How long before noticing a pay-off?

Do you mean that you are staying under 1200 cals a day? To lose fat, takes a long time. The truth is we only lose about 1-2 pounds of fat a week. Anything else is water loss, etc. I did some research on weight loss. Even 2 lbs a week is considered aggressive--imagine that. I have been tracking what i eat for about three weeks (i think) and have lost about 4-5 lbs. Don't give up.....it is not a fast process

I've been at this for one month today, and I'm down almost 9 pounds. As has been stated, early weight loss is mostly water and other "quick" excess for lack of a better term. My weight has been coming off steady at almost 2 lbs/week, which is my goal. I think what has been working for me has not just been net calories, but keeping active during the day. I'm fortunate in that my office is on the 3rd floor of our building, so I take the stairs several times a day. It's not much, but anything to keep the metabolism boosted a bit helps. That and I always try to do something physical at lunch. 45 minutes at the driving range, a half-hour walk around the business complex, whatever. Don't just save up your activity for the end of the day (or the beginning for that matter), but try to get some physical activity in during the day. Smokers in your office? When they go on a smoke break, take a quick stroll around your building. You'd be surprised how effective it can be.

I'm totally with you. Also a woman 'of a certain age' and was beginning to believe that we are just programmed to stay 'a certain size'. Then I found this site (have done many diets) and use it to, as I call it, "do the math". Losing weight is calories in vs calories out and a diet is just the means to get you there. I work out at the gym every day to a total of about 3000 calories a week and have dropped my caloric intake by about 4000 calories from what I would need (not including workouts). Total of 7000 calories a week is 2 pounds a week and that is what I have been losing for the last month. Who knew dieting was really a math exercise?
And yes, activity is everything. I try to walk, take stairs, bike, anything as much as I can - I don't think it helps you lose weight as much as keeps you moving and keeps your muscles going, otherwise your body will just shut down and go into survivor mode. Anyways, so far for me, this is working and I love this site! Good luck to you all.

Everyone is different, we can all tell you our stories, but honestly the only way for you to know is to keep up with it. it also depends on how much you have to lose, the less you have to lose, the slower it will come off, this site makes it so easy, if I can do this, anyone can do it! its all about portion control, exercise and water!!

i can say that i have been here for 2 months now, i have lost 11 lbs, and am wearing jeans that i havent been able to wear in a few years.

good luck!

Don't worry. I workout at least 5x a week. 2x with a trainer and about 3-4x with a girlfriend. We powerride and burn about 500+ calories each time, and I still have not seen much of a decrease in weight, but I have lost inches. My theory is that once all the "jiggles" tighten up, then all the fat will have to fall off. I am also 40+ and know that this is a long term life changing type of goal. I didn't get 30lbs overweight overnight and I can't hope to lose it overnight.