Anonymous wrote:First, 30 days without sugar, cold turkey.

Lost about 15 pounds just doing that.

Then, once I broke that addiction, I went on weight watchers and lost 15 more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lost 50lb over 6 months and kept it off.

I went low carb (not keto but cut out rice/pasta/bread/corn/dessert/sugar and sugar-added foods.) I didn't count how many carbs were in fruits/vegetables etc. I always preferred salty and spicy so it wasn't too hard for me.

I also counted my calories and made sure they didn't go over a certain number (I am a small woman so it was 1400 for me, maybe be different depending on your height/build etc.) It's a lot easier to do this if you cook all your meals.

Added two hours a day of walking. I don't like gyms and exercise routines but enjoy walking so it was pretty pleasant. It also has the advantage of not needing to be done in one chunk but can be broken into two, three or four to accommodate your schedule.

The thing that worked for me is that it was a very steady and consistent weight loss, about 1-2lb a week so I'd see a steady progress and not get discouraged. I also didn't feel particularly hungry.

When I lost what I wanted, here is what I've kept from that which seems to keep the weight I lost off: (1) two hour walks - it's good to get out of the house during the pandemic anyway (2) watching my calories and low carb. I don't limit myself to 1400 a day any more but I do count to make sure I don't eat 2000 or anything like that; I also eat very few carbs - I may have a small dessert on Sunday or similar, but it's very limited and I track it (it helps if like me, you are not big on sweets anyway.)

Do you not have children? I'm jealous that you are getting out of the house 2 hours/day!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IF. Painless but took a year. Down 30 pounds and going, doubt I’ll ever go back to eating “normally” but I don’t miss it really.

What’s your method of IF?

Did 11am-7pm 16:8 for a few months, gradually I have gotten onto more like a 12-1pm-7pm schedule. A side effect of this is that I hardly ever drink because I used to drink a glass or two of wine a night and snack. I do always have family breakfast one day on the weekend though.

I do think when I reach like, maybe 50-60 pounds of loss that I will loosen up on this and try to schedule 2-3 nights a week where I can do this. I say schedule because at this point the routine is so ingrained in me that even on nights where I think I'll do a cheat night I sometimes forget entirely.

I started incorporating a significant amount of exercise about six months in but that hasn't really changed the loss progress, just made me more fit and, admittedly, made me look pretty good even while still at an obese weight (just a few pounds over though, I'm coming for you 'overweight'!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IF. Painless but took a year. Down 30 pounds and going, doubt I’ll ever go back to eating “normally” but I don’t miss it really.

What’s your method of IF?

Anonymous wrote:Lost 50lb over 6 months and kept it off.

I went low carb (not keto but cut out rice/pasta/bread/corn/dessert/sugar and sugar-added foods.) I didn't count how many carbs were in fruits/vegetables etc. I always preferred salty and spicy so it wasn't too hard for me.

I also counted my calories and made sure they didn't go over a certain number (I am a small woman so it was 1400 for me, maybe be different depending on your height/build etc.) It's a lot easier to do this if you cook all your meals.

Added two hours a day of walking. I don't like gyms and exercise routines but enjoy walking so it was pretty pleasant. It also has the advantage of not needing to be done in one chunk but can be broken into two, three or four to accommodate your schedule.

The thing that worked for me is that it was a very steady and consistent weight loss, about 1-2lb a week so I'd see a steady progress and not get discouraged. I also didn't feel particularly hungry.

When I lost what I wanted, here is what I've kept from that which seems to keep the weight I lost off: (1) two hour walks - it's good to get out of the house during the pandemic anyway (2) watching my calories and low carb. I don't limit myself to 1400 a day any more but I do count to make sure I don't eat 2000 or anything like that; I also eat very few carbs - I may have a small dessert on Sunday or similar, but it's very limited and I track it (it helps if like me, you are not big on sweets anyway.)

Anonymous wrote:Cutting snacks is sooo right.

Anonymous wrote:The main thing is to pick a strategy you can live with and actually do, and then not try to do everything all at once.

Start with calorie counting on an app like MyFitnessPal, and figure out what your calorie deficit should be. Then increase steps taken each day. Then maybe add in 2 walks/runs a week. Then maybe add in weights class (can do online) to have 3 workouts a week. Then add in something new the following week or two. If you hit a plateau where you don't lose, reduce calories by 75-100, nothing extreme, so you don't feel deprived.

Look at it like a longterm lifestyle change, and don't try to rush it - you didn't gain all the weight in 3 months, so it will take longer than that to lose it. Shoot for 1 - 1.5 lbs a week. The important part is to un-diet at the end. Once you hit your weight goal, increase your calories 75-100 slowly to see what you can do while maintaining that weight. That way, you don't put back on the weight you have lost, instead you learn what your body needs for that weight. Also, be kind to yourself. You don't have to make every day 'perfect' for this to work.