Hi! - Going on a diet

Weight loss is calories in vs. calories out.

I've lost & regained too. I successfully lost doing low carb - then regained. I successfully lost doing __________ - then regained and I successfully lost doing __________ - then regained. In other words I've tried lots of fads thru the years.

What I finally figured out is that I need to change some of my eating habits forever, because that's how long I want maintenance to last. If you can take some of the things you learn from paleo and do them for life....then it's a good plan.

If paleo is temporary - then come up with a maintenance strategy before you get there.

@Joetf12 , I would invite you to change your way of thinking about a "diet". Paleo, Atkins, or any name "diet" can fad in and out real quick. I'm not knocking any of them, but you have to figure out what's sustainable for you. Are you willing to/have the ability to eat Paleo forever? For me it was learning how to eat, what to eat, portions, macronutrients (carbs, fats, proteins), and what was doable for ME in the long run. If you think in terms of "dieting" as opposed to lifestyle change, you may be more apt to gaining back.

Joetf12 wrote: »

You absolutely right @abriz. I will continue to eat in moderation, but I'm a bit overweight right now, and would like to shed some extra pounds a little quicker.

Patience and perspective is key. You didn't gain weight quickly (most likely) and it may not come off as quickly as you want it to either. For most people with less than 50 pounds to lose (you describe yourself as a bit overweight), you should be aiming at about 1lb/wk of weight loss, less as you get closer to your goal. That means that if you are #20 overweight, you're probably looking at close to six months for it all to come off in a safe, sustainable way. Yes, some people lose more quickly and some of them even maintain the loss, but it's more common that after losing weight very quickly that people tend to gain it back. Ultimately it's faster to stick to a sustainable strategy than to try to lose quickly/re-gain/lose again.

There is no magic diet that will speed up your fat loss. Simply consume less than you need consistently over time and you'll get there . You may want to start by inputting your information into MFP goals and adhering to the recommendation that they give you. Keep in mind, that if you select a rate of loss like 2lbs/wk and that's unsafe or unsustainable based on how much you have to lose, that MFP will still default you to 1200 cal. You CAN happily lose weight eating more, if you're taller or heavier.

Take a few minutes to read the stickies at the top of the forum page; they are a wealth of great information.
Welcome and good luck!

edit: typos

@Joetf12 ,
I absolutely understand wanting to knock of those pounds quickly. If it's for an event or something like that I can see the rationale for sure. Aside froom that, I am a firm believer in the quicker it comes off, the quicker it can come back on. As I had mentioned before, and others have, just being able to sustain, even if it's for a quick loss. Good luck to you on your journey!