ksirrah

I have a couple of questions...

1) Should you have a specific weight in mind that you want to hit? Or will an estimation of pounds be okay-10 to 15 ish?

2) Is calorie counting effective? I've cut down to 1200 to 1400 a day...

Thanks for your help...

Sparqi

A lot of us here do Weight Watchers. For me, that was the easiest way to lose the weight. I needed a lifestyle change, not a diet.

You want to have your Body Mass Index be between 20 and 25

BMI - Body Mass Index: Adult BMI Calculator: Engli

So, I would start there.

hotgogobot

1) A lot of people do well with a measurable goal - either pounds or inches. I prefer inches.
2) Yep. It can be really effective, but also really hard to do for longer than a week or so. It's just tedious. And personally, I lose more weight when I eat a lot and exercise than I do when I just cut calories.

lapoissonne

Set a goal. I am perpetually five pounds from my goal and at this point expect to be for the rest of my life.

I hate counting calories. I found that WW was great because points I could do and then I liked South Beach because it was hardy, core, healthy filling foods that if you ate just right helped you lose weight as well. I just try to mix my knowledge of the two now I guess to maintain because I am still stuck at five pounds away

Eleni

I have a totally different approach to dieting than calorie counting.
You have to cut out bad carbs. Don't mix carbs and fat. Eat plenty of protein, in fact it is better you get your carbs in the morning till noon and then do just protein and salads. Protein and good fat go well together (like a steak and an avocado salad with olive oil). You shouldn't be afraid of fat. Unsalted nuts like almonds and walnuts are a great snack. Make dressings with full fat yogurt and spices. You can also allow yourself something sweet after a good work out. Your metabolism will burn it easier then. Eat plenty of small meals throughout the day, that is every 2-3 hours. That has to be mostly protein. You can also have fruits but not right after a meal and not at night. You can have healthy yogurt smoothies in the morning along with an omelet. Or have some porridge. You can also allow one day out of the week for eating anything. That doesn't mean go nuts on food just that you can enjoy pizza, more carbs like pasta, something chocolatey (even icecream) and wine/beer. It gives you a boost and you're ready for the next week. But I'd wait two weeks before I get my break day.

DH in eats like this always...It is a lifestyle to him. He's never craving anything but if he really wants something he'll have it. Probably followed by some protein to help metabolize it better.
His snacks include peanut butter (not the whole jar but a couple of spoonfuls), tahini, nuts, protein shakes, greek yogurt (not the jelly-like, sugar loaded one that is usually sold in the US), grapefruits, apples. He also eats flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, and takes linseed oil. Oh, and works out 5 times a week, doing mainly crossfit exercises, gymnastics and sprint running.

JenR

I really think it's important that it's a lifestyle and not a "diet" - you need to find a way of eating that works for your lifestyle and your body and just make that the way you always eat. I think about all the years I tried "dieting" just to go back to my old body when I went back to my old way of eating - what a waste of time and energy! I second WW (especially core), but anything that works for you is what you should do!

ksirrah

Thanks! I checked a scale today, and I'm down 2 pounds in a week...so I must be doing something right.