What diet should I try?

KiwiKimblee

I am going with a lifestyle change. I am trying not to focus on dieting, but eating healthier. I am eating mostly clean foods, and trying to cut out sugar (struggling with this bit), and including exercise (well mostly). For this to work, for me, I had to stop thinking that I was dieting, but that i was getting healthy. Its working so far, but I am still working on the binge eating when I hit a low point.

The exercise is helping with the low points, and is the increase in veggies and fruit, and cutting down on processed food and preservatives, etc.

Good luck with whatever you choose though. Losing weight is such and individual thing, and it may take a few attempts to find what works best for you.

fufi04

I am not dieting. I am changing the way I eat. Less sugar, less sodium, more whole foods, fish, turkey, more legumes. Fewer processed foods. It takes more time than just grabbing a box of stuff and making it, but it is better for me in the long run.

^This!

And No "Diet" Foods

shellyeahx

Thanks so much for the feedback!

I just want to be clear that I am we'll aware what "diet" means. Thing is, I've been eating at a calorie deficit for years, and I am a fairly physically active person... I want to step all of this up, but I was also hoping to find a good guide to help me make the right food choices. Like I probably eat too many carbs, but how many do I eat? What are macros? Etc etc.

I'm not looking for a fad, but a guide to get me started and to keep me disciplined if that makes sense!

But yeah, thanks everyone for the input. Keep it coming!!

dym123

I am not dieting. I am changing the way I eat. Less sugar, less sodium, more whole foods, fish, turkey, more legumes. Fewer processed foods. It takes more time than just grabbing a box of stuff and making it, but it is better for me in the long run.

^^^^This!!!!!

TimeForMe99

Thanks so much for the feedback!

I just want to be clear that I am we'll aware what "diet" means. Thing is, I've been eating at a calorie deficit for years, and I am a fairly physically active person... I want to step all of this up, but I was also hoping to find a good guide to help me make the right food choices. Like I probably eat too many carbs, but how many do I eat? What are macros? Etc etc.

I'm not looking for a fad, but a guide to get me started and to keep me disciplined if that makes sense!

But yeah, thanks everyone for the input. Keep it coming!!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937712-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0

You'll hear this over and over again, but read the roadmap thread and follow the instructions. It will help you set your calories and macros to an appropriate level for a steady, sustainable weight loss at 1 pound per week. Yes, it's slow but it's also the best way to make changes that will last a lifetime. Not to scare you but your "diet" calorie level is likely at or over your maintenance level so this is a life-long commitment.

Nothing is off-limits if it fits in your macros but you will find yourself making different (better) choices so you can have more food and eating pleasure. Read through the boards - we eat ice cream and poptarts, eat out with friends, go drinking, and generally live life. Some people feel a need to restrict certain foods but most are just trying to eat healthy.

Feel free to message me if you need help setting your goals. And good luck!

cwolfman13

I am wondering if I should try a preprescribed diet beyond my ever effective guideline of "just eat better"!!!

What are you guys trying and how does it work for you? Are you seeing results? Do you feel hungry?

I tried South Beach once and I felt like I was PMSing 3 weeks straight. No thanks!

I am considering the zone diet because it seems to make sense to me... But I never met anyone who tried it

Part of me is also thinking all I need to do is focus on eating whole, healthy foods, avoid processed stuff and try to only do rich grains like quinoa and barley over rice and pastas. Just keeping that in mind while meeting MFP goals might be enough!!

Any input or experiences are appreciated!,

My opinion is that you should set up reasonably intelligent calorie and nutrient goals and hit them using foods you enjoy. Within that framework I would also:

a) Try to eat "mostly" whole and nutrient dense foods.
b) Exercise a few times per week.


And I would not complicate it beyond that.

Pretty much this...^^^

The problem with program diets is that they don't teach you anything. For long term sustainability, you need to learn about what your body requires in RE to fuel...quantity and quality and you need to make your diet (noun) part of your lifestyle rather than dieting (verb)...something you start and eventually stop.

Also, diets like South Beach...Mediterranean...Paleo....Zone....these aren't really diets in the verb sense...they are designed to be lifestyle guidelines. For example, my diet (noun) is largely Mediterranean influenced (lots of veg, fruit, some whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats from nuts, olive oil, etc) coupled with the Zone diet (40c/30p/30hf). That is not to say that I don't indulge in junk food from time to time...I do...I just focus my overall diet on eating primarily natural, whole foods. I'm currently eating at a caloric deficit from my TDEE, but very close to maintenance having lost about 30 Lbs...just 5-10 more to go.

The above is sustainable for me...it is how I've been eating...it is how I eat...it is how I will forever eat. My diet is forever, even when I reach maintenance and then start doing bulks...my calories will change, but my diet will remain, overall, the same.