Lose 20 lbs by summer: low cal or low carb?

[Anonymous]

This is exactly my case as well! I did it a years ago and here is what I did. It worked until the stress of kids / and not sleeping came along.

1. Set a goal of losing 2 pounds this month. Yes - you read it correctly. 2 pounds this month. Think about what small change you can make that will help you get there - and execute.

2. Feb - you are going to continue to do what you did - and add in something else to lose 2 more pounds.

3. March - OK - keep it going. You are now down 8 pounds - I know the goal was 2 a month - but guess what - you made a change and you lost more.

4. April - these small changes are starting to build maybe add in a little more activity? A walk at lunch? 12 pounds down!

5. May - you are feeling great and lose 3 more pounds. So you now have lost 15 pounds and are in position to keep it going. It did not come off over-night. But it is going to stay off!

[Anonymous]

I love WW. I started in September and have lost 17 pounds. I think I will lose 17 or so more by summer.

I like it because it pushes me to eat certain foods (like lean protein, fruits and vegetables) but I can eat other things too.

[Anonymous]

Seriously, try the fast metabolism diet. I couldn’t believe how well it worked. And I even cheated a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both. Keto is pretty much low carb and low cal. Throw in some intermittent fasting and you'll be good to go.

This sounds exactly like an eating disorder.

NP. You can actually eat a lot of good food during that window. You can eat a ton of lean protein and vegetables for relatively few calories, and it's filling.

Yep. Not an eating disorder. I just wanted a diet that actually gave me results. So far Keto with intermittent fasting has been great. I've lost nearly 30 pounds since October. A diet working like that for me feels like a miracle. I generally do a 16-8 fast on most days which means 2 meals a day for me. I completely avoid snacking.

I eat lots of vegetables and low sugar fruit (like berries). I eat meat, fish, cheese, nuts, olives, butter. I even drink wine on the weekends. I also enjoy foods like Real Good brand pizza and enchiladas, as well as, bratwurst. Granted, I do keep my portions and my macros in mind at each meal. You will not lose weight unless you create a calorie deficit. That is true of any diet.

It's a diet but it isn't torture to be on. I mostly eat highly nutritious foods but there is room for pork rinds and cheese dip on the weekend. It's important to get your vitamins and minerals because that is what keeps you looking and feeling good. I don't go crazy eating "fat bombs" or adding fat into my coffee, etc. I prefer to get my calories in actual meals. But that's my preference. Do whatever works for you.

^Just to clarify. I've been doing Keto/IF for 14 weeks and that includes the holidays + drinking wine/having some snacks on the weekends. I am down around 28 pounds from the start of October for an average of 2 pounds/week. That is insanely good for me.

I think what is working is that I am doing one 36 hour fast per week plus 16/8 the other days. My calories average out over the course of the week so that one day I might not eat much but on another day I might eat more than usual. I've been varying when my 36 hour fast happens - maybe starting on a Monday, maybe starting on a Thursday or whatever. It is keeping my body from adjusting to my reduced caloric intake and powering down the way it always seems to when I eat a strict 1300 calorie diet day in/day out.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on your success! When you say 36 hours what does that include? I’ve lost a similar amount since Sep 15, but by reducing calories, no alcohol, no simple carbs. I’m not sure I could fast that long. I need regular filling protein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats on your success! When you say 36 hours what does that include? I’ve lost a similar amount since Sep 15, but by reducing calories, no alcohol, no simple carbs. I’m not sure I could fast that long. I need regular filling protein.

I'm doing my 36 hour fast today as a matter of fact. I last ate dinner yesterday around 6pm. I have had nothing but coffee, tea (unsweetened) and bone broth today. I will resume eating again tomorrow morning at 6am - probably scrambled eggs and bacon.

[Anonymous]

^Oh, and I also drink water, sometimes with a squirt of lemon throughout the day.