What is working for you?

I will be 44 on Sunday and began mfp on 1/7/2013. I have greatly reduced my caloric intake because I am now aware of my intake based on logging in on mfp. I have reduced the amount of processed foods I eat and starting this week my goals include exercising. I work full time and my husband and I have a 10 year old son. Good luck!

Move more. Eat less.

Logging every. single. thing. that goes in my mouth. No exceptions, no excuses, ever. Then I added heavy lifting on top of that, and woah! I got hot!

Calorie deficit=weight loss
Exercise=fitness

+1

It's been a gradual process for me since late September. Logging consistently is important. Logging everything allowed me to see what I was eating and helped me to make choices. I gradually reduced the carbs and sugar and increased the protein while staying at or under my calorie goal. For fitness, I'm having success with weight training (with a personal trainer) with a bit of cardio (walking and HIT).

high protein, high fat, low carb. high carb cheat day once a week

Thank you for some of your answers...to the 'simple' answers...really? Obviously reduce calories and move more! Maybe I should be a little more specific...like are you doing a certain type of workout ei bootcamp, DVDs...are you following a high protein diet or still eating a balanced diet but staying under calories...tdee? Tdee - 20%? How a you figuring out your calories?

Weigh and measure everything and log everything accurately every single day. It is that simple. Radical changes tend to lead to failure. I kept it simple this time around by just counting calories based on the MFP goal calculator set to lose 1 pound per week.

First, figure out the amount of calories you need to eat at or below to lose: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
Then, track everything you eat using MFP. You might need to use a food scale and/or measuring tools for accuracy.
Finally, find an exercise you enjoy and do it. This will allow you to eat more and is just plain good for you. I do a combination of different cardio work outs and am working on adding weight training.

Really, it is simple. For me, I also removed most processed foods because I feel better without them. But, that's my personal choice. You'll still lose if you eat them, just keep yourself at or under your calorie allotment including exercise. Be careful, MFP overestimates the number of calories burned so I try to eat back only half.

You're young, it should be fairly easy for you. The older you get, the harder it is to take off. If you have a bad day, just start fresh the next. I look at my calorie intake more as a weekly total and if I know that I'm going to be eating more calories than normal, I up my exercise. If I can do it, anyone can.

Best of luck!

I track everything, including weighing almost everything as well. I no longer "eye-ball" portions. Been trying to reduce processed foods for health benefits but not strict about it. 40/30/30 macros has worked really well for me. I don't always hit it spot on but I feel awful if I don't get at least 80g protein.

For exercise I just do what I can (I have back issues)... walking up inline, elliptical, bike, weight machines (can't do free weights but I've heard they're better if you don't have that restriction).

Green tea has been working wonders for me. I drink a cup before I go to work, and it also keeps me energized for those long server shifts. And I also have a cup after dinner. That and getting rid of all soda and most juices. I drink just water and green tea and I've started to tell a bit of a difference c:

I stopped eating fast food and drinking soda and gave up candy, cold turkey. I logged all my food and I just naturally water to put better food in my body, I got addicted to the stats. It's continued to work and now I pretty much cook all my own phone, trying things I would never even think of trying, love the changes I am seeing.

What works for me is logging every single bite that goes into my mouth. Going over on my calories less than 2 days per month (and not by much). Trying not to go into the red on sodium, and being careful about how much I go into the red on fat and sugar (although I do, regularly, on both of those).

I still eat "crap" weekly, but I make it fit into my MFP set guidelines. And because of that, I eat far less of the junky foods.

I make swaps a lot. Like instead of a Snickers bar, I'll eat 1 T. Nutella or Marshmallow creme and a couple of almonds. Instead of getting the white mocha at Starbucks like I used to, I go to the local coffeehouse to gab with my best friend and get a cold brewed black coffee and a small delicious pastry...still 50% fewer calories than the white mocha. I thought I knew the roundabout calorie counts and nutritional info of the foods I ate...but MFP has taught me a lot more, which makes those swaps a lot easier (and satisfying).

I don't do a ton of exercise to be honest. I go for long brisk walks a few times a week. We walk to the grocery store or nearby errands. On weekends, I ride my bike or hike at the nature center but only weather permitting. My husband and I take long walks at the local mall when it's icy outside like right now. But I don't do any gym workouts and I don't lift weights (although I may in the future). I would rather walk 7 miles in the cold than do 30 minutes of Zumba with a bunch of shouty ladies and embarrassing music. But that's just me.

FWIW I lost 45 lb before I discovered MFP. It took me 4 years and was mostly through exercising regularly and taking stabs at what I hoped was a healthier diet. Since joining MFP on March 25 of last year I've lost 58 lb with relative ease. Knowing exactly what you consume and pinpointing your calorie goals is a very powerful tool. Best of luck!