what has worked (or not worked) for you?

Crash dieting. I have tried really restrictive calorie controlled intakes which yes, initially lead to drastic weight loss but once I started eating normal again I gained all the weight back and more. So I have learned the fastest way isn't the best and to change over to simple healthy eating and exercising which seems to be working a whole lot better.

What DIDNT work for me was blindly going into a "diet" with no knowledge, plan, or goals.

What DIDNT work for me was going to the gym and just trying to do things on my own.

What worked was starting on a meal plan with goals set up.

What worked was regular measuring and weigh-ins so I could see progress and keep myself motivated.

What worked was regularly going to classes so I was being held accountable for how hard I was working.

low carb works.

restricting cals did not.

Setting myself up to fail by setting unrealistic goals.

This time I've accepted its a change of lifestyle that was needed, and its working.... at long last!

I haven't actually done any weight loss strategies.

I have, however, started an "elimination diet" which is the most accurate way to test for food allergies and sensitivities. Basically, my entire diet right now (until I start testing foods) is all fresh fruit and veggies, with brown rice, chicken, and nuts mixed in to balance out my macros.

2 weeks in, and I've lost 15 pounds without even trying. It's actually harder to eat all the calories I need, but I've been hitting a deficit of 500 calories a day, give or take. By the numbers, I should have only lost 2 pounds so far. All the weight I've lost (about a pound a day, was 2 pounds for a few days when I first started) has been garbage my body has flushed out of it's system. I don't know when it'll stop! lol

The only exercise I'm currently doing is walking to and from work, and hitting up the grocery store.

I feel like a million bucks, full of energy, never bloated (I used to always feel bloated) and sleeping great! It's the best choice I have ever made in my life.

My diary is open to the public if you'd like to take a look at it.

I lost 38lbs just by cutting down to 1500 calories and gentle exercise. Weight loss stalled so i changed macros to 40carbs/30fat/30protein, staying on the same calories and this has made all the difference with the weight loss. It has also made the journey much easier as i have been much fuller.

My losses are also better when i drink my water. I also try to get more fiber in to keep me full and watch my sugar levels, this has helped also. I ramped up the exercise with HIIT this seemed to really help and i have recently ramped up the exercise again by joining the gym, have not weighed in yet, but guessing this can only help.I would say the biggest factor has been changing those macros around though! x

Eating under 1600cal did it for me... slow and steady, I still eat all I want (healthily) I don't starve, I don't lose weight fast, but I LOSE not gain...

The only real thing that works for me is portion control/calorie counting. I can exercise 7 days a week but if I don't control my consumption I get nowhere.

I'm very carb sensitive having been diabetic and having metabolic syndrome. The diabetes is gone now, not because of the weight loss because I was diabetic at this weight before but because of cutting out starchy carbs and processed food.

We need to avoid unrealistic expectations so not to set ourselves up for failure. We didn't get this way overnight.

I didn't have luck with "eating more" (I am short and not very heavy, so "eating more" for me isn't too far away from 1200 cals in the first dang place).

What has worked for me is taking my sedentary TDEE (fitnessfrog), subtracting a set amount of calories between 1-2 pounds per week, and logging every single thing. I try to work out, but since I took sedentary TDEE, I eat back every calorie that I burn. I don't do much in the way of cheat meals, but sometimes when the mood is kicking for sweet stuff or junk food, I will replace some calories with a little junk. I try to keep it small and if I have to go over, I don't go over by very much. Normally.

Exercise helps a lot because not only are you burning more calories, you're getting fit and dropping some body fat, which helps your overall ability to burn. Even 30 min of cardio 3x a week is a great start. You won't get cut doing that, but you will drop pounds. Work up to some lifting or strength-intensive stuff if you can. Building muscle is a bonus.

TIP: The scale is not always your friend. It is a nasty dirty little jerk that doesn't know the difference between tissue and water. Keep your sodium down if you want to avoid scale rage as much as possible, but menstruation, alcohol, dehydration, etc, can all affect weird readings.