Yo Yo Dieting

It doesn't get any easier that for sure but its doable I once thought the same you see, but now I'm only 4lbs from goal! If I can do it anyone can. Just track all your food so your eating at your allowance and get your exericise in most days and you will lose. It takes patience.

40!!
You're a baby!!

It's all about discipline and age is no barrier. Biggest things to get right are total honesty and accuracy in logging your food plus patience.

I have some serious yo yo dieting going on. I finished college where I actually kept most of the weight off and started working as a nurse when the weight started piling back on. Its very frustrating. I also work the evening shift so I need to break the habit of eating when I come home at night. Its hard to sleep after a night of work so I generally eat a meal and fall asleep around 3am. I am good for a few days drop a few pounds then is all comes right back. How am I supposed to educate my patients on the importance of a healthy life style if I can not maintain one consistently my self. So I came here in search of support and advice. Hopefully this works out. Id really like to stop yo yoing and maintain and finally reach my goal weight.

I think the problem is in the title here...DIET. I know this gets banded around a lot, but it is soooo true; you need to make this a lifestyle change, not a diet. I used to diet all the time; i would follow one plan, cut out certain foods, follow this 'golden rule' to miraculous weight loss, and i would lose a few pounds. But then the minute you go back to eating regularly again that weight would all come piling back on, plus more! I even tried tyhe whole, 'yeah, i can TOTALLY follow this particular diet for the REST OF MY LIFE!' Only to break a couple of weeks later and binge like crazy.

Stop with the diets people! They won't do you any good in the long run, because no-one wants to spend the rest of their lives never eating cake again! It's OK to eat these things and treat yourself as long as you stay within a calorie deficit. Life is full of birthdays and anniversaries and special occasions, so so what if you have a naughty day once in a while? That's LIFE, hence why people push for 'LIFESTYLE change rather than diet. And a lifestyle that works around you and your job and your crazy hours (i work two jobs and six days a week yet still find the time to exercise and eat sensibly).

Sorry....i really hope that doesn't come across as negative, i'm in a really energetic and motivational mood (sucks being stuck at my desk job at the moment, think a run during my lunchbreak is in order!). But to sum it up, from experience, diets don't work, lifestyle changes do, and ther eis no excuse why you can't make it work for you because everyone is different and you jts have to find your own particular habits.

Good luck everyone!!

So if you have been a yo yo dieter for a long time, stop doing what has "worked" in the past. Spend time learning this time and do it right. Age isn't really an issue in terms of weight loss, but a mindset does. Set moderate goals (1 lb per week) and if you exercise, eat more - it's how MFP is designed. I would suggest only eating 50% of the exercise calories. Realistically, most people aren't burning 1000 calories, but rather 300-600 depending on size and intensity of workout. HRMs are good but not necessary. I would suggest if you have a routine (like exercising 3 days a week), then increase your activity level to reflect that instead of eating back exercise calories. See below of what an example. Although, if you have an active job, then you would add one extra level. Another note, i would recommend adjust macro's to add more protein. I like macro's around 40% carbs, 30% protein and fats. This way you get closer to aiming for 1g of protein and .35g of fat per lb of lean body mass. And lastly, if you do exercise, make sure you incorporate weight training. It will help maintain your muscle during weight loss, which in turn helps maintain your metabolic rate.

1-3 hours of exercise - lightly active
4-6 hours of exercise - moderate