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Which weight loss method is the most successful?
threewins
Posts: 1,455 Member
in Debate Club
I thought that we'd do a comparison of the stats of various weight loss methods. I've never seen a proper comparison done. Let's change that.
First for comparison is Noom, the weight loss app where you get to chat with a 'coach' who will chat with you. Read a review here https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/what-you-need-know-about-weight-loss-app-noom-according-ncna996026
Almost 80% lost weight.
Any other weight loss methods you know about?
First for comparison is Noom, the weight loss app where you get to chat with a 'coach' who will chat with you. Read a review here https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/what-you-need-know-about-weight-loss-app-noom-according-ncna996026
Almost 80% lost weight.
Any other weight loss methods you know about?
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Replies
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Weight loss is caused by being in a calorie deficit. All weight loss methods have the same goal a calorie deficit.
The best weight loss method is one that best helps you reach your calorie deficit, and hopefully keep the weight off.
I don't follow any named diets.58 -
I think that method works with people who cannot find the motivation within themselves or their circle, which is completely acceptable! Whatever gets you to your goal, I say.
All about sticking to a calorie deficit. I personally believe a calorie deficit with healthy and nutritious foods is way more beneficial than a calorie deficit with junky and processed foods, but apparently a ton of people disagree with that (based solely off of the reactions i got from another post). Again, to each their own.17 -
Eating fewer calories than you burn is the only successful way to lose weight. Any weight loss method that works has this as it reason for success.22
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"Which weight loss method is the most successful?" --> The one which allows you to follow the 'Calories In/Calories Out' principle in a FUN, healthful and sustainable way without contributing to a mental health issue.35
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The best diet is the one that improves your health.24
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80% lost weight over what timescale?
If a short timescale (weeks, a few months) then that sounds a really poor success rate, if long term (meaning years) then it's amazing, if not incredible (in the true meaning of that word).
My key to successfully losing weight and keeping it off was taking responsibility for how much I ate, what I ate and how much I moved and that would be my major reservation with a "coach approach". At some point you have to fly solo.
Other reservations would be someone telling me to eat particular foods or adopt a style of eating as they seem to tout low energy density foods. Unfortunately that would mean that I would have to exclude or massively restrict a hell of a lot of foods that I like and are good for me. Exclusions or restrictions for me have to be minimised for my long term success.
As with all dieting schemes it will suit some and not suit others and over the long term I wouldn't expect markedly different results to other schemes or methods.
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If we all agree (and I think we do here) that eating fewer calories than you burn is the way to lose weight...
I think what the OP is asking is what is the best method to accomplish that goal?
I think that it depends on lifestyle and personality, so there's really no "best" way to get yourself into a calorie deficit.
For most people here, because of the nature of this app, accurately counting calories and eating foods that you like that fit within your calorie goal might work best. I hate "rules", so this was best for me.
For some people's personality, something like Noom or WW might work better because of the coach and community aspect. I HATE coaching, and like to do things on my own, but everyone's different.
Some people might find that intermittent fasting fits better with their lifestyle, and that helps them control the amount of calories they take in every day.
Some might find that their calories are better controlled if they eat less carbs. Or that increased fat intake makes them feel more satiated, so a low-carb or Keto thing might work for them.
Everyone's got to find out what works best for them, and is sustainable in the long term.28 -
Like others have said, it really varies based on person. That's why I think understanding that it's calories in/calories out is so great. Once you know that's all it is, then you can figure out what works for your personality and lifestyle and so will be enjoyable and sustainable. Or if really not sure you can try different things to see if they work for you and not worry if it turns out some approach is not a good fit.4
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The answer is, , , , the one you're most comfortable with. I tried Atkins, South Beach, OMAD, lowfat, etc. Truth be told they're all just different ways to reduce caloric intake, with some mild modifications to manipulate glycemic index of foods or replace simple carbohydrates with more complex ones. I've enjoyed doing intermittent fasting. Basically only eating between 10AM and 6PM helps me eliminate two of my "triggers". If I eat early in the morning, I tend to think about food all day. If I don't set limits, I spend my evenings mindlessly snacking. Good luck finding what works best for YOU!12
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The one you can stick with.18
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I did Noom.
It’s not a “diet” it’s just a way to help you change your lifestyle by addressing various reasons why you may overeat and all of that stuff.
I’ve lost almost 70lbs and have maintained that weight loss for 2 years. I did so many different diets but that is the only program that worked for me. It helped me get better control over emotional and stress eating and helped me learn healthier habits.15 -
I agree with others that what works best is finding an approach that meshes happily with our own personal preferences and personality . . . and that trendy named diets can be a bad way to zero in on such an approach. I like "gradually remodel your eating" as a method, personally. I did this through about 50 pounds of weight loss in just under a year, and 4+ years of weight maintenance since:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm/p1
But different things work for different people.
FWIW, if one wants a structured comparison of various named diets/eating approaches, the US News and World Report's comparison may be worth taking a look at:
https://health.usnews.com/best-diet
As that sort of thing goes, it's a pretty level-headed assessment, less "gee whiz" or trend-following than many comparisons.
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The one you enjoy. You'll stick to it.5
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I agree with everyone here; the one you can personally stick to and that you enjoy.
Currently, I am set to lose 1 lb a week and eat 1500 calories a day. I struggle to stay at 1500 without exercising. So I eat what I want (weigh it and track it) in sensible portion sizes and exercise (weights and cardio) to help me lose weight. For me, it is sustainable for life because I did not remove foods that I enjoy. For someone else, they might hate my diet/exercise plan.2 -
RockingWithLJ wrote: »I think that method works with people who cannot find the motivation within themselves or their circle, which is completely acceptable! Whatever gets you to your goal, I say.
All about sticking to a calorie deficit. I personally believe a calorie deficit with healthy and nutritious foods is way more beneficial than a calorie deficit with junky and processed foods, but apparently a ton of people disagree with that (based solely off of the reactions i got from another post). Again, to each their own.
I feel like a lot of that disagreement may have been because the "calorie-deficit-with-healthy-food" vs "calorie-deficit-with-junky-processed-food" is a false dichotomy.
#1. "Healthy" is extremely subjective; it means "low calorie" for some, "Organic" for others, "vegan" for others, "low-fat" for others, "low cholesterol" for others, "low sodium" for others, etc. So when someone makes a statement like "a calorie deficit with healthy food is more beneficial than a calorie deficit with junky food," the words "healthy" and "junky" are so imprecise that anyone can argue that this statement is wrong (based on their own personal definitions of those words).
#2. The two conditions (deficit-with-healthy-food and deficit-with-junky-food) are pretty much NEVER 100% adhered-to in real life. Pretty much all people have a combination (spectrum from one processed treat a day, to living fully off of prepackaged meals and snacks). Even if one eats 90% of their meals in a "healthy" way according to them, you have to think about holidays, days of eating off-plan, periods of depression or anxiety, events or trips where they don't have control over their food; there's no 100% adherence to "healthy food."
My guess is that if you got disagreement over your statement above, it's probably because most people work foods into their every-day or every-week way of eating that many people would consider "junky" "processed" or "unhealthy," but it helps them adhere to their calorie deficit because they don't restrict, crave, and then binge.20 -
Fasting.7
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Like @CharlielCURN
I lost ~35 lbs on my own...then I joined NOOM and lost the final 36-43lbs.
I’m still a member as I’ve got a fantastic coach who is a great help with maintenance.
Note: I also like to do things my own way, so I have logged my food in MyNetDiary for most of the 3 years I’ve been on NOOM. I like the data that gives me.
The UAC & Building Healthy Habit groups + the Maintenance discussion strands + the monthly exercise tracking discussions by @JDMac82 Have all contributed to my 2 year 1 month maintenance after a lifetime of obesity.
I just keep tackling the next thing I need to focus upon & find the resources to help me. Currently Insight Timer (guided meditations) & looking into how carbs effect my glucose adversely.2 -
The one you can stick to is best for you.3
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I think that noom figure is possibly a little misleading.
I did the noom free trial, but I hated it. I found the "coaching" condescending and annoying so cancelled before the trial was over. I certainly didn't lose any weight on it, but I bet I am not part of that statistic.
I don't argue that the information they give is helpful, but I didn't like how it was presented - I could get the same in here in a more matter-of-fact tone. For free.
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There is NO WEIGHT LOSS METHOD where you don't eat less calories than you burn.
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
15 -
80% lost weight over what timescale?
If a short timescale (weeks, a few months) then that sounds a really poor success rate, if long term (meaning years) then it's amazing, if not incredible (in the true meaning of that word).
My key to successfully losing weight and keeping it off was taking responsibility for how much I ate, what I ate and how much I moved and that would be my major reservation with a "coach approach". At some point you have to fly solo.
Other reservations would be someone telling me to eat particular foods or adopt a style of eating as they seem to tout low energy density foods. Unfortunately that would mean that I would have to exclude or massively restrict a hell of a lot of foods that I like and are good for me. Exclusions or restrictions for me have to be minimised for my long term success.
As with all dieting schemes it will suit some and not suit others and over the long term I wouldn't expect markedly different results to other schemes or methods.
The article says that almost 80% reported weight loss while using the app for a median of 264 days. So basically 80% of people lost weight while trying to lose weight within a year. Not nearly as impressive sounding.
Having said that, I think Noom sounds like a pretty decent service for people who have issues around food or a lack of focus in the short term. But it's not free, so how well it works in the long term really depends on if it sets people up with good habits that they can stick to long term, and I don't think Noom has been popular for long enough for that data to exist, if it ever will. You'd need 5 - 10 year statistics and Noom would have to keep in touch with folks long after they stop paying for the service. Most people I know whove used it said it helped them short term but the coaching became repetitive and the expense didn't seem worth keeping.
My short answer to the OP is to agree with all the other replies. Most methods will get you into a calorie deficit, and different ones will be best for different people. For me it was logging my food, eating what I like, and increasing my day to day activity level. Nothing marketable
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I think that noom figure is possibly a little misleading.
I did the noom free trial, but I hated it. I found the "coaching" condescending and annoying so cancelled before the trial was over. I certainly didn't lose any weight on it, but I bet I am not part of that statistic.
I don't argue that the information they give is helpful, but I didn't like how it was presented - I could get the same in here in a more matter-of-fact tone. For free.
I had a similar experience. In fact, I suspected my coach was a bot, that was exactly how personalized the advice seemed. The setup didn't ask anything incisive, which was something I expected based on the marketing. I'm sure I'm not included in that statistic either - I only lasted 3 days.4 -
Weight loss happens when you are at a caloric deficit.
I believe your debate topic is really: what method do people use to achieve the caloric deficit?
Every ‘diet’ out there achieves a caloric deficit. Often these are by eliminating a food type.
Noom is a little different because it looks at the psychology of why people are eating what they eat. But ultimately, has the same goal of caloric deficit.
What method is ‘best’?
—The one that works for you!6 -
You must develop a weight loss method that you can commit and live up to. It’s already been stated that you must be in a caloric deficit. Diet programs are only good if you can commit to them on a very long term basis, in most cases people are not willing to commit to the sacrifice required by them and abandon them before results can be seen. They lose it and gain it back again. Each person needs to develop an eating regimen that they can remain committed to in order to lose and maintain the loss. Generally it is a lifestyle change.5
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Always, the one where you eat less calories than you burn. You can package it and promote it any way you want, but, weight loss always comes down to eating less calories than your body burns.5
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senalay788 wrote: »
Speaking as 46+ years a vegetarian (and fairly knowledgeable about fully plant-based eating):
No. Way, way no. Experience based no.
It was easy to get fat, then obese, as a vegetarian, and stay that way for decades, even when I added a pretty aggressive athletic training regimen (yes, while staying obese, for over a decade doing it). There are fat and obese vegans. I routinely try to talk people here out of becoming vegetarian/vegan if their *only* motivation is weight loss (or health, for that matter). It's a blind alley, a tangent, a red herring, an unnecessary complication, a distraction from the core issue . . . .
There is no magical way of eating, for weight loss. And even if there were, it wouldn't be vegetarianism. NopeNopeNope.12 -
After all the years of training people, what I've found with people who succeeded well versus those that don't is.................................the person themself. If a person is truly committed to a weight loss program (regardless of what they choose) they will usually be successful AS LONG AS they continue that program even after losing weight. I've seen all the different programs over the and again they all have one common denominator..........calorie deficit. A person committed just has to find a program that THEY WANT TO DO and be in a calorie deficit.
The reality is only about 5% of people doing programs actually stay on them for life. The other 95% regain weight and then either repeat the program that actually failed them due to adherence, or search for the newest diet "touted" by gurus and exaggerated advertising.
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 9 -
I dunno. I don't think I can help you much here. I keep thinking I've lost 15 lbs, but every time I look behind, I find it again...5
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senalay788 wrote: »senalay788 wrote: »
Speaking as 46+ years a vegetarian (and fairly knowledgeable about fully plant-based eating):
No. Way, way no. Experience based no.
It was easy to get fat, then obese, as a vegetarian, and stay that way for decades, even when I added a pretty aggressive athletic training regimen (yes, while staying obese, for over a decade doing it). There are fat and obese vegans. I routinely try to talk people here out of becoming vegetarian/vegan if their *only* motivation is weight loss (or health, for that matter). It's a blind alley, a tangent, a red herring, an unnecessary complication, a distraction from the core issue . . . .
There is no magical way of eating, for weight loss. And even if there were, it wouldn't be vegetarianism. NopeNopeNope.
Tough crowd.
If not keto and not vegan then maybe......... paleo. Yes, paleo. Sorry for the confusion.
@senalay788
I think what Ann is getting at here is: for weight loss, it does not matter what you are eating; what matters is how many calories are you eating as compared to how many calories you are expending.
Caloric deficit = weight loss
Caloric surplus = weight gain
Neutral calories = maintain weight
All of these can happen regardless of whether you are doing keto, paleo, vegan, vegetarian,etc.6
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