Weight loss: What has been your most SUCCESSFUL strategy?

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Replies

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Eating whole foods and low carb. Both ideally.
  • Fathater36
    Fathater36 Posts: 27 Member
    Giving up bread , rice , oil, wine, cheese, and butter
    I gave up lots but it is working.
  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    Managing my diet over the long term instead of the short term. Not taking on restrictive diet changes for the short-term, nothing unsustainable over the long term. Not sweating it if I have one bigger day once in a while (3, 4 times a year) on an exception basis. Including a planned amount of "recreational calories" into every day.

    Having a big picture eating plan each day based on my schedule / exercise / social needs for that day (will I have a big breakfast? will I eat out? should I plan on making up for a more indulgent dinner with a lighter breakfast and/or lunch? will I eat snacks, and if so, when? should I push in some calories and/or carbs timed to support or recover from a tough exercise session?) and eating with intention towards that plan.

    Minimizing "opportunisitic" or impulsive eating. Just because someone offers me free food or booze doesn't mean I'm somehow missing out if I don't take advantage of their offer, especially if it's only marginally delicious food I wouldn't necessarily eat if I were paying for it.

    4 years in. Healthiest I've ever been. Strongest and leanest I've ever been. >165 lbs down from my highest.
  • spiffychick85
    spiffychick85 Posts: 311 Member
    For me it's been being honest with myself...as in writing it all down. Secondly, understand why I wanted to "over eat" , in my case...boredom. now if I grab a snack and I know it will set me over my limit I put it in a certain spot and walk around for 5 minutes...If I still want it I eat it with a full bottle of water....9 out of 10 times I realise I don't want it, but the times I do have it I'm pretty satisfied with it and the water ;)
  • JohnnyPenso
    JohnnyPenso Posts: 412 Member
    Eating better, being more active, counting calories.
  • mlinci
    mlinci Posts: 402 Member
    Accepting that slow and steady was the right way for me to lose weight.
    Logging absolutely everything, including days when I go over my allowance.
    Not having to quit any foods, just working really heard to eat reasonable portions.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    Sticking to my calorie goals.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Logging everything as accurately as possible (food scale)
    Picking a REASONABLE goal (none of that 1200 calories BS)
    Limiting non filling calories as much as possible (drinks mostly)
    Being active (and accounting for that in my goal too)

  • trjjoy
    trjjoy Posts: 666 Member
    Breastfeeding! Seriously, though, the best strategy is one where you end up burning more calories than what you take in.
  • Sassifrass76
    Sassifrass76 Posts: 21 Member
    Alternate day fasting has made my life so much easier. I am short, and over forty and female. Mfp said i could have 1200 a day which just made me hangry and led to binging because i couldn't stay within goal. I guess i must be an all or nothing kinda person because adf i can do. One day of calorie free liquids or a very small meal depending on my activity level. The next i get 2200-2400. Now that I can live with, probably for the rest of my life. No more hangry, no more binging. My relationship with food is so much better. It was extremely hard in the beginning, I wasn't sure I could do it, but the longer I did the easier it became. Now fast days aren't even an issue. I use the Johnson calculator to determine calories, and guidelines and Mfp to log and stay within my calories.

    Nothing is off limits as long as it fits in the calorie goal.
    Log absolutely everything as accurately as possible.
    Mistakes will be made, correct them, don't beat yourself up and carry on.
    Be your own biggest cheerleader.
    If what you are doing is working, who cares what anyone else has to say about it.
    Make sure you are in a deficit, how you do it is up to you.


  • rocknlotsofrolls
    rocknlotsofrolls Posts: 418 Member
    My best strategy is to include eggs with my dinner. For me, they fill me up and keep me from bingeing on donuts, etc., late at night when my cravings hit. In other words, make sure to include some filling foods in your diet.
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    Log everything. Weigh everything, and if I must approximate then err to overestimating.
    Weigh myself often.
    Be honest. Excuses and dishonesty have never once served me or helped me reach my goals.
    Nothing is off limits but I do better with my calorie goal if I stay below my fats goal.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    edited June 2017
    Counting calories. I've tried just trying to eat less without actually tracking my calories but I was never successful. I think seeing it laid out in front of me the way it is on mfp holds me accountable.
  • sarahdelrosso
    sarahdelrosso Posts: 19 Member
    Thank you for all of the great insight! CONGRATS to all of you who have lost weight! Do you know how amazing that is? It's tough and you did it. Now I'm going to do it.

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