How did you lose weight without counting calories?

[Anonymous]

In January and February I lost about 15lbs using MyFitnessPal. But then I stopped losing weight, which made me stop counting calories, and I have had nothing but false starts since then. I weigh about 177 and would like to be around 150. I don't think counting calories is the right approach for me - I am single/no kids and my life is all over the place - there's no routine on the evenings and weekends and that makes it tricky for me.

I know lots of people have had success without using MFP or a similar app. Obviously at the end of the day weight loss comes down to caloric input vs.output, but there have to be other methods to successfully manage your input! I already exercise a ton, so food really is the main issue here. Any tips/stories/ideas?

[Anonymous]

I don't count calories. I eat mostly whole foods and no processed foods. That's mostly a lean protein and a vegetable. I eat some dairy, mostly milk and yogurt. I stay away from sugar, chips, cereal (my weakness!) and white flour foods.

I run 5 miles a day, but any aerobic exercise for 45-60 minutes X 6 days a week will do it. You may have to start a couch to 5k and work up to that. (I did.)

[Anonymous]

I don't count calories, don't use any apps, don't exercise, don't eat or drink so called diet food and have lost as of today, 75 pounds.

Drink only filtered water, eat 5 SMALL meals a day, move around more, limit my internet and tv, stay busy. Nothing after 6 pm but water and yogurt.

[Anonymous]

I lost 12 pounds in 5 weeks by not eating sugar (read labels) white flour and watched my dairy portions. I ate as much fruit (mostly berries and green apples) veggies and nuts as I wanted. By cutting sugar and flour out I significantly cut my normal calories count.

[Anonymous]

I used MFP for a few weeks and got the hang of it. Due to using MFP, I no longer need it. I know carbs and alcohol are "expensive" so I consume both in moderation.

I went from 180 to 145. I'm 5'9".

[Anonymous]

If you cut your sugar intake in half, two to three weeks from now you will not be able to eat or drink anything with lots of sugar in it. After that it becomes easier to choose better in terms of what you eat and drink. Same thing with processed foods.

I haven't eaten a McDonald's plain cheeseburger in years. Last week I was traveling and was suddenly hungry so I stopped on my way home and bought a hamburger. One bite I nearly threw up. The bun, the neat, it tasted bad. I mean real bad. Cardboard taste.

This is what happens when you get it out of your system. I threw the hamburger out and bought a water. Try it. Two weeks. Give up everything you like. It works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't count calories, don't use any apps, don't exercise, don't eat or drink so called diet food and have lost as of today, 75 pounds.

Drink only filtered water, eat 5 SMALL meals a day, move around more, limit my internet and tv, stay busy. Nothing after 6 pm but water and yogurt.

Wow, good for you! evening is hard for me. I do all the damage after 6pm.

[Anonymous]

Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint - it's an adaptation on paleo. Things you can eat on the diet: veggies, especially ruff age, meat, eggs, nuts, fruits, some whole fat dairy.

Completely banned: grains, sugars (dates & fruits in moderation are okay and the way to satiate a sweet tooth), juice, processed anything.

Basically you cook and eat from scratch with whole, complete ingredients. When your meal consists of meat and veggies, there's only so much of it you can eat - no need to count calories, you just naturally feel full pretty quickly and call it quits. Compared to eating a pizza - I could polish off half a large pizza before realizing it.

I made absolutely no effort to limit my intake or up my exercise and lost 10 lbs when going along with this. I even continued my morning "mocha" with instant coffee, whole milk, plain cocoa powder, and a teaspoon of agave - really delicious, mostly just whole milk.

[Anonymous]

Yup all portion. I never count calories. I take about half of what I think I want. Promise yourself you can have more if you're still crazy hungry. But usually you won't be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint - it's an adaptation on paleo. Things you can eat on the diet: veggies, especially ruff age, meat, eggs, nuts, fruits, some whole fat dairy.

Completely banned: grains, sugars (dates & fruits in moderation are okay and the way to satiate a sweet tooth), juice, processed anything.

Basically you cook and eat from scratch with whole, complete ingredients. When your meal consists of meat and veggies, there's only so much of it you can eat - no need to count calories, you just naturally feel full pretty quickly and call it quits. Compared to eating a pizza - I could polish off half a large pizza before realizing it.

I made absolutely no effort to limit my intake or up my exercise and lost 10 lbs when going along with this. I even continued my morning "mocha" with instant coffee, whole milk, plain cocoa powder, and a teaspoon of agave - really delicious, mostly just whole milk.

What's "ruff age"? Could you mean "roughage"?

[Anonymous]

Look up "Whole 30"

[Anonymous]

There is no need to cut whole food groups out of your diet, or essential grains. What a boring life!

I just cut my calories. Boom, weight gone. However, I do count for a few weeks to get into the groove.

[Anonymous]

I think the answer is different for different people. I have lost 45 pounds and had been stuck for the past several months. I was also sick of counting calories and tried just focusing on fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean protein and some low-fat dairy. It didn't work for me, as I found myself having cravings for unhealthy foods and going back for seconds at dinner. I realized I needed to go back to what worked in the first place, and remind myself that my health is worth as much effort as anything else in my life. Now I've gone back to tracking my calories with renewed effort, and the weight is coming off again. I still get most of my calories from the foods mentioned above, but I can enjoy other foods in moderation and not feel deprived so the cravings are gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In January and February I lost about 15lbs using MyFitnessPal. But then I stopped losing weight, which made me stop counting calories, and I have had nothing but false starts since then. I weigh about 177 and would like to be around 150. I don't think counting calories is the right approach for me - I am single/no kids and my life is all over the place - there's no routine on the evenings and weekends and that makes it tricky for me.

It would make it tricky for me also. I think it would help you if you get a little more routine in what you eat -- makes it much easier to control your calorie intake. For example, try to have good meals at least during the week, and on weekend mornings.

[Anonymous]

I cut out sugar, flour, and rice (so that took out all pasta, pastry, processed carbs, chocolate, honey, etc.) and amped up the veggies and fruit. Lost about 40 pounds over 4 months. Now I've added those things back in, but in much more moderate amounts.