Ok, it's time for me to lose weight again.  The only time I ever lost a really large amount of weight was when I was counting calories (1200 per day allowance) and doing aerobic excercise twice per day for 45 minutes each session.  That's really time consuming and extremely inconvenient.  I really would not like to go that route again, beacuse it requires an obsessive focus, and you can't even eat out.

I also did the low carb diet once with some moderate success, but I got stuck at a weight above my goal weight.

So I'm asking people who have lost a large amount weight at some point to share what worked for them.  I'd really apreciate some suggestions.

I have schizophrenia and overall I have gained 80 pounds because of the meds I have to take for it. Fortunately I was really skinny when I started, but still I became very overweight. In the last couple of months I have lost over 20 lbs (taking me to 198) and I'm planning on going down to 150 before I start hormones. It started with my study abroad trip to France, where I was walking at least an hour a day. That was the first 14. The next 8 were lost at home keeping at least a half hour brisk walk per day. It's no where near as taxing as an aerobics workout, but I'm afraid you're not going to lose a significant amount of weight without a significant time investment.

Also, it doesn't take a strict diet to lose weight, at least not the first pounds. All it takes are little adjustments to what you eat: skim milk instead of whole, vinegarette instead of say ranch on your salad, and eating lean meats like chicken and fish instead of red meat.

I lost over 40 lbs a few years ago following the WeightWatchers plan.  There isn't a specific "diet", you just find out how to calculate "points" for every type of food, and you quickly discover what sorts of food you WANT to avoid, and what portion sizes are appropriate to your goal.  You get a certain number of "points" per day, plus a few "flex points" if you want to go over a bit, but sticking to your points total is important to achieve success.  And what I found, is that after a while, you just get used to making the right choices, and it isn't so difficult.  And, adding moderate exercises will increase the weight loss.  Anyway, that's what worked for me.

Quote from: Colleen Ireland on July 22, 2010, 09:21:32 PM
I lost over 40 lbs a few years ago following the WeightWatchers plan.  There isn't a specific "diet", you just find out how to calculate "points" for every type of food, and you quickly discover what sorts of food you WANT to avoid, and what portion sizes are appropriate to your goal.  You get a certain number of "points" per day, plus a few "flex points" if you want to go over a bit, but sticking to your points total is important to achieve success.  And what I found, is that after a while, you just get used to making the right choices, and it isn't so difficult.  And, adding moderate exercises will increase the weight loss.  Anyway, that's what worked for me.

I lost 55 in 4 months on WW. I did gain back 10 but I plan on getting back on the diet to lose even more

Walking 60 mins a day and smaller meal portions.

You burn more calories "fitness/power" walking than you do jogging or running. But seriously walking is where it's at.

Oh and stop drinking pop. Drink plenty of water.

I have tried just about every diet out there and invented a few myself I reckon. Weight loss would be going great. Then I would hit a plateau and well, usually start 'finding' all those pounds that I had lost.

Over the past 2 years I have lost over 50lbs, no fads, no program. Just my motto of:
'Eat less, Move More'.
So now I try to eat a lot of smaller meals throughout the day, move my body and don't deny myself anything (everything in moderation).

It takes a while for the old brain to let go of old habits so persevere and if you fall off the wagon, that's ok, tomorrow is a new day and have another go.

Sorry I wasn't able to provide the overnight solution or name a magic pill.
Good luck!

Quote from: Alyha on July 22, 2010, 10:07:02 PM
I have tried just about every diet out there and invented a few myself I reckon. Weight loss would be going great. Then I would hit a plateau and well, usually start 'finding' all those pounds that I had lost.

Over the past 2 years I have lost over 50lbs, no fads, no program. Just my motto of:
'Eat less, Move More'.
So now I try to eat a lot of smaller meals throughout the day, move my body and don't deny myself anything (everything in moderation).

It takes a while for the old brain to let go of old habits so persevere and if you fall off the wagon, that's ok, tomorrow is a new day and have another go.

Sorry I wasn't able to provide the overnight solution or name a magic pill.
Good luck!

That's the best way to do it. I also try to wait until I eat. I usually just eat and eat because I enjoy food. I try to wait until I actually FEEL hungry.

That's good suggestions. Weight Watchers points is basically calorie counting if I'm not mistaken.  I was eating 5 smallmeals a day when I was doing my diet.  I really had to treat food like medicine, and take it in carefully timed and measured doses.  I've ordered a watch that vibrates and has 8 daily alarms plus a count down timer, so maybe that will help me dose it out and keep from getting ravenous.

As far as choosing skim milk, diet soda, chicken, etc., I made those changes years ago, and I did drop weight but now I've gained it all back and more even with those changes.

About the soda, were you talking about all soda, or just not diet soda? I do drink diet soda instead of water.  Maybe the sodium is a problem?  Do I have to switch to water?  Does anyone know? 

'Diet soda may not have the sugar or calories of regular soda, but it's chock-full of other health-draining chemicals, like caffeine, artificial sweeteners, sodium and phosphoric acid. A majority of studies show that diet soda may actually set you up to gain even more weight.' - http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/dietsoda.aspx

Your main go to drink should be water

Quote from: Shade on July 22, 2010, 10:55:45 PM
'Diet soda may not have the sugar or calories of regular soda, but it's chock-full of other health-draining chemicals, like caffeine, artificial sweeteners, sodium and phosphoric acid. A majority of studies show that diet soda may actually set you up to gain even more weight.' - http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/dietsoda.aspx

Your main go to drink should be water

Well, my workplace provides free soda, and I wind up drinking about 8-12 sodas per day.  Guess I'll try water, but I hate passing up free stuff.

Also try not to consume too much food or drink containing High-Fructose Corn Syrup. 

"In addition to causing significant weight gain in lab animals, long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup also led to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in circulating blood fats called triglycerides. The researchers say the work sheds light on the factors contributing to obesity trends in the United States."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322121115.htm

Soda is okay to drink in moderation! You just have to count points/calories and make sure you don't eat over a certain ammount.

I treat soda like well...like a treat. I only have one fountain pop every other week, if that. After you stop drinking it you don't crave it. And when you do drink it, it's just so sweet it's kind of sickening. haha. Even diet soda tastes too sweet to be refreshing.

Quote from: Shade on July 22, 2010, 11:22:14 PM
I treat soda like well...like a treat. I only have one fountain pop every other week, if that. After you stop drinking it you don't crave it. And when you do drink it, it's just so sweet it's kind of sickening. haha. Even diet soda tastes too sweet to be refreshing.

Same here, although I need to quit drinking diet soda haha. But yeah ever since I lost weight, when I eat too much junk food, I feel worse than I did before. Haha. But I only get a real soda when I'm out at dinner for a celebration, ie birthday or something fun and I don't care what I eat, or when I really want one. Which isn't often.

I've lost about 25 pounds recently by just cutting each of my meals down by half.

Have a normal T level (either male or female)

My doctor tells me that one reason why I struggle to lose weight and am relatively naturally placid is because my T level is so ridiculously low. I can't say I'm that keen to take any though.

Over the past 2 years I have lost over 50lbs, no fads, no program. Just my motto of:
'Eat less, Move More'.

[/quote]
ELMM is the only way.   I got down to 150 when I was doing that but then over last year I have had ankle and knee op and deep depression and I'm back to 170.
But now the knee needs plenty light exercise I've decided to try see if I can see 150 again.
I found that going for walk into town late morning and skipping lunch except for fruit juice was as good a way as any.

less calories

Before I even started transition I found out I had become gluten intolerant. So essentially my system cannot break down wheat or gluten (a protein in wheat) very well and so it hurt for hours on end after eating. I was 220lbs before the hurting started and it took them a month to figure out what the problem was because everything else was healthy.

Between not eating much and going gluten-free, I made my way down to 160lbs. I seem to be able to maintain 160-165lbs now fairly easily.

Jerica- I have a lot of bipolar friends who are on gluten free diets and are rail thin, although I don't know if there is a connection. Does eating gluten free diets help not only people who can't tolerate it lose weight but also people who can?