What worked for YOU?
beth0277
Posts: 217 Member
I have tried so many things....Weight watchers, no sugar diet, "clean eating", low calories, low carbs, etc... I've never stuck to anything. The only times I have lost weight have been when I was eating far too few calories and I rebounded and gained it all back and then some. I'm starting my journey again, at the highest weight of my life, with at least 50 pounds to lose. I think the only thing that will truly work for me is a realistic calorie deficit. Still having treats, but making smarter decisions and staying within my calories.
What is the one thing that made you stick with it? Wherever you may be in your journey. I realize what works for one most likely won't be exactly what works for another, but I'm interested in hearing your A-HA plan?
What is the one thing that made you stick with it? Wherever you may be in your journey. I realize what works for one most likely won't be exactly what works for another, but I'm interested in hearing your A-HA plan?
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keto works wonders for me.
http://www.reddit.com/r/keto
a wonderful community with tons of helpful advice. take your time and don't hop straight in, the start may be rough but it is so worth it.
keep on rocking!0 -
MFP with a friend! Chances are you know someone else who would want to do it with you. Worked like a charm for me to get back into shape.0
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Absolutely not one special kind of eating diet. Not any diet with a name actually. I just made sure to eat as close to 100 g of protein a day as possible, do as much weight training as cardio weekly and dont have crazy eating days more than once a month when Im PMS. I kept up a good 60-70% effort, 4 days a week for 2 years. Lowered my weight and my body fat and got that elusive 'toned look' because of it and came out the otherside with an incredibly bigger comprehension of how this works and how to make it work for me. (which no one else can teach you)
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I have tried so many things....Weight watchers, no sugar diet, "clean eating", low calories, low carbs, etc... I've never stuck to anything. The only times I have lost weight have been when I was eating far too few calories and I rebounded and gained it all back and then some. I'm starting my journey again, at the highest weight of my life, with at least 50 pounds to lose. I think the only thing that will truly work for me is a realistic calorie deficit. Still having treats, but making smarter decisions and staying within my calories.
What is the one thing that made you stick with it? Wherever you may be in your journey. I realize what works for one most likely won't be exactly what works for another, but I'm interested in hearing your A-HA plan?
For me: taking myself seriously. Considering myself worthy of looking fantastic. Which mean: not sabotaging myself. Not slipping into old habits. Doing this for me and forever because I want to treat myself the best way possible.
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I've been tracking macros and it's helped a lot (though I'm still learning). I found that I was WAY under on protein most of the time and now that I've tweaked that number some my blood-sugar levels have stabilized and I'm not riding the rollercoaster of cravings and binges. Always try to eat a little protein, fat and carbs at each meal and I don't find myself dying for a brownie at 2 pm anymore. That and adding strength training. I haaaaaate distance running so just never used to workout, but I found weight lifting to be addictive (it's fun to see the weight go up and feel strong) so I've managed to stick to it. Finding a form of exercise you like, and then reminding yourself that how you eat will influence how you perform, is a good start
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Eat less, move more.0
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Going to a doctor and dietitian is working for me. I struggled way too long with stupid "diets", so I gave up trying to figure it out on my own and went to a place that knew what they are talking about. Now I'm finally losing at a steady pace. No stressing anymore. Simple. Everyone is different, so something that may work for someone else may not work for you. I'm not low carbs, but I do watch my sugars and carb levels closely and eat more protein. Calorie needs are going to be different for your height/weight/sex/amount of exercise you do. I'm sure you can find the same information online somewhere, I was tired of struggling by myself so I decided to go to a professional. Best decision I have done regarding my weight loss journey.0
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...the same thing as everyone else. Calorie deficit. Some folks follow all sorts of convoluted plans or particular diets, etc.
I count calories. I eat a certain amount. I lose. I eat another amount, I maintain.
I eat what I like, hit my protein goal, stay within limits.. and the results match expectations.
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For me exercising loads works, and eating healthily. I aim for high protein and low(ish) carbs, and around 1500 calories.
For exercise I vary what I do, and I do quite a bit of strength training.
I lost 66lbs after my 2nd baby but sadly I gained in my 3rd pregnancy so I'm having to lose again.
I enjoy exercising so that helps. I was at the gym until 38 weeks pregnant so I must enjoy it lol. I also enjoy eating healthily, and I make sure I have a treat at the weekend so I'm not deprived of anything.0 -
Honestly, I look up my TDEE every few weeks using online calculators and use that as my baseline. Its only an estimate of how much I burn on the average day but it gives me a max calorie number and I aim for 200-500 less per day. It also means that I get to eat real food and at a real amount. Aiming for 1800 cals per day is a healthy, sustainable and enjoyable number to eat. And if I am hungry or feeling emotional or want to splurge, then at least I know how much I can eat up to before I risk hurting my goals.
I pre-log my daily calories as much as possible. It actually allows for flexibility because if changes to the plan have to happen you know what areas can give. Go out for coffee with a colleague? Give up the dinner roll planned for supper or cut your protein portion by 30%. Friend or hubby wants to go for dinner? You have 650 calories planned for supper, what menu item is the best match.
Also I eat veggies- as many as I can manage and I'm always asking myself how many kinds did I eat that day. They give my diet the volume necessary to feel full. Sure I could eat 1800 cals in junk but then I would over eat more than I ought because the signal to stop doesnt get triggered for me.
This is my life. It needs to be enjoyable. If I go over one day, its not the end of the world. You have to look at the big picture.0 -
What is the one thing that made you stick with it? Wherever you may be in your journey. I realize what works for one most likely won't be exactly what works for another, but I'm interested in hearing your A-HA plan?
Eating whatever I liked in a balanced way that allowed me to still remain under my calorie goal... and exercising. That's really all there is to it, barring medical issues anyway.0 -
Deciding that my health is my highest priority. Deciding that treats are for special occasions, and special occasions don't happen all that often. Taking it one day at a time. Understanding that the process is not linear.0
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I will say that when I hit a plateau, I upped my calories by choosing a lower loss per week goal and started running (Couch to 5k) on top of the bicycling I was doing.
Worked for me. I have maintained my goal weight for almost a year.
Everybody is different. Find what works for you and do it. Find activities that you enjoy doing, or you won't keep them up.
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walking and tracking everything I ate and drank
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I just logged my foods as accurately and honestly as possible, and attempted to eat within the calorie allotment most of the time. If I went over I didn't stress about it, but I did make an effort to stay under for the next couple of days. I lost more than 70 pounds and am keeping it off with this strategy. It sounds like exactly what you've decided to do. I also found that finding 'friends' here on MFP helped keep me honest and on track. :flowerforyou: Good luck!0
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Eating at a reasonable deficit. TDEE method. Accurate and consistent logging of calories (and later, macros). Lifting heavy.0
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Well, I'm only 7 lbs down so take this advice or leave it.
What's working for me is I set my MFP goal to 1 lb loss per week. Then I eat whatever I want and I eat back at least a portion of my exercise calories. I've found that I get more "bang for my buck" if I eat simple foods like chicken, peas, rice, etc. instead of casseroles; but I eat those too when the mood strikes me.0 -
Eating my lightly active calories or less (1900) and working out...just found i love Boxing with Kelly Coffey Meyer, no special diet, just sticking to the 1900, and making ajustments thru out the day, to make sure i get the 1900 or less(i didnt use to do that) once i had splurged i would give up for the day, but now, if i have cake with lunch, i will make sure have low cal dinner etc....0
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I eat at or slightly below my allotted calories every single day. I accurately weight and measure every single thing including butters and oils when cooking.
I drink approx 8 glasses of fluids a day (I don't like to drink straight water so I drink iced tea with saccharine)
The foods that I eat are exactly what I crave and want every day - when I eat what I want within my deficit; then I am totally satisfied and that makes it easier to stick with this lifestyle change.0 -
I think the only thing that will truly work for me is a realistic calorie deficit. Still having treats, but making smarter decisions and staying within my calories.
What you said. Finding that realistic number and adding some exercise to speed things along. It had to be something that I could do on an ongoing basis. So I used my goal weight to figure out the number and worked backwards.
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I don't think it has been "one" thing that has helped me succeed. What's working for me is tracking what I'm eating, staying mostly within my calorie goals, using my fitbit to walk at least 10,000 steps a day, keeping really tempting foods out of my house, and planning ahead as much as possible. I still have ice cream, I just buy portioned bars like the Klondike 100 calorie bars or Friendly's ice cream bars. I definitely have a beer every night. I know that I prefer to have the majority of my calories at night, so I plan to have lighter breakfasts and lunches. Breakfast is usually a Carnation instant breakfast or eggs and bacon. Lunch had been a serving of homemade soup and a container of yogurt. Dinner varies.
I haven't made exercising a priority this time around and my weight loss experience has been much more pleasant. I've never been super athletic and don't get very much enjoyment from exercise. I do, however, like to walk. Walking has been my only form of exercise and I get most of my steps in during work. There hasn't been that dread that comes from getting home after a long day of work knowing that I should do an exercise routine from a DVD when what I really want to do is drink a beer with my boyfriend.
There are some foods that I just cannot buy for myself. Family sized bags of potato chips, holiday candy, and reduced priced baked goods used to come home during my shopping trip with the intention of making them last all week. Somehow, I was always surprised when I managed to finish off an entire container of day old pastries within one day. It was just too easy to make a cup of coffee and have something sweet to go with it for no other reason than it was in the house. I will still have these treats, but only at events where there were brought by someone else.
I plan ahead on days when I know my routine will be shifted. I go to trivia night every week at the bar, so I typically eat a dinner of eggs and bacon before I go. This allows me to enjoy at least two craft beers and crushes the temptation to order a burger or fries off of the menu. Another example was during my trip to home coming at my old college. I took a two hour walk around campus before I had any calorie dense food. I also alternated drinking beer with drinking water.
TL;DR If I had to choose one thing, it would be that I have to put thought into what I'm putting into my body. When I mindlessly snack and have no perception of portion, I gain. When I'm in control of what I'm eating, I lose.0 -
TDEE minus XX%, Fitness Blender videos, running, bodyweight strength training, and most of all CONSISTENCY over the course of months, not days or weeks. Also, throwing the scale out the window.0
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Nothing I tried worked for me until I got to a point where I was really, truly, 100% committed to making the changes that needed to be made, and realizing I was worthy of the end result.
It hasn't always been easy, and I've actually been in a bit of a funk for the last couple months, finding myself trying to fall back into old habits. Over the last few days, however, I feel as if I am getting back to the right frame of mind to get serious about this again, and loose the last of the weight I am wanting to loose.
Outside of the mental aspect, I hired a personal trainer and started working out with kettle bells. Initially, I was also walking, but in the last month or so I have started running some as well. (In fact, I can now run just slightly more than I walk!) When it comes to diet, I don't follow anything in particular. I just try to make healthy choices - lots of protein, more fruits and veggies, whole grains, no high fructose corn sweetener, as little processed foods as possible (although I haven't cut them out completely). I still have cake, cookies, candy, etc from time to time, but have tried to find healthier alternatives when I want something sweet - more fruits, some of the blended greek yogurt flavors, dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate, etc.
I am also fortunate to have a wonderfully supportive family and friends. Knowing they want to also see me succeed helps tremendously to get through the days where I am just not feeling it.0 -
IIFYM, plus exercise. I know that exercise isn't strictly necessary, but I like to eat. So it has helped me sustain losses while not feeling like I am starving.0
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Following Atkins (2002 DANDR) while using MFP and cronometer for logging. Will implement SL 5x5 or p90x2 or x3 when at or below goal.
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MFP, simple as, log everything, weigh everything, be honest, get out & do a little exercise, what you do has to be sustainable so I never followed any fad, and I LOVE the new me!! keep at it
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Keep Going.
For the past few years since gaining weight I've been on many diets. In January of this year I weighed my highest weight ever-323lbs! Did I lose 2lbs a week or even 1lb week..NO! Did I give up LOTS of times-YES! There have been times where I went off my plan for 2-3 days eating/drinking whatever I want, the difference is that those times used to last for weeks or the "I'll start on Monday/New Years/Tomorrow/After my Birthday or(whatever)Holiday."
Most of the time I'll start again at the next meal, just recently I decided to have a maintenance day every 2 weeks. My problem is not food, but alcohol so instead of suffering with light beer I'll use my maintenance day to drink what I actually want.
No one is perfect. Never feel like a failure when you mess up, everyone messes up. If you keep going you will continue to see the lbs. drop.
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What currently works for me is my own modified version of a cross between intermittent fasting and calorie banking which basically involves eating whatever I like within reason (or not) then have a crash 500 calorie day at a certain threshold.
What REALLY worked for me is to stop feeling guilty about my choices and just go with what I feel like doing that day. Jumping between diets and trying things out is not a bad strategy if it keeps you motivated long term.
You do not really have to stick with one plan per se, choosing a diet is not a death sentence. What you do have to stick to, however, is the understanding that eating more than you burn will lead to weight gain and vice versa. What method you chose to achieve that calorie deficit depends on what you feel is easiest for you to do.0
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