Yo yo dieter

I’m currently on attempt 5 of losing weight since I was 18 (now 29). I’ve always been successful in the past at losing weight fast but I would also gain the weight back just as quickly and the weight would just PILE on. To give you an idea, I’ve been able to drop 50+ lbs (3.571 stone) in a couple of months.

I’m trying something different this time around. I’ve cut out all extremes. I started by cutting out alcohol from my diet. I’m over two years sober now and I love it (saving lots of money and I’ve learned to have fun without it).

Next, I cut out energy drinks (my guilty pleasure). I was drinking 3-4 a day. This was much easier to cut out since I switched to an alternative that’s only 15 calories per serving, all natural ingredients, no added sugar and cheaper while still giving me my caffeine fix.

I cut back on eating out slowly, from 2-3 times a week to only once every couple of weeks. I won’t be cutting this out completely because I think I need to learn portion control when eating out. I think it’s impossible to avoid eating out for the rest of my life.

Finally, I started counting calories again and I set a very modest goal of 1lb per week. If I’m hungry, I eat more than my recommended calories (but still at or under maintenance). Calories in/out has always worked for me, but I’m the past I would eat way less than I am now and exercise 4-6 hours a day. I’ve even had days where I’ve earned two 12 inch subs from subway and I’ve still managed to drop 15lbs in about a month.

Now, with all of that being said, I can’t say if any of the advice I’ve given above is going to help because I’m still in the process of losing weight. But this is been the easiest weight loss journey I’ve had yet. It’s much slower than any other attempt I’ve made in the past but I have a feeling it’s going to stick this time. It also helps that my wife is counting calories with me (she’s aiming to maintain though)

I’m a serial yo-yo dieter, I’ve done slimming world, weight watchers, slim fast, tried juicing too many really. And while they all work I don’t change doing them.
When lockdown happened and my slimming world group closed I gained 9lbs, 5 weeks ago I decided to go low carb aiming for 50g carbs per day and to do 16:8 fasting, in 5 weeks I’ve lost 11lbs and 1 week of it I was on holiday.
For the first time I feel in control, my appetite and cravings have reduced drastically and my taste has changed.
When eating carbs I found I’d have a bowl of pasta and an hour later I’d want more, really felt I had no control over my eating.
Another plus is my blood glucose has gone from pre diabetic to normal so a win win for me.
I wouldn’t say going low carb is easy as your body needs to switch from burning carbs to fat and in my second week I felt horrendous, but now feel in control and like yes I can do this 💪🏻

Think about what steps you took to lose weight.
And then think about what changed when you were ready to maintain.

I have accepted that I need to pay attention to my food intake, log calories, weigh myself often. So essentially, for me at least, there will not be a lot 'different' between the weight loss phase and maintenance phase. I will estimate a little more often, use the food scale a little less. And I'll aim for a higher calorie intake. I may even play around with eating 'less' on weekdays and then eating the extra on weekends. So there are things to figure out when I get back to maintenance. But I won't stop MFP. I won't stop my routine getting on the scale most mornings and then walking before shower/work.