Yep. Carbs and booze. Limit those . Eat peanut butter/ fats and protein. Cut down on carbs and sweets.
That's 80% of what is in your control. The other 20 being exercise.

Start at 800 calories and go down 500 if you are sedentary

One meal a day is nuts. I am super careful about what I eat and I second the no white food rule. I also only eat stuff where I can tell every ingredient that went into it by looking at it. I also work out like crazy (6 times a week; 3 cardio and 3 weights). This seems to be working for now although I know I have nowhere to go if this stops working. One meal a day is something that I don't think I am prepared to do.

i sort of disagree with the advice that one must never skip breakfast. If you drink coffee and eat an early lunch you are fine. i think it is a bit of a myth that that is the most important meal of the day ... maybe for kids, but adults not so much. I find that eating breakfast jump starts my hunger but if I wait I just am fine and wind up consuming fewer calories.

Has anyone tried one meal a day?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weight training.
http://vitals.lifehacker.com/you-dont-need-to-spend-hours-in-the-gym-to-lose-weight-1699058686

I agree with weight lifting. I have cut down dramatically on cardio and am militant about my diet. It is starting to come off.

I am lifting (heavy) regularly, walk a couple of miles a day, and am reasonably good about counting calories, but clearly need to get serious about the carbs and the booze at this point because I am basically just maintaining. I swear I blew out the candles on my 40th birthday and my metabolism just stopped.

I have embraced who I am at 43. I'm a 10lbs overweight mom of 2. Bring on the wine and don't skimp on the cheesecake slice.

Anonymous wrote:Weight training.
http://vitals.lifehacker.com/you-dont-need-to-spend-hours-in-the-gym-to-lose-weight-1699058686

I agree with weight lifting. I have cut down dramatically on cardio and am militant about my diet. It is starting to come off.

Anonymous wrote:

over 40, every few years I have to cut back. I just can't splurge anymore and all the calories have to be the ones needed for good nutrition.

This. Every. damn. calorie. has to have meaning and a specific purpose (salmon, green leafies, berries, quinoa. an egg).

Otherwise -- random panini with provolone? caramel latte? -- you add an inch to the mid-section that will never go away.

-- 48 yr old

OP here: Ugh. I'm so afraid that's where I am. Food and wine are my passion; we planned our honeymoon around reservations at French Laundry. My husband, of course, gives up his afternoon snack of candy bars and loses 5 pounds. Sigh...

over 40, every few years I have to cut back. I just can't splurge anymore and all the calories have to be the ones needed for good nutrition.

This. Every. damn. calorie. has to have meaning and a specific purpose (salmon, green leafies, berries, quinoa. an egg).

Otherwise -- random panini with provolone? caramel latte? -- you add an inch to the mid-section that will never go away.

-- 48 yr old

Weight training.
http://vitals.lifehacker.com/you-dont-need-to-spend-hours-in-the-gym-to-lose-weight-1699058686

First of all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you skip breakfast your blood sugar will likely be elevated for the rest of the day. The more you starve yourself the most resistant your body will be to losing weight. Eat five small meals a day with proteins.

I have learned that over 40, every few years I have to cut back. I just can't splurge anymore and all the calories have to be the ones needed for good nutrition. I would not eliminate breakfast. Eat something nutritious and filling like a couple of hard boiled eggs with toast or oatmeal with nuts in it. Cut out "white foods"- pasta, white flour, white rice, white potatoes. Eliminate or limit desserts. No alcohol or fruit juices. No soda. Food is fuel now!

If you need motivation, look at older people who carry extra weight - all the normal ailments of aging are made harder by even 10 extra pounds.

Good luck - it is hard!

I'm the same. I do extra exercise and cut calories, and my weight stays the same but my clothes fit much better. At this point, I'll settle for that.

I can no longer lose weight using any of my normal tactics. Every time I give up something else now my metabolism just says "Thanks. You still won't lose any weight, and if you start consuming this again, you'll gain more." I gave up breakfast--no weight loss. I gave up lunch--no weight loss. I started exercising--I GAINED weight. I've been trying to lose 10 pounds for a year (that's all--and I'd be thrilled with 5 at this point), and the scale hasn't budged. Is it hopeless?