Anybody out there who is actually losing weight???

To those of you who are actually having success in losing weight - what diet "plan" are you using?  Low carb, low calories,....?

 

 

I am 12 pounds so far in three weeks...

Generally what I chose is low cal....I eat what I want....but I try to limit to 300 cal meals and 100 cal snacks....which usually winds up to about 1400-1700 cals a day...and about once a week I hit 2000 cals

I have lost 45lbs with a low cal diet and exercise at least 3 days a week.

If you're new to Calorie Count, Check out the tools on this site.  It will help you find out how many calories you should be eating in a day, to lose the weight you want to lose.

Good luck - and feel free to message me if you have any questions. :)

Crystal

Honestly, I was shocked to realize how many cals I was eating when I thought I was eating "healthy" ---  on a bad day, it was extra bad.

WHen I started I was 230+, now at 159.  I workout almost every day, almost every week.  I eat about 1700 cals.  I am satisfied.   I drink tons of water.   I feel good. 

It DOES work ---   counting cals and being conscious of the science/math between what you eat and what you burn is not hard --- just make it happen!!   (:     YOU CAN DO IT and it IS worth it!!!

I have lost some weight since I started July 29th.  As everyone else, not as much as I would like.

However, in doing this (CC), I have noticed a trend with my weight today and what I eat.  I noticed that I can drop weight and "feel" good, not blotted, not starving and eat to my cal number with taking out bad carbs, and putting in a ton of protein.  The fat number really has not done much either way.  if I try to = the numbers out "balance" them then not a lot happens.  I also noticed that on my heavy protein days I was much more will to do more stuff.  I was not knowingly eating simply more protein, it just worked out that way for my meals.

So, in conclusion...........

Each persons body reacts diff to diff things (carbs, fat, protein, etc).  Mine at this time seems to be carbs.  I will be starting a new way of eating on Sat which will include about 20% fat, 25% carbs and the remaining will be all protein. 

You need to listen to your body "IT" (not your brain or you telling yourself what YOU think you need) knows what is good for "it", and what "it" needs to drop the pounds and to be happy. 

I don't think that without CC I would have really noticed what it was I was eating (fat%, protein%, carb%), unless I was writing everything down.......That would not have happened!!!!

I try to eat to cal counter on days I do not do extra exercise, on the days I do no matter what or how much extra I do, I only eat about 200 more than my counter.  This is working for "me".  It really is a trial and error, do the exact same thing for 3-4 days.  Foods, exercise.  Then check yourself.  How are you feeling, what is your body telling you, did the scale move and on and on.  If it works, keep doing it, if no, then change some of the foods, more carbs, less carbs and on and on.

As I said above, the higher protein is working for me now, in 2,3 or 6 weeks that might change, I have to "listen" to my body.

I also use Mega Men vitamins from GNC, there might be other out there, but they have in them what I need.  Find yourself good supplements.  There is nothing wrong with a meal replacement shake, they taste great (chocolate).  I drink close to 170 oz of water everyday.  YEP I am in the bathroom all the time, however I would rather be there than in the frig!  Forget the diet pills, they do not work, don't drink soda (I have not had a soda since 7/28), don't drink coffee, have some tea if you need something hot.

 

Hope this helps.

Dave

I've lost 135 lbs. so I guess it works! Calories in less than calories out. It was such a simple idea and after I gave up on the gimicks and started eating less calories and exercising frequently and consistently the weight actually came off. Let me clarify, the IDEA is simple but the execution is tough. You really have to be strong and willpower your way through the first few weeks until you get used to the new lifestyle. I think I have never been so miserable as I was that first month.

All worth it now.

Just make sure you have around a 500 calorie deficit every day, meaning that you burn around 500 calories more than you consume, and you should lose about a pound a week! It works, trust me!

Use a BMR calculator to determine necessary energy requirements. I prefer http://www.phord.com/cc since the Mifflin-St. Jeor formula tends to be more accurate for me than the Harris-Benedict formula employed by CalorieCount.

Aim to eat close to your RMR. RMR is BMR multiplied by 1.2.

Eat 5-6 meals. This reduces the likelihood of overeating at any one point, continually stimulates the metabolism, and regulates energy and insulin levels better than 3 big meals.

Consume 30-40% of your calories as Carbohydrates, 30-40% as Protein, and 20-30% as Fat.

Eat Protein with every meal.

Eat green vegetables, fruits, nuts, salmon and tuna, turkey, chicken, lean beef, beans, and extra-virgin olive oil. Choose whole grain over white for breads and pastas.

Lift weights three times a week.

Park in far spaces in parking lots, take the stairs, walk up and down escalators, use grocery baskets instead of carts, handwash dishes, push-mow the lawn, go for walks and watch less TV. In a nutshell, increase normal physical activity that should occur in everyday life.

Drink a lot of water.

The thing that made the biggest difference to me, that hasn't been mentioned above, is that I am on the PATIENCE plan. I am the type of person who wants to go go go and finish faster than anyone expected me to, and do it as fast as possible and the best as possible. This won't ever work, at least not for most people, because your weight and eating are so tied in to your emotions. You push yourself too hard, expect too much from yourself, make yourself miserable, and you fail.

I have tried to lose weight with deadlines and threats to myself and it has never worked. This time, I don't have a vacation or a party or reunion I'm trying to look good for, I'm just trying to integrate better habits into my real life, and slowly see if changes happen. Once I started thinking this way, the changes actually started coming fairly fast, and I have lost 10 pounds over the last month and a half (155 to 145 on 5'7"). The hugest revelation is that when you make a mistake, and those three pounds you've lost are gone overnight when you step on the scale (this is usually when I yell at myself and quit trying), THEY AREN'T REALLY GONE! They are hiding because usually when you screw up you eat too much sodium and you retain water. The biggest one thing for me is to take mistakes in stride. Say "oops, cordie that was a mistake," and then just go back to what I was doing. The blip usually smooths itself out in a couple or a few days, and you keep going!

It is still very challenging for me to "stay cool" about losing weight. Especially now that I am having the beginnings of success, I sort of want to "kick it into gear" and keep the results coming. I now know that this is the exact wrong thing to do. Dipping under my calories for a few days, over-gymming it, being too harsh on myself -- the only thing that will come quickly that way is ... failure.

So I don't think of it as "low calories"... I think of it as low pressure! I am learning to eat a different way, an enjoyable way, and I feel better and look better because of it. I am allowed to make mistakes, and I am allowed to have something disgusting and dripping in fat once in a while. I just know what I'm getting into, I write it down, and go back to being good. What happens because of a splurge happens, and I just know the end result, long term, will be awesome.

Simply: calories in < calories out. I've lost 32lbs doing this alone.

I've posted my weight chart in my profile.  Feel free to look at it.

I don't "diet" or follow any plan.  I use the USDA food pyramid to guide me on what to eat and how much.  I use the World's Best Foods website to make sure I'm eating the healthiest food possible.  I also make good use of the CC+ Advice section when I have questions.

I use the CC tools to determine my caloric needs and have been pretty successful at losing and also at maintaining within a 10 pound range for a very long period of time, as shown on my weight chart.

Beware of all those diets, especially the ones that restrict whole food groups.  I know from years of experience that they don't work in the long run.

Good Luck.

I've lost 13 lbs in the past 2 months. I know it's not that much compared to many others, but I seem to be making very steady progress, and it's easy! I eat 16-1800 per day, depending on my exercise level, don't feel like I deprive myself at all, and the weight seems to come off at about 1-2 lbs per week.

 

It seems that the key is not to get impatient and really concentrate on changing one's habits for good.  I eat pretty cleanly (and cheaply) 90 percent of the time, and that makes it really easy to stay in my calorie limits. You just have to be committed for the long haul.

I've lost 65 lbs. since February 1st and still have 49 more to lose.  I'm a 55 year old female.  In the beginning (the first 3 months) I lost weight rapidly.  Since then my weight loss has slowed to a normal 1 lb. every 5-7 days.

Even after losing so many lbs. at my age, so far no wrinkles and no stretch marks (yet)!

I try to ride my bike and swim for 30-60 minutes 5-7 times per week.  If the weather is bad, I go to the mall and walk.  Even 15 minutes is better than nothing!

I eat and drink everything I like ... just in moderation and not on a daily basis. I have been "eating clean" for the most part, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, low cholesterol proteins (even though I do enjoy a nice 8-10 ounce steak about once a week, anything from ribeye to sirloin), healthy whole grain carbs (bake my own whole grain bread with sourdough, lots of seeds and nuts) (also have discovered that I really love muesli unsweetened).  For breakfast I alternate between muesli and egg whites.

I usually eat at least 4 times a day.

I actually look forward to reaching my goal and then maintaining.  When I used to "diet" maintaining the weight loss was just impossible for me.  Now I know all I need to do is add 500 calories a day to maintain.  The only thing to watch is restaurant food.  Certainly they do have some healthy alternatives, but they are usually still higher in calories than my normal meals.

Original Post by kelleigh:

Simply: calories in < calories out. I've lost 32lbs doing this alone.

Same here!  I'm down 60 pounds using this wonderful plan 

I have lost 14 lbs since I started counting on June 26th - it may not seem as much but I have also lost inches and gained muscle in the process. The weight loss has been pretty steady and I am not depriving myself at all!

I eat between 1350 - 1450 calories a day but I do allow for more if I feel like it... I try to consume only good, natural fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts, etc.), I don't eat red meat (have never liked it) and I try to consume only good carbs.. I have made some changes that have really helped such as switching to soy milk (morning coffee, cereal, pancakes, etc), switching to 100% whole wheat flour for baking and pancakes, eliminating oil and butter almost completely (I now use cooking spray for cooking and apple sauce for baking) but the biggest change has been really focusing on portion control and reading labels!! it's shocking to come across a tiny packet of something that I used to munch on before and find that it has 3 servings at over 100 cals each! talk about reality check.

I exercise 4 - 5 days a week by walking or swimming and lifting free weights..

When I started I decided to eliminate the word DIET out of my vocabulary because I am not dieting, I am changing the way I relate to food and plan to make this a life long commitment... All the changes I have made are changes I can easily maintain.

Good luck to you!

I've lost 45 lbs and gone from a size 16 to a size 6 since I started Jan 1.  I started out just counting calories, then started biking to work, then I joined a gym.  I think the best thing about CC is that you learn really quickly how to balance your nutrition.  It's become not just a 'diet' per se, but a way of life that has really become habit.  I used to go out to eat and order the fattiest thing on the menu.  Now its just second nature to look for the healthiest option. 

Use the tools on the website to find out what your calorie intake is and log everything and eventually the pounds will start to drop off.

 

I've lost 34 pounds since the beginning of May.  I have told myself that I am not on a diet, but simply want to be healthy.  I walk at least two miles everyday and limit calories to 1500.  If I want a treat, I have a fudgsicle.  If it's my sons birthday, I have a small piece of cake.  I don't think that cutting out every tempting food works, you just feel deprived and tend to binge.  It is a balance, but you can do it!

I've finally got back on the weight loss wagon after taking a "break" (aka plateau lol).

I'm on a 1200-1500 cal diet; I eat semi-vegetarian; no read meat at all; no fried stuff; no whites: white bread, white pasta, white rice; no sweets; no soda...

I also work out; currently I only burn 500 cal a week via cardio but I'm starting aqua fitness soon.

 Thanks to everyone for your comments.   It seems like most people are having success by doing low cal or basically just making sure that you work off more calories than you consume. 

Well I am about 5'4 and I weighed around 114-116 in july. as of today i am 106, which is 3 lbs away from my goal weight. i have been taking in an average of 1200 calories per day. i'm not adhering to any specific diet, but i try to eat a natural, 75% vegetarian diet with a focus on fresh produce, dairy, eggs, and homemade vs. packaged food. my weight loss is not the biggest change i am noticing in my life. my skin is better, i have lots of energy, and i am pleased again with the way my body feels and looks.

i also exercise regularly. lately i have started to do some muscle strengthening exercises in addition to cardio. i'm not an avid exerciser but i am hoping to get used to a fitness routine. dieting is pretty easy, but fitness is definitely a lifestyle/mindset change.

Hi, I've had a similar experience as many people who have posted replies to your posting.  That being that the fad diets haven't worked for me, and I've come to realize that basic calorie intake is what losing weight comes down to.  I've also realized (begrudgingly, LOL) that it really does have to be a way of life.  You almost have to stop looking for the results (because I agree it can be slow) and instead just change your eating and exercise habits and the weight loss part will follow slowly, but surely.