50 lb goal: Anyone else just counting calories and trying to move more?

[Anonymous]

I’m wondering if anyone else is just counting calories and trying to move more to reach a 50 lb goal? I have tried WW 3 times over two decades and it always makes me very unhappy, though I lost 20 lbs. I tried South Beach and was miserable. Lost nothing. I am a serious carb addict, but have health reasons that contradict Paleo. As an adult, I have lost 40-50 lbs three times before (2 health-related, 1 rather-disordered exercise habit), but regained the weight. I’m now just a few years from 50 and obese again. I have a sense of what won’t work for me, but feel pretty clueless about what will.

Here I am, just trying counting calories and trying to do some extra movement each day. I am being mindful of sugar and super starchy foods, but I’m not trying to “eat clean”. I don’t have a mile or minutes goal for exercise. My hope is that this will feel sustainable so I will be able to maintain healthier patterns. In three days, I lost 1.4 lbs. I get that it’s likely water weight, but I was gaining a lb every two weeks before this.

Is anyone else taking this approach? Any success? Tips that don’t involve disordered or cultish diet and exercise regimes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m wondering if anyone else is just counting calories and trying to move more to reach a 50 lb goal? I have tried WW 3 times over two decades and it always makes me very unhappy, though I lost 20 lbs. I tried South Beach and was miserable. Lost nothing. I am a serious carb addict, but have health reasons that contradict Paleo. As an adult, I have lost 40-50 lbs three times before (2 health-related, 1 rather-disordered exercise habit), but regained the weight. I’m now just a few years from 50 and obese again. I have a sense of what won’t work for me, but feel pretty clueless about what will.

Here I am, just trying counting calories and trying to do some extra movement each day. I am being mindful of sugar and super starchy foods, but I’m not trying to “eat clean”. I don’t have a mile or minutes goal for exercise. My hope is that this will feel sustainable so I will be able to maintain healthier patterns. In three days, I lost 1.4 lbs. I get that it’s likely water weight, but I was gaining a lb every two weeks before this.

Is anyone else taking this approach? Any success? Tips that don’t involve disordered or cultish diet and exercise regimes?

I did this and it worked. Lost more than 50 lbs. in less than a year. Here's what worked for me- I started with a food diary, figuring out how much calories I consume daily. I looked up (online)how much I should take in if I want to lose 1 lb a week. I was given a 1200 calorie target per day. That was hard at first so, in the beginning, I can't really reach that goal, but I started reducing my calories to eventually get to 1200, this worked, but I also have to make sure that I'm adding some food that will make me full longer-like extra protein and whole grain and less simple carbs. I ate mostly the same but smaller portion and making sure I incorporate complex carbs and high protein. Like you, I don't like fad diets, because I will not be able to keep up with it. My goal was to re-learn proper portion so I can maintain after I reached my goal. I started moving more after losing 5lbs, gradually adding more vigorous workout once I feel like I'm not challenged anymore. The key to me is consistency, I committed to doing exercise everyday, it may be a little or a lot but I committed to have some movements daily. I also have weekly cheat days, I just don't go overboard. Oh, and I also increased my water intake- 2/3 of my weight in oz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m wondering if anyone else is just counting calories and trying to move more to reach a 50 lb goal? I have tried WW 3 times over two decades and it always makes me very unhappy, though I lost 20 lbs. I tried South Beach and was miserable. Lost nothing. I am a serious carb addict, but have health reasons that contradict Paleo. As an adult, I have lost 40-50 lbs three times before (2 health-related, 1 rather-disordered exercise habit), but regained the weight. I’m now just a few years from 50 and obese again. I have a sense of what won’t work for me, but feel pretty clueless about what will.

Here I am, just trying counting calories and trying to do some extra movement each day. I am being mindful of sugar and super starchy foods, but I’m not trying to “eat clean”. I don’t have a mile or minutes goal for exercise. My hope is that this will feel sustainable so I will be able to maintain healthier patterns. In three days, I lost 1.4 lbs. I get that it’s likely water weight, but I was gaining a lb every two weeks before this.

Is anyone else taking this approach? Any success? Tips that don’t involve disordered or cultish diet and exercise regimes?

I did this and it worked. Lost more than 50 lbs. in less than a year. Here's what worked for me- I started with a food diary, figuring out how much calories I consume daily. I looked up (online)how much I should take in if I want to lose 1 lb a week. I was given a 1200 calorie target per day. That was hard at first so, in the beginning, I can't really reach that goal, but I started reducing my calories to eventually get to 1200, this worked, but I also have to make sure that I'm adding some food that will make me full longer-like extra protein and whole grain and less simple carbs. I ate mostly the same but smaller portion and making sure I incorporate complex carbs and high protein. Like you, I don't like fad diets, because I will not be able to keep up with it. My goal was to re-learn proper portion so I can maintain after I reached my goal. I started moving more after losing 5lbs, gradually adding more vigorous workout once I feel like I'm not challenged anymore. The key to me is consistency, I committed to doing exercise everyday, it may be a little or a lot but I committed to have some movements daily. I also have weekly cheat days, I just don't go overboard. Oh, and I also increased my water intake- 2/3 of my weight in oz.

Congrats! And thank you for helping to feel not so foolish about this approach.

[Anonymous]

I am not currently trying to lose a large amount of weight but just wanted to endorse calorie counting. It always works for me! I can’t cut out food groups and I need to have treats sometimes, because otherwise I binge. Please don’t do a super low calorie goal, as restricting too much can backfire. Check out this guide to weight loss and calculating your target calories: https://www.reddit.com/r/xxfitness/wiki/lose_weight

Good luck. You can do This!

[Anonymous]

OP I lost close to 60lbs doing essentially this, with no diets. I'm not a fan of diets like paleo, keto, etc - diets are temporary and don't give you realistic, long term tools to maintain weightloss and live a normal life.

I didn't count calories, but I did things that naturally cut my calories - minimal eating out. Cooking at home. Abundant fruits and vegetables (all kinds, regardless of their carb/sugar content). Not a lot of meat and dairy, but I wasn't eating a lot of either to begin with.

I also started exercising regularly, which I believe is vital - it not only burned extra calories. But if you stick with exercise over the long term, it WILL raise your resting metabolism - so your body continues to burn more even at rest.

Those aren't things I did for a time period, like a "diet" - but permanent changes. I of course indulge sometimes because.... that's life! But I don't eat out a ton, and I've learned to enjoy exercise for my mental, as well as physical health.

Personally I wouldn't weigh yourself very often - once every other week, or once a week AT MOST. Seeing a number stay the same can be discouraging, and cause someone to get off track. Develop the good habits, and over time, the weight will follow. When you're focusing on losing, it's pointless to weigh yourself too frequently.

Good luck - remember, slow and steady wins the long term race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not currently trying to lose a large amount of weight but just wanted to endorse calorie counting. It always works for me! I can’t cut out food groups and I need to have treats sometimes, because otherwise I binge. Please don’t do a super low calorie goal, as restricting too much can backfire. Check out this guide to weight loss and calculating your target calories: https://www.reddit.com/r/xxfitness/wiki/lose_weight

Good luck. You can do This!

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I lost close to 60lbs doing essentially this, with no diets. I'm not a fan of diets like paleo, keto, etc - diets are temporary and don't give you realistic, long term tools to maintain weightloss and live a normal life.

I didn't count calories, but I did things that naturally cut my calories - minimal eating out. Cooking at home. Abundant fruits and vegetables (all kinds, regardless of their carb/sugar content). Not a lot of meat and dairy, but I wasn't eating a lot of either to begin with.

I also started exercising regularly, which I believe is vital - it not only burned extra calories. But if you stick with exercise over the long term, it WILL raise your resting metabolism - so your body continues to burn more even at rest.

Those aren't things I did for a time period, like a "diet" - but permanent changes. I of course indulge sometimes because.... that's life! But I don't eat out a ton, and I've learned to enjoy exercise for my mental, as well as physical health.

Personally I wouldn't weigh yourself very often - once every other week, or once a week AT MOST. Seeing a number stay the same can be discouraging, and cause someone to get off track. Develop the good habits, and over time, the weight will follow. When you're focusing on losing, it's pointless to weigh yourself too frequently.

Good luck - remember, slow and steady wins the long term race.

Congrats! And thank you.

[Anonymous]

I have 50 lbs to lose and am doing the Transform app carb cycling plan. I’m down 12 in a month.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Lost 40 on keto with no counting calories. 10 more to go. Keeping your carbs low and eyeballing reasonable portions is completely sustainable. Counting calories and weighing every meal forever isn’t sustainable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Lost 40 on keto with no counting calories. 10 more to go. Keeping your carbs low and eyeballing reasonable portions is completely sustainable. Counting calories and weighing every meal forever isn’t sustainable.

Get back to us in a year and let us know if you’re still doing Keto. For the vast majority of people Keto is not sustainable.

[Anonymous]

Yep, worked for me. I lost fifty pounds in a year doing this . I'm sure it would have been faster on Keto, but this is sustainable for me and my lifestyle. .I use My Fitness Pal. I don't find it too much work - I eat the same things a lot, and you quickly get better at figuring out portion sizes (I no longer need to weigh every meal).

I worked out on and off - it wasn't my focus. I still have a bit to lose, and am now starting to get more into working out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m wondering if anyone else is just counting calories and trying to move more to reach a 50 lb goal? I have tried WW 3 times over two decades and it always makes me very unhappy, though I lost 20 lbs. I tried South Beach and was miserable. Lost nothing. I am a serious carb addict, but have health reasons that contradict Paleo. As an adult, I have lost 40-50 lbs three times before (2 health-related, 1 rather-disordered exercise habit), but regained the weight. I’m now just a few years from 50 and obese again. I have a sense of what won’t work for me, but feel pretty clueless about what will.

Here I am, just trying counting calories and trying to do some extra movement each day. I am being mindful of sugar and super starchy foods, but I’m not trying to “eat clean”. I don’t have a mile or minutes goal for exercise. My hope is that this will feel sustainable so I will be able to maintain healthier patterns. In three days, I lost 1.4 lbs. I get that it’s likely water weight, but I was gaining a lb every two weeks before this.

Is anyone else taking this approach? Any success? Tips that don’t involve disordered or cultish diet and exercise regimes?

I did this and it worked. Lost more than 50 lbs. in less than a year. Here's what worked for me- I started with a food diary, figuring out how much calories I consume daily. I looked up (online)how much I should take in if I want to lose 1 lb a week. I was given a 1200 calorie target per day. That was hard at first so, in the beginning, I can't really reach that goal, but I started reducing my calories to eventually get to 1200, this worked, but I also have to make sure that I'm adding some food that will make me full longer-like extra protein and whole grain and less simple carbs. I ate mostly the same but smaller portion and making sure I incorporate complex carbs and high protein. Like you, I don't like fad diets, because I will not be able to keep up with it. My goal was to re-learn proper portion so I can maintain after I reached my goal. I started moving more after losing 5lbs, gradually adding more vigorous workout once I feel like I'm not challenged anymore. The key to me is consistency, I committed to doing exercise everyday, it may be a little or a lot but I committed to have some movements daily. I also have weekly cheat days, I just don't go overboard. Oh, and I also increased my water intake- 2/3 of my weight in oz.

Congrats! And thank you for helping to feel not so foolish about this approach.

Good luck OP, you can do this, just start with small goals.. pp said weighing uour food is not sustainable, but as you gi through this process, you actually relearn the portion sizes, at sime point, you'll be really good at eyeballing your correct portion size, but yes, you will probably be dependent on weighing your food at first, but it was a must for me. I was actually eating 3x as much as I should, I also learned about high caloric food that does not fill you up- like oil,syrups, etc. Some people are better off not weighing themselves all the time, like pp. I on the otherhand started weighing myself weekly(towards the end, I did about 3x a week), and consistently in the morning before drinking/eating. I learned how certain foods affect me, like if I eat high sodium food one day, my weight will usually go up by 2lbs the next day; before and during period, my weight either goes up or stagnant, and then it drops after the period, these jnformation helped me not to be too anxious about sudden weight gain, and ai learned more about how my body functions.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations 21:00! What does a typical day look like food wise?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Lost 40 on keto with no counting calories. 10 more to go. Keeping your carbs low and eyeballing reasonable portions is completely sustainable. Counting calories and weighing every meal forever isn’t sustainable.

Get back to us in a year and let us know if you’re still doing Keto. For the vast majority of people Keto is not sustainable.

It's totally sustainable for me, Negative Nancy. I will happily show you pics in a year. I started keto in 2013 (it wasn't as well known then) and it off for YEARS before I started dating my now husband. I slowly started letting carbs and LOTS of alcohol creep back in (knowing I shouldn't have) when we were dating and traveling and falling in love. I was eating really terribly but having a great time. Came back to keto (and stopped drinking) after we settled into a more normal routine. I would have fallen off of ANY "diet" during that period in my life and it was totally worth it.

There are plenty of testimonials on YouTube where people have sustained a keto lifestyle for quite some time. You don't have to take my anonymous word for it.

[Anonymous]

I would love to hear any real medical establishment or legit esource that says keto is a good plan and a good plan for life. I would be willing to lay big money that there isn't a single one. because while you made lose weight, keto is not going to be good for you and your health and your kidneys in the long run. Is not sustainable because it's not healthy.