Anyone here for the long term & not looking for a quick fix?

Been here since 2012. I made it part of my daily routine, got to my target weight and now maintain it by keeping a check each day.

Definitely a long term view for me. I'm finding it relatively easy. I eat much better than I ever did during the week and don't drink alcohol or snack. I also exercise more.

I save some calories and relax what I eat a little over the weekend and allow myself a few drinks on 2 days. 30lbs down (from 216lb) in around 100 days and I haven't felt this good in years. The Doctor has also (trial) stopped one of my regular medicines (for BP). That proved extremely motivating. Barring holidays or special events I see no reason at all why I can't keep this up.

Must dash. Off for my Friday night pint with the lads

I'm starting to see the weight loss process as dress rehearsal for weight maintenance. During the weight loss phase you restrict calories slightly. You also learn which foods are satiating, when to eat, what foods to avoid, how to manage treats, eating out, etc... Once you lose the weight and begin maintenance, you maintain all the same behaviors that made you successful in weight loss - you just add back those few calories you were cutting.
Weight loss isn't a project that has a start/end date and then you go back to your normal life. That is a guarantee for failure.
Weight loss is a period of adjustment to a new way of managing your weight.
Good luck in your journey.

beast_kitty89 wrote: »

I need a sustainable lifestyle. I've noticed what to change, what to eat and so on with this app in regards to my health needs. I've tried all these diets and they all failed me.

have you tried the Calorie Deficit Diet?

it's the one that has worked for me, and for many others who post here.
basically, first you figure out how many calories you need to maintain your current weight.
second, you reduce the number of calories by an amount that works out to between 1-2 pounds a week. (3500 calories = 1 pound).

if you are diligent about using a scale to weigh the food so that your calorie counting is accurate, and, you accept that slow and steady wins the race, and, know that weight loss isn't a straight line up or down, but fluctuates,
then, your chance of success is extremely high.

what's the good side of that if/then statement? it doesn't require any 'funny' food. Eat whatever you want, and only look at the progress chart once a week. that way its' easier to tolerate the daily fluctuations of a pound or three.

good luck

Old timer here... started MFP in Feb 2013. Have checked in every day consecutively since. Lost the weight I set out to lose in about the first year and change, then in maintenance ever since.
When I started with about 30 lbs to lose, I had never dieted before, but I knew if I cut out things I loved I wouldn’t be successful. So rather than cutting things out, I added things. More protein, more vegetables, more whole grains, more exercise, more sleep. The only thing I cut was calories. But even that I did at a very modest deficit. By doing so I never felt deprived, I learned what satiated me, I had more energy for more activity, which inspired me to keep eating healthy but still incorporating foods I loved.

So yeah, there are a lot of us here for the long haul that look at this as a lifestyle not a short term program. I take days or a week off from logging from time to time, usually when traveling, but continuing to log my intake even in maintenance, for me is one of the best ways to ensure success.

For more examples of long term success check out the maintainers and success stories forums.

Good luck!

This is why I implemented what I call my Forever Rule.

It's simple really. I needed to make changes in order to better manage my weight. I realised that temporary solutions yield temporary results because as soon as I stopped doing what I was doing I'd go back to where I was.

So now when I decide to make a change to my life I ask myself "Forever?" and if I can't answer yes then I don't make that change.

For example:
Me: I'm going to stop eating chocolate!
Also Me: Really? Forever? You're never going to eat chocolate again?
Me: We'll no, I suppose not.


Or
Me: I'm gonna just eat food I like and keep track of how many calories I'm eating
Also Me: So you're prepared to do this forever?
Me: Yeah, I reckon I can do that. It's not that difficult