What has worked for me for me is intense exercise at least twice a week, eating healthier and w/in calorie range (when I do it!) and eating tasty food that I make at home...I tend to gain fast when I eat out or if I eat a lot of carbohydrates like bread. So I just try to limit amoung each day.

I am still trying to find something that works! Thanks everyone for posting your tips....it is motivating me to not give up!

Working out twice in the AM and PM; doing INTERVALs; listening to my body; doing Peak 10 DVD's, Slim in 6, ZUMBA (it rocks folks!); going to bed early and getting 8 hours of sleep; wearing my biomedia armbad everyday (omg, I cannot imagine being without it); logging every single calorie that goes into my mouth; planning ahead.

--stuff that I repeat to myself:
I got this! (thank you Ruth...)
This is the year of no excuses.
You are your own best friend.
No thought can dwel in my mind without my permission.
You are more powerful than white chocolate raspberry cheesecake and french fries.

What has worked for me? I've always been able to do the weight loss thing. In fact this is my third time at it! This, however, will be the last time, as I plan to keep it off for good. I keep up with the gym 5-6 days a week, and I have shifted my eating habits. The biggest thing that is working for me is my shift in attitude. At this point I have decided that I am not eating healthy and going to the gym just to lose weight. I am now doing it to feel good and be the best me I can be where ever the numbers fall on the scale. Sure I have a goal weight in mind, but really, I am feeling the best I have felt in probably over a decade. I'm not giving that up. Before I would diet and work out for the loss and then hit some magic point and revert back to the old habits and then gain the weight back. No more of that.

This time I started out different with just getting back into the gym. I saw some initial loss of 10 lbs over 3 months, but I was losing inches and feeling stronger. I still remember looking into one of the many mirrors in the class room and thinking "I look like a sausage doing the plank". Now I look in the mirror and see a strong woman who may not be 100% perfect, but is the best woman she can be. I like that. I think I will keep working on that feeling.

So exercise and a cleaner diet has worked again to drop the weight, but what keeps me moving forward and not just saying "Well, I'm at the weight I want to be so now what...." is the change in what I expect to get from what I am doing. Not just a skinny me, but a strong, balanced, healthy, happy me.

What works for me...mfp and challenges like this.

1). Smart shopping-finding the best nutritional bargains.
For example, if you need spaghetti sauce, or sour cream, or bread (etc) Look at the labels of every sour cream (or whatever) is on the shelf and find the lowest calorie, carbs, sodium...etc and highest in protein, calcium, fiber...etc. Also "shop" people's mfp diaries. Note the best nutritional bargains and add them to your shopping list.

It is amazing how different the nutrition can be for the same things.

2). Prepare, prewegh/measure, and prepackage as many foods as you can for the week. Once a week I try and cook bunch of chicken, tilapia, ground turkey, hard boiled eggs, etc weight them out into containers and stick them in the fridge or freezer.

I also make my own salad dressing (mustard, a.c. Vinegar and stevia ) and pack those up.

Lots of veggies, fruits, nuts, bacon bits, cheese...etc. the list is endless dips like hummus, peanut/almond butter, cream cheese. Snacks like trail mix, nuts, ww crackers, pretzels etc.

I'm trying to create Healthy "fast food" for my whole family.

Sometimes I Sharpie the calories and carbs on each bag so I can log it easier.

If i have per measured healthy, yummy foods to grab and go, then I am more successful in my new healthy lifestyle.

what has worked for me in the past is PATIENCE! I tend to lose slowly, and gain slowly. I have gotten to my goal weight 128 at WW but then SLOWLY gained it back... up down up down. I am trying hard to remember to be the tortoise in the race.... and just keep at it. Also, I have to make my food interesting and tasty or I will eventually get bored and quit.... i have gotten better habits through the years - eat whole grains mostly, veggies and fruits, much less fat, so my lifestyle is changing and hopefully this will be a permanent change in my life....now i need to drink more water for my body....

Things that are working for me:
-Water
-Daily Food Log
-Decreased Wine :drinker:
-Going to GISFW 3x week: Working out with others has been extremely supportive & motivating along w/ the Nutition Accountability
-Eating more protein and less fat grams and planning better on that area
-Sleep 8 hours each night
-Quiet Time
ALL = weight loss, body toning, feel good, more energy, patience, persistence, acceptance.

My trick is eating soup for lunch. I usually add in leftover meat, veggies or beans to my favorite Campbell's soup, making it a hearty, low-cal, nutritious lunch that really keeps me satisfied all afternoon. It works for me. And I track everything I eat!

What has worked for me?

Being more conscious of the foods I eat. Drastically reducing processed foods, being honest in my logging of everything, eliminating the whites (bread, rice, potatoes) as much as possible, making healthier choices at restaurants, etc.

Working out regularly. I'm certainly not "in shape" but even something as simple as power walking makes a difference.

Using MFP for information and motivation.

Eat. Run. Lift. Sleep. And repeat.