What is your #1 weight loss tip?

TennVolsGal

I was just wondering if you had to pick one thing you did that helped you lose weight and get healthy (cuz thats really what its about) what would it be? Also tell me why and how that helped you! Looking to implement new things into my routine and would love your tips.

GooneyAngel

Fat burning cardio!! I feel much better! Better attitude, more energy and the desire to do the things in life that I love! I had lost interest in doing things like camping, shopping, etc....I now have the energy and desire to enjoy life again! Thanks for asking!

AllyS7

Water....A LOT of water.

dcberg00

Honestly.... THIS SITE!! For a couple of years, my wife and I have TALKED about getting healthy. We knew what we needed to do, we knew what we needed to eat.

Finding this site, which makes us accountable, has changed our habits. We aren't on a diet... we are making life changes.

THANKS MFP and all of my MFP friends!!

EDIT-- But since we are also talking about fit tips.... drinking of water has been a huge help to us!

jennywrens

I limit my bread intake to only 2 slices per day - I cut out fizzy drinks (even diet/no sugar ones) - I watch my cheese intake (I have given it up for lent - but not forever - but I could eat it like most people eat chocolate!)

Keightisgr8

Cardio, Water and WRITING DOWN EVERYTHING YOU EAT.

regentin

Eating every few hours a snack high in protein so that I don't binge at meal time.

sparklesammy

I think i would lose a pound instantly if i got my hair cut off!

(i think ill keep that pound for now...but if im plateaued 1 pound away from my target weight it might be necessary....)

kristendo

Im personally going to try the "not eating after 8" rule!

EHuntRN

I'd have to agree with increasing my water, to drink only water for a whole week is the norm now....prior to Jan 1 you wouldnt have caught me drinking water but maybe 1-2/week....

Imthatg1rl

Portion control, not eating in excess and only when necessary (when I am hungry)

stephierue

Get the junk food out of the house. If someone else in the family eats it, keep it elsewhere. Reducing temptation helps a lot. The more u eat that stuff, the more you want it. After a week or two I lose my cravings for it.

cessnaholly

Recording everything I eat. It is amazing that what I thought was healthy really wasn't. And what I thought wasn't, wasn't really all that bad. It helped me change my habits. I am not on a diet. I am changing my eating habits for life. MFP is great for that.

osingirl

Not weighing myself everyday. I've quit so many times because I'll do so good for a couple of days and get frustrated if it says I've gained. I know it takes time but stil so frustratinggggg. I lost 10 lbs when I didn't have a scale at the ski resort I worked at for 3 mos and was just being slightly cautious on what I ate.

koosdel

Make a grocery shopping list, don't buy what isn't on the list even if you 'forgot' to put the ______ on the list until you saw it in the store.

LorinaLynn

Fierce determination and some goals based on fitness rather than vanity. Losing weight and getting in smaller clothes is fantastic, but I'm more proud that I've gone from lazy lump to a runner, that I've stopped snoring, that my heart and lungs are stronger, etc.

That's why I love running so much. I never ran before. I hated it. But now, I can improve my distance or time every week. Every week, I'm winning against myself, no matter what's going on with the scale.

McKayMachina

Coconut oil and the EGCG in green tea.

No joke!

These natural metabolism boosters have helped me, someone with possibly the slowest metab on the planet, lose 26 lbs. since January 1st. They are like magic diet compounds, as far as I'm concerned.

If anyone's interested in learning more, check out my blog about EGCG:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/McKayMachina/view/to-green-tea-or-not-to-green-tea-80721

And the one about coconut oil:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/McKayMachina/view/coconut-oil-10-uses-for-this-miracle-elixir-88556

unicorn19girl

My weight loss tip: Eat well 90% of the time and your good to go. The other 10% leaves room for treats. It's worked for me. I eat healthy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then at night have a snack that almost always consists of cool whip. LOL. Good luck!

TennVolsGal

Love the tips yall keep em coming!!

lacroyx

patience. whether it's 5 lbs or 200 lbs you need to lose, you didn't gain it over night right? weight loss takes time and I see lots of posts of people wanting fast results and reality sets in and people get fusterated, lose hope, give up. etc. etc.

BflSaberfan

Count your calories but allow yourself a little room for treats so you dont binge later on.

65kar52

Grab snippets of time for working out - half an hour here, half an hour there - it's better than nothing



Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods

MissingMinnesota

Don't cut out your favorite foods. For example if you are a chocolate addict allow yourself to have a piece of dark chocolate or sugar free pudding or something so you don't get to the point where you crave it and then binge on it.

ukgirly01

Log everything good and bad that way you cant cheat yourself,
Water and LOTS of it.
A mixture of cardio and strenght training.
and for me getting wieghed regularly, tho I know others who dont agree with this, its keeps me on track,
Dont deny yourself anything just factor it in to your eating plan every now and again.

ukgirly01

Get the junk food out of the house. If someone else in the family eats it, keep it elsewhere. Reducing temptation helps a lot. The more u eat that stuff, the more you want it. After a week or two I lose my cravings for it.

This is a good point I love biscuits and cake but would never buy them, my partner has agreed not to bring anymore into the house and now buys the sweets I dont like instead i.e cadburys cream eggs, yuk Far to sweet.

CARNAT22

Log your food in advance.

Logging after you have eaten is too late - if you log in advance you can see where you are piling on the calories and make healthy changes.

Also weigh your carbs, do not guess with things like rice / pasta until you are confident you know how much you are making for yourself.

Noz7

I've only just started but I did my research!
Sci Lit:
-Extracts of green tea,
-extracts of brocolli
-garlic oil
...each independently stopped animals from getting as fat.

Peter Dingle, based on the sci lit as well, but I didn't check his sources:
-Sprint training, regular fast walks or runs up stairs across the day (breaks from the computer). Weight training.
-Reducing the white bread, white pasta, white potato and sugar. This has the effect of stabilising your sugar levels.

Adele Davis, based on the sci lit as well, but I didn't check her sources:
-OIL! Must have oil to:
a) lose weight
b) stick to the diet (avoid binges)
c) avoid gaining the weight later
-Calcium Magnesium Vitamin E

The days I've found myself satisfied across the day and feeling full without cravings have usually included a combination of some of the following foods:
- oil like coconut oil in my substantial breakfast smoothie
- minestrone with beans and just a little pasta (olive oil added at the end to help you absorb the good lycopene from your tomato sauce)
- big salad with things like finely sliced cabbage, lettuce, seeds, oil with something like lemon juice or vinegar, apple (sweet), maybe with herbs or cheese.
- water
- being productive and not hanging around the house bored. Exercise is good for my mind as well as body.

I feel pretty good and the only thing I haven't reduced that I probably should is coffee. Anecdotally it causes your stress hormones to flair up and make your body want to put on weight around your gut.

healthyandthin

Log your food in advance.

Logging after you have eaten is too late - if you log in advance you can see where you are piling on the calories and make healthy changes.

Also weigh your carbs, do not guess with things like rice / pasta until you are confident you know how much you are making for yourself.

Good tip!

mikerouse

I found that cooking everything from scratch helped loads. I was able to drastically cut down on the calories and fat by missing or substituting certain ingredients like oil, butter, etc. It also helped me understand more about what I was putting in to my body.

joaniegray

This site - logging calories ahead of time - even if I don't stick to my day's plan, i do try to compensate as by logging, it is in my head!
Sweet potatoes, bakery bread that is about 110 calories for 2 slices. Lots of snacks - eating every 4 hours. Exercise and water and NO JUNK FOOD available in my home, no exceptions. Weighing in most days, I am not one who can do it weekly but for those who can, great.

fuzzymel

patience. whether it's 5 lbs or 200 lbs you need to lose, you didn't gain it over night right? weight loss takes time and I see lots of posts of people wanting fast results and reality sets in and people get fusterated, lose hope, give up. etc. etc.

You beat me to it.

It took around 4 years and over 50lbs to get to my ideal weight. There are many bumps in the road and its how you pick yourself up that will determine your success.