Any advice from people who really have this down?

i've been doing this for a couple of months now and so far had lost  nearly a stone. I've had a couple of bad weeks (going out etc) followed by a bad bout of the flu during which I didn't exercise. Subsequently have put 4-5lbs back on.

Not so worried about this as I'm seeing it as a minor setback but just wondered for those of you who have lost your weight or have lost a lot, did you ever bad bad days/ weeks and how did you get back on track. Also, how long did it take you guys to lose the weight. I have about 20lbs to go.

Any replies would be great xxx

Weight-loss varies from individual to individual.  Generally speaking, the closer you get to a healthy weight the more conscientious you have to be about calorie counting and exercise and also the slower the weight-loss becomes.  When I lost 50+lbs the first 20 went within two or three months, the next 20 took four months and the last 10 took another three months!

I found (and still find) that you have to think long-term.   Not merely the week to week scale reading.  It's important to be as consistent as you can whatever happens and whatever circumstances you're in.  When you go out, for example, you need to think & behave like the new slimmer person you want to be.... ordering salads, sipping water, saying no thanks to the garlic bread..... and not automatically go back to behaving like the fat person you used to be!

My technique for getting back was to make a plan.  Literally writing down the next few days' meals on a piece of paper and sticking it on the fridge.... getting the exercise clothes out ready to go that evening.... making the packed lunch for the office the next day.  I found that by having a good plan, some structure and by developing sound routines it became easier to slip back into those new good habits than into the bad old habits.

Losing 20 or 30lbs might take six months or nine months but maintaining that loss takes a lifetime....  Good luck

I don't know if I "have it down" since I am only halfway to goal, but what has been working for me is making sustainable changes in my lifestyle that I feel I can live with for the rest of my life.  Back in January I sat down and thought about why I had let my weight creep up to such a high number over so many years, and I decided that once I got obese, the problem seemed too big to solve.  So, this time, I just tried fixing one problem at a time, make a new good habit, and stick with it until I felt confident it was really a habit.  Then I tackled the next problem.

The first few months I decided to become a more active person and added in exercise without making any real changes to my diet.  I lost some weight, and then I started working on reducing my portions.  I lost some more weight, then I found CC and started logging my foods and improving my nutrition using the great tools here.  The weight started coming off really steadily at about a pound and a half a week, which really increased my confidence that I have a plan that works for me.

I try to live now as if I am already at my goal weight, moving and eating  as well as I will need to for the rest of my life.  The only real change I will make once at goal will be to allow myself a few more "treats", my core lifestyle will stay exactly the same.