Any weight loss success stories to share? Suggestions? Encouraging words?

[Boomer]

I would like to lose about 20 pounds.

Losing that amount would still not put me where those BMI charts say I should be. But I know if, at my age, I lost enough to hit that “ideal” BMI weight, my rather round, smiling face would sag to my shoulders. I would look like a bloodhound.

I do not want to be a stick figure, just need to reign it in, especially in the middle. I hate wearing Spanx when I have to get all gussied up.

I know the drill, of course. Eat less. Move more. I have been working on that and have lost a few pounds.

But I would really like to hear about the successes of others in or around my general age group — people who are nearing retirement, have retired, and especially those who have been retired for a while.

If you have had weight loss success and don’t mind sharing what you did, I sure would appreciate the inspiration.

Boomer the Butterball

[graciegirl]

On Monday saw the doctor for check up, labs were good and I had lost four pounds, not a lot, but it had been four months. The only different thing I had done is walk twenty minutes every day.

[JSR22]

I lost 25 lbs in 4 months and have kept it off. Low carb is what worked for me.

[baustgen]

Substituted Wal-Mart meal replacement shakes for lunch every day. No other restrictions. Lost 35 pounds in 6 months. Going for 25 more.

Only other change in diet was no more Coke.

[tophcfa]

Low carb works better than anything. But if you want the weight to stay off, it has to be a lifestyle choice, not just a temporary diet change.

[CFrance]

I had gained weight due to a medication I had to be on for five years. After the medication ended, of course the weight stayed on! I went to Weight Watchers, lost 35 pounds on the SmartPoints plan, have kept it off for over two years. This was not the Freestyle SmartPoints plan they are offering now. The one they offer now allows too much food and doesn't work for many folks. There are complaints all over the internet about it. It seems to be a marketing ploy to try to give people what they want.

The deal with the SmartPoints plan placed emphasis on portion control, not denying any foods. I am now a lifetime member. I go to meetings when I'm home because the group leader I found is so much fun. But I use the old plan for maintenance. You can find the SmartPoints plan on itrackbites, an app for your phone.

[JSR22]

Low carb works better than anything. But if you want the weight to stay off, it has to be a lifestyle choice, not just a temporary diet change.

I stopped eating sugar. Easy way to keep off the weight.

[graciegirl]

I had gained weight due to a medication I had to be on for five years. After the medication ended, of course the weight stayed on! I went to Weight Watchers, lost 35 pounds on the SmartPoints plan, have kept it off for over two years. This was not the Freestyle SmartPoints plan they are offering now. The one they offer now allows too much food and doesn't work for many folks. There are complaints all over the internet about it. It seems to be a marketing ploy to try to give people what they want.

The deal with the SmartPoints plan placed emphasis on portion control, not denying any foods. I am now a lifetime member. I go to meetings when I'm home because the group leader I found is so much fun. But I use the old plan for maintenance. You can find the SmartPoints plan on itrackbites, an app for your phone.

I absolutely agree that weightwatchers has a very healthy plan that includes lots of vegetables and carefully sized protein portions and great limitations of fats and sugars. I have seen it work on family members and friends and on me.

[bluedivergirl]

I have lost 65 lbs, and kept it off for over two years.

I eat low carb. Lots of vegetables and protein. I very rarely eat potatoes, rice, pasta or bread. No straight sugar, ever.

Low carb is, for me, the easiest way to keep weight off. The drawback is you cannot cheat. To maintain the weight loss, you must continue to eat low carb.

[JSR22]

I have lost 65 lbs, and kept it off for over two years.

I eat low carb. Lots of vegetables and protein. I very rarely eat potatoes, rice, pasta or bread. No straight sugar, ever.

Low carb is, for me, the easiest way to keep weight off. The drawback is you cannot cheat. To maintain the weight loss, you must continue to eat low carb.

I eat the same foods you do and I am keeping the weight off.

[billethkid]

Portion control....NO SECONDS......purposefully focused on higher fiber foods....lots and LOTS of fresh fruit and vegetables.....drink lots of water (more than 65 ounces per day....minimum 16 ounces per meal).

Do not under estimate the impact of being active. Use some device i.e. smart phone app, pedometer, et al and monitor the number of steps taken per day. Using a target of 10,000 steps per day includes a dedicated walk of a mile or more every morning. You will initially be surprised how far below 10,000 one is........use a lower target like 5,000 depending upon age, physical ability, stamina.

Deserts? A once in a great while, not very often treat.

Weigh once per week to monitor progress (or lack of it).

We have lived this way for the past 25 or more years....and it works as advertised.....and it is free.

[CFrance]

We had a friend who would go for his yearly checkup. One time the doctor told him he needed to lose 30 lbs. So he dieted and quit drinking beer and lost 30 pounds, after which he resumed drinking beer and gradually gained back the 30 pounds. Did it all over again the next year, and the next. Finally he realized this wasn't working and made permanent changes.

The point is, he was going to end up feeling deprived if he gave up beer and certain foods for the rest of his life. It just wouldn't be sustainable, as his past failures proved. So instead of dieting he made lifestyle changes he knew he could live with, and picked up the exercise. He's kept the weight off for 20 years.

I have a sweet tooth and know darn well I could never cut all sugar out of my diet. I like potatoes every once in a while. I like all that stuff. I'm never going to I pretend I could stop eating certain things forever. But I can say I will only eat certain amounts of them at limited times. Low carb or keto or Atkins would never work for me. I couldn't sustain that level of deprivation.

[B-flat]

I've lost lots of weight and only to regain it since I was a teen. Finally at 32 years old I put down the alcohol, then started on a jogging/running program. I lost 95 pounds and said I was always running from the fat man. That worked for years but when I could no longer run due to the risk of doing damage to my back and knees I stopped and some of the weight came back on. I was on the climb and moved up to 234 pounds. A cousin of mine suggested the Isagenix program, so we tried it. It's 2 shakes per day, one solid moderate meal, a 10am and 2 PM 200 calorie snack. I've now lost 41 pounds and have kept it off for a year. The key with Isagenix is that the shakes really stablize the blood sugar levels and the craving for extra food in between meals is not there. The only caveat is Isagenix program can be expensive. We've tried the powdered protein shakes for the supermarkets and big box stores, they don't very good once you've tried the Isagenix way. Walking helps with the cause too.

[Boudicca]

I’ve lost 14 pounds by a combination of small, low carb meals, and most importantly, no food after 6:00pm and not before 9:00 am. If I eat out with friends I request a small takeout box with my meal. I halve the meal and put it out of sight in the takeout box. It’s been slow going - 6 months, and we had visitors during that time. It’s alway more difficult to keep to a regimen when guests are in the house.

[NotGolfer]

Low carb works better than anything. But if you want the weight to stay off, it has to be a lifestyle choice, not just a temporary diet change.

What they said....... Don't buy junk or processed foods and eat "clean".

[2BNTV]

When I became a diabetic, the dietician said I needed to have a lifestyle change, "in eating habits". Eating several smaller meals a day with a couple of snacks as opposed to three fairly big meals. Eating smaller meals will give your body a chance to burn off those calories. Eating more frequently will stop you from being hungry. If one waits until they are hungry to eat, they will tend to overeat.

I don't believe in dieting as you never stop eating foods you love but need to eat less of them. Portion control is the best way to go. Using 9"plates, instead of 12" plates is a good way to eat less.

One reason people eat more than they should, is when one as a small child, their mother puts their food on a plate and one gets accustomed to thinking, "that is what it is going to take, to fill me up". It takes an half an hour for your brain to signal your body that you are full so eat slower.

Eating a little less coupled with exercise is the best way to go. IMHO

BTW - Don't get discourage if you don't see results right away as it takes time to attain your long range goals. Some people think after eating a donut, they failed for that day and eat normally. Think of this as something your body is telling you to satisfy a temporary urge. Don't give up!

[VILLAGERBB]

You can do it! Reduce carbs, sugar, salt...

[My Post]

Only other change in diet was no more Coke.

It's bad for your nose.

[lrbach1]

I walk and dance.

[lrbach1]

I agree

[tomwed]

I walk the execs. The people I play with think I hit it over the green or from one trap to another or putt 10 feet passed the pin because I'm terrible. I'm just trying to make the walk longer.

[jebartle]

Good breakfast. Dinner lunch, that's it, nothing after 2pm. Lost 25 pounds.
Easy, works for me.

[FlamingoFlo]

Don’t kid yourself on portions and calories. I finally decided to weigh, measure and write down every morsel that went in my mouth. I could not loose until I hit 1000 or less calories a day ( I’m not real active). But I sure was kidding myself with my “ guesstimates” on portions and calories. It’s not easy.

[ladygolfer123]

Low carb has proved to be easy and works faster than any other weight loss I have tried. You do have to stick to it but makes you feel better too!!

[lanabanana73]

Read the "Obesity Code". It's a life changer. Combine it's principles with fairly low carb, and you will lose. For those who are diabetic, read the "Diabetes Code". Also a life changer.

[Sgroemm]

Did you ever watch "The Magic Pill" on Netflix? Interesting information on how we may have had our 'food pyramid' upside down for years. There is even a story of a doctor who was sued and almost lost his license over the controversy of what is a "healthy diet." The jury is still out for me on this....but very interesting indeed.

[tophcfa]

Low carb has proved to be easy and works faster than any other weight loss I have tried. You do have to stick to it but makes you feel better too!!

Exactly, it works, but it also has to be a permanent lifestyle, not just a temporary diet. At first, it takes some adjustments and time to get used to. But the results are absolutely amazing. The new found energy and great feeling you can have way more than makes up for the loss of the quick rewarding good feeling you get from eating those tempting but very bad sugary and high carb foods that ultimately leave your feeling bloated and lethargic.

I get way more satisfaction from having almost unlimited energy and being able to enjoy a very active lifestyle. I never got that satisfaction from eating the decadent food that I no longer miss. Now, on a bad day I only swim a mile and play 9 holes of golf. On a good day, swim a mile and a half, play 18 Championship holes, go for a bike ride, work around the yard, then go dancing with my wife at one of the town squares. Also, since going low carb, the blood sugar is extremely low, the cholesterol readings are excellent, and the blood pressure is ideal. All good!

[aninjamom]

My daughter (a model with Celiac disease) went on the Keto diet which encourages your body to burn fat instead of sugar or carbs. She feels much better.
I naturally prefer a low carb diet anyway, but was inspired to finally give up sugar in my two cups of coffee a day. Just that change has caused me to start slowly dropping weight, and it doesn't fluctuate so much. I've lost 5 lbs over the last couple of weeks, and still dropping. They were right, sugar is bad. Alas.

[maureenod]

Low carb the way to go. First 3weeks keep under 20 carbs per day. Sounds differcult but you will lose your appetite. Sample day would be, omelet for breakfast, 1/2 can of tuna in romaine lettice leafs for lunch. Dinner, salmon or steak or pork, with vegetables. Only vegetables grown above ground. No potatoes, carrots, parsnips. No rice, bread or fruit, and no juice or deserts. NO FAT FREE, it's loaded with carbs. Watch labels, very important. You will lose the weight, sugar levels and BP will come way down.

After losing weight you can indulge a little without gaining. Also exercise along with diet, of course.

[Blondesare]

Try intermittent fasting. I go by the 16-8 diet where you eat for 8 hours then don't for the rest of the time. I also cut out processed foods, sugar and white flour, The book "The 8 Hour Diet" is excellent. It is an easy read with lots of information, recipes and workout ideas. I ordered from Amazon and it was only $8. I have tried every diet you can think of and this works great. I also have a easy and delicious mason jar oatmeal power breakfast recipe that I can share if you like. I make a bunch for 12 days. Good luck in what ever you try!

[jeriteri]

This is what I don't eat to lose weight and keep it off. Mind you, you won't lose it in a week, it takes a few to show up. No bread or the like.
No sugar, candy or sweets. No chips or other in that aisle.. No salt, you may use substitute salt. No soda of any kind. TRY to eat smaller portions, but I didn't see it made difference but helped not to pick between meals.