sustained weight lost—unmedicated or post-medication

[Anonymous]

I am a post-menopausal woman not using HRT. I need to lose around 50 lbs; have already lost 10 via calorie logging and more exercise (I know that in theory exercise is not a main contributor to weight loss, but for me, the combination of reducing calories plus upping exercise seems to be a winner; it certainly makes me feel better.)

From past experience, I know that I can lose the weight as long as I keep logging what I eat and keep exercising. I use MFP and expect to lose 1-2 lbs/week at first and then taper off to around .5 to 1 when my body is accustomed to the initial shock and awe approach. I also know that if I stop logging calories, I will probably re-gain. My diet is good in general—I just like eating. I have no objections to weight loss medication other than cost; reading about people’s experiences convinces me that logging calories does similar things for me. My questions:

- If you have maintained weight loss, regardless of how you got to your goal weight, did you just have to keep logging? (I find logging utterly boring, though effective)
- any tricks other than logging?
- Does reducing calories via methods other than medication end up having similar impact? I find when I eat less and exercise more, my appetite decreases. But as soon as I lighten up on logging…well the discipline goes out the door.
- Did HRT make any differences for you in terms of weight loss or maintaining weight?
- Anyone have any magic regarding logging to make it easier/more fun?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I've lost 80 lbs since 2018, and logging has been the most effective. Times when I've stopped logging are when I noticed weight gain. I find the benefits of exercise to be mostly inaacurate for weight loss. I think it's good for your overall health, but for me, works against weightloss. You end up thinking your output is more than reality, and eat the calories (plus some) back.

[Anonymous]

For logging, I recommend that you preprogram all the usual foods you eat, recipes, etc. If I am deviating from the usual plan, I think ahead on what I’m likely to eat and add it in ahead of time.