To ask how EXACTLY you have lost weight?

[twoblackdogs]

There are so many threads with the New Year resolutions, weight loss discussions, advice and probably lies as well - so many words, so many things.
I have finally reached that point from which there is no turning back. I will do this, no matter what, but - please, help me. Those of you, the heroes who have really done it - please, name 3 main things that finally helped you to get rid of that weight.
Please.

I wouldn’t cut out all sugar OP- that’s not realistic and your cravings will get the better of you

So much pseudoscience and disordered eating.
It's calories in v calories out. Balance macros and move every day. Don't look at food as bad/good it all has calories. Moving isn't Just the gym/ classes etc but walking is enough to start too.

My fitness pal. Religiously logged everything.

You need to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight. Use my fitness pal to track your food, as long as you are in a deficit you will lose weight. Weight training will make sure when you lose the weight you will be nice and toned

@twoblackdogs Good luck and remember....you can do it!

Track everything you eat. I’ve had great success with calorie counting previously and also with weight watchers. Ultimately they are the same thing. I really want to do some strength/resistance training next year too.

I’ve lost 11 stone over the last few years. Started by deciding to make the change, and cut out all sweet/sugary treats. I had zero control, admitted to myself that I was addicted, so treating it as such and cutting it all out was my only way forward. At the same time I only ate between 12pm-7pm (just the timings that worked for my life). Some people say just to make little changes or you won’t stick to them, but I’m a bit of an all-or-nothing person and found that I actually stick to huge shifts more than little changes. This’ll depend so much on you as a person.

After a year I’d lost around 6-7 stone, and started to exercise more as I could move far easier. I also started reintroducing the odd sweet thing, but only on a Friday at first. Lost several more stone and even completed a Tough Mudder last year. I’m the fittest I’ve been since I was a teenager!

And my parting words would be - don’t look at it as losing weight, but as increasing fitness/health. Don’t look at it as punishing yourself or doing it because you hate your body - do it because you love yourself, and want to take care of your body. That shift in perspective can really help.

1. Finding out what sort of diet works for me. You need a calorie deficit; the particular method that works for one person won't suit another. For me it's 5:2 - "I can have it tomorrow" is about the extent of my willpower.

1. Weigh weekly and write down weight for accountability, and to see trends.

1. Support, in the form of the wonderful 5:2 threads on here. I check in at least weekly.

I've lost over 2.5 stone and am now at a healthy weight.

I lost a stone almost ten years ago as a by product of a lifestyle change which was basically an extended holiday/career break. It boiled down to eating three home-cooked meals as i cut back on eating-out/takeaway due to not earning. And doing some form of mild exercise most days. Almost zero snacking as I didn’t need to do the bored-at-work eating. I wasn’t making a conscious effort to diet so no cutting back on carbs. But I guess I ate a lot less big meals and high energy food like chips.
I totally didn’t register it happening until one day I tried on a pair of jeans I hadn’t worn in months. I went from a 12 to an 8.
I love my size plus feeling fit so I’ve made an effort to maintain with three gym classes or runs a week. And if I have excessive weekends I eat simply in the week.
So for me anyway the calories in versus calories used works very well.

Logging every single thing you eat in My Fitness Pal app. It makes you realise how many calories are in even things like a coffee with sugar. Every time you log even one biscuit, you are surprised and start to realise it’s not worth it

This is me too. I logged EVERY SINGLE CALORIE.

Also, I hung on to the fact that I was losing weight for myself so that I would feel happier and healthier. I felt I was doing something positive and wonderful just for me. I am now 9 stones (I was 11 and a bit). I know it wasn't a massive weight loss but I just feel fantastic. I took ages dieting and did it very healthily. I aimed for about half a pound to a pound a week.

It was the best gift I could give myself.

I know I sound 'smug' but I don't care. I'm proud of myself. I love high calorie food and I found dieting boring!!! but I kept at it. It was something I did for myself that didn't cost anything or have any impact on anyone else. It was all about ME. 😅. BTW I promise I'm not smug out loud!

As I said upthread, I don't do diets anymore. I can't stay on them, the temptation is too big. And I have come to the conclusion, now that I am heavier than ever, that being slimmer and depriving myself was making me miserable. But, that is me. A lot of people are here have worked very hard and maintained, I think you are amazing.
My tips, however, would be the following , as they are things I have kept doing even though I don't diet any more:

• drink green tea. If you find it too bitter, there is lovely one, Qi, with berries, and I have recommended it to all my friends who enjoy drinking it.
• find a physical activity that you enjoy. Do not make yourself run or swim if you don't like it. For me it has been zumba, aquaerobics and running. Walking is great too if done regularly. If only for the mind!
• Don't beat yourself up for liking sweet food/ food that's high in fat. We are designed to crave these foods. I honestly think that in my case, labelling these foods as bad or naughty has led to binge-eating, because feeling guilty messes you up and sabotages you. If you have a treat, fully enjoy it and move on.

5:2 diet. Piece of piss. Lost 4 and a half stone and still are what I wanted at the weekend

Goldfishrampage you have every reason to be smug, well done. I like your approach of half a pound to a pound a week. Doable and sensible.

Slimming World

I've been up and down so many times over the years. At my heaviest I was 18 stone. I took up running 10 years ago and finally my weight has stabilised at 11 stone'ish, but if I eat too much I can still put weight on even with lots of running

It's all about caloriefuckingdefecit as james Smith says. Look for him on Facebook, he's very good.

I tracked everything on a food tracker app (I used MyFitnessPal). It really surprised me how many calories I was actually eating and I was massively underestimating the calories in food.
You have to be honest with yourself though and log every cup of tea and every squirt of ketchup or it just doesn't work.
It helped to see the progress and appealed to my competitive nature to stay within my calorie goal.

Eat less, move more. It's not rocket science. I used to be 15 stone 2lbs and have been 8 stone 4lbs give or take 2 or 3 either way for almost 15 years.

Calorie deficit, look up James Smith PT on social media. I track my calories on myfitness pal, I have lost a stone throughout december and have not gone without.

Eat less, move more. Calorie deficit is the only way to loose weight. my fitness Pal is great to let you know where the extra calories are coming from, and is a good motivator.
For me giving up alcohol is a good way to loose weight because if I drink I snack (so that’s double the calories!)

I read loads of scientific studies about a year ago and basically it really varies by person. Some people are ok by just making vague lifestyle choices and not thinking about it too much, other people need strictly regimented diets.

I have found any diet works as long as I stick to it - which I am very bad at. I have slimming world the easiest to stick to and have had some pretty good success but not as much as other people (lost over a stone). I still need to lose more but what is different is even when I'm not following it strictly it's very easy to still do the principles as it really prioritises healthy eating and also satisfying meals. Low fat low sugar nothing processed. And it's therefore easier to get back into the saddle.

80% of weight loss is what you eat.

Most ‘diets’ work if you stick to them, don’t be afraid to change things up if it’s not working out for you, I tend to switch to having my daily calories in a short time frame (10am - 4pm) when I get stuck, gives a little boost, also try different exercises until you find 1 that show’s results or you enjoy, all you can do is keep trying

Well I probably won’t be popular, but after 18 years of yo yo dieting and always ending up bigger than I was the previous year, I had a gastric bypass a few weeks ago. 2 stone down so far, it’s given me the restriction I needed to stop me over eating. It’s not for everyone but I felt it was the only long term option for me. Don’t regret it at all. Another 4/5 stone to go.

Eat less and exercise more! Cutting down on alcohol intake or not drinking at all most of the time and only eating bread now and then as a treat. All goes a bit to pot at this time of year but I allow myself a couple of days of eating and drinking what I want then just get back to it when new year is over!

Taking up running. Proper running for more than four miles a day, not just trotting down a lane for ten minutes and pretending to have been 'out for a run' (having a dog helps here).

Cutting my calorie intake way way WAY down. Two meals a day, raw grains for breakfast and an evening meal of 800 calories or less.

Giving myself one day a week 'off'. Don't have to run if I don't feel like it (although do take the dog for a long walk) and eating food I want. Not tonnes of it (although I sometimes binge), but nothing is forbidden.

I've lost four stone in the last year.

Low carb high fat with intermittent fasting. Have been doing it a year now.