What have you done to loose weight that actually worked?

[Glassofwine]

The good, the bad and the ugly? What worked.

Cambridge diet plus giving up alcohol for a month (done at the same time) over 20lbs off. Still using Cambridge in a very lax way to lose another 7lbs.

And no exercise...shudder...ghastly stuff.

cut out the wine
ditch ready meals...make everything fresh
(my big tip is to buy a ready cooked chicken from the deli counter and have loads salad and beetroot with it...its gorg)
drink loads water
3 meals a day
try not to snack if you must eat fruit or veg
I've lost a stone in 5 weeks doing this

oh and a dodgy bout of tonsilitis probably helped this week!

I eat 3 meals a day (whatever I want pretty much but try to have some sensible meals) no snacking in between or in the evening.

Plus I go to the gym 3-4 times a week, and do 2 classes (yoga and pilates).

Have lost over a stone now and kept it off by doing this and actually like what I see in the mirror

No wine except at weekends
Eating earlier in the evening (usually before 6.30pm)
Porridge for breakfast (its a slow burner and you won't feel hungry)
Exercise every day... I used an abdominator thing... £25 from Argos. I have lost ten inches from my waist!
I have given up snacking but eat a lot of fruit

I have actually lost over 4 stone and dropped from size 18/20 to size 10/12 so it worked for me.
You have to feel in the right place in your mind... if you can lose the first few pounds, you get yourself on a roll and want to lose more.
I don't deprive myself and am greedy with food and drink every weekend, but then during the week, I work hard at undoing the damage of the weekend!
I still eat chocolate and crisps but not continually... just the odd treat.
Buy yourself some new clothes when you have lost some weight and it really makes you feel better about yourself.

breastfeeding. and walking about 1-2 hours most days. and lots of sit ups.

Oh, and when you have lost a bit of weight... stick a ghastly 'fat' picture of yourself on the fridge... it stares out at you and motivates you to carry on!

Upping my exercise levels.

I did Atkins last spring and lost a stone in 4 weeks, but then went on holiday and put half of it back on. I've tried to do it again but have found it impossible to stick to a second time.
Does anyone know why drinking lots of water helps you lose weight? I know I don't drink enough.

wow!!! at helliebean - well done, thats what I want to achieve!

thanks persephone!
The whole process did probably take 18months actually.
But I really didnt deprive myself that much... I couldn't have done because the family didnt even know I was on a diet (DH and 2 teens!)
Big Tip... don't tell anyone you are dieting. Just subtly change yr familys eating habits. Otherwise they apply pressure without meaning to!

Also wow at hellie and COV too. I'm doing WW this week as DP needs to lose weight, as do I, and I'm mainly in charge of cooking.
DP did not get on with Paul McKenna though I'm still going to do the 'eat when you are full, eat slowly, focus on your food etc etc' stuff as I found it really supportive.
I'm hoping to get some of my energy back, did any of you supplement vitamins and minerals?
I'm really trying hard with water.
I think sassy's point was really valid; I reward myself with food. I finish work around 3.30 most days and love that cuppa and choccie bar, relaxing with my book and unwinding for 10 mins. I'll try to find a replacement therapy, maybe a 10 minute workout, or am I fooling myself?

Slimming World.

I knew exactly what I needed to eat to lose the weight, but going to be weighed every week and staying to the group gave me the motivation to stick with it.

I've lost 2st 3lbs and I'm half a pound off target now.

Some inspiring stories Hopefully, they have inspired me enough. I'll get my pedometer out again tomorrow and start aiming for 70,000 steps a week and get DH to dust the AbDoer off for me.

Thanks for the much needed kick and well done all!

Wow, so many responses. Apart from a trip to kazakstan, to summerise the MN Healthy Eating Plan is:

1. Drink lots of water
2. No wine, except poss at weekend.
3. No carbs at night.
4. Eat before 7pm
5. Snacks should be fruit/nuts/seeds
6. No red meat, but lean chicken etc.
7. Increase exercise.
8. Don't call it a diet/tell the family
9. Cut out fatty food.

Sounds achievable.

Now, as an exercise hater who has too far to get to a gym, any ideas?

Glassofwine... I would seriously recommend the Abdomoniser... you know the thing... you lie on the floor and pull it up and down. I rest my feet on a gym ball which pulls the stomach muscles even more.
When I started (size 20) I did 100 a day without fail even when I felt ill.
I now do 200 a day on the days I don't do any other exercise.
I felt my waistline reducing with it.

Have 2 children 18 months apart, breastfeed and run after toddler, no time to think about food at all, only eat when you feel really hungry. Don't obsess about food. Honestly the best diet I have ever been on. Lost 1 1/2 stone pre children and haven't even tried.

Eat healthily, cut out junk food and do more exercise. It really is as simple as that. Exercise wise I found jogging and body pump and step to be the best.

weight training. The more muscle mass you have the more calories you burn. Muscle weighs more but will lose inches. Combined with a good diet and cardiovascular exercise over time will get results.

Well, I have just lost 7Ibs in 7 days with Jason Vales book of the same name, and am now doing his 14day Turbo charge programme...which should help me loose between 8-14Ibs in that fortnight....!
Jason Vale has a great aproach, and it's not all about Juicing, his Books got lots of good info, etc...!
Juicing will definately something I will do for life (I better do, lol, seeing that I just spend more money on a Masticating one, lol!)
His therorie is, that detoxing your system helps you with the cravings for unhealthy food.
He advices to exercise morning and afternoon/night...every day
I have loads of Exercise Dvd's...so, I don't get bored...got Tae Bo (which is fabulous) and Nell McAndrews Ultimate Challenge and Maximum Impact workout...(the Ultimate challenge is challenging, to say the least...the ohter one is doable...but a big workout still...1 1/2 h), also got Davina McCalls Power of 3 and 3 30 minute workouts-love the Pump one, but the other 2..hmm...got them as a pack though, so, it didn't matter, lol, and also got a Beverly Callard one, which is good, but not as challenging as the other 2.
I am also in the process of getting a rebound trampoline, they are meant to be fabulous, exercising the whole Body.
Oh, and I have 2 Abdominser things...lol...whichare not my cup of tea, and if you are anywhere near me, lol....you are welcome to one of them (am in Northants...you never know)...
With exercise the key is, to find something that you enjoy!
I also walk everywhere, well...within reasons, like!

2 cheekeymonkeys...you asked about water.
The way I understand it it works on different levels....!
Firstly if you are dehydrated, your body will start sendning out signals to your brain that are easily misread as hungerfeelings, when indeed you would actually be thirsty!
Also, when you are loosing weight, you obviously get rid of some stored fat,but it isn't jsut fat that you loose, you also loose those toxins within the fat, and it's easier for your body to transport them away if you are drinking plenty of water!
Another thing to bear in mind is, that caffeinated drinks are dehydrating.
That has always been my "hangup" with WW and SW, because they tell you that you can count coffee and tea into your 8 glasses a day, where the least they should say is, that if you have coffee and tea drink at least 8 glasses of water on top of that.
But hohum!

oh and here a lil link...comparing benefits of water and coke;)
link

After my first PG I still looked like a weeble for months after. I had never had to diet or anything before. Started the calorie counting, even tried herbal weightloss tabs and used a slendertone thingy for ages. That didn't work so sacked it off and just started eating the way I had pre PG and the weight came off.

Eaten less crap and exercised at least 3 times a week. Drink lots of water.