Have you found the secret?

angbieb
angbieb Posts: 668 Member
The one that let's the lbs. melt away? I mean besides exercise, what do you eat everyday? Just want to know if anyone has this figured out? Maybe feels like they have found the answer? Please don't keep it a secret anymore! Share it w/ me!!:heart:
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Replies

  • angbieb
    angbieb Posts: 668 Member
    Thank you Serendipte!! I will check it all out! Much appreciated!!:flowerforyou:
  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    1. Log your food as accurately and honestly as possible - If it goes in your mouth it gets logged good, bad and the ugly. While you are starting just worry about the calorie number once you get good at logging then start looking at protein, carbs and fat. Keep it Simple. If you don't have a medical condition that you have to monitor your sugar intake don't even bother tracking it.

    2. Get a digital food scale they are very inexpensive and probably my greatest investment. This will help you learn portion control, which helps with being able to eat in moderation.

    3. Understand that this takes time, so being patient is good!

    4. Understand that weight will fluctuate all the time, don't let your emotions get tied into the number on the scale, the scale is just one of many tools you will use to gauge your progress. My favorite ways to track progress: Fitness Goals, Progress Pics, Measurements, how my clothes fit, and most importantly how do I feel.

    5. Strive for consistency over perfection, if you make 80% good choices the other 20% don't make too much of a difference.

    6. Remember weight loss comes from a calorie deficit, don't make it a huge deficit, keep it reasonable and remember any change you are considering making.. Ask yourself "Am I willing to do this for the rest of my life?" If the answer is yes, then go for it, if the answer is no then start thinking about why you are considering this change.

    7. Find an activity and/or exercise that you enjoy and Get up and MOVE!

    8. STOP LOOKING FOR a secret or magic pill - Calories in vs. Calories out keep it simple it works!


    Bonus Point - Eat Ice Cream nightly :)
  • pinkpolkadots25
    pinkpolkadots25 Posts: 101 Member
    I lost 135 lbs in about 18-20 months and have maintained it over a year. Weight loss was not difficult for me when I stopped eating out, cut way down on alcohol, and started cooking a lot more at home. I tracked everything, every day, even "cheat days." I eat a lot of greens (8 cups for one salad is not unusual), lots of protein, and walk everywhere. After about 6 months of a really high nutrient diet, I stopped craving "unhealthy/bad" foods that had previously led me to binge a lot. Moderation is fine for some people but sure didn't work for me. Using a food scale and logging everything accurately made an enormous difference.

    Edited to add: I also weigh in every day. That accountability keeps me on top of things even on days when I'm stressed.
  • spicegeek
    spicegeek Posts: 325 Member
    eat less that you burn
  • Drink your 8 cups of water each day.
  • zeal26
    zeal26 Posts: 602 Member
    Portion control and hydration.
  • TahoeSki
    TahoeSki Posts: 69 Member
    It's a pretty boring secret... count calories, watch your portions, get some exercise, cut back on sugar and processed foods
  • ClementineGeorg
    ClementineGeorg Posts: 505 Member
    1. A scale. It is very important to weight things.

    2. Make a plan. It doesn't have to be anyones else plan. It has to work for YOU. 5-6 meals a day, 3 meals and 2 snacks, 3-4 small meal and a huge dinner, it doesn't matter. It has to work for you and your lifestyle. You have to be prepared 99% of time to follow it. Keep your ingredients and recipies at hand.

    3. Make a lifestyle. If you can't do it for your life, you'll get back to being fat.
    Don't follow diets. Follow a lifestyle.
    Maintenance has to be only a period of time when you eat a little more and overindulge a little more often.
    A lifestyle should bring health and equilibrium to your life in the end. It should be easy to follow. It will keep you at bay with your weight.

    4. Have patience.
    It takes time. To change minds, to change life, to change what you eat, to change what you exercise.
    You will plateau many times before you get there. Weeks, maybe months.
    If you don't have the patience you will fail at some point.
    Having a lifestyle rather than a diet it's also a good patience boost.

    5. (and the classic MFP) eat less than you burn.
    And my personal advice: don't eat too less. You cannot build healthy lifestyles with 1000-1200 calories a day. But you can build a healthy eating along with losing weight at 1500-1600 calories (at an average height and if you don't sit on a chair all day).
    I personally had a great success with losing weight at 1700-1800 calories. And I could do this for all my life with no regrets. Because I have a lifestyle now, I'm not just pushing things down my throat to make me feel filled.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Keeping it simple.
  • bikinisuited
    bikinisuited Posts: 881 Member
    Overall scale readings have to be steady or minus .2, otherwise you are underestimating. This simple strategy makes a huge difference when you have the last 5-10lbs.

    Of course I try to measure too.
  • Fiore_
    Fiore_ Posts: 33 Member
    The big secret to weight loss is...

    1. Eat with purpose
    2. Move everyday
    3. Sleep 8+ hours daily

    It only works when you do all 3 and consistently.

    Bonus tips: I also stay below my sodium RDA% and log my calories BEFORE I eat them.

    Good luck!
  • Lrdoflamancha
    Lrdoflamancha Posts: 1,280 Member
    For me it is all about planning. Plan your meals a week in advance... Then eat your plan... Evernote is a great App for this.
    If you fail to plan... You are planning to fail.
  • EllieB_5
    EllieB_5 Posts: 247 Member
    Getting rid of processed foods in favour of whole foods (the stuff without an ingredients list)
    No more sugar! (Refined sugar, not this fairy-tale "sugar food group")
    Heavily limit my starches and natural sugar sources (aka fruits, berries, potatoes, rice, etc)
    Eat as much high fibre, low carb veggies as I can stuff into my hole
    Eat animal fats and no processed fats (no oils, margarine, etc)
    Try to maintain a calorie deficit of -500
    When hungry between meals I fill up on fibre, if that doesn't do it I fill up on animal fat (like heavy whipping cream)
    Water
    Water
    Water

    I lost 12lbs in 5 weeks.
  • catsandtats
    catsandtats Posts: 29 Member
    The secret is that there is no secret! :D

    In my experience, it's about weeding out habits that get you further away from your goal and replacing them with good ones that get you closer to your goal. It's also about "stacking" good habits on top of one another day after day...'cause they're habits and not a secret nor a magic bullet!

    Everything that previous posters have already mentioned are all great habits and they are almost all "stackable." For example, you could commit to the habit of logging your food every day....even if you do nothing else, you could start there. How could you know what aspect if your nutrition needs changing if you don't log it?

    Then, for example, once you've got that "logging" habit going strong, then commit to a new habit perhaps by swapping out a food that you tend to eat on the regular that moves you away from your goal with something else that will move you forward. Then repeat that until it becomes second nature to you.

    Notice that I didn't say "immediately swap out *all* the foods"...just "a" food. The point is that it needs to be sustainable and it needs to make sense for you. In this example, you could continue making better (and better) food choices *all the while* still logging everything (since that was already a habit). Then one day, you could introduce an exercise program that you could do just as part of your normal routine. And then, when the time is right, up the ante and make it your habit to work out harder or longer or on more days, and so on...

    Everyone is different. Some people shouldn't even start with counting calories. If there's genuine confusion about good food choices, why start there when so much more progress could be made by, for example, weaning oneself off of a diet rich in processed foods? Or maybe someone makes excellent food choices but hasn't yet started a fitness habit yet.

    For me personally, the secret is constantly inching forward by creating MANY small, new habits that are compatible with my fitness and body-composition goals. I've noticed over time that by approaching my goals this way, my goals have changed quite dramatically over time. I hope this helps!
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    It's a pretty boring secret... count calories, watch your portions, get some exercise, It's okay to eat sugar and processed foods in moderation.

    FIFY,
  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    Getting rid of processed foods in favour of whole foods (the stuff without an ingredients list)
    No more sugar! (Refined sugar, not this fairy-tale "sugar food group")
    Heavily limit my starches and natural sugar sources (aka fruits, berries, potatoes, rice, etc)
    Eat as much high fibre, low carb veggies as I can stuff into my hole
    Eat animal fats and no processed fats (no oils, margarine, etc)
    Try to maintain a calorie deficit of -500
    When hungry between meals I fill up on fibre, if that doesn't do it I fill up on animal fat (like heavy whipping cream)
    Water
    Water
    Water

    I lost 12lbs in 5 weeks.

    No.
  • drgmac
    drgmac Posts: 716 Member
    I'm happy and content and I find joy in small things. I have a great family. The jeans I'm wearing in this picture are 15 years old. I'm 47 and I live to eat, run, and lift/circuit train 3 days a week. I think it's the whole package...feeding your body and spirit and appreciating life and your experiences.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    The "secret" is that there is no secret. There are no gimmicks, magic pills, etc. that will help you lose weight. You need to want to change your old habits. Once you're ready for your new healthy lifestyle and you embrace it wholeheartedly, that is when the pounds will melt away...seriously.

    Some tips that have helped me include:
    -planning meals in advance (I log everything in advance on MFP)
    -not skipping meals (this might be ok for some people, but I tend to just overeat later on)
    -being active every single day (even if it's just a short walk or quick yoga break)
    -replacing unhealthy foods with healthier versions - I realize this one might be controversial, but I personally am not able to eat chips and things like that in moderation. Some people can, but I just can't. I eat homemade baked kale chips when I'm craving potato chips and drink herbal tea after dinner when I'm craving something sweet. That doesn't mean that I don't eat treats every now and then, but I definitely don't have them as regularly as I used to.
    -And finally, if you fall off the wagon, whether it's for a snack, a meal, or even an entire month or two...just get back on!!
  • PoesyP
    PoesyP Posts: 37 Member
    My secret is that there are three important things...
    1/ Exercising - for health, not for weight loss.
    2/ Eating healthy nutritious foods
    3/ "Dieting" to lose weight.

    Those things are completely separate and don't depend on each other, therefore if I "fail" at one, I don't "fail" at them all. If I feel unwell and don't exercise - that doesn't mean the day's a write off and I stuff my face. If I get tempted by a high calorie treat, it doesn't mean I give up on the day - I can still do my exercise and still eat my portions of veg.
    I've found keeping to this means that even if I have quite a long phase when I don't really lose anything, I don't gain weight either, and that's a lot of the battle!
  • JoJo__Fit
    JoJo__Fit Posts: 258 Member
    Pssst.....

    The secret is "NEVER GIVING UP"
  • Mangopickle
    Mangopickle Posts: 1,509 Member
    Let go of your addiction foods. Mine were wheat, potato and rice. I simply eat other carbs now(and there are plenty of others) and I find that I can easily control my intake. I am learning to make my own wraps and breads from other sources that I do not find addictive. I am expanding my palate to appreciate a whole new range of complex flavors. These highly complex foods are more satisfying in smaller amounts and because they digest more slowly you feel full longer. Food scales also an absolute must have
  • AlwaysInMotion
    AlwaysInMotion Posts: 409 Member
    Hmmmm... My secrets???

    1) Try to make small *simple* changes you can live with over the long term - because your health is a rest-of-your-life kinda deal.
    2) Make a promise to yourself to do something, no matter how small, every day that promotes your health & happiness. Or, at the very least, don't do anything that detracts from your health/happiness. (Heck, sometimes a "draw" is a-ok.)
    3) Realize there really aren't any hard and fast rules for weight loss. Anyone who says "always" or "never" or "absolutely no X" probably has control issues. (Except for "never give up" - I like that one!) Let the control freaks dictate their own corners of the universe. What works for you may not work for someone else, and vice versa. You just need to figure out what that is. It's called trial and error.
    4) Slip-ups are really OK. We are all human. The trick is not to lose hope & quit. Be patient and forgiving with yourself.

    I eat less. I exercise more. I try to keep my stress in check. And I work on self-improvement a little every day.
  • jac_84
    jac_84 Posts: 128 Member
    20% exercise 80% diet
    this is what I follow for successful results
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    The secret is to find a way of eating that both gets you to/keeps you at a healthy weight, and is sustainable for life.
    Better that, than to go on a 'diet'.
    Make changes for life, not just for a short term gain.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    The one that let's the lbs. melt away? I mean besides exercise, what do you eat everyday? Just want to know if anyone has this figured out? Maybe feels like they have found the answer? Please don't keep it a secret anymore! Share it w/ me!!:heart:
    Yeah - eating the PROPER amount of calories daily - not too many, but not too little either.

    I've knocked 25lbs off and I've kept it off - even better is losing the fat and inches, keeping the lean muscle. Finding exercise I enjoy helps too. :drinker:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/974888-in-place-of-a-road-map-2k13
  • Sovi_
    Sovi_ Posts: 575 Member
    anal
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    There is no secret. The body uses energy. If you have excess in energy in you (fat), then consuming less energy and using more physical energy will help to deplete that storage.
    Basically means calories in/calories out. No exercise is needed, and no special programs.

    Programs are needed to help change your physique though and nutrition is key when doing this too.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • lose4good1
    lose4good1 Posts: 222 Member
    great advice
    1. Log your food as accurately and honestly as possible - If it goes in your mouth it gets logged good, bad and the ugly. While you are starting just worry about the calorie number once you get good at logging then start looking at protein, carbs and fat. Keep it Simple. If you don't have a medical condition that you have to monitor your sugar intake don't even bother tracking it.

    2. Get a digital food scale they are very inexpensive and probably my greatest investment. This will help you learn portion control, which helps with being able to eat in moderation.

    3. Understand that this takes time, so being patient is good!

    4. Understand that weight will fluctuate all the time, don't let your emotions get tied into the number on the scale, the scale is just one of many tools you will use to gauge your progress. My favorite ways to track progress: Fitness Goals, Progress Pics, Measurements, how my clothes fit, and most importantly how do I feel.

    5. Strive for consistency over perfection, if you make 80% good choices the other 20% don't make too much of a difference.

    6. Remember weight loss comes from a calorie deficit, don't make it a huge deficit, keep it reasonable and remember any change you are considering making.. Ask yourself "Am I willing to do this for the rest of my life?" If the answer is yes, then go for it, if the answer is no then start thinking about why you are considering this change.

    7. Find an activity and/or exercise that you enjoy and Get up and MOVE!

    8. STOP LOOKING FOR a secret or magic pill - Calories in vs. Calories out keep it simple it works!


    Bonus Point - Eat Ice Cream nightly :)