IF you have successfully and in the long term lost weight - how did you do it, what was your strategy?

Question

God, these are the best answers ever. Good job, all. And congrats on your weight loss.

But I can't decide this. It would not be fair.

--> Vote.

Answer 1

I cut my caloric intake to 1200 calories a day, and exercised for one hour everyday, and in two years I lost 214 pounds, and have maintained that loss for 6 years now. My strategy? Would call it discipline, and a desire to live fully.

Answer 2

I lost 52 pounds on Weight Watchers. Sometimes I'll fluctuate up or down a few pounds, but I'm stable now. Weight watchers teaches you basic principles such as watching your caloric and fat intake, doing at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise a day, hopefully more, but AT LEAST 20 minutes, but I found once I put in the 20 minutes, hey, why not do more?

Most people think WW is about counting points, which it is if you look at it superficially, but it really is about changing your lifestyle. You look at food differently. It teaches you to look at food as a way to sustain you, and have the occasional indulgence without feeling guilty. They also stress the importance of exercise which many people are unaware of.

Also, people are afraid you will be stuck counting points for the rest of your life or you'll gain the weight. That's absolutely not true. I counted points for one year, lost 30 pounds, stopped counting points, lost 22 more pounds because I had learned the strategy. I had changed my life style. Now I know a healthy life style. I know my limits of how much I can eat without gaining weight with weight watchers and I know how important it is to work out.

The heart is a muscle, we need to keep it in shape! It's been 6 years, and I'm healthy and happy. If you're trying to lose weight, good luck to you whatever you decide to do.

Answer 3

I applaud you on wanting to become leaner and healthier. But, try this for when the weather is in the teens. Exercise is a natural process that our bodies use to eliminate excess fat. People gain excess weight by either overeating or lack of sufficient exercise. So, on those days, stop and grab your coat and your keys and leave the house. Hurry to do this, but once outside take a leisurely stroll around your block. Then go back home and DON'T SIT DOWN, but do some house cleaning. Continue doing this 1 block jaunt for 1 week. Next week walk 2 blocks at the same leisure pace and go back home and clean some more. By now you should be more intuned to yourself and feeling like you can take on the world. Well, don't. We don't want you to get discouraged and stop walking. Your body will be fine tuning itself as you walk so you may not see immediate results. For your third week take in a block further and go home and do some more cleaning. Do the same for the fourth week as well. Now, here you are at the second month. You should be feeling more energetic. Are you? OK, then let's begin. This time when you go for your walk you will increase it by 2 blocks each week. If you feel pain or are short-winded then stop and go back to your last comfort zone of walking. This is only your body's way of saying that it is not ready for that step so fast. It is not telling you that you can't or never will do it, but just not then. Now go out and buy yourself some good raingear for the days when it is raining cats and dogs. Boots included and cover your nose and mouth as well. Don't let the inclement in the weather get in the way of you having good health. Now that you are walking further you need to go home and start organizing the cabinets and drawers. You are probably one of those people who still watch too much television. If you can't get up the nerve to throw it (idiot box) out, then watch it standing up as you go around and clean house. Oh, and another thing, while you are losing weight your clothes will start to bag and sag. Get rid of them! After all of your hard work you want to flaunt your success. Go out and buy new underwear and outerwear clothing. Don't forget that your feet will have lost weight too, so buy new shoes. Don't overwhelm yourself, though. Buy a piece at a time as you loose weight and get rid of your fat clothes. DO NOT STOP once you are at your ideal weight. Now you have to maintain it, for a lifetime. And always be aware of your surroundings. I can see you now. YOU'RE LOOKING GOOD!

Answer 4

South Beach Diet did it for me 40 libs and haven't put on any weight in a year and I eat like a pig-but good food now.