What item did you cut out that made a difference?

Highly processed foods

I would agree that the biggest thing has just been committing to tracking even if I have a "bad" day. Beyond that, mostly eating home cooked meals and minimizing processed really helps with my usual sugar/carb cravings.

Fast food. It doesn't even taste good to me anymore (with the exception of a Carl's Junior turkey burger.)

sugar soft drink to diet.

I haven't intentionally cut out anything completely but I think one of the BIGGEST changes for me that has helped, is measuring cheese and using it much more sparingly.

Also, just omitting cheese in many cases...like I almost NEVER have cheese on a salad or burger these days, and very rarely add it to my omelets. I find by doing this I really do not miss it, and I still enjoy cheese (maybe even more so) as a snack, like 1 oz of sharp cheddar and really tasting it and enjoying it, instead of just having it smothering enchiladas or something.

I used to use 2 cups of mozzarella on a homemade pizza and now my husband does a healthier pizza with 1/2 to 2/3 cup of cheese on the entire thing...it's seriously just as good.

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

This... I eat all the foods.

sweets and cheese. no donuts, cupcakes, croissants, pie, cake, coffee cake, bakery items--none. I had my first slice of pie since June 30 last week. still haven't had a croissant or a donut. and full fat cheese--I used to easily put away 4-5 slices of cheese and crackers in one sitting--way too much fat. I really really miss the croissants, but I really really love the 13 pounds I've lost since June 30.

Definately carbonated anything.... i can work out and be so good and eat great... but it will make me bloat right up and show a heavier weight everytime... its too much sugar... and also makes my stomach just feel awful in general. was surprised at how easy it was to give up once i realized how much better i felt without! try not to drink those valuable calories lol

carbs. I'm on a ketogenic diet now.
no rice, bread potato sugar or any other carbs.
The weight is coming off ridiculously easily and I can train harder and longer too.

Highly processed foods

^This and I learned portion control. (well for the most part)

I didn't eliminate anything, but started paying attention to serving sizes. It's unbelievable how many calories I was taking in by eating entire packs of things.

Yea sometimes them little bags have three servings in them.

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.

This. Calorie deficit and exercise. I will never go without the things I love. Why would you?

Yes that is one way of doing it - cut nothing but just have smaller portions of the high calorie food or have it less often.
However if there is something costing you a lot of calories and you don't mind going without it, or substituting something else for it- then that approach works too.
Or a compromise between the two.

For example I cut out regular soda and switched to diet soda - I guess that is a switch more than a cutting out. If I really loved regular soda I would fit it in, sure - but I don't love it enough to spend that many calories on it, I would rather drink diet version and use those saved calories on something else.

Nothing. I applied myself to eating a well-rounded and adventurous diet, focused on moderation and portion control.

Just cut back on the amount of chocolate I eat.

Soda and a lot of processed foods, but that was because of an allergy to food coloring. Still made a pretty big difference, though. I probably wouldn't have started trying to eat better and lose weight if I hadn't had to stop drinking/eating those things.

I try to fit in everything else that I want.