To those of You Who have lost over 30lbs

I lost my first 30 pounds in about six months.

I ate whatever I wanted, but limited my portion sizes.

I put my data into the MFP app and set my weight loss at 1 pound per week. I was very careful to record my food accurately and stay under my calorie limit.

I walked at least two miles (sometimes up to five miles) five days a week.

After that first thirty I did a round of P90X and then switched to running plus circuit training three days a week.

I've lost a total of 53 pounds over (almost) two years.

For the record, I'm a 47 year old male.

I'm a work in progress, but here's what I've been doing:
Set my goals to 2lbs a week as I have a lot to lose.
Eat pretty much the same thing every day as it's easier for me that way. I eat what I want and when i want as long as it meets my calorie goal.
Log what I eat as accurately and honestly as possible.
Don't eat all my exercise calories back unless I am hungry.
Try to do a full-body, free-weights program 3 times a week, but it averages out to 1-2 times.
Try getting in 1-2 spinning classes a week.
Take 30 minute walks with my co-workers 2-3 times a week during our lunch break.
Joined a challenge for accountability.
Stopped drinking alcohol regularly, as in a glass or two of wine a night, but that was more for emotional reasons.
Have been a member a long time but only got serious at the end of January.
Good luck:)

I have lost 35 pounds over the last 9 months and most of that was in the first 6 months. I cut out bread, pasta, rice and potatoes and limited sugar. I started out with bootcamp 3 days a week and then upped it to 4 days a week. Now as I have plateaued with 15-20 pounds to go I am adding in running twice a week. The exercise is good of course but for me it was all about cutting carbs and getting portions under control. Calorie intake was around 1800 but Im having to cut that back too now. . Getting weights this month and planning to start strength training a couple of times a week.
Cut back on the booze too. Im a 43 year old female.

I lost 35lbs in 7 months, portion control and calorie counting. Did a mixture of walking and JM 30DS. I've kept it off too but the last few pounds are always the hardest.

I lost 32 pounds following the JUDD Diet (Johnson Up Down Day)

On Down days very low calorie intake
On Up Days normal calorie intake.

Took about 5-6 months.

Lost about 1.5-2 pounds a week.

Counted calories, measured out / weighed portions, and moved more.

I've lost 44 lbs. All I did was set a reasonable calorie goal (usually around 1450 plus exercise calories, although it changed as I went along), eat back most of my exercise calories, and use a food scale to weigh all of my food. I did not follow any specific diet.

For the last 10 lbs or so I changed my goals from getting skinny to looking good naked so I increased my protein goal to 1 gram per pound of LBM and I started lifting weights.

As for how long it took I generally lost a pound a week until the last 10, at which point I switched to half a pound a week. I stalled out awhile after 20 lbs (it turned out to be logging inaccuracy) so I took a break for about 3 months.

I never exercised, outside of walking, when I initially lost my weight after my son. I initially lost 111 lbs, but ended up gaining some back so I could have a more healthy look.

Now I exercise 3 days a week, combos of cardio and my weight training which is picking up my now 5 year old 45 lb son and doing squats with him lol :laugh:

I basically just followed what was in my calorie range on MFP and tried to get SOME kind of exercise in 4-5 times a week. It doesn't have to be some spectacular feat of athletic prowess, just get moving.. walking, riding a bike, etc.

Close to 70lbs later, I'm running 5k races with regularity, I've expanded my menu some and eat about whatever I want. I'm just cautious about the nutrients and impact on the rest of my day. 'Good food choices' is how some people put it.

Just remember, the weight didn't go on overnight, don't expect it to come off as such either.

Everyone is different and what works for some may not work for you. Someone else's success story could be a complete bomb for another person. It sucks that there's no cookie cutter formula.

I had about 30-40 lbs to lose. I made it to 30 after a year of trying. But, I needed to make reasonable changes that could be sustained long term, so deprivation diets or manic workout sessions weren't going to do it. I started using some at home workout videos. . .I happen to like Chalene Johnson, so I did ChaLean Extreme and Turbo Fire. . .Then I started running. What I noticed is once I started running I hit about 20 lbs of weight loss (in total) and then kinda leveled off for about 4 months (even with running 5k + distances). When i returned to ChaLean Extreme and got serious about the amount of weight I was lifting, the last 10-12 lbs came off and people were going NUTS about how thin I'd become (not that I'm really all that thin). I readjusted my goal earlier this year to drop another 10 lbs, and my body just ain't having it. I'm settled at about 135-137. . .and I run up to half marathon distances now (just ran a half last Sunday). Food intake was a combo of *better* food choices, dropping my restaurant lunches, and better managing portions.

Good Luck!!

Having a really active job made me lose the weight, then adding weight training and cardio to that. (At this time I ate what I wanted and how much I wanted.) But when I lost my job, I gained 20lbs within 2 months. It then took a year for me to get that off. It took so long because I wasn't taking it as seriously in the beginning, and wasn't counting calories, eating loads of junk, etc. I started doing cardio and weight training and then I began eating 1,500. The more weight I lost, the lower I brought the calories, eating between 1,200 - 1,400. After I gave up meat and processed foods, I lost another 15lbs, which by the way, I gained right back as soon as I went on vacation in sugar/salt land USA. I obviously overate while there and now I'm retrning to my healthy habits to get that back off.. so the reason I mentioned that is to realize that reverting to old ways will bring the weight right back.

(I should mention the reason why I say I started doing weight and cardio a second time is because I had moved, and wasn't working out or doing anything except stressing out about being homeless. Then I moved again and started working out and watching what I ate.)

I've lost 33lbs but it's taken me 18 months, I only stepped up my game about 3 months ago, for the most part before that I was being completely half assed!

I just hit the 30lb mark today (=

I started at 238 around 3/14 (my brothers bday) and today I just weighed in at 208. (5/11)

That first day I decided to change I went shopping. Bought every fruit and veggie I could tolerate, cottage cheese, a healthier bread, etc. And I just quit eating junk. Gave up pop, chips, candy, chocolate, etc. (I wouldn't recommend this as you do get quite a few cravings.. or maybe that's just me.) I also got 30 minutes of exercise each day. (mostly walking)
That first week probably wasn't the best time to start because I had made my brother's favorite cake for him which also happens to be my favorite. Every night that week I had a little piece (then came to my senses and threw the rest out). But by changing my eating habits and moving more I managed to lose 9lbs. I know it was probably just water weight, but it was gone and it hasn't come back.

Since then I've maintained a 1200 calorie diet. I don't typically trust the calculators on here so I wouldn't eat back exercise calories unless I was truly hungry. After losing 25lbs I hit a plateau and I upped my calories to about 1600 every few days. Then I stayed with a 1300 calorie diet.

I exercise at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. (I do the Rockin' body dvds with shaun T and the 30 day shred.)

I still don't know if I really know what I'm doing, but I'm giving it my best shot and it seems to be working. Believe me, I've messed up plenty! Even that first day when I sat down with a piece of ice cream cake. And I still order whatever the heck I want at restaurants. Lately i've gotten into the habit of getting sprite since I gave up diet coke when I started this diet. (This is not a healthy alternative! But it's soooo goood!) Im not sure if I've been any help or if I've been dieting right (most would tell me 1200 is to low, but believe me when I'm hungry and out of cals I still eat something, so I'm not starving) but feel free to add/email me. (=

I calorie counted, had a deficit, got rid of sugar and exercised. I still follow that today for the most part and i got seriously about lifting weights.