horsesense is alot like deodorant - those who need it the most seldom use it. But you've good horsesense in spades. I always look forward to what you have to say. You're my spirit animal.
Now, I don't give two hoots about the gym and that's never going to change. I simply took it back outside where I belong. You should write a book. I would buy it. It could be a field manual for those who need to stay afloat in a world filled with diets and ballyhoo and eating multi-cr@p foods that are only a temporary bandaid.
I did throw all of my dieting books into the bin. I'll never buy another one and to say I'm through with dieting is to understate my personality by several thousand degrees. I don't ever want to be duped again. Thanks for listening.
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LiveLaughLove20172017 wrote: »What is the best diet that is not only going to jump start my weight loss, but will also help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and won’t hurt the pocket book?
Weight loss is about having a calorie deficit. You can create a calorie deficit by reducing calorie intake, increasing activity (calorie burn) or both.
You don't have to buy special food to lose weight.
A healthy diet is not a specific list of food but everything you consume working together to meet your body's needs. You need to look at nutrients of foods you eat and how they fit your whole day. There are a lot of ways to "eat healthy".
You don't need to jump start anything.
If you are not losing a good place to start is logging everything you consume as accurately as you can. Use a food scale. Check that database entries you use are correct. Even if you scan a label the entry that pops up can be incorrect so check it against the label of your product. If you are cooking, use the recipe feature to log it.
Meal planning is a good idea if you have a tight budget or want to make more thoughtful choices.
Low budget friendly foods where I live are things like oatmeal, tuna, whole chicken or chicken thighs, dry beans, lentils, rice, pasta, bread, peanut butter, eggs, potatoes, carrots, apples, ground turkey, cabbage, onions, canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables.
You should start with just logging what you normally eat and sticking to your calorie goal. You want to eat in a way you can sustain. You can alter your diet in small steps like getting more protein or having more vegetables on your plate.
Low budget menu planning and recipes:
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/40dollarmenu.htm
http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/70dollarmenu.htm
http://www.budgetbytes.com
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2013/03/35-meatless-meals.html
http://www.meatlessmonday.com/favorite-recipes/
http://www.lentils.org/recipes-cooking/recipes/
Some MFP threads you may find useful:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10518784/healthy-food-choice-on-a-budget/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10500423/costing-a-lot-more-money-to-eat-healthier/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10490067/most-healthy-food-options-are-very-expensive-and-im-on-a-very-poor-budget-what-to-do/p1
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10020804/looking-for-vegetarian-recipes#latest
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10142490/a-list-of-calorie-dense-foods/p1
I find food ideas on Pinterest a lot.
http://www.budgetbytes.com
http://www.skinnytaste.com
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2
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