What finally worked???

Pakitalian

I know there are others out there like me... those that have tried everything... zig zagging calories, more calories, less calories, clean eating, cutting sugar, Atkins, WW, etc...

between all of your "experiments" what finally worked?? I have tried several things myself, and still have not found my "sweet spot."

Just wondering how other's experiences have been? I am starting to realize, one thing I can contribute the most is PATIENCE. Regardless, what was your "AHA!" moment?

Francl27

Counting calories and eating pretty much what I want within my calories, as long as I reach 110ish grams of protein.

CharChary

Eating balanced meals that fit within my daily total calories.

MysteriousMerlin

Low carb worked for me previously, but I had a lot going on and couldn't handle some of it, so I strayed away from that lifestyle (just didn't care). I still watch my carbs, but just for the daily total, not per meal. I feel like I have more freedom by counting my calories. I still eat junk, but I eat way more healthy stuff now than I did before.

lisaanne1369

Learning how to eat on MFP, running and sticking with it.

Dubby83

When I started counting calories and drinking a much higher amount of water. I was losing before that but then it started REALLY coming off.

conniemaxwell5

Adding exercise. For me specifically it was cardio. I began running and using the elliptical machine and the inches and pounds started to come off much easier. I lift too but for the bulk of my weight, the cardio did the trick for me.

I_Will_End_You

Eating whatever I want, just less of it.

bluefish49

Following the MFP suggested calorie goal and staying under 45 grams of sugar a day.

laserturkey

Add my vote for eating whatever foods I like, counting calories, and trying to get enough protein in the process.

DoingitWell

Intermittent fasting and .......walking. I still do beach body videos every now and then, but walking is the exercise that has people telling me that I don't need to lose any more weight.... Oh and lifting weights. But I did not get great results with just lifting alone, I had to add the cardio.

healthykaitlin

For me, it was the most bizarre idea I concocted during my morning commute. I was on the highway when I realized that, not only had I forgotten to pack breakfast and lunch, but I also had forgotten my wallet at home & therefore couldn't get anything anyway.

I decided to challenge myself to drink lots of water and then eat more healthy upon returning home rather than rifling through the cabinets and binge eating due to my lack thereof eating throughout the day.

The following day, I packed soup and ate lots of light soup to fill me up. I did that for the next few days and then went grocery shopping that weekend and filled my cart with nutritious foods. Loads of veggies, some chicken and fish - no pasta, bread, cookies, etc. Counting calories became easy, cooking became fun.

Now, two months later, I've still stuck to it and continue to shred pounds at a slow yet steady pace. I'm unsure of whether this would have worked under any other circumstances, but my will-power definitely came out from hiding.

FromHereOnOut

I've been discovering very recently that even with activity level remaining constant (which definitely includes active lifestyle & workouts), that it's protein that is helping to melt fat. I tend to eat within my calorie goal better when focusing on my protein intake (currently set to about 1.4x kg bodyweight). In addition to meat/poultry/fish, beans, eggs, and dairy, I have whey protein shakes to help supplement my protein needs.

Nix_Way

I too have tried everything out there. Weight loss pills from Doctors, Bee Pollen (which some of my friends SWEAR works. Didn't do diddly for me) WW, starvation, eating everything not nailed down hoping for a miracle! EVERYTHING!!!

I found MFP thru a friend (who incidently hasen't logged in for about 3 months) and loved the way that you could save foods you ate and could just scroll thru untill you found them again.

I was doing this for about 3 months all along untill I started reading the forums. I started to friend people who had similar goals and weight to loose, and I dropped like 15 pounds in that month!!

I have found that for ME: I have to have the social interaction of people who log daily and comment daily. I find that I am WAY more motivated to eat right and stay within my daily calorie goal and exercise if I have people expecting me to do it. I love the positive preer pressure!! For me, its what works!!!!

DeterminedToLoseIt02

Eating whatever I want, just less of it.

Same here
It's all about finding something that works for you and is sustainable.

amm8589

Counting calories, high intensity cardio exercise (turbofire), and consistent weight training

DrMAvDPhD

To lose weight? Measuring my food and hitting a weekly calorie goal.

To get the body I wanted all along? Lifting heavy.

lorenzovonmatterhorn7549

My weight had plateaued for over 6 months. Unfortunately, I listened to the "eat more" advice which caused me to gain weight. I finally switched to the TDEE method -20% on my active days about 4 months ago. I'm actually below my target weight now. Very happy!

bcattoes

Exercise. 100% the key to weight loss for me.

Kindone

Counting calories and eating pretty much what I want within my calories, as long as I reach 110ish grams of protein.

^ this.

I used the TDEE - 20% calorie limit and began doing ~3 lifting workouts a week. But the key component for me was that i decided not to give up no matter what. In the past, if I i didn't see dramatic fast results, I quit saying it didn't work. This time I vowed, no matter what, I would stay on a proven path adjusting as needed until it worked. And it has.

The other big "what did it" move for me was to finally accept that, while my body might not react as well to some foods as others, there is no magic trick or secret formula to melt the weight off me. The only secret formula is calorie reduction and body shaping through fitness. That's it. I have lost about 23 pounds slowly doing that. I know it would come off faster and more efficiently if I were more diligent with weighing and measuring and having more fitness in my routine.

Seesawboomerang

Regular cardio, upping my protein so I didn't need to pig out so much, portion control.