I am not convinced...

I eat 70-80% healthy stuff, and 20-30% delicious, treats. I've lost about 37 pounds.


Find a balance that works for you, something you can stick with long term.

I eat pretty unhealthy foods most of the time and I've lost 40 lbs so far in 14 weeks. I wasn't "technically" overweight, but I was a pound from it bmi-wise. I hardly exercised at all, so it has all been diet based.
So, it is definitely possible to lose while eating junk. That being said, and being a total hypocrite, that's really not a goal to strive for. Adding a few things now and then to your meal plans so you don't feel deprived, while keeping your macros in mind is a much better and healthier idea

Eating fast food never kept me full enough. Sure, it might be yummy but that yumminess factor comes with a price which is higher calories so meaning, if you were to eat less of it to be within your calorie range, that means you might end up hungry anyways because portions are smaller for such high calorie foods. A lot of people will tell you 80% clean eating and 20% whatever you want; you can have the taco or sweets but for the rest of the day, eat whole foods. I follow somewhat of the same pattern. I'm eating mainly whole foods now and I don't crave all the "junk". It took me a good 2 years to achieve this status and to overcome my cravings. Don't really miss the sweets/fast foods as they are now too sweet, too greasy, or too salty for me (which gives me either headaches or a bad feeling in my stomach); I'd rather reach for the fruits to be honest. Lol.

Thanks everyone! I guess I am trying to make a lifestyle "diet" I've tried clean eating/carb restriction in the past... and I just feel like its so unrealistic for me to eat that way for the rest of my life!! Unfortunately I have the "perfectionist" problem... where it has to be perfect when I restrict or its not going to work... which is why it eventually turns into a bad binge... I think that if I stop restricting myself from foods I find tasty and eat them in moderation I will get a lot farther with my goals.... I for some reason have never tried this... btw I completely respect those that do eat Paleo clean.... if anything I'm envious that its simple for you to be satisfied eating that way!!! I'm glad to see that there are people out there who still lose weight eating the not so healthy food choices though

In my less than humble opinion, you're right on. It's gotta' be doable. Life just sucks if you don't enjoy the ride.

. I eat occasional treats and I'm not a grumpy SOB from hunger.

That is totally me on a restricted diet hahaha....

I don't know, but it might be true for everyone.

Especially the ones who don't want to admit it.

I don't know what kind of "evidence" it is, but in college I had an eating disorder. I weighed 95 lbs, but I ate a kitkat bar every single day. Most of my meals were made up of mac'n'cheese or a slice of pizza or a frozen dinner. I just limited my daily food intake to ONE kitkat bar and ONE piece of pizza. So yeah, I guess you can eat anything and still lose weight if you lower your calories enough. (these days I typically eat really healthily with one treat a day and a restaurant meal once a week and have been maintaining fine).

just go to mcdonalds, get a 6 piece nugget, milkshake, 2 double cheeseburgers and then run 6 miles..youll feel better, trust me

Here is what I do and it works good for me, since I was a fast food addict I couldn't just drop it all like nothing. I was completely addicted to sweat tea, I actually got the shakes when I went without drinking a 26 ounce of sweat tea for mcdonalds or pals for 1 week. I used to drink one or two of those every single day. And now, 5 weeks later, I haven't had a tea in 3 weeks.

Granted, I do still eat fast food. For instance, this morning I had a butter biscuit with some jelly (380 calories, good breakfast.) and for lunch I had some loaded fries form Charlie's, which is my absolute favorite place to eat, (almost 500 calories, not very good but oh well) and in between that I had a starbucks coffee (bout 200 calories)

That is all I had today other than a powerade or two and I wasn't hungry today. My biggest problem was snacking, I don't get out a lot so I'm usually at home with nothing to do, which means boredom, which means eating two big bags of chips without realizing it. I cut my snacking down a LOT, and I do still have cravings and get bored and want to eat, but you have to be strong and not give in. I would eat 3 meals that were about 300 calories so I could have room for some snacks and my drinks, since I don't really like water I drink mostly powerade and apple juice. And I try to keep myself busy, because I am usually not very hungry if I am out doing something, and it is a good way to burn calories. Even if I just walk around the mall for 3 hours not buying anything, I'm doing something.

I cried about every day for the first 2 weeks of my diet. I was so hungry, all I wanted to do was eat. So, I had an indulgence day once a week for the first 3 weeks I would eat whatever I wanted, and that's what kept me going. 5 weeks in and it is still hard, but I'm too devoted to give up now. I hope this was helpful to you, and I wish you the best of luck!

Yes and no....I very much believe in all things in moderations, but I also believe that it is pretty much impossible to maintain a healthy weight eating the SAD without meticulously tracking every little calorie and to me, that's no life.

I've maintained easily for about 13 - 14 months now primarily cooking for myself using whole foods as ingredients and eating plenty of lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats with a smattering of whole grains thrown into the mix....I don't log calories or anything like that.

I don't find it boring given that I know how to actually cook and I can prepare these things in numerous ways and while I was losing I learned a great deal about PORTION control, which can be difficult on the SAD. That said, I do enjoy a good pizza...just went out tonight....but stuff like that is a once every couple of weeks type of occasion for me and I will now only have a slice or two from a small that I share with my wife rather than ordering the large and eating half the pie and then ordering another one to take home because the remaining 1/2 would only be viable for my lunch....ridiculous I was in the old days!

I eat in a healthy manner most of the time. BUT I also drink beer & wine, eat pizza, have sweet treats, etc that fit within my goals. I've lost 18 lbs so far. What I'm trying to do is find a way of eating for LIFE rather than be on a diet. So, it's been slow (at or less than .5 lb a week) but along with weight lifting, my body is changing and I never feel like binging or feel unsatisfied.