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...

[feelingverylazytoday]

I lost 18 stone when I left exH
That's not really losing weight tho...

[SauvingnonBlanketyBlanc]

I lost 18 stone when I left exH

[Siameasy]

Low carb for me. It’s not perfect but I’m another apple shaped belly fat-prone person (😭)who likes to binge eat so I instinctively feel it’s the best fit for me.

Sometimes low carb gets mislabelled as zero carb and people imagine steak for breakfast and mountains of whipped cream 🤢but that’s not how everyone does it. I think it got a bad name from Atkins’ original Induction. My favourite meal is a sausage casserole. I use a low carb sausage or chorizo and serve it with veg, not rice/potatoes.

[marraccay]

Parkour.

It will get you into the best condition in your life. and you have no choice but to lose weight. Helps if you are reasonably fit and active to start but if not parkourgenerations.com/ do beginners courses.

Ok it will take you like 6 days to recover from the first session but stick with it. Totally worth it. You will eat more and healthier (although you can pretty much eat what you want) but still lose tons of weight and tone up in places you never knew existed. And you definitely will cut down on drinking. Intense exercise and alcohol don't go, so before after sessions you won't even want to touch it.

Before I get shouted down just to let you know I started when I was 52. Now regularly do night nissions.

For what it's worth....

[EleanorOalike]

TeamRH Fitness and a Personal Trainer.

I developed an under active Thyroid due to eating about 800 calories a day on WW “points” and gained weight on SW.

Now I count Macros and am much much more physically active and eat food that is nutrient dense and designed to protect my health for decades to come.

[NerrSnerr]

Counting calories works for me and exercise. I know you can't lose weight with exercise without the corresponding diet, but it definitely changes my shape quicker.

[Upanddownandroundagain]

I’m doing slimming world. I’m not massive but I wanted to eat a bit better and lose a bit of weight. A stone in two months, people lose tons. You just have to commit to the meetings - even after the weight has gone, to keep it off.

[Nathansmommy1]

Slimming world is definitely the way for me, I lost 3 stone in 4 months with it. Think it's because you can still eat so much, you can still eat meat and potatoes, rice and pasta so I'm not starving after it. And dont have to cut anything out completely, just keep a measure on the amount of treats you have in a day so as not to go overboard.

[GooodMythicalMorning]

Counting calories. Its just creating a calorie deficit. hoola hooping with a weighted hoop helped too.

[BarbieJellyBabyBrain]

Oh yeah, and the other problem with low carb is that if you 'cheat' it's really bad, because you will have been eating loads of fat, so adding any carbs back into that is going to be a disaster! And the idea of 'cheating' with food isn't very healthy anyway.

[BarbieJellyBabyBrain]

The only thing that works for me is the 'before you stick it in your mouth, stop and think' diet aka 'mindful eating' aka Paul Mckenna's method basically aka eating a hell of a lot less.

I can't do diets where you have to cut stuff out, it just makes me want it more. Low carb does work, but it's so restrictive and becomes quite repetitive, and I can't get on board with a diet where an apple is 'too carby'. Plus it doesn't address my issue with food, which is sheer volume and because low carbing, like some other diets, doesn't really focus on portion size, or the 'you can stop eating now you know' switch, or the 'do you really want that or are you just eating it because its there and you are allowed it on this diet' thing, I still end up mindlessly eating.

[flameycakes]

I ate less calories and got a lot more active, rigorous sex was good exercise at one point, lost loads then x

[managedmis]

The thing that worries me about low carb is, although I love eggs, green veg etc... it’s the amount of things you’re not allowed to eat. Just one slip up would undo the hard work and I’d have to start over again.
I’m not much of a fruit person, but being told I can’t have it makes me crave an apple confused

^

Depends how low you go. I eat sweet potato, potato, squash, lentils. Eaten in small quantities it's fine.

[Grumpasaurous]

5:2 here

Have tried many, many diets.

Have lost 16lbs in 8 weeks, have plateaued the last few weeks, so going to try combining it with the 16:8 and see what happens then.

[Peanut91]

Eat less and move more. I wanted more of a lifestyle change and something I could stick with long term rather than a fad diet.

I have lost nearly 2st since beginning of the year and have another stone to go.

[pocketcucco]

Just count calories! There's lots of weight loss calculators online that will take your current weight, goal weight, height, age etc. into consideration and recommend a daily calorie limit.

I can't do low carb or cut back too much or I binge eat so I work out and walk a lot too. Just start with counting calories and you'll learn through trial and error what works best for you

[ASundayWellSpent]

You need carbs to turn fat into muscle. You need a varied diet, and to be calorie deficient every day (meaning you eat less than you use). That doesn't mean starve yourself; if you have a sedentary lifestyle eat less, if you can be more active then your "reshaping" will be quicker and you can afford a higher calorie intake

[Montsti]

Breastfeeding also worked well for me...

Interestingly giving up alcohol has never made me lose weight! I have a glass of wine every night...but I don’t binge drink so maybe it’s that old adage...everything in moderation...

[Montsti]

Cutting out starch after lunchtime so just meat/fish and vegetables type things in the evenings...no potato products, pasta, rice or bread after 1pm...

No sweets or snacking unless fruit or nuts..I do still have something every day but try to limit it to one regular chocolate bar - no biscuits, cake, sweets etc...

Walking A LOT. Get yourself a Fitbit or similar and make sure you do at least 10,000 steps a day. Walk to as many places as possible...walk up & down stairs rather than taking the lift...

Good luck!

[chillychicken]

How does Joe Wicks plan specifically take off the belly fat?
You can't target specific areas to lose fat, he even says that on his own website.

OP, take a look at James Smith Academy. There is a 5-day free trial, no obligation to sign up. Use his calculator to work out you TDEE - it'll also give you the calorie target to lose weight. Pop this into MFP (rather than following their 1200kcal) and have a look at some of the meal plans on his website too. I've been struggling to lose weight for a while, but it was like a lightbulb moment the first time I saw one of his videos on Instagram. Since then I'm steadily losing weight and have been enjoying what I'm eating at the same time!

In short - you need a calorie deficit.

[Thesnobbymiddleclassone]

Cutting out snacks and just sticking to the three main meals a day. Also lots of water.

[HicDraconis]

Combination of 5:2 and low carb/keto. After a few days the desire for sweet stuff just goes, you eat less because what you’re eating keeps you feeling not hungry for longer (not full, just not hungry) and it tastes amazing (the flavour is all in the fat!). Also cutting right back on the wine.

[SallyWD]

16:8

[Sallycinnamum]

Low carbing is brilliant and I lost a ton of weight a few years ago on it but it absolutely wrecked my gallbladder due to the amount of fat I was eating.

It's also a very unforgiving diet in that you cannot cheat as it throws you out ketosis. That said I know a few work colleagues who swear it's helped with their diabetes.

For me it's good old calorie counting and limiting eating desserts and sweet stuff. Boring I know!

[Jumbo2000]

@Ludoole so very sorry about your husband

The thing that worries me about low carb is, although I love eggs, green veg etc... it’s the amount of things you’re not allowed to eat. Just one slip up would undo the hard work and I’d have to start over again.
I’m not much of a fruit person, but being told I can’t have it makes me crave an apple

I am quite concerned about the amount of belly fat I’m carrying though. I’m a size 14, but if it wasn’t for the fat around my belly I’d easily fit a 10/12 around my legs.