On losing weight...Best way to do it is.???..What works, what doesn't?

[Stuart G]

How do we do it...As much info here as we can put up..

I lost some weight counting calories, and knowing the approximate calories that I use a day.

Less calories used... than using is the key for me.
I have kept that weight off for more than 20 years. (approximately 40 pounds)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear Stuart G...

What works for me...

Diets do NOT work. If I can go on one, then I can come off it.

I find that keeping the weight off after losing it means changing how I live. I still eat what I like, and that includes desserts, but I'm sensible about it.

I have to exercise and keep track of calories. Fewer calories in, more exercise=weight loss.

Over about 10 years, I lost 50 pounds. I have largely kept them off, too...

You have the right idea!

[alarimer]

26. This approach is working for me.

I know I complained earlier because I wasn't seeing results right away; it just took a couple of weeks to get going. I am down at leat 8 pounds but I have not checked lately so it might be more.

Most people have no idea how much they really eat so keeping track of it all is very important. I have also made a few changes but nothing drastic. The big problem was (and remains so) eating out. Most restaurants have very few "light" meals and often nothing I would choose to eat. For me it is a matter of looking at their nutritional info online in advance and choosing something that is not so terrible or simply not eating the whole thing (because usually the portions are HUGE).

[Tobin S.]

2. I've found what works is usually dependent on the person

I went to a weight loss clinic. They told me how I should eat, not just while I'm losing weight, but also in maintaining the weight loss. It has worked wonderfully for me as you can see from my weight loss thread. Yet, there are many people who go to the same clinic that I do and get the same kind of diets, supplements, and go through all of the classes and don't do nearly as well as I have. I think it's because they can't stick to the plan, but some of it may be physical in nature.

In contrast, my sister started Weight Watchers at about the same time that I started my deal. I've tried Weight Watchers before and was able to lose weight, but not near what I needed to. I'd get frustrated and discontinue the plan. My sister is doing really good on it though. It really works for her.

A lot of things work- cutting calories, cutting fat, cutting carbs, exercise, weight loss surgery. The trick is to find something that works for you and that you can permanently change your eating habits with. We've all heard of people who have lost a lot of weight only to put it back on. I've done it several times. To lose weight and keep it off we have to permanently change the way we eat and think about food.

[taterguy]

3. Chopped off body parts I wasn't using

[blogslut]

4. The best way is to relax

Stop stressing over whether or not your body is some magazine's idea of perfection.

Get fresh air. Walk when you can. Eat fresh vegetables and fruits. Cook from scratch. Replace soda, coffee and booze with water.

[graywarrior]

5. Walk 30 to 60 minutes at least 4 days a week if not more.

I just dropped 10 lbs doing that. If you're really brave, get into a spinning class.

[distantearlywarning]

6. I think it varies from person to person

I mean, calories in vs. calories out and all of that, blah blah blah. That's the general principle, but there are 1000 ways to get there and what works for one person might not work for the next.

For me, I've never lost weight on any diet except for Weight Watchers. For whatever reason, the way that plan helps you achieve a weekly caloric deficit works for me. I also find it much easier to deal with psychologically than other diets I've been on. I think it's because it's just about making reasonable trade-offs and choices, instead of total deprivation. WW doesn't work for everyone, though.

I also have to exercise too, though. I can't lose simply through dieting. Luckily I like to do some physical activity, and in fact find the exercise portion of the equation much easier than the food portion.

I am also hypothyroid and have to really stay on top of my medication. If I'm the slightest bit low I can't lose at all.

[Auggie]

10. I'm hypothyroid too. I've heard health experts say dinners are a big problem.

I'd stop eating eating them if I could, or ate least significantly curtail them to healthy snacks, but Mrs Auggie likes evening mealtime. And evening around here is 7 pm. Way too late IMO.

[_dynamicdems]

7. Music.

If you find the right music, all you will want to do is listen and be active. I'm serious.

I've never been good a "dieting" but when I'm on a musical kick, it takes over everything. The more I listen, the more the weight just goes. And I'm happier too. It's just effing amazing.

One thing, the music must be invigorating. Rock, metal, Irish Drinking songs, etc. Any kind of music that could get you a speeding ticket will probably work. For some reasons, when I listen, I forget all about food.

[IcyPeas]

8. I think someone posted this article from Time last week:

some of the findings are kind of interesting.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html

[muffin1]

9. I've been using Wii Fit for about three months now.

That plus cutting back on calories. I've lost about 16 pounds so far.

[AwakeAtLast]

11. I got one a couple weeks ago

I've lost about seven pounds and I haven't changed anything else!

:hi:

[muffin1]

12. They're great aren't they?

My friend turned me on to it. He lost 45 pounds in 90 days.

[Iggo]

13. Eat right and excercise.

I know it sounds boring, but still...

[fizzgig]

14. i almost completely cut soda and fast food from my diet

i was working a job that didn't really allow for a lunch hour and i was always so crazed getting out of the house that i never thought about packing a lunch, so i got into the habit of either eating from the vending machine or grabbing a burger on my way to or from an assignment.

once i broke that habit (and got on my new psych meds), the weight just melted off. i've gained a bit back and could stand to lose another five or ten pounds, but i'm still down about 30-35 pounds from where i was this time two years ago.

[elocs]

15. "Diet" is what you eat to live, to sustain life, not to lose weight.

I used to work in a zoo and each of our animals had a diet, and it was not for them to lose weight but it simply meant what they were fed.

I eat a rather static diet that does not change much so when I want to lose weight I approach it from the perspective of where can I find 500 calories a day? That equals a pound a week and that is a modest goal for weight loss. It is not difficult to find 500 calories a day by just using a little less of this or that, or just eating a little less. Add to that some regular walking and for me the weight comes off.

[kwassa]

29. I disagree. There are different diets for different purposes.

I am on a specific diet to lose weight. I've lost ten pounds in about 2 and 1/2 weeks. I've done this diet before, many years ago, and lost a total of about 25 lbs. at that time. I am combining it with a ramped-up exercise program.

I have a diet that maintains my weight, and doesn't gain, and that is different than the weight loss diet.

then there is the "pig-out on anything that looks good" diet. Definitely the weight gain diet. Source of problems, of course.

[mnhtnbb]

16. I decided to go wine and booze free for the month of August

As they say in AA--It's been 9 days since my last drink--and I'm down 4 pounds.

I had figured out that at the rate I was consuming--red wine and Manhattans being my favorites--
I would need to walk for 26 hours/month just to walk off the calories consumed with that alcohol!
Yikes!

Also, I have been trying to not snack after 8 pm and have increased my walking for exercise by adding
a short 15-20 minute walk after dinner 3 or 4 nights/week to my usual 30-45 minute walk in the morning 5-6 days /week.

[billyoc]

17. Many small meals vs. one or two big ones works for me.

[backwoodsbob]

18. the wifes kid lost over 100 lbs

by doing cardio...no diet change...nothing.

He just raised his metabolism by walking up and down our half mile driveway and walking with weights.He worked with ankle weights on for a year.Now he is getting all *I'm gonna buff up* but he went from near 300 to 190 just by keeping his metabolism up

[many a good man]

19. Diet and exercise

I don't mean crash diet or fad diet - think lifestyle change. I've lost 25 pounds in the past five months since getting my first physical since I was a kid. The doctor called me all kinds of dirty names: obese, prediabetic, trygliceridic, high cholesterol....

We educated ourselves and changed our diets to be more healthy. I think the biggest help was to cut way down on bad carbs. Way, way less potatoes, pasta, white rice and bread. Cut way down on sugary sweets. Eat smaller portions of meats. Fill in with fresh vegetables.

The first month or two was a little difficult to get used to. But the recipes, although more expensive and labor intensive, are delicious. At first we'd get hungry between meals, but you counteract that by having healthy snacks. It turns out you don't really need to eat that much to get rid of the hunger. You start thinking more along the lines of energy levels. You have to keep your glycemic level balanced throughout the day and you don't have to eat such big meals and you have more energy.

I've been exercising for the past year and half, but didn't really lose much weight until the diet/lifestyle change. The weight loss has been slow and steady, about one and a half pounds a week. I feel a lot better. My skin is healthier and my hair is thicker. I can exercise all I want but if I eat poorly I stop losing weight. I like the new lifestyle and I won't go back.

[cherish44]

20. Build muscle

If you starve yourself you lose muscle mass and your metabolism is shot. Do some weight lifting. Do upper body/ lower body on alternate days. Only takes some small dumbells and ankle weights, don't need a machine (to start anyway, if you wanna get ripped you'll have to upgrade :)) If you have muscle, your body becomes a fat burning machine.

[chrisa]

33. Agreed.

Even for women. There's a myth around that women, upon lifting weights, will get those huge muscles. Women don't have enough testosterone to build even close to that much muscle. Secondly, it's not like you're lifting 100 lb dumbbells or something. You can even use small, 2.5 lb weights.

I've always heard that lifting weights burns calories throughout the day, while jogging is a one shot deal. I'm not sure if it's true, though.

[Haole Girl]

21. I can tell you what to DEFINITELY avoid:

Ice cream, chips, and any soft drinks. Diet soft drinks just increase a sweet tooth because they get the taste buds used to sweet stuff.

When I follow these rules (eliminate these things from my diet) I feel healthy and can lose weight. When I give in & think I can cheat, I immediately gain the weight back. :-( KNOWING and DOING are two different things.

[RebelOne]

22. Well, after many years of fighting the battle of the bulge,

I have discovered what works for me. Eat a big breakfast with lots of protein, a moderate lunch and little or no dinner. I have lost 20 pounds and have kept it off for the past 2 years using this method.

[knixphan]

23. Lost 50

A few years back ('04)...

I don't rec this for everyone, but

I did a hard-stop on bread, rice, pancakes, anything with potatoes or flour.
Hard-stop on eating after 5pm.
2 hours of basketball (or the exercise equivalent) every day.

I was really determined and focused though. It was a personal war on lethargy.

From Jan - April, I went down from 275 to 225.

[Stuart G]

24. An aid to help those who feel hopeless on losing weight....An organization

that helps people lose weight, OA.

http://www.oa.org/

[begin_within]

25. Skip dinner and have sex instead.

You need breakfast, and a light lunch. But you don't need dinner.

[alarimer]

27. Skipping meals is very bad.

In fact, if you are exercising, you need to eat.

[Chan790]

28. More water/less sugary beverages.

That combined with the increase I have in walking since I moved to NY has taken probably 60 lbs and 6" at the waist off me since January.

[BreweryYardRat]

30. Don't drink soda, try to steer towards lean meat in your diet. Find exercises you enjoy.

If you're not enjoying your exercise, you won't want to do it on a regular basis. That way lies weight gain. Don't worry about how many calories a particular form of exercise burns, just go with what feels good.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. Ladies, please check out this thread in Health Women & Obesity - The Missing Link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x66961


Testosterone for Women
Excerpt:

I also believe that testosterone and other androgens may have a critical role treating some types of female obesity - the estrogen dominant type. Precious little research has been done in this controversial area, but it is obvious that a major reason why women have more difficulty losing fat than men is due to their lower levels of testosterone. Since testosterone can not only help mobilize fat but also build muscle, women can attain higher resting metabolic rates.

This is in stark comparison to most diet drugs that result in loss of muscle and usually the return of lost body fat once drug use is ceased. While androgens will obviously have some side effects in women, hence the controversy, however these side effects are likely less than the often life threatening effects of Phen-Fen and other diet drugs.

Testosterone as a treatment for obesity is probably much safer and actually more effective in the long term than liposuction. I really hope more research is done in this area, as I believe androgens are crucial in the war against the rapidly evolving plague of obesity in this country.

[soleft]

32. Don't worry about losing weight, just be healthy

[OwnedByFerrets]

34. Everyone is different, but the only thing that works for me is

carb counting. I can eat all I want/need and still lose or maintain weight. Ive lost 30 lbs this year. This time its not dieting, its a lifestyle change. There is no time frame, just letting it happen.

[Locrian]

35. low carb, NOT low calorie

Google "paleo diet"

http://www.paleodiet.com/

Low carb, low sugar is a way of life for me. No calorie counting.

[Strong Atheist]

36. Eat less and exercise more, though I just

eat nothing for several days at a time...