People that have lost weight. How did you do it?

[JennetHumfrye]

I'm so overwhelmed by how many different diets or methods that are out there. I have 7st to lose and don't know where to start.
For anyone that has lost weight (and kept it off), what did you do and how long did it take you?

Lost 4 stone in just under 3 years.

I took up running, built up to running everyday 10k. Walking every day 5k. Logged food & exercise on FitBit and ensured a calorie deficit between 500 to 1000 calories. Basically cut previous sized portions by halves and added in more non starchy veg or salad to fill the rest of the plate to achieve the deficit.

To maintain just upped the food enough to no longer lose weight.

500 calories deficit (after working out my needs using a TDEE calculator). Consistently for 6 months, lost literally 1lb a week on average over 6 months. Kept it off for 2 years by eating maintenance calories. Everything in moderation and balance. It's simple, but it's not easy! Good luck OP!

Ate less and moved more.

The eating less worked better than the moving more. If you move more and don't eat less it doesn't work.

Ate less food
Did not eat between meals
Upped exercise (2 hours walking daily + 1 yoga class)
Did more vigorous housework and gardening

I did not cut any food groups out, I just ate less carbs and fats and more veg / salad and fruit.

I ate less, using the my fitness pal app to log what I was eating. I also used 16:8 I think it's called 🤔 where you eat within an 8 hour time slot. Plus I did a bit more walking and drank more water. I found those things helped more than focusing on eating specific things, as I could still eat what I wanted.

Put everything I eat into my Nutracheck appp. Aim for 1200 calories a day - usually manage 1400. Walk when I can (75 minutes). I've lost 14kg which I'm quite pleased about.

Basically, eat less. I used the My Fitnnes Pal app to work out my calories.

Low carb. Lost 3 stone.

I eat less and use my fitness plan to log all food and exercise. I've lost weight quite slowly. I haven't done much exercise but am planning to start couch to 5K.

I had 7 stone to loose

And got a gastric sleeve almost 4 weeks ago. Am nearly 2 stone be down already.

Ate less, cut out sugar, flour and milk

Mantra:
Real food (ie no processed foods and no sugars and flours)
Not too much (smaller portions)
Mostly plants (at least half your plate should be vegetables)

Following this mantra will stop diabetes and many inflammatory conditions and many mental health conditions too.

Credit Michael Pollan
michaelpollan.com/reviews/how-to-eat/#:~:text=We%20think%20it's%20the%20one,laugh-out-loud%20funny.

I strongly believe that the only way to lose weight is simply a calorie deficit. All diet plans put you on a reduced calorie diet one way or another. Some foods help you to feel fuller for longer (protein, large mass vegetables) but ultimately you just need to eat less than you burn.

I'm currently trying to lose 5 stone. I've lost 2 so far. I'm using the app called 'lose it' which is just a calorie counting app. I don't count any exercise in as additional calories because I know I nibble a bit of the kids food here and there or eat just a bite of chocolate etc and it all adds up so this gives me a bit of a buffer. I also just bought an Apple Watch to try and motivate myself to do more exercise each day. Some weeks I don't lose and I know when I'm honest with myself that it was all the little extras I didn't count so I try to be more careful.

I increased my exercise from nothing to some, and started eating just one meal a day 6 days per week. I eat a family dinner - as much as I want - plus pudding or some chocolate or similar, but nothing else at all. I find it fairly easy and better than constantly counting calories etc. It fits in with family life too - my kids don't know I've been dieting. Have lost 3 stone since Feb and now maintaining.

Slimming world

I Log everything I consume on My Fitness Pal.
3 stone off & maintained.

Honestly it’s eye opening where secret calories hide. Logging everything has made me more aware and means I make better choices. I’m unable to exercise so my weight loss is all down to portion control.

Ate a lot less, especially high GI carbs (bread/cereal/biscuits etc)

No breakfast
Half my previous lunch (mostly cut out the carbs)
Normal dinner
No snacks

And walked a lot more due to leaving a desk job. But I reckon eating less had a much bigger effect

Intermittent fasting, intensive weight training and cardio three times a week, no alcohol, little sugar, no junk food.

Ate less and took up running.
I use mfp.
Its not complicated you need to eat less calories than your use.
You need to stop being scared of being hungry... There is literally no need for snacks.. Just wait untim meal time.
Be absolutely honest and count every calorie.
And find other ways to self soothe emotions.. You need to re write the narrative.. Not every thing needs food as reward or accompaniment.. You can watch a movie without popcorn... You can reward a good thing with a nice bath or walk for example.
I lost four stone 11yrs ago.. Keor it off during menopause and pandemic

I lost nearly 5 stone a few years ago. Sadly I gained about a stone over lockdown, but even so I'm still pleased.
I went for the 'eat less, move more' approach. Basically I bought smaller plates for portion control, and increased fruit and vegetables and other healthy stuff while cutting out most of the processed crap.
Exercise - I did wii fit, lots of walking, swimming and bought some weights to do some basic resistance training (mainly to prevent bingo wings).

Ditched alcohol, bread, potatoes. Walked more (less would have been difficult!) but have never managed 10k steps per day.
Ate more fruit, always had some in fridge for snacking.
Started January and have Lost 3 stone. (13st to 10st)

I've lost 12st 4lbs in 3 years. I did it using ww online. Unfortunately can't exercise as I'm now disabled.

One thing I would say is if you are restricting your diet please make sure you take a good multivitamin plus a B vitamin complex. I had a virus that attacked my nerves but the damage wouldn't have been as bad if my diet wasn't so restricted so be careful!