No keto, low carb just what fits in calorie goal?

I’ve never followed a named diet for weight loss. I’m vegetarian because I want to be, not because I think it does anything for weight loss. It absolutely does not do anything special for weight loss. I was an obese vegetarian and am now a thin vegetarian. You lose weight when you eat fewer calories than your body burns, regardless of what foods those calories come from.

I eat relatively high carb because vegetarian proteins often have carbs, because I need the fuel as an endurance runner, and also because I really love chocolate. I eat chocolate every day and fit it into my calorie goal. I lost 100 pounds and have been maintaining in my optimal BMI range for over a year.

I do IF too BUT, Ive always done it as Im not a breakfast eater. Ive done it for 3+ decades even before I knew I was fasting or that what I was doing was fasting.Ive lost,gained and maintained doing IF so it definitely for me isnt for weight loss,it just works with me and when I feel the hungriest(which 99% of the time is after noon). I have to eat a low fat diet due to a health issue, too much fat for me is a no no. I still ate what I wanted when losing weight just less of it. I still do an am maintaining my weight. I make things fit, of course I have my days when I do go over but I try to get back on track the next day.

So far I've lost a little over 50 pounds with just eating less. I usually try to go for nutrient dense foods because they are more filling for me. I usually also try to focus on getting enough fat and protein which is more filling for me. I don't try and do low carb but I try for lower because it's usually not as filling for me. However, I will be the last person to give up good pizza! Most days I shoot for 150 but I usually end up over shooting. Some days by a lot.

It really is individual. If you find carbs are more filling for your, go for. I would say that you'll want to make sure that you're getting enough protein and fat since they are necessary for muscle maintenance/production and hormone regulation, but feel free to enjoy the carbs. I know some people do really well on keto, others do well on Paleo or other WOE. Awesome! For me they let to more disordered eating. Different things work for different people but the one thing that works for everyone, barring medical issues, is caloric deficit for weight loss. Good luck!

I love the comments above! The calorie deficit works! I think its about finding the sweet spot. Where you're feeding your body enough not to feel threatened, the rest is finding what you and your body agree you can eat. I love bread but bread doesn't love me, my hands swell especially if I mix it with protein, no hot dogs a a bun for me!

Thanks for your post though, makes me feel better about my eat my calories, don't over indulge and keep pushing mantra I've recently adopted.

I lost 75 lbs 3 years ago just logging what I ate and moving more. Didn't cut out any foods I love, just ate smaller portions of them.

I've never been a breakfast eater - I'm just not hungry first thing in the morning. Been skipping breakfast for decades. I guess that technically makes me an Intermittent Fasting person, but since I've been doing it long before it had a fancy name, for me it's just the way my eating patterns have always naturally been.

I got overweight eating this way, and I lost weight eating this way. There's no magic, just logic and a wee bit of math.

Fad diets come and go, but in the end, eating less calories than what your body will burn off in a day is what will always drive weight loss.