Tell me it's possible without any special diet? :(

AverageAngel

You are, what you eat. Just remember that. :flowerforyou:

browncurlz3

Of course it's possible. There is no name for the "eat right and exercise" diet. You need to consume fewer calories than you currently are (I went from 1800 a day to 1500 and am seeing changes. Your goal calorie intake will be different.)

But it also matters what foods those calories are coming from. Keep the greasy fats, sugar-loaded stuff to a minimum (note I ddin't say stop eating all of it...that's unrealistic). Eat a small thing of McDonald's french fries if you want, but have a (grilled) chicken salad with it. Have some ice cream, but just a scoop and eat it slow. Don't get the 1,200 calorie milkshake.

It is not easy, but you didn't put the weight on overnight, so don't expect to lose it overnight. Stay POSITIVE.

I'm rooting for you!

patsnyder89

There are no special secrets and never will be. It just takes time and track ur progress

rm7161

I am doing nothing special. Move more, eat less, log every calorie.

I have to adjust a little bit so MFP doesn't overestimate calories burned on my exercise, I make sure I eat enough protein, eat enough vegetables, and make sure I never go over goal on carbs plus get enough dietary calcium (this usually comes in the form of nonfat yogurt, which helps me stay on goal for protein and calcium in one go without piling on calories)

Drink enough water.

Anybody can do it. I have watched over four inches disappear off my waist since the summer. The changes in my body are pretty dramatic, especially since I started some resistance weight training. It looks like I have lost more than I actually have on the scale, pretty sure that is due to firming up while losing weight.

I will strongly second buying a kitchen scale to measure your portions accurately. That really helped more than anything to keep the eating on track. Now I can squeeze a little healthy dessert in so I don't crave the sweets while dieting.

SopranogirlCa

Get ready for it.... diets don't work!!! If they did, we would all be skinny (not healthy, but skinny). The key here is to eat right and exercise. I am not saying it's easy, I am just saying that it is simple.

Ladyiianae

No special diets, no magic pill. I'm eating a little less, weighing and measuring my portions, exercising and living life. You can do it!

blakejohn

I workout cause I like to eat wait scrach that..................... I love food I'm a cook so I like shopping for food working with food and most of all eating food

I also like being fit.......... lifting heavy and run for hours

diet is a dirty four letter word

danasings

It's absolutely possible, even necessary, to avoid "special diets." Reduce your calorie intake, increase your calorie burn. Keep track on MFP. As you lose weight and feel healthier, make more adjustments. It really is that simple.

Enigmatica

I didn't need a "book diet" to lose over 90 pounds and haven't needed one to maintain, either. All I did was finally focus on eating for health, calorie balance, and exercise.

joecollins9385

I am feeling a little discouraged; it seems everywhere there are new and "amazing" diets that help others lose weight so quickly:

- Atkins
- Keto (pretty much the same)
- Paleo (Okay, another similar one)
- South Beach
- Jenny Craig

yada yada....

Please tell me there are people out there who have lost their weigh by just watching their foods, eating a little less, and exercising??! *sigh*

I don't know if I can keep up with technical diet rules.

ive never tried any special diet. i try to exercise often, eat healthy and stay away from the sweets as much as possible (but sometimes you just gotta have it).

best advice i can give you is keep moving, the more you move the more you burn

good luck

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I don't do well with being told what to do (call it a problem with authority) so when I'm on a "diet plan" all I can think about are the foods I'm not supposed to have. What works much better for me is to just count calories and try to hit my macros. But if I want chocolate, I'll have some. I do find that certain foods are more satisfying and so I'll try to go with those most of the time. Example: potatoes. I LOVE red potatoes, but there are a lot of calories in them and they don't keep me full very long. So most of the time I eat sweet potatoes instead, but if I am really wanting red potatoes I just go ahead and have them, and give up something else that day to make room.

I think for a lot of people the best approach is to make small changes over time instead of overhauling your entire diet in one sitting.

LadyIntrepid

Not only is it possible, but it's better for you. I did Nutrisystem once and lost all the weight I wanted. And... gained it all back in no time. Because it wasn't a lifestyle change. Now I eat what I want in moderation, exercise 5-6 days a week (strength and cardio), feel great, and now that I've lost the weight (again) have found it incredibly easy to maintain and I'm not 1) driving myself crazy by trying to follow an exact plan or 2) spending a ton of money to eat processed foods.

Shell_7609

I pretty much eat what I want, just watch portion sizes, and try to be more active. The only I've truely given up is pop, once I started tracking & realized that a 20oz bottle is close to 300 calories, I realized how much I could have eaten if I hadn't drank that pop

klamarius

In my opinion, the best way to lose weight is to watch what you eat! Gradually add in whole grains, fruits and veggies. I say gradually because if you try to overhaul your diet and immediately eat healthy, it will backfire. Been there, done that!! The first time I lost weight, I cut out EVERYTHING! No sweets, no pizza, none of my favorite foods, even in moderation. When I finally got a taste of those foods, it was OVER! Pretty much went on an eating spree and gained the majority of my weight back. The diets that you mentioned work - for some people. For me, it's all about logging my food into mfp and working out. Don't get discouraged. The majority of people I know who have lost weight have done so gradually and steadily, with minor setbacks here and there. Everyone struggles at some point. It's just a matter of picking yourself up and continuing on.
Good luck! I hope you find what works for you!!

blueak

It's so possible! I've lost weight with this super secret formula I've developed...it's called...paying attention! You don't need to cut everything you love, you just need to educate yourself about what you're putting into your body. Being on MFP already gives you an advantage, as you can easily find out the calorie content of your food. Smile, you're on your way!

nxd10

I just watched my food and eat a healthy diet and lost 21 pounds in 22 weeks.

PetulantOne

I've lost 20 pounds in a short period of time. No gimmicks. Just restricting calories, and moving more. And I don't even eat clean. I still drink soda (just not a lot, and beer. I'm getting ready to switch up my diet a little, to accommodate lifting weights. But the only thing that means is I need to eat more, and make sure I'm getting enough protein.

VelociMama

You definitely don't need any "special" diet plan to make this work. I lost 42 lbs eating normal food and working hard. You CAN do this.

What you do need is patience, lots of hard work, and a strong desire to live better.

kittyr77

No fad diets for me. Overall calorie restriction and balanced macros. I even allow myself the odd small piece of chocolate or a cookie as a treat. Plenty of veg and protein too.

taylorwaylor

all the people that ive talked to on here are eatinging "normal" food... those are just fad diets! dont even waste your time on those because youll gain all the weight back once you stop following them. The only way to lose weight and keep it off is eating clean and healthy, and exersizing.