What have been the key things you have done to lose weight?

[Corneliagoescamping]

Obviously eat less and move more! But I have found that the key for me is planning meals and routine. I write what I'm going to have for the day into MFP in the morning and then add snacks. It helps me keep perspective on how few snacks I can have, otherwise I take the approach of thinking 'oh, I'll eat less later and have this chocolate now' but in reality have the chocolate and don't eat less later. I also have to keep meals really predictable and have the same one or two meals choices for lunch and breakfast every day and then smaller portion for dinner and LOADS of veg. I realise this is not rocket science, but was just wondering if anyone else had tips. Trying to lose the last few pounds!

[Usermuser]

I was actually thinking a diet tips threat would be useful.

I've banned chocolate, sweets, biscuits, cake and crisps on weekdays as they were my real weakness. Just knowing I'm straight out not allowed them takes the turmoil out of it because I don't have one and then have to fight the temptation not to eat the whole pack... On Saturday and Sunday I can eat as much as I want but I don't really tend to want to binge.

I've reduced bread, potatoes, pasta and rice massively too, but again, can eat them guilt-free at the wkend.

If I feel myself slipping, I think of the Summer and being able to go shopping for size 8 clothes again.

I put 'fat people' programmes on on YouTube and exercise while watching them... Weird but keeps me motivated...

Also, cleaning my teeth after I've had my tea stops me wanting to snack in the evening.

[BrowsOnFleek]

Cut out sugar & processed food, and reduced carbs! Also making sure I stay within a reasonable calorie intake as it's easy to go off piste when eating 'healthy' food and still not lose weight.

[babyblabber]

I also meal plan and what really works is writing everything you eat down like you said. So easy to eat without thinking and it all adds up.

Drinking loads of water defo works but I pee non stop at the best of times so find that hard.

I'm not sporty but if I do any exercise, a run or even a walk I find I'm less likely to eat badly coz then it was a waste!

[Helspopje]

Sleep better
Increase protein intake
Have breakfast
Consistency in nutrition and exercise
Strength training

[Darlink]

Three meals a day

NO SNACKS.

the " little and often to keep your blood sugar levels stable " advice of yesteryear is complete bollocks

[PurpleDaisies]

Meal plan and have take away busters in the freezer. For me it was all about cooking proper food with actual vegetables rather than just getting something brown from the freezer. Mainly veg and lean protein with measured carbs.

Also realising that if I had a chocolate bar at morning break that didn't mean the whole day was a diet write off and not eating crap until bedtime.

Eat well most of the time and a few dodgy meals won't matter.

[absolutelynotfabulous]

For me, it's predictability, planning and recording obsessively. Plus doing at least 10000 steps per day. Fitbit is my friend!

If I have a snack, I record it and compromise elsewhere.

I have a few tried and tested low-calorie meals I base my eating on:

Sushi. (250 cals approx).
Lunchables.(280 cals approx).
Fish Fingers (50 cals each).

I generally stay off carbs (very little bread, pasta, rice, spuds) and go easy on sweetcorn and peas.

However I take sugar in tea/coffee, I have something sweet after each meal and I still manage to stick to 1200 cals.

And no breakfast. I try to eat between 1 and 8pm only.

It's the only way of eating that works for me.

[MollyHuaCha]

Stop stockpiling tempting snacks. I only buy biscuits etc. for the family that I don't actually like

[sunfunshine]

I gave up sugar 6 months ago. 2 stone down and still going. It was (I imagine) like giving up crack for the first month but now I am strangely rarely hungry. Generally eat low GI, only berry type fruit. But bucket tonnes of white wine at the weekend (I can't be a complete angel).

[therealpippi]

Separate!

(True though. It meant Not having to cook these big meals everynight and eating smaller more veggie options. I also find myself eating only when hungry rather than when I had to or because I was miserable.)

[therealpippi]

Sorry, did not mean to be flippant at all. It's just that I was thinking about this this morning...

[namechange20050]

Tried and tested things that work for me:

Booze only on weekends
No snacks
3 meals a day. I frequently skip breakfast.
No cake/chocolate/treats etc.
Working out hard 3x a week.
Lots of water.

Am trying to get back down to 9 stone.

[absolutelynotfabulous]

I eat on my own too. . I know I'd be tempted if I had what everyone else was having.

I also eat in reading glasses so my food looks bigger.

[Corneliagoescamping]

I'm also only drinking alcohol at the weekend and exercising. Exercise is another crucial but for me, it doesn't help lose the weight as such but definitively helps maintain a steady weight and when I'm not trying to lose weight I can eat pretty much what I want (but always healthily, just with chocolate etc after dinner, cheese etc if I fancy it) and stay relatively slim. I run most days.

[BrowsOnFleek]

Also drinking lots of water & measuring out food portions. It's so easy to consume excess calories through larger portion sizes, especially when you don't think they're too big! I fill up ok protein to keep the chocolate cravings away.

[Slimmingsnake]

I can't even maintain my weight without going to the gym every day...if I want to loose as well,I'm on miniscule amounts😢..my own fault ,20 yrs of yo yo dieting mixed in with 20 yrs of bulimia 😪

[toffeeboffin]

Here's mine :

Don't have it in the house if you don't want to eat it
Find alternatives : dried apricots instead of biscuits
Water, water, water
Lower carb
Use squash instead of potatoes
MFP
Try on a piece of clothing that you are trying to fit into, that's a real motivator
Think how far the food has come from its natural state : the closer the better
Snack on boiled eggs, cottage cheese, veg sticks
Remind myself I'm not getting younger and if I want to look good I need to work at it and eat right!

[toffeeboffin]

I also eat in reading glasses so my food looks bigger'

[29redshoes]

Mine are hardly groundbreaking, but what works for me is:

MFP
No snacks
Drinking lots of water and tea

[Bloggybollocks]

Lifting weights, shredded the fat off me post children and completely changed my body in 6 months, 20 years of cardio did nothing! Literally amazing.

[Doje]

Weigh food to get a decent portion size
No sausages
No pastry
No chicken skin
No booze
(Sounds like no fun when written down)
Black coffee - I drink this anyway, but do ramp it up when dieting. 0 cals and stops me feeling hungry mid morning.

[Aoibhe]

Weigh myself twice a week to keep an eye on it
Nothing is forbidden, I have a bit of everything
Halved my dinner portions and now couldn't eat what I used to, even if I wanted to
Pizza & wine at weekends only and exercise the next day to balance it

That's how I maintain. I had to be a lot stricter than that to lose.

[fishonabicycle]

Managed to lose 5-6 kg last year and keep it off. Use MFP, put meals in at beginning of day so I know if I have and spare snack calories. Don't really eat processed or ready made food, hardly ever eat sweets, biscuits, cake etc. Exercise 4 times per week. Am in better shape at nearly52 than I have been for years and year.