To ask the best way you lost weight?

[Jumbo2000]

I’m having a toss up between going back to counting calories (I know this works even though it’s slow and very tedious) or going low carb.
I’ve never done low carb. It seems very restrictive.

My midsection is my problem area, I seem to store an awful lot of weight there and I know this can cause health problems.

Help a dumpy sister out here...

[Bobbycat121]

Calorie counting for me. 2 and a half months and ive lost 2 and a half stone.

[OrangeDuck]

16:8 diet worked well for me. Was careful with what I ate but didn’t massively restrict diet so felt sustainable and weight quickly fell off (and it was the last 5lbs I’d been struggling to shift)

[littlepeas]

Find a form of exercise you enjoy and do it regularly. Intuitive eating - have a look at Laura Thomas Phd on Instagram. All diets are crap.

[Beetlewing]

Low carb. It's not a faff once you get into it. Or what REALLY worked for me was the Whole30 diet. It's very restrictive but forces you to really look at what you eat. I liked it

[RatherBeRiding]

Calorie counting is the only thing that works for me. That way i can still get my carb fix. If I try to eliminate anything from my diet (carbs, fats, chocolate) I just end up craving it!

Sensible calorie counting, filling up with stuff like beans on a jacket potato, not denying myself treats. It's tough, and tedious, but it works.

[Bunnylady53]

Neither for me - it was quitting booze initially but also I have lost loads since working on a checkout where I stand up for 4 hours. I was 13 stone at my heaviest & got down to 9. I started drinking again ( not my best move) & have put on a stone but am determined not to go back to how I was. I’m short so nearly hit a size 20. Booze is doubly bad because it bloats me but it also makes me eat more rubbish!

[Reddragonqueen]

5:2 worked for me in the past

And finding a sport I enjoy. I hate the gym but love a team game

Breastfeeding was the best for me but I get that that's probably not an option

[WoahThereMama]

I combined both and did low carb calorie counting - the Fast 800 diet.

[Thatsnotmyotter]

Lower carb calorie counting worked for me. I used Myfitnesspal and tried to keep my macros (protein/fat/carb ratio) in thirds. I was also weight training and doing a small amount of cardio. Once I'd lost a couple of stone I found it fairly easy to eat intuitively and maintain my weight. I do a lot more endurance sport now and eat pretty much whatever I like so I can also recommend Ironman training as a weightless tool

[ivykaty44]

I’ve decided to calorie count and up my fibre, so feel full on less calories - so far so good as two weeks in lost 5ilb

[EssentialHummus]

5:2 here. I'm down 10kg over 6ish months. I have about 24 hours' willpower max, it turns out.

[UpOnDown]

Calorie counting for me, lost 9'lb in 4 weeks.

[Junkmail]

Low carb—the biggest benefit (aside from weight loss) I’ve found is that it reduces cravings drastically. So yes—it can appear restrictive but actually is pretty easy to stick to because of the appetite reduction. I really like eating this way and as a bonus my energy levels and skin have improve massively.

[mistermagpie]

Calorie counting and running (about three times a week).

I lost nearly three stone initially, have since had two babies and am back to the weight I was pre children. It works for me every time.

[snurfflepots]

Another advocate for the Whole 30 as a great kick starter; it's really hard at first getting your head round the restrictions but 2 weeks and it becomes second nature. It's shocking how much sugar is hidden in food but its opened my eyes to what I was actually eating!
I then moved onto the 16:8, its helped me reduce my calories without really having to think about it so I could focus on what I was actually putting in my body. 22lbs down this year and feeling so much better

[lastqueenofscotland]

Counted calories and run a lot
Boring but it works

[Jumbo2000]

@Bobbycat121 that’s an amazing loss in just 2 months! What’s your daily calories? Do you have a lot to lose? Well done, bet you’re feeling great!

Thanks for all the recommendations so far... it’s such a minefield for me, there’s so much conflicting advice out there.

I’d be tempted to try low carb. I love eggs and green veg and wotnot but it cuts out so many foods! Like fruit! Hmm... maybe it’s not for me.
Perhaps I’ll fire up MFP again... 😩

[Pinkcar21]

Another whole30 recommendation 👌🏻 It’s great for changing the way you look at food and nutrition, plus the weight loss is fairly rapid and lasts.

[Pinkcar21]

I lost 9lb in 30 days and it stayed off even when eating normally

[Stereomum]

Calorie counting and Exercise. I've lost 2 and a half stone in 3 months.

[isabellerossignol]

My Fitness Pal is the only thing that has ever worked for me. Really makes me think about what I'm eating, although I think it would be easy to become too obsessed, because all the little bits of analysis can be quite addictive

[TheShiteRunner]

Low carb. As a pp said, it reduces your appetite and for me, the carb bloat in my stomach went down within about three days, making a massive difference. I am now trying low carb AND low sugar- we'll see how that goes!

[PutyourtoponTrevor]

8 stone and counting on WW since end 2017, and without using any WW products

[AProphecyForAFantasy]

I count calories and also go to WW. You're supposed to count Smart Points at WW but the plan involves a whole raft of 'zero point foods', which aren't really zero; nothing's free if you consume enough of it

So, I tweak the plan and go to the classes.

I lost six stones, am at my target weight and am maintaining it fine.

[Jumbo2000]

@TheShiteRunner But doesn’t low carb and low sugar go hand in hand? Sugar is carbs isn’t it... I thought that’s why you weren’t allowed many fruits on the diet or sugar in your tea and so on? Or am I completely mind boggled with all these diets..