Weight loss without counting calories

[SaraJS216]

Hi all, I've been a yo-yo dieter for most of my adult life and have tried WW, SW, intermittent fasting, low carb and calorie counting using Fitbit. All have worked to varying degrees however I'm 2 stone heavier than I was prior to having my 7 month old DD, and I'd like to make a 'lifestyle change' to lose the excess weight rather than following a specific plan.

I feel a bit out of control not following something specific, so just wanted to know if anyone has been successful with losing weight in this way and has any good tips? Thanks in advance 😊

You might find "why we eat (too much)" by Andrew Jenkinson, interesting. It does have the fault of all diet books though. Starts reasonable, ends up saying that no special diet or restrictions needed except cutting out wheat, sugar, vegetable oil, avoiding stress and getting a full night's sleep. Should be easy with a baby!
Sorry for non suggestion, will be interested to see what people recommend.

I have tried to do this but honestly, I need the structure otherwise it is too easy for me to drift back into bad habits.

At the times where I felt that it was working, I was sticking to 2 meals a day (I don't eat breakfast) and 2 snacks, and 50% of every meal was veg. Sadly I think that my portion sizes are too big so although I felt a lot healthier and my skin looked amazing, I didn't lose any weight.

Calorie counting and doing some daily exercise seems to be the best balance for me in terms of losing weight but not feeling too much like a diet.

You are right to want to change lifestyle because unless you do, yo yo is normal and expected because of your gut bacteria memory
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161129091143.htm
Just changing the quantity and not the type/quality of your food, will just push you back to where you were before, with added weight and bonus frustration .

I always recommend the book " the science of skinny"/

If you like to have a recommendation to follow or rules to apply to, think of these:

1. no added sugar in any form in anything. I am not talking about fruit or a carrot, but the added sugar listed as ingredient on anything under any of its name or form (added starch listed on processed food is chemically a sugar)
2. no refined grains - no white flour (written as wheat flour) , white rice, and so on. Even wholemeal breads are often white flour +bran
3. no processed oil (canola, palm, ...) - which leaves all processed food out

This means, you will probably eat the highest quality diet made of fresh and whole food.

It comes at the best time when you are now weaning your DD. Share the same habits and enjoy trying new vegetables, unprocessed food , snacks and the like.

Thanks so much for the helpful suggestions - will check out both of those book recommendations and see how I go

The first link is just a medical paper.
Another book however you might want to look at since you have a toddler is “ first bite “ by Bee Wilson. It is not a cookbook but an extremely well written book that explains why we eat e way we eat, why fussy eaters are so prominent in UK compared to the test of the e world, what the science says about BLW ( not very good) , and how a child ‘s palate and senses work and why it takes more than one try to like a food.

Adopting as a family a healthy way of eating which embraces diversity and variety on the e table is a win for all.