What item did you cut out that made a difference?

Soda!

Less Diet Pepsi, aim for 100 ounces of water a day....

Start by logging what you eat, not by depriving yourself. Once you have a better idea of your patterns, you'll see where you want to make changes.

I cut out all grains in any form, refined sugar, legumes and dairy products. Feeling great, losing weight and don't feel deprived.

Anything with artificial sweeteners. I have discovered that when I eat anything with artificial sweeteners, they make me very hungry.

Two things, really.

Soda was the first thing. I lost 20 pounds just giving that up alone.

Alcohol was the second one. No more empty calories and drinks that led to lowered inhibitions and then to desserts.

For the most part, I stopped drinking my calories. I stopped putting milk or creamer in my coffee...and when I discovered caffeinated flavored water enhancers, I was pretty much able to give up soda. I still have both occasionally as treats.

It's not about giving up anything, it's about setting goals and sticking within your NET calorie limit each day as best you can. I say NET calories because the way MFP is set up, you have a calorie goal of X amount. If you exercise and log that exercise it removes Y amount, leaving you with Z NET amount of calories.

In other words, Let's assume for the sake of math you were allotted 2000 calories when you set up your profile. You ate 1500 calories worth of food. Now your NET amount is 1500 calories. You have 500 calories left to reach your goal if you want to eat something else. Let's assume you went for a walk or to the gym and burned 500 calories. Now you have a NET total of 1000 calories. Since you burned some off, you are now able to eat 1000 calories in food to reach your goal.

To some this seems confusing, but MFP is doing the math for you, just log as accurately as possible in both the food area and the exercise area.

It helps to plan your meals for the week or at least the next day whenever you can. Go ahead and pre-log for the day so you can see where you are. Also, keep an eye on your macros - carbs, fats, protein - and try to get as close to those goals as you can. There are days where a slice of pumpkin bread from Starbucks knocked me right in line with my calorie goals and my macros.

You're going to have off days where you go over, but as long as that's the exception and not the rule, you'll be fine.

Give it time, be patient, track your calories, weigh your food, scan packages, do some cardio and lift some weights whenever possible. You won't lose everything in a day or a week or even a month. Be as honest in logging as possible and give it a couple of months to see how you're doing. If you're on track for losing then great. If you're not, then make the adjustments to your calorie goals.

I cut out alcohol. My hubby and I were weekend warriors for years. I feel so much better and started losing weight immediately!

What item did you give up that was fairly easy to do and made the biggest impact on jump starting your weight loss?

Getting started, I'm starting small, baby steps, as I feel I can stick to a diet easier if I do it one step at a time. I thought this question might give me ideas on what I can give up and not feel like I lost something or that I'm doing an extreme diet. Where can I make a small cut for a big difference.

Excuses, and the notion that I had to cut items completely out to achieve my goals

Fast food & calories from drinks. Pretty much stick to water.
I get more satisfaction from chewing my calories.

I haven't cut anything out. I have however, cut portion sizes and the frequencies of high calorie foods. I've cut down on eating out, but still make it a habit to have subway twice a week and another fast food meal on the weekend. That way I'm not missing anything and haven't felt the urge to binge on anything in the 9 months I've been on track.

Excuses.

YES!!!

Nothing.

Honestly, learning to eat mostly healthy but not totally cutting out anything is why I was able to finally get my weight down after all these years. If I truly want to eat or drink something, I'll have it. Make it fit in my daily goals.