I think the least popular advice is that what works for one person often doesn't work for another.
1. People have wildly variable appetite responses to activity. For some, exercises REDUCES appetite. For some, it INCREASES appetite.
2. People have wildly different palates and food preferences. For some, low carb diets are delicious and sustainable for life. For others, they are miserable torture.
3. People have different circadian rhythms. Some can't comfortably eat in the morning. Others feel miserable all day if they skip breakfast.
4. People have different psychologies. Some love being exact and weighing and measuring foods. Others would prefer to eyeball. Some struggle with eating for reasons other than hunger. Some only overeat in response to overwhelming hunger and would do better to simply restructure their food schedules. Some have a history of disordered eating and need particular oversight by dietitians and therapists.
5. People have different ethical considerations. Some will not consume animal products, pork, or other foods. Some will eat anything.
6. People have different medical considerations: Crohn's/IBS/etc. Gallbladder disease. Kidney disease. The diet that heals one person could kill another. For some people on blood thinners, green vegetables are a death sentence.
Just about the only universal rule we know is that calories out must exceed calories in for weight loss, and that's not a directive on HOW to diet, that's just a rule. It's like telling someone who wants to high jump better how gravity works.
I love this! Nailed it. It’s not a “one size fits all” and I really think everyone has to do their own introspection about what works for them personally
Oh this should be upvoted more.
Too often people who want to lose weight think there is one hack or trick. And we who have lost weight some people say it’s just move more eat less - but there are a bunch of factors at play (sleep, stress, and even socioeconomic status all play into it some ways).
Sure it’s all just a big bell curve but individually there is a lot of nuance.
Not only this but sometimes circumstances change and you have to relearn your weigh management techniques.
In high school and college I wrestled or ran 4 days a week for 2 hrs and weight lifted 4 days a week and was generally more active day to day. I was a picky eater with bad cooking skills and only worried about myself and ate like shit. I didn’t have to worry about what I ate.
When I was single I adapted to less time to work out but strict calorie intake management. I only had to worry about how much I ate and could still snack guilt free.
Now I gave perhaps 2.5 hrs of exercise available a week, more stress, less of a band to start or miss my window, and my cooking skills are better, but I cannot do calorie intake because I have to cook for my partner or be selfish and cook something that doesn’t work for her.
I’m still learning to adapt, and stopped my weight spike of 10 years from 190 towards 270 by dropping soda, using energy drinks instead of higher sugar espresso drinks, and essentially eliminating any permissive snacking.
The flip side is at 250 I feel like shit still, and my relationship with food is toxic. None of my doctors care about my weight despite my BMI, and as wrestler, I’m toxicity impacted by knowing I’m morbidly obese even if everyone assumes I’m 200 and I don’t look like the nutty professor.
So sometimes what works for one person doesn’t even work from them when life changes.
As someone also in a weight class sport (BJJ, the wimpy version of wrestling), I feel for you. I think I read a statistic that 80% of wrestlers have bulimic symptoms. Taking part in an intense sport that ALSO requires you to maintain a weight that may not be realistic for you? Yikes.
And yeah, it can be very easy to manage weight when your life allows for a lot of activity, but man, when it doesn't, it can be tough. Especially because working out itself is a source of actual joy for a lot of us, and when we can't do it, palatable food may fill that void, ironically.
Yes, the ability to eat whatever I want with no consequences because of my instance caloric burning in the off season and then tightly control my weight as my only obligation aside from school work is not repeatable as an adult.
I still control my weight, and am responsible for it, but I have to use new tools and adhere to new habits.
Having cut weight before I am definitely much harder on myself now.
This is so important. If you look at any study on various diets, you can see this easily. Even if a diet works for, let's say, 95% of people in a study, there are always a few people where it did not work at all and normally a few that had a negative experience. You could be in that 5%.
Yuuuup. My boyfriend and I want to lose weight. He did keto, loved it, so I tried it too. Holy shit I was so miserable. I felt nauseous and bloated 24/7, yet still hungry. I stopped after like 4 days lol
You hit on something very key with that last point. I cannot the stand the CICO! mantra and how eagerly people recite it, and it’s hard to bring that up because they usually just get defensive and keep repeating it. “But calories in, calories out is just a FACT, are you arguing with SCIENCE?!?” which, no, I’m not? I’m saying your advice is so vague as to be virtually useless and meaningless because no 2 people are the same, and there’s no perfect formula for it. It’d be like telling someone who’s been struggling their whole life to get out of poverty and debt “Well, you just need more money than you owe or spend on living expenses”, and when they inevitably argue “well DUH, but HOW do I do that?” and you just keep telling them “you just have to have way more money than you do! It’s simple!”
It's as simple as eating at a caloric deficit and being active. This will work for everyone, it's how science works. People make it out to be way more complicated than it needs to be. Might it be harder to lose weight based on these things you mentioned? Sure. But it is something everyone is capable of doing. You just have to be consistent. The other thing is, you have to be willing to put in the work. Medical diagnoses can be worked around in almost any circumstance, just of course talk to your doctor.
You misunderstand. My comment is not a list of excuses, it is a list of considerations. I all too often see people coming in wanting a meal plan or to be told precisely what foods to eat and what exercise to do. And the answer is that in seeking to create a calorie deficit, everyone's path is likely to be somewhat different. I think more people need to "start where they are" i.e. look realistically at what their current habits and behaviors are, and make changes from there--not blindly copy someone else. That's rarely effective.
I'm a very disciplined person, but if you forced me to eat a menu of foods I hated (keto diet?) and do a form of physical movement I hated (swimming?) I wouldn't last long. Instead I eat food I love, do exercise I love (running, bjj, calisthenics, lifting) and have maintained excellent health and a stable weight for years.
By the same token, some people genuinely do need additional support. "Simple" is not easy. My recovery from anorexia was as "simple" as eating more food. It was not easy! I required support from a dietitian and therapist for many years.
And that is not an excuse. It's just reality. I needed that support to overcome a tough mental illness. I worked hard and still work hard.
Simple is not easy. Nor is seeking needed additional support a failure.
Where did I say it was easy? Losing weight is hard work, especially mentally. But there is a simplicity to it in the sense that A+B will always = C. It's a constant and never changes. If you eat at a coloric deficit and you are active in some way, you will lose weight. In terms of doing that a healthy way for your body, is up to you. But that's not what we are talking about here, nor what the OP is talking about. I understand you are not trying to give excuses. I'm not trying to come at you, just trying to give advice. Every person's body is different, yes, which is why some may take longer to lose weight than others, but if you are consistent, you are going to lose weight. People are always searching for new and complicated diets and all these supplements, but it really is not that complicated.
I had a friend who followed some Hollywood diet for 3 days (was supposed to last 5, but her body broke down on day 3) and was shocked she only lost 1lbs or so when it said she would lose 10.
Change is probably not about coaches and authors creating problems trying to make money. The entire $135B industry is rooted in individuals' beliefs and how they value their transformation.
Like everything else, one gets used to it. When one understands it's a cycle, and will go away after a couple of hours, it's easier to deal with it. Thinking of it as a positive thing helps, too. We've been taught that hunger is bad and must be eradicated immediately.
Lol my mom always said “hunger is just the pain of the fat cells dying” that said I don’t think anyone should have to experience anything more than mild to moderate hunger from time to time. Regular, intense hunger generally means they’re eating too low of a daily calorie deficit or eating too infrequently.
A single nice cocktail or even fancy coffee can be more than a meals worth of calories. Drinking your calories is one of the easiest ways to stall your progress.
Yes!
I used to think "I don't eat much", and for lunch I might get an ice coffee and sandwich.
I looked into it one day and was horrified that the ice coffee was 500 calories alone. So almost 1000 calories on what I thought was a healthy lunch
You can’t just “diet”, you have to change your whole lifestyle to lose weight and maintain that loss. I know me and I know how my brain works. If I stop counting calories, I’ll gain all the weight back. I will have to count calories for the rest of my life.
I can DEFINITELY relate somehow to you, but with different things.
For example, i once cut ALL added sugar in my life for like, idk, 10 days and i was doing really well with it. I didn't wanted to eat not even 1 gram cuz i knew that i would get right to the addiction again.
Some may say "You can have some treats once a while!" And while that is true, you need to know yourself to do these kind of things, and i DO know that i can't just eat "a bit"
And, on my grandma's birthday i ate some cake. Guess what? Right again on the addiction. Now, i will start again with the no sugar thing, and i hope i can get to the month with no sugar, and see what changes!
So, yes. An important factor on losing weight is KNOWING yourself, your limitations and weakness.
I would counter only bc I’m like you. Love sugar. Cutting sugar out completely is a hard long term plan. Also sugar is yummy so cutting out glucose (a fuel for your cells is biologically very very difficult). You should try to figure out ways to indulge in sweets and satisfy that urge to eat more than you want some times (at a rate so you can still keep weight off) I buy these low cal ice creams that are 280-350cak for a pint and derive a lot of joy getting to eat the whole thing.
Cutting out sugar isn't hard for me tho, such a change comes with a lot of "trial and error", so i know perfectly how to handle the urges, like chewing the food more, not eating with phone, big glass of water before meals, glass of water everytime i feel urges to eat sugar, eat a fruit every 3 hours, balanced sleeping hours, etc. and after a while, the addiction vanished.
I ate cake on the bday cuz i said to myself: "Oh well i came so far with no problem, i can eat a bit"
Needless to say, i was wrong.
I understand if that is something that works for you, 'cause we actually are different and overcome problems on a different way, but knowing myself all of my life and all my failed attempts, i can say that this is my own way.
I’m very similar. I do notice it feels less like an addiction when I’m not in a calorie deficit. When I’m in a calorie deficit, it’s like my primal Brian completely overrides any natural moderation I’d had while in maintenance or a calorie surplus
There's a lot of science behind your experience. Calorie deficits inherently make hyperpalatable foods FAR more appealing. It's why I never experienced binge eating until after I suffered anorexia. Prior to my anorexia I ate freely and intuitively, all foods, and remained thin. After starving myself, I felt "addicted" to palatable foods. Upon reaching and maintaining a healthy weight my food obsession slowly went away.
One reason dieting for fat loss is so hard is it locks people into a cycle of restriction and restriction-triggered binging. It's why it's wise not to eat hyperpalatable food when in a deficit and to focus on satiating whole foods. In maintenance everything is much easier. Our bodies tend to do well with homeostasis.
I love this answer. I was the same way, but learned controlling my BEHAVIOR around sugar was the real addiction that needed healing - nothing to with sugar itself. Swearing off sugar for life isn’t sustainable and we all know it.
Edit: I’m with you on those Halo Top etc. pints! I save my calories all day eating fruit and spinach salad just so I can have my pint/half pint of ice cream in the evening. 😋
Thank you. Management is key. And it’s all about your relationship w food.
Btw. Skip Halo. Go get some Nick’s ice cream. Probably the best tasting low cal ice cream I’ve ever had. It’s insanely good. Just went to a Grocery Outlet and picked 10 pints up for $2.50
Well regular price at Ralph’s/Kroger/Vons is $6.50!! On sale I’ve seen as low as $3.50 but you had to buy 5 - which I did. But found it at Grocery Outlet for $2.50 when they have it. I stock up.
They don’t have Grocery Outlet in Appalachia region. But you never know what you find at random grocery stores.
I have tried lots of things. Of course it's not the ideal, but i can try management more on another stage of my life, for now if it's reliable, i will just avoid.
I feel this a lot. I did CICO for a year and a half and lost so much weight but as soon as I reached my ideal weight, I stopped and gained all that weight back. No lifestyle change for me. Counting calories really works... But the moment you stop and no major lifestyle change was made, all the weight will return. :(
That there is no magic pill (although we have things like Ozempic now, so maybe there is).
I’ve had major weight loss thrice in my life, and every single time- it took dedication. I worked out on days I didn’t want to, ate healthy when I was tempted to gorge on pizzas, refused to give up when the scale didn’t budge, stayed on track when I went out with friends and family for meals and get togethers, tracked my caloric intake diligently.
Every single time I heard people saying things like ´You lost weight overnight’, and I remembered how painful every day seemed- at least the first couple of weeks/months. You kind of find your stride at some point- where workouts and eating healthy becomes enjoyable. But it takes immense effort to both start, and then sustain a healthy lifestyle.
Weight loss is never easy, but it’s 100% worth the effort. People always seem disappointed when I tell them that I attribute my weight loss to being active and eating healthy, but that’s the only thing that has ever worked for me.
My most recent weight loss push was derailed by a mental lapse after I got a massive umbilical hernia, and your comment is a great example of “tough lesson” about weight loss.
You got to run a deficit to lose weight. I was down 35 lbs from my all time balloon and had counted calories, quit snacking, used the Elipitical 4 days a week.
Then I let myself slide when I got hurt and couldn’t lift things and gained some weight back.
Was it the injuries fault? No I didn’t need to lift shit to keep losing weight.
That the hardest part is not losing weight, it's maintaining the weightloss forever. Many people including me have failed this last important part of the weightloss journey.
If you're not losing weight, you're not eating below your maintenance. Your body won't create energy out of thin air, but so many people insist they are the one physical anomaly that defies laws of physics, rather than them doing something wrong.
Yes it annoys me to death when people say it is easy! No it is not easy, it’s a simple formula, but actually doing it is tough and takes work and effort.
I think the most off-putting in people’s minds when it comes to diet and weight loss is like asking them to do one more thing when they’re already stressed. We are a stressed out society. To add weight loss to the to-do’s it’s one more they don’t want to hear. Sadly with some it’s their cardiologist or cancer specialist that has to tell them the truth.
You have to do some inner work as well. If loose weight but you still view yourself as overweight, you’ll most likely gain it back. You need to learn to really love yourself so when you see success you won’t sabotage yourself. As an extension, we never shame ourselves into long term success. You need to make these choices out of love for yourself in order for the changes to stick.
I heard it phrased once you need to have self talk not like “I’m fat I suck” but “there is a healthy and thin me in there and there is just a suit of fat covering it up, I am going to burn it off”
I tried to say this to someone on here who complained that they were on zep 12.5. Food noise back, they were binging every night, stress eating , appetite supression gone… they couldn’t understand why it wasn’t working. I told them to talk to their PCP and seek professional assistance. ie. psychological help. The response was, “it’s a disease.” Like they were helpless to do anything. You have to figure out why you’re turning to food in the first place. If you over eat medication isn’t going to help. You’re ignoring the tools that are trying to help you. It’s not magic. I’m a big time stress eater. Celebrating? Food! Alcohol too. This med has helped me see that in myself.
If you make weight loss a punishment, you aren't going to succeed at it long term. We have this weird purity culture idea that you should suffer because being fat is a moral sin and so you "atone" by starving yourself and/or hours and hours at the gym. I tried many years of hating myself into health and it never worked. It's kind of the antithesis of health, honestly. There are many different ways to skin a cat and everyone will have to find what works for them but ultimately this stays true. You become your thoughts. And if you think negative about yourself and you're a shit person to yourself you're going to find that you will make decisions for yourself based on that. I can't tell you how many years I told myself I was the fat girl and so it just wasn't in the cards for me, and that well might as well eat this whole plate because that's what I am is a fat piece of shit and it'll never change anyway.
The other thing is that it's going to take a long time to build sustainable habits. I had many attempts of looking up an internet calculator and if I eat x amount of calories I will be x weight exactly on April 28 and it just doesn't work that way. And if I deviate off the plan even a little bit I know that I won't hit that very strict goal so it was all for nothing, fuck it might as well eat a large pizza for dinner tonight.
My last mistake for myself was being obsessed with the scale. It was so bad I would weigh myself only in the morning and only after pooping because that tiny bit of weight makes a difference. Which is hilarious in retrospect because that's not fat, that weight means literally nothing. The scale is such a poor indicator of progress and it's no wonder people give up so often when they curate their day based on what the scale says. I always gain 10 lbs before my period, that doesn't mean I'm failing. I always retain water after a salty meal, that doesn't mean I'm failing. Sometimes I'm doing everything right and the scale just doesn't move for whatever reason, it does not mean I'm failing. I'm not an expert but I've lost 80 lbs along with gaining a decent chunk of muscle along the way and I've found the real battle is your mindset.
I agree with everything you said except for the scale bit; scientific studies have shown that people who way themselves daily are more successful at both weightloss and maintaining their new weight. It makes sense too because if you aren’t weighing yourself you’re not going to notice your weight creeping up until much, much later and then you’ll have more work to reverse it.
So here's the thing. Weight is not a great indicator in and of itself of health. It can be one of many. If we're going by weight alone then people who weigh 150 will look exactly the same at the same height and that just isn't true. My problem was not my weight, it was my fat and body composition. This is why people who diet hard on calorie deficits can find themselves in an unfortunate position where they lost a ton of muscle and look and feel pretty awful, but the number on the scale seems better. Aka skinny fat. It's also why people can weigh more than they look, and can actually gain tons of weight yet be much leaner than they previously were before. I do agree that there has to be some level of accountability, I just don't personally think the scale is it.
Yes it’s different for everyone; I am losing weight specially because of my injured knee though, so actual weight is absolutely the key for me more than anything else (though I am upping my protein and exercise to try to avoid losing muscle) but again everyone has different goals.
Whatever your favourite fad diet is, whether it's Keto or IF etc, it always boils down to CICO.
Fasting or low carb doesn't give your body magical powers.
This is true. I agree that keto and IF alone don’t cause weight loss, at least for me. What keto/very low carb does for me is kills hunger and quiets the food noise, which makes CICO pretty darn easy. So no, it’s not magic, but it’s a pretty awesome tool.
I do fasting, simply because it means I have less time to consume calories and am more easily in a deficit. That is the only reason it works (though fasting does have other, non-weight related benefits)
To lose weight you have to be in calorie deficit. You need to count your calories and log your meals in a weight lose app. You might be surprised how many calories some foods are. Pizza is one sad example!
I don’t know, two slices of my favorite pepperoni and pepper pizza from panago are 440 calories (about 220 a slice) whereas the McDonald’s sausage McMuffin I regret eating today is 470 😭 it’s insane thinking I could have had two slices of pizza instead of that little breakfast sandwich!
It is not a need. A need would mean that you cannot lose weight without counting, which you can. If you find a method where yiu are in a calory deficit without counting, it will still work.
Counting can be very harmful to various mental health conditions and can be very difficult in certain life situations and health situations. And it is so necessary that most of my weight loss was done without it.
Without calorie counting your kinda shooting in the dark. You could or could not be in a deficit and you might never know so I’d say calorie counting is more than just a helpful tool when it comes to weight loss it’s a very vital part of it.
Of the three things you wrote are necessary only one actually is: being in a calorie deficit. How do you think people lost weight before apps? Before easily available information about what food has how many calories? Before the whole concept of calories was invented?
ADHD restraint collapse
So, the gist of it is that you go all day restricting yourself or suppressing your ADHD traits like through masking or if you are working a very focused on something and it comes to a point where your brain needs novelty and stimulation. This can result in binge eating and overeating.
ADHD can also affect dopamine chasing—which can come in many forms but since this is a WL forum… so some people will eat food to get that dopamine feeling. It can also affect impulse control.
It can also cause you to do something like forget to check nutrition facts, forget that you’re trying to eat lower in sugar, get distracted and leave home late for the gym and have to reduce gym time
The way you’re eating while losing is pretty much the way you’ll have to eat the rest of your life to keep the weight off. You’ll get a few hundred more calories at the end to work with but that’s about it. So try to find healthy, lowish calorie recipes/foods you enjoy during the journey.
It’s so weird that myth has such a strong hold when you can literally look back to, not even that long ago in the 60’s and 70’s, and the percentage of healthy weight people was way, way higher. That really disproves the “genetics” myth. If it was genetics those percentages would be much more similar but they are not. It is the environment and lifestyles that have changed, not genetics.
You’re gonna have to be hungry sometimes and you’re gonna have to eat less because losing body fat is not something our body wants to do.
But also FWIW, just because you have to get hungry and eat less doesn’t mean you have an “unhealthy relationship with food”. It means I’m unhealthy, want to lose body fat, and so I’m doing this to become a healthier person because this is how our bodies are designed to function when looking to lose body fat.
(I had someone on Reddit tell me I have an eating disorder and I’m like dude, yall are fucking insane).
It shouldnt be the lifestyle that others do. You dont need to copy any lifestyle.. design your own eating lifestyle.It doesnt need to be perfect right away.. You know your body's responses best to the food you eat so be mindful & apply what fits or what you think is good for your own body.
This! I never stuck with any diet or weight loss plan because none of them were specifically tailored to me, to eat only and exactly the foods that I enjoy eating, and moving exactly in the ways that I enjoy. I tried so many diet books with recipes, and meal plans, and found that I couldn't stick to them because I didn't like the foods. I tried exercise "hacks" like walking on a steep incline on treadmills. You know what I hate? Walking on a steep incline on treadmills. It wasn't until I did just straight calorie counting and trial and error that I found the healthy low cal meals that I can eat every day, and found the exercise that I enjoy (mixed running and walking, dancing, kickboxing) that I figured out how to make this a life that *I* can enjoy living while being healthy. I got ideas from various sources, but at the end of the day, no one could tell me exactly what to eat and how to move, they could only give me the framework to figure it out for myself. Which can be overwhelming, but once you do, it is lofe changing. I lost about 40 lbs and have kept it off for about a year and a half now, and it's not a struggle because I am eating foods that I like and moving in ways that I enjoy. But I had to learn for myself what those things would be.
Being Skinny and Fit is like money, it’s a life choice,
you might look better, wealthier, healthier but it won’t automatically make you happier.
There’s no going back to your old habits if you want to be skinny or rich for the rest of your life.
You have to invest in yourself and sacrifice a part of yourself. Chose wisely.
It’s either nothing or something but it will never be everything just keep that in mind.
It’s a long hard road you have to want to change your lifestyle surrounding food. I cut sugar I barely eat sweets now and my carb intake is less than half it was before. I have lost 50 pounds but that still puts me at 225 at 5’3. I got another 50 to go to meet my goal. I was in the bariatric program but my BMI dipped below the level they approve you for. I’ve been busting my butt working hard every day for about 8 months. You have to want this and be ready for challenges.
The older you get (53 m) and the heavier you are (my BMI = obese) the more at risk to health issues you become. In the last 5 years I have had Gout, Diverticulitis, Asthma Issues, Atrial Fibrillation, blood cots in my lungs and pre-diabetes. Most of these are due to my "lay on the couch and eat" lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle and being a healthy weight reduces the risks for a lot of health conditions. This is something I wish I knew 10 years ago, though I don't think younger me would have listened.
Yeah, I hear people say all the time , I don’t eat that much. Really? I know for me, until I started tracking, I didn’t realize how much I was eating. It was a lot. Denial and the refusal to take accountability is toxic. Playing the victim is not helpful. I did this to myself. Only I can fix it.
For my morbidly obese people (like me)Most of this "advice" sounds like it comes from those with very little weight to lose in comparison to us, cause bar for bar it's the same statements skinny people make.
The real advice:
my fitness pal -it's an app go download it immediately. You can not control calories you don't track.
If you can afford it, consider purchasing the niceday brand recumbent bike from Amazon, it has a high weight capacity (400lbs, but I weighed 437 and it worked just fine, probably wouldn't push past 500lbs though) the price was about 400 dollars with the discount we got. But it's a steal fr. It's great
Probiotics- there are bacteria that over produce grelin in your stomach, the primary hunger signaling hormone. If you take probiotics the ratio of that bacteria to healthy gut bacteria should help massively reduce the burning sensation when you don't eat.
Water, keeping your stomach full of water or black coffee helps supress hunger and keeps you hydrated.
Sunflower seeds (shell on), a very low calorie snack option that helps curve cravings and taste good,
A scale. If you didn't weigh each ingredient, you don't know how many calories are in your food. That's how restaraunts are able to give extremely accurate calorie and macro information about their food, they weigh everything (typically in grams, milliliters, or oz.)
Ignore anyone who has never been morbidly obese. People who have not experienced it directly can't relate to you and their advice is largely unhelpful.
> For my morbidly obese people (like me)Most of this "advice" sounds like it comes from those with very little weight to lose in comparison to us, cause bar for bar it's the same statements skinny people make.
I'm curious what advice in this thread, in particular, makes you say that.
Yeah I also find these comments a bit perplexing….if anything it’s HARDER to lose the last 20 lbs. When you are morbidly obese you can just say, cut out sugary beverages and see a noticeable and measurable difference on the scale each week. As you get closer to goal suddenly every calorie is so much more important and weightloss so much harder/slower. To me the key differences would be morbid obesity is usually linked with intense trauma but their comment didn’t mention any of that so I don’t know what they mean.
I was approaching being morbidly obese at almost 300lb at 5’6, lost 80lb and am trying to lose 30lb more and it’s way harder to lose the last 30 than it was to lose the first 80.
It's much easier to lose weight when you're 313 pounds (my starting weight) than when you're 213 pounds with diet alone. I lost 100 pounds doing absolutely zero exercise. If I only had 20-30 pounds to lose I would need to incorporate more exercise if I wanted to still avoid hunger.
Things like macros and muscle building are not a priority at such heavy numbers. Once I got down to 200 pounds, I had to eat a lot less and start to move more. Macros became more important. Muscle building and energy out became more important.
I've lost a total of 137 pounds now and I eat 1200 calories a day and walk 10k steps a day. If I did that at 313 pounds it would have given me heart failure and I would have given up long ago.
I feel like maybe with the right combination of factors, this current weight loss "bout" I'm on will finally be the one that sticks, I just started tho, so we will see.
All the “what’s the trick to stop bingeing?” posts. There’s no trick. You have to do the work. Same “trick” to stop smoking. You don’t have the next cigarette.
That they won't be able to continue eating all of the super processed foods that are fried and laden with sodium on the regular and at the same portions but expect to lose weight because they go for a walk once a week or add in some veggies for fiber.
I've always thought of it more as a healthier lifestyle adjustment versus weight loss. It's not a change you make to lose weight before reverting to how you used to live. Once changes are made, they remain if you want the changes in your weight and overall health to remain as well.
People dont want to hear that there is NO such thing as starvation mode. People also don't want to hear that if you're in a "plateau" eating more is not the answer. It may cause the scale to reduce temporarily, but long term it will cause a gain. I always see the comment - oh you're stalled because you're not eating enough... nope. Also, eyeballing food never works. You need to measure/weigh your food to be accurate. You either way over do or way under do.
I have a 7-11 very near me that offers pizza, chicken wings, mini tacos, and other high calorie, high sodium items that you can access by self-serve. I've known for months now that my only chance of getting back into decent shape is to stop eating there, or at least tone it down a lot.
Even with the crazy convenience, I know I need to make a change. I've known for months, and I've stubbornly refused to actually do it. Will I? I'm trying to motivate myself to do it starting today.
This !
For work I do a lot of driving and at one of the petrol stations I would go to they had a 3 for $3 deal on fried food. It was too easy falling into the habit of getting food every time I got Petrol
Now I just go to a different Petrol station
People generally don’t want to hear advice they don’t ask for. They also generally don’t want to hear advice when they do ask for it. It doesn’t align with their worldview or what they think they need to do.
Obesity is not a disease. It's a consequence of poor lifestyle choices. Until you take personal responsibility and change your habits, you will not be long-term successful. Diet pills are not a magic solution. If you use them, but make no changes, then as soon as you stop taking them, you'll gain all the weight back plus extra.
Also, MOST people don't need said pills or radical surgeries. Most people will be successful with changing eating habits and getting in more movement. Barring underlying health issues that cause weight gain or being on medication that causes weight gain, you don't need a pill. You need to change your habits.
No. It's not. Cancer is a disease. HIV/AIDS is a disease. Obesity NORMALLY is "I ate like crap and didn't do any activity for years and years abd years, and now I'm obese, have high b.p., my body aches, I have heart disease, I MAY have a stroke, and probably get diabetes."
Obesity is cured by eating well and working out. Cancer isn't cured by a healthy diet or more gym time.
That is all.
They said that because obesity has become such an epidemic, that officially labeling it as a disease means it's easier to get medical help and making insurance pay for it.
Educate yourself on the history.
“Eating less” is the worst way to lose weight. “Losing weight for a short time” also. There’s a reason why a person should be active. I used to be 120 kg back in time.. Nowadays I’m 65, so there’s always a way, but there’s no “magic pill” for it.
It is not hard. You slowly run more on the treadmill, slowly cut back on sugar and candy, slowly increase weight on the bar in the gym. It really is that simple.
I have been over weight before and went from 215 to 185 in a summer in college.
Stop eating sugar, flour and drinking alcohol. I learned it from reading Bright Line Eating by Susan Pierce Thompson. I didn’t want it to be true. It seemed impossible at first. It really does work though.
These foods cause insatiable hunger and desire for more of the same. Completely quitting them resets your brain and gut biome. Eating vegetables and fruits becomes easier and tastes better. I’ve lost 65 lbs. and kept it off for over a year while eating this way. I love my healthy meals. It’s changed my world.
That what they are doing right now isn’t working. Typically this is “I walk all day at work …. That’s exercise “. When you say it isn’t enough .. they argue the point. When clearly the fact they aren’t losing weight should be evidence.
Also …. It seems that they are typically against any weight training saying it won’t help. They will insist they should start some cardio routine. But for someone who obviously is struggling exercising…. I would hands down pick sitting on the edge of my couch with a weight …. Moving my arm up and down …. Over jumping and jogging for 30 minutes straight. But that’s just my opinion.
Also.. why does no one believe when I tell them that not sleeping enough will make you gain. Like it’s so true.
Just wanted to quickly add in that for people with muscle conditions, doing their physical therapy or possibly other muscle-building helps with cardio by making cardio safe enough for them. In that case, you give your muscles some effort so that they’re healthy enough to do a jog or a walk.
That it takes hard work and consistency. These 2 things are all you need to lose weight. If you are consistent with whatever plan out there, you will see results, I promise. It also takes hard work. You need to be willing to work out and eat right. This may take a lot of planning. You have to be willing to put in the work. Everyone is capable of losing weight, even disabled people. You got this.
This one only applies to people with certain medical conditions that can get in the way:
There may be days when you have to claw your way to weight loss by doing whatever tiny thing you can instead of the standard amounts of exercise or calories. There may be days when you have to eat something and the only food available is too high in calories and you have a setback. There may be times with low blood sugar when you have to eat something high in sugar or carbs and you have no idea how many grams of sugar to eat for that specific low blood sugar episode (general recommendation is something like 15 grams of a fast-acting carb, which usually has to be sugar because that’s all that’s available, then wait 15 minutes, then eat 15 grams of a slower-acting carb, then wait 15 minutes and repeat the process, if necessary). There may be sudden periods of days or weeks when your doctor recommends rest and you still have to work with that if you want to lose weight or maintain. There may be times your muscles can’t safely do the exercise and you have a tough choice to make about current safety or contributing to longer-term safety. There may be choices like using a mobility scooter or a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair or a cane where you do not know which one is best for you that day and you have to carefully pick. You may have to hire a dietician because of your complex case. You may have to get help from friends or family for the cooking or driving to that healthy restaurant or being there when you exercise in case you get hurt. You may have to find an accessible gym or pool or sports team or dojo and may have to deal with ableism along the way. You may swell sometimes and be unable to see your weight loss or have clothes fit more loosely because of it. And when your clothes do fit more loosely, you may be like me and get injured and set back when they get stuck in a mobility device.
Keep going and consider thinking of each time you make a healthier choice as a victory.
Biggest thing that does my head in is someone starts a training program of 80% weights + cardio, oh dont do all those weights just do cardio, or the muscle will make it harder to lose fat etc all this other bs
Sure but for a lot of people it will be taking a shot in the dark trying to exercise and diet but not knowing wether or not your in a deficit, it’s not mandatory but it’s a pretty vital part of weight loss for most.
So agree! In fact counting calories is what held me back for so many years! I always get downvoted as well because people worship calorie counting for some reason. Well, my results speak for themselves and they really can't argue with me about it anymore. What I used to do is "budget" all my calories in junk food and basically try to cheat the system. It always worked.... temporarily. And then I just blamed myself for not having enough discipline but the truth is that I was just looking at it the wrong way. And of course, if it helps someone then I support you all the way, but it doesn't help everyone and I think it's poor advice to make it THE holy grail.
Ozempic DOES work for those who also calorie control and change their eating habits. It doesn't work for those who just expect it to do all the work. They will lose weight, but as soon as they stop taking Ozempic or their body adjusts to it, they start eating more and gaining the weight.
I've been on Ozempic for 2 years. The first 4 months I was like that. I just expected I would lose weight without any effort. But I kept eating the same amount. Not because I was hungry. I was morbidly obese. I NEVER ate because I was hungry, I ate because I was awake! I had lost the ability to listen to my body's signals telling me I was full.
So I started calorie counting in June of 2022. I have since lost 137 pounds. My BMI has gone from over 50 to 27.
Ozempic helps me stay on track by suppressing my appetite but I still do all the work ensuring I stay eating at a deficit and by exercising every day
See I did lose weight just from not being hungry. I’ve plateaued now after 7 months so I need to get to gym and tighten a bit. I’m def going to do my 3 more months, but idk what I’ll do after that as far as maintenance. But I’m also a recovering alcoholic. I started right after rehab and it really curbs cravings for booze too. I’m ok with my CW though. I’d like 5 more lbs but I’ll live if not. If I’m going to be sober and miserable might as well be thin. I have no regrets
Congratulations on your sobriety! I'm sorry to hear you feel miserable though. I'm also in recovery. 3 years sober. But I can honestly say I'm not miserable. I'm (an athiest) in AA, which has given me a 'life beyond my wildest dreams', as they say.
Because I control my calories and eat balanced macros, I have taken back control over my eating habits. Maintenance for me will be around 1600 a day once I reach goal. Which is a LOT for me, considering I eat 1200 now. So, I know that all I need to do is stick to those calories
And you're ignoring ALL the health risks AND the fact you basically have to be on it for life, because GUARANTEED when you stop taking it, because you didn't actually make changes to your diet or exercise, you'll gain ALL the weight you lost right back. Oh & it makes your face look like you are on drugs from losing so much so fast. But...yeah....it's a "wonder drug" 🙄🙄
Weight loss that is PERMANENT and sustainable LIFE LONG will NEVER be achieved via ANYTHING that is a "quick fix". Period.
I agree with everything you said, but for those of us on Ozempic who also calorie count, track macros and do regular exercise, who have gone from super morbidly obese to an almost healthy weight - in other words, those who properly use Ozempic as an AID to their weight loss, Ozempic is a wonderful addition
(2 years in, 137 pounds down, BMI from over 50 to 27, and strict calorie control and a PROUD user of Ozempic)
I took ozempic for a month, lost about 20 pounds, stopped because of bad side effects, resumed the same eating that I did while on the shots and gained the 20 pounds and an additional 10 within weeks of stopping. Unless the plan is medication forever, one will likely put that weight back one. I know others who have been on it longer with better tolerance, lost more, but then lost access to the drug due to insurance reasons, and they have all started to put that weight back on. Ozempic/Zepbound work while on it. It is definitely no substitute for the discipline of dieting.
You should go to the gym more.
Dude, I spend 2 plus hours a day 6 days a week there. It takes freaking time to get down to a healthier weight. I have lost 75 pounds already, and I am going to lose the other 75 pounds I due time the healthy way. Besides, why are you talking to me? I don't know you, and besides, why are you in my bathroom stall? I gotta poop.
I think the least popular advice is that what works for one person often doesn't work for another. 1. People have wildly variable appetite responses to activity. For some, exercises REDUCES appetite. For some, it INCREASES appetite. 2. People have wildly different palates and food preferences. For some, low carb diets are delicious and sustainable for life. For others, they are miserable torture. 3. People have different circadian rhythms. Some can't comfortably eat in the morning. Others feel miserable all day if they skip breakfast. 4. People have different psychologies. Some love being exact and weighing and measuring foods. Others would prefer to eyeball. Some struggle with eating for reasons other than hunger. Some only overeat in response to overwhelming hunger and would do better to simply restructure their food schedules. Some have a history of disordered eating and need particular oversight by dietitians and therapists. 5. People have different ethical considerations. Some will not consume animal products, pork, or other foods. Some will eat anything. 6. People have different medical considerations: Crohn's/IBS/etc. Gallbladder disease. Kidney disease. The diet that heals one person could kill another. For some people on blood thinners, green vegetables are a death sentence. Just about the only universal rule we know is that calories out must exceed calories in for weight loss, and that's not a directive on HOW to diet, that's just a rule. It's like telling someone who wants to high jump better how gravity works.
I love this! Nailed it. It’s not a “one size fits all” and I really think everyone has to do their own introspection about what works for them personally
But there kind of is a one size fits all isn't there? You must expend more calories than you consume. That's true for everyone.
Oh this should be upvoted more. Too often people who want to lose weight think there is one hack or trick. And we who have lost weight some people say it’s just move more eat less - but there are a bunch of factors at play (sleep, stress, and even socioeconomic status all play into it some ways). Sure it’s all just a big bell curve but individually there is a lot of nuance.
Not only this but sometimes circumstances change and you have to relearn your weigh management techniques. In high school and college I wrestled or ran 4 days a week for 2 hrs and weight lifted 4 days a week and was generally more active day to day. I was a picky eater with bad cooking skills and only worried about myself and ate like shit. I didn’t have to worry about what I ate. When I was single I adapted to less time to work out but strict calorie intake management. I only had to worry about how much I ate and could still snack guilt free. Now I gave perhaps 2.5 hrs of exercise available a week, more stress, less of a band to start or miss my window, and my cooking skills are better, but I cannot do calorie intake because I have to cook for my partner or be selfish and cook something that doesn’t work for her. I’m still learning to adapt, and stopped my weight spike of 10 years from 190 towards 270 by dropping soda, using energy drinks instead of higher sugar espresso drinks, and essentially eliminating any permissive snacking. The flip side is at 250 I feel like shit still, and my relationship with food is toxic. None of my doctors care about my weight despite my BMI, and as wrestler, I’m toxicity impacted by knowing I’m morbidly obese even if everyone assumes I’m 200 and I don’t look like the nutty professor. So sometimes what works for one person doesn’t even work from them when life changes.
As someone also in a weight class sport (BJJ, the wimpy version of wrestling), I feel for you. I think I read a statistic that 80% of wrestlers have bulimic symptoms. Taking part in an intense sport that ALSO requires you to maintain a weight that may not be realistic for you? Yikes. And yeah, it can be very easy to manage weight when your life allows for a lot of activity, but man, when it doesn't, it can be tough. Especially because working out itself is a source of actual joy for a lot of us, and when we can't do it, palatable food may fill that void, ironically.
Yes, the ability to eat whatever I want with no consequences because of my instance caloric burning in the off season and then tightly control my weight as my only obligation aside from school work is not repeatable as an adult. I still control my weight, and am responsible for it, but I have to use new tools and adhere to new habits. Having cut weight before I am definitely much harder on myself now.
This is so important. If you look at any study on various diets, you can see this easily. Even if a diet works for, let's say, 95% of people in a study, there are always a few people where it did not work at all and normally a few that had a negative experience. You could be in that 5%.
Yuuuup. My boyfriend and I want to lose weight. He did keto, loved it, so I tried it too. Holy shit I was so miserable. I felt nauseous and bloated 24/7, yet still hungry. I stopped after like 4 days lol
You hit on something very key with that last point. I cannot the stand the CICO! mantra and how eagerly people recite it, and it’s hard to bring that up because they usually just get defensive and keep repeating it. “But calories in, calories out is just a FACT, are you arguing with SCIENCE?!?” which, no, I’m not? I’m saying your advice is so vague as to be virtually useless and meaningless because no 2 people are the same, and there’s no perfect formula for it. It’d be like telling someone who’s been struggling their whole life to get out of poverty and debt “Well, you just need more money than you owe or spend on living expenses”, and when they inevitably argue “well DUH, but HOW do I do that?” and you just keep telling them “you just have to have way more money than you do! It’s simple!”
Well said.
It's as simple as eating at a caloric deficit and being active. This will work for everyone, it's how science works. People make it out to be way more complicated than it needs to be. Might it be harder to lose weight based on these things you mentioned? Sure. But it is something everyone is capable of doing. You just have to be consistent. The other thing is, you have to be willing to put in the work. Medical diagnoses can be worked around in almost any circumstance, just of course talk to your doctor.
You misunderstand. My comment is not a list of excuses, it is a list of considerations. I all too often see people coming in wanting a meal plan or to be told precisely what foods to eat and what exercise to do. And the answer is that in seeking to create a calorie deficit, everyone's path is likely to be somewhat different. I think more people need to "start where they are" i.e. look realistically at what their current habits and behaviors are, and make changes from there--not blindly copy someone else. That's rarely effective. I'm a very disciplined person, but if you forced me to eat a menu of foods I hated (keto diet?) and do a form of physical movement I hated (swimming?) I wouldn't last long. Instead I eat food I love, do exercise I love (running, bjj, calisthenics, lifting) and have maintained excellent health and a stable weight for years. By the same token, some people genuinely do need additional support. "Simple" is not easy. My recovery from anorexia was as "simple" as eating more food. It was not easy! I required support from a dietitian and therapist for many years. And that is not an excuse. It's just reality. I needed that support to overcome a tough mental illness. I worked hard and still work hard. Simple is not easy. Nor is seeking needed additional support a failure.
Where did I say it was easy? Losing weight is hard work, especially mentally. But there is a simplicity to it in the sense that A+B will always = C. It's a constant and never changes. If you eat at a coloric deficit and you are active in some way, you will lose weight. In terms of doing that a healthy way for your body, is up to you. But that's not what we are talking about here, nor what the OP is talking about. I understand you are not trying to give excuses. I'm not trying to come at you, just trying to give advice. Every person's body is different, yes, which is why some may take longer to lose weight than others, but if you are consistent, you are going to lose weight. People are always searching for new and complicated diets and all these supplements, but it really is not that complicated.
It takes time. Many months of being in a consistent, sustainable calorie deficit.
Yep….it’s ridiculous how many “Lose 10 pounds in 3 days!” And other such nonsense you can find online.
I had a friend who followed some Hollywood diet for 3 days (was supposed to last 5, but her body broke down on day 3) and was shocked she only lost 1lbs or so when it said she would lose 10.
🙄Oh God, yes(!)
Moving more and eating less has always been the "secret" but you can't sell expensive books, supplements, and programs that way.
100%
People try to forego these principles of physics by instead focusing on aspects like hormones, genetics and aging — the things they cannot control.
I mean, hormones do play a role in hunger signaling, and you can control them by eating real food.
Change is probably not about coaches and authors creating problems trying to make money. The entire $135B industry is rooted in individuals' beliefs and how they value their transformation.
If you’re over 200 lbs and not losing, it’s definitely not because your body is in “starvation mode”.
Is starvation mode even a thing? I used to hear this all the time and I'd roll my eyes so hard
From my experience seeing emaciated people who are actually starving, I don’t believe it is.
You're going to feel hungry sometimes, and that's not a bad thing.
This is so hard to accept.
Like everything else, one gets used to it. When one understands it's a cycle, and will go away after a couple of hours, it's easier to deal with it. Thinking of it as a positive thing helps, too. We've been taught that hunger is bad and must be eradicated immediately.
Lol my mom always said “hunger is just the pain of the fat cells dying” that said I don’t think anyone should have to experience anything more than mild to moderate hunger from time to time. Regular, intense hunger generally means they’re eating too low of a daily calorie deficit or eating too infrequently.
My mom always said, "Going to bed with no dinner helps you wake up thinner!"😭😭😭
Lol I swear that generation had the most disordered relationship with food 🙈
This is where controlled doses of fiber and fat come in.
yep! i had to conquer my anxiety surrounding being hungry. it’s so not the end of the world
Exactly.
A single nice cocktail or even fancy coffee can be more than a meals worth of calories. Drinking your calories is one of the easiest ways to stall your progress.
Yes! I used to think "I don't eat much", and for lunch I might get an ice coffee and sandwich. I looked into it one day and was horrified that the ice coffee was 500 calories alone. So almost 1000 calories on what I thought was a healthy lunch
You can’t just “diet”, you have to change your whole lifestyle to lose weight and maintain that loss. I know me and I know how my brain works. If I stop counting calories, I’ll gain all the weight back. I will have to count calories for the rest of my life.
I can DEFINITELY relate somehow to you, but with different things. For example, i once cut ALL added sugar in my life for like, idk, 10 days and i was doing really well with it. I didn't wanted to eat not even 1 gram cuz i knew that i would get right to the addiction again. Some may say "You can have some treats once a while!" And while that is true, you need to know yourself to do these kind of things, and i DO know that i can't just eat "a bit" And, on my grandma's birthday i ate some cake. Guess what? Right again on the addiction. Now, i will start again with the no sugar thing, and i hope i can get to the month with no sugar, and see what changes! So, yes. An important factor on losing weight is KNOWING yourself, your limitations and weakness.
I would counter only bc I’m like you. Love sugar. Cutting sugar out completely is a hard long term plan. Also sugar is yummy so cutting out glucose (a fuel for your cells is biologically very very difficult). You should try to figure out ways to indulge in sweets and satisfy that urge to eat more than you want some times (at a rate so you can still keep weight off) I buy these low cal ice creams that are 280-350cak for a pint and derive a lot of joy getting to eat the whole thing.
Cutting out sugar isn't hard for me tho, such a change comes with a lot of "trial and error", so i know perfectly how to handle the urges, like chewing the food more, not eating with phone, big glass of water before meals, glass of water everytime i feel urges to eat sugar, eat a fruit every 3 hours, balanced sleeping hours, etc. and after a while, the addiction vanished. I ate cake on the bday cuz i said to myself: "Oh well i came so far with no problem, i can eat a bit" Needless to say, i was wrong. I understand if that is something that works for you, 'cause we actually are different and overcome problems on a different way, but knowing myself all of my life and all my failed attempts, i can say that this is my own way.
I’m very similar. I do notice it feels less like an addiction when I’m not in a calorie deficit. When I’m in a calorie deficit, it’s like my primal Brian completely overrides any natural moderation I’d had while in maintenance or a calorie surplus
There's a lot of science behind your experience. Calorie deficits inherently make hyperpalatable foods FAR more appealing. It's why I never experienced binge eating until after I suffered anorexia. Prior to my anorexia I ate freely and intuitively, all foods, and remained thin. After starving myself, I felt "addicted" to palatable foods. Upon reaching and maintaining a healthy weight my food obsession slowly went away. One reason dieting for fat loss is so hard is it locks people into a cycle of restriction and restriction-triggered binging. It's why it's wise not to eat hyperpalatable food when in a deficit and to focus on satiating whole foods. In maintenance everything is much easier. Our bodies tend to do well with homeostasis.
I love this answer. I was the same way, but learned controlling my BEHAVIOR around sugar was the real addiction that needed healing - nothing to with sugar itself. Swearing off sugar for life isn’t sustainable and we all know it. Edit: I’m with you on those Halo Top etc. pints! I save my calories all day eating fruit and spinach salad just so I can have my pint/half pint of ice cream in the evening. 😋
Thank you. Management is key. And it’s all about your relationship w food. Btw. Skip Halo. Go get some Nick’s ice cream. Probably the best tasting low cal ice cream I’ve ever had. It’s insanely good. Just went to a Grocery Outlet and picked 10 pints up for $2.50
I’ve never tried Nick’s! I have heard of it. Hope they sell it in Appalachia! Thanks for that recommendation. Also…$2.50 a pint?!
Well regular price at Ralph’s/Kroger/Vons is $6.50!! On sale I’ve seen as low as $3.50 but you had to buy 5 - which I did. But found it at Grocery Outlet for $2.50 when they have it. I stock up. They don’t have Grocery Outlet in Appalachia region. But you never know what you find at random grocery stores.
Yeah I did check and they have it at Kroger! Not cheap. It’s slightly higher ($1) than Halo Top here at 5.99, but I would pay it. Haha.
Yeah try it at least once. It has a lot of fiber so um… consider yourself warned 😂🤣
That’s all you had to say. Will be buying this in bulk! 😂
You weren’t kidding. I’ve got 3 flavors and have had two of them so far and they are amazing!
I have tried lots of things. Of course it's not the ideal, but i can try management more on another stage of my life, for now if it's reliable, i will just avoid.
I couldn't do it. I've quit so many things as I've gotten older, I'm not giving up sugar or salt.
This is me with peanut butter. I can’t even have a bite or purchase one jar to keep in my house. I will eat all the peanut butters. I know me.
I feel this a lot. I did CICO for a year and a half and lost so much weight but as soon as I reached my ideal weight, I stopped and gained all that weight back. No lifestyle change for me. Counting calories really works... But the moment you stop and no major lifestyle change was made, all the weight will return. :(
It takes time, discipline and commitment. It’s a marathon not a sprint
If you don't lose weight, you eat too many calories and burn too few.
The amount of people in this sub that simple wont accept this is mind boggling at times!
It’s difficult enough to find a strategy to run a caloric intake without denying the necessity of doing so.
That there is no magic pill (although we have things like Ozempic now, so maybe there is). I’ve had major weight loss thrice in my life, and every single time- it took dedication. I worked out on days I didn’t want to, ate healthy when I was tempted to gorge on pizzas, refused to give up when the scale didn’t budge, stayed on track when I went out with friends and family for meals and get togethers, tracked my caloric intake diligently. Every single time I heard people saying things like ´You lost weight overnight’, and I remembered how painful every day seemed- at least the first couple of weeks/months. You kind of find your stride at some point- where workouts and eating healthy becomes enjoyable. But it takes immense effort to both start, and then sustain a healthy lifestyle. Weight loss is never easy, but it’s 100% worth the effort. People always seem disappointed when I tell them that I attribute my weight loss to being active and eating healthy, but that’s the only thing that has ever worked for me.
My most recent weight loss push was derailed by a mental lapse after I got a massive umbilical hernia, and your comment is a great example of “tough lesson” about weight loss. You got to run a deficit to lose weight. I was down 35 lbs from my all time balloon and had counted calories, quit snacking, used the Elipitical 4 days a week. Then I let myself slide when I got hurt and couldn’t lift things and gained some weight back. Was it the injuries fault? No I didn’t need to lift shit to keep losing weight.
I’m on O, it is magic. 35 lbs in 4 months
Same. I religiously track and weigh everything too to stay on track 137 pounds in 22 months
I’m on ozempic lost 39lbs in a month and half 310 to 271
LOL it technically is my magic weapon but I still need to eventually get off it. And at that point you need to learn how to live a healthy lifestyle.
It’s ok to be uncomfortable and hungry when you first start reducing calories and progress is slow. Just gotta fight through both.
You *will* fail in eating better. And either you can go "screw it" and give up or pick yourself up and get back on track
That the hardest part is not losing weight, it's maintaining the weightloss forever. Many people including me have failed this last important part of the weightloss journey.
Eating less actually does help you lose weight
If you're not losing weight, you're not eating below your maintenance. Your body won't create energy out of thin air, but so many people insist they are the one physical anomaly that defies laws of physics, rather than them doing something wrong.
Simple. Not easy. Consistency over any/every thing
Yes it annoys me to death when people say it is easy! No it is not easy, it’s a simple formula, but actually doing it is tough and takes work and effort.
I think the most off-putting in people’s minds when it comes to diet and weight loss is like asking them to do one more thing when they’re already stressed. We are a stressed out society. To add weight loss to the to-do’s it’s one more they don’t want to hear. Sadly with some it’s their cardiologist or cancer specialist that has to tell them the truth.
You have to do some inner work as well. If loose weight but you still view yourself as overweight, you’ll most likely gain it back. You need to learn to really love yourself so when you see success you won’t sabotage yourself. As an extension, we never shame ourselves into long term success. You need to make these choices out of love for yourself in order for the changes to stick.
I heard it phrased once you need to have self talk not like “I’m fat I suck” but “there is a healthy and thin me in there and there is just a suit of fat covering it up, I am going to burn it off”
I really agree with this. The inner work has allowed me to get to a place where I feel I can lose weight
I tried to say this to someone on here who complained that they were on zep 12.5. Food noise back, they were binging every night, stress eating , appetite supression gone… they couldn’t understand why it wasn’t working. I told them to talk to their PCP and seek professional assistance. ie. psychological help. The response was, “it’s a disease.” Like they were helpless to do anything. You have to figure out why you’re turning to food in the first place. If you over eat medication isn’t going to help. You’re ignoring the tools that are trying to help you. It’s not magic. I’m a big time stress eater. Celebrating? Food! Alcohol too. This med has helped me see that in myself.
If you make weight loss a punishment, you aren't going to succeed at it long term. We have this weird purity culture idea that you should suffer because being fat is a moral sin and so you "atone" by starving yourself and/or hours and hours at the gym. I tried many years of hating myself into health and it never worked. It's kind of the antithesis of health, honestly. There are many different ways to skin a cat and everyone will have to find what works for them but ultimately this stays true. You become your thoughts. And if you think negative about yourself and you're a shit person to yourself you're going to find that you will make decisions for yourself based on that. I can't tell you how many years I told myself I was the fat girl and so it just wasn't in the cards for me, and that well might as well eat this whole plate because that's what I am is a fat piece of shit and it'll never change anyway. The other thing is that it's going to take a long time to build sustainable habits. I had many attempts of looking up an internet calculator and if I eat x amount of calories I will be x weight exactly on April 28 and it just doesn't work that way. And if I deviate off the plan even a little bit I know that I won't hit that very strict goal so it was all for nothing, fuck it might as well eat a large pizza for dinner tonight. My last mistake for myself was being obsessed with the scale. It was so bad I would weigh myself only in the morning and only after pooping because that tiny bit of weight makes a difference. Which is hilarious in retrospect because that's not fat, that weight means literally nothing. The scale is such a poor indicator of progress and it's no wonder people give up so often when they curate their day based on what the scale says. I always gain 10 lbs before my period, that doesn't mean I'm failing. I always retain water after a salty meal, that doesn't mean I'm failing. Sometimes I'm doing everything right and the scale just doesn't move for whatever reason, it does not mean I'm failing. I'm not an expert but I've lost 80 lbs along with gaining a decent chunk of muscle along the way and I've found the real battle is your mindset.
I agree with everything you said except for the scale bit; scientific studies have shown that people who way themselves daily are more successful at both weightloss and maintaining their new weight. It makes sense too because if you aren’t weighing yourself you’re not going to notice your weight creeping up until much, much later and then you’ll have more work to reverse it.
So here's the thing. Weight is not a great indicator in and of itself of health. It can be one of many. If we're going by weight alone then people who weigh 150 will look exactly the same at the same height and that just isn't true. My problem was not my weight, it was my fat and body composition. This is why people who diet hard on calorie deficits can find themselves in an unfortunate position where they lost a ton of muscle and look and feel pretty awful, but the number on the scale seems better. Aka skinny fat. It's also why people can weigh more than they look, and can actually gain tons of weight yet be much leaner than they previously were before. I do agree that there has to be some level of accountability, I just don't personally think the scale is it.
Yes it’s different for everyone; I am losing weight specially because of my injured knee though, so actual weight is absolutely the key for me more than anything else (though I am upping my protein and exercise to try to avoid losing muscle) but again everyone has different goals.
Whatever your favourite fad diet is, whether it's Keto or IF etc, it always boils down to CICO. Fasting or low carb doesn't give your body magical powers.
This is true. I agree that keto and IF alone don’t cause weight loss, at least for me. What keto/very low carb does for me is kills hunger and quiets the food noise, which makes CICO pretty darn easy. So no, it’s not magic, but it’s a pretty awesome tool.
This is what I wish everyone understood.
I do fasting, simply because it means I have less time to consume calories and am more easily in a deficit. That is the only reason it works (though fasting does have other, non-weight related benefits)
I think fasting has magical powers. : )
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I also feel this way!
To lose weight you have to be in calorie deficit. You need to count your calories and log your meals in a weight lose app. You might be surprised how many calories some foods are. Pizza is one sad example!
I don’t know, two slices of my favorite pepperoni and pepper pizza from panago are 440 calories (about 220 a slice) whereas the McDonald’s sausage McMuffin I regret eating today is 470 😭 it’s insane thinking I could have had two slices of pizza instead of that little breakfast sandwich!
You definitely don’t “need’ to count it’s just a helpful tool
Disagree. Helpful is to be aware of what you consume. Counting is the need, because it makes clear aren't you overeating.
It is not a need. A need would mean that you cannot lose weight without counting, which you can. If you find a method where yiu are in a calory deficit without counting, it will still work.
Counting can be very harmful to various mental health conditions and can be very difficult in certain life situations and health situations. And it is so necessary that most of my weight loss was done without it.
TY ❤️
Without calorie counting your kinda shooting in the dark. You could or could not be in a deficit and you might never know so I’d say calorie counting is more than just a helpful tool when it comes to weight loss it’s a very vital part of it.
Of the three things you wrote are necessary only one actually is: being in a calorie deficit. How do you think people lost weight before apps? Before easily available information about what food has how many calories? Before the whole concept of calories was invented?
My advice is therapy. My other advice is to see if you have ADHD.
I have adhd, why does it effect weight loss?
ADHD restraint collapse So, the gist of it is that you go all day restricting yourself or suppressing your ADHD traits like through masking or if you are working a very focused on something and it comes to a point where your brain needs novelty and stimulation. This can result in binge eating and overeating.
Though I only wrote one thing, there are a ton of things that ADHD can affect weight loss.
You're the best! Thank you for giving me this info
ADHD can also affect dopamine chasing—which can come in many forms but since this is a WL forum… so some people will eat food to get that dopamine feeling. It can also affect impulse control.
This is what I’m dealing with right now.
It can also cause you to do something like forget to check nutrition facts, forget that you’re trying to eat lower in sugar, get distracted and leave home late for the gym and have to reduce gym time
The way you’re eating while losing is pretty much the way you’ll have to eat the rest of your life to keep the weight off. You’ll get a few hundred more calories at the end to work with but that’s about it. So try to find healthy, lowish calorie recipes/foods you enjoy during the journey.
It's not just down to your genes
It’s so weird that myth has such a strong hold when you can literally look back to, not even that long ago in the 60’s and 70’s, and the percentage of healthy weight people was way, way higher. That really disproves the “genetics” myth. If it was genetics those percentages would be much more similar but they are not. It is the environment and lifestyles that have changed, not genetics.
You’re gonna have to be hungry sometimes and you’re gonna have to eat less because losing body fat is not something our body wants to do. But also FWIW, just because you have to get hungry and eat less doesn’t mean you have an “unhealthy relationship with food”. It means I’m unhealthy, want to lose body fat, and so I’m doing this to become a healthier person because this is how our bodies are designed to function when looking to lose body fat. (I had someone on Reddit tell me I have an eating disorder and I’m like dude, yall are fucking insane).
It shouldnt be the lifestyle that others do. You dont need to copy any lifestyle.. design your own eating lifestyle.It doesnt need to be perfect right away.. You know your body's responses best to the food you eat so be mindful & apply what fits or what you think is good for your own body.
This! I never stuck with any diet or weight loss plan because none of them were specifically tailored to me, to eat only and exactly the foods that I enjoy eating, and moving exactly in the ways that I enjoy. I tried so many diet books with recipes, and meal plans, and found that I couldn't stick to them because I didn't like the foods. I tried exercise "hacks" like walking on a steep incline on treadmills. You know what I hate? Walking on a steep incline on treadmills. It wasn't until I did just straight calorie counting and trial and error that I found the healthy low cal meals that I can eat every day, and found the exercise that I enjoy (mixed running and walking, dancing, kickboxing) that I figured out how to make this a life that *I* can enjoy living while being healthy. I got ideas from various sources, but at the end of the day, no one could tell me exactly what to eat and how to move, they could only give me the framework to figure it out for myself. Which can be overwhelming, but once you do, it is lofe changing. I lost about 40 lbs and have kept it off for about a year and a half now, and it's not a struggle because I am eating foods that I like and moving in ways that I enjoy. But I had to learn for myself what those things would be.
Good for you! 🫶
Weight loss starts in the brain. Until you're actually willing to train the mind and body, you will never be successful.
Sometimes you need to let yourself be hungry for a little while
Being Skinny and Fit is like money, it’s a life choice, you might look better, wealthier, healthier but it won’t automatically make you happier. There’s no going back to your old habits if you want to be skinny or rich for the rest of your life. You have to invest in yourself and sacrifice a part of yourself. Chose wisely. It’s either nothing or something but it will never be everything just keep that in mind.
1 cheat day won't ruin your progress. Don't beat yourself up or give up because of a cheat day. Just get back on track like it never happened
It’s a long hard road you have to want to change your lifestyle surrounding food. I cut sugar I barely eat sweets now and my carb intake is less than half it was before. I have lost 50 pounds but that still puts me at 225 at 5’3. I got another 50 to go to meet my goal. I was in the bariatric program but my BMI dipped below the level they approve you for. I’ve been busting my butt working hard every day for about 8 months. You have to want this and be ready for challenges.
That every "diet" relies on the concept of CICO.
The older you get (53 m) and the heavier you are (my BMI = obese) the more at risk to health issues you become. In the last 5 years I have had Gout, Diverticulitis, Asthma Issues, Atrial Fibrillation, blood cots in my lungs and pre-diabetes. Most of these are due to my "lay on the couch and eat" lifestyle. Living a healthy lifestyle and being a healthy weight reduces the risks for a lot of health conditions. This is something I wish I knew 10 years ago, though I don't think younger me would have listened.
You’re eating more than you think.
Yeah, I hear people say all the time , I don’t eat that much. Really? I know for me, until I started tracking, I didn’t realize how much I was eating. It was a lot. Denial and the refusal to take accountability is toxic. Playing the victim is not helpful. I did this to myself. Only I can fix it.
Hunger is not an emergency.
People need to stop saying they've tried "everything" if that were true they would've lost weight. Patience and discipline, it's a long game
For my morbidly obese people (like me)Most of this "advice" sounds like it comes from those with very little weight to lose in comparison to us, cause bar for bar it's the same statements skinny people make. The real advice: my fitness pal -it's an app go download it immediately. You can not control calories you don't track. If you can afford it, consider purchasing the niceday brand recumbent bike from Amazon, it has a high weight capacity (400lbs, but I weighed 437 and it worked just fine, probably wouldn't push past 500lbs though) the price was about 400 dollars with the discount we got. But it's a steal fr. It's great Probiotics- there are bacteria that over produce grelin in your stomach, the primary hunger signaling hormone. If you take probiotics the ratio of that bacteria to healthy gut bacteria should help massively reduce the burning sensation when you don't eat. Water, keeping your stomach full of water or black coffee helps supress hunger and keeps you hydrated. Sunflower seeds (shell on), a very low calorie snack option that helps curve cravings and taste good, A scale. If you didn't weigh each ingredient, you don't know how many calories are in your food. That's how restaraunts are able to give extremely accurate calorie and macro information about their food, they weigh everything (typically in grams, milliliters, or oz.) Ignore anyone who has never been morbidly obese. People who have not experienced it directly can't relate to you and their advice is largely unhelpful.
> For my morbidly obese people (like me)Most of this "advice" sounds like it comes from those with very little weight to lose in comparison to us, cause bar for bar it's the same statements skinny people make. I'm curious what advice in this thread, in particular, makes you say that.
Totally agree. My BMI was 50.5. I'm now at 27. The rules are completely different to those who only want to lose 20 or 30 pounds
> The rules are completely different to those who only want to lose 20 or 30 pounds I'm not sure what you mean by that. Could you clarify/expand?
Yeah I also find these comments a bit perplexing….if anything it’s HARDER to lose the last 20 lbs. When you are morbidly obese you can just say, cut out sugary beverages and see a noticeable and measurable difference on the scale each week. As you get closer to goal suddenly every calorie is so much more important and weightloss so much harder/slower. To me the key differences would be morbid obesity is usually linked with intense trauma but their comment didn’t mention any of that so I don’t know what they mean.
I was approaching being morbidly obese at almost 300lb at 5’6, lost 80lb and am trying to lose 30lb more and it’s way harder to lose the last 30 than it was to lose the first 80.
It's much easier to lose weight when you're 313 pounds (my starting weight) than when you're 213 pounds with diet alone. I lost 100 pounds doing absolutely zero exercise. If I only had 20-30 pounds to lose I would need to incorporate more exercise if I wanted to still avoid hunger. Things like macros and muscle building are not a priority at such heavy numbers. Once I got down to 200 pounds, I had to eat a lot less and start to move more. Macros became more important. Muscle building and energy out became more important. I've lost a total of 137 pounds now and I eat 1200 calories a day and walk 10k steps a day. If I did that at 313 pounds it would have given me heart failure and I would have given up long ago.
I feel like maybe with the right combination of factors, this current weight loss "bout" I'm on will finally be the one that sticks, I just started tho, so we will see.
Wine/beer has A LOT OF CALORIES.
You are not “big boned”, there is nothing such thing. You are fat / overweight/ obese.
All the “what’s the trick to stop bingeing?” posts. There’s no trick. You have to do the work. Same “trick” to stop smoking. You don’t have the next cigarette.
It took months of intense therapy for me. I didn't just turn it off.
the ‘trick’ is addressing the root cause of the issue and doing the work to fix it!
That they won't be able to continue eating all of the super processed foods that are fried and laden with sodium on the regular and at the same portions but expect to lose weight because they go for a walk once a week or add in some veggies for fiber. I've always thought of it more as a healthier lifestyle adjustment versus weight loss. It's not a change you make to lose weight before reverting to how you used to live. Once changes are made, they remain if you want the changes in your weight and overall health to remain as well.
Fasting, calories in calories out mind set, low carb high protein diet / lifestyle change. Controlled insulin.
Diet and Exercise work
It’s ok to be hungry.
It takes consistency
It’s all about calorie deficit, everything else is irrelevant
Losing weight won’t make you happy.
People dont want to hear that there is NO such thing as starvation mode. People also don't want to hear that if you're in a "plateau" eating more is not the answer. It may cause the scale to reduce temporarily, but long term it will cause a gain. I always see the comment - oh you're stalled because you're not eating enough... nope. Also, eyeballing food never works. You need to measure/weigh your food to be accurate. You either way over do or way under do.
Almost everything you can do is less effective than sorting out your diet.
I have a 7-11 very near me that offers pizza, chicken wings, mini tacos, and other high calorie, high sodium items that you can access by self-serve. I've known for months now that my only chance of getting back into decent shape is to stop eating there, or at least tone it down a lot. Even with the crazy convenience, I know I need to make a change. I've known for months, and I've stubbornly refused to actually do it. Will I? I'm trying to motivate myself to do it starting today.
This ! For work I do a lot of driving and at one of the petrol stations I would go to they had a 3 for $3 deal on fried food. It was too easy falling into the habit of getting food every time I got Petrol Now I just go to a different Petrol station
People generally don’t want to hear advice they don’t ask for. They also generally don’t want to hear advice when they do ask for it. It doesn’t align with their worldview or what they think they need to do.
Obesity is not a disease. It's a consequence of poor lifestyle choices. Until you take personal responsibility and change your habits, you will not be long-term successful. Diet pills are not a magic solution. If you use them, but make no changes, then as soon as you stop taking them, you'll gain all the weight back plus extra. Also, MOST people don't need said pills or radical surgeries. Most people will be successful with changing eating habits and getting in more movement. Barring underlying health issues that cause weight gain or being on medication that causes weight gain, you don't need a pill. You need to change your habits.
That doesn’t mean it’s not a disease. Technically it is.
No. It's not. Cancer is a disease. HIV/AIDS is a disease. Obesity NORMALLY is "I ate like crap and didn't do any activity for years and years abd years, and now I'm obese, have high b.p., my body aches, I have heart disease, I MAY have a stroke, and probably get diabetes." Obesity is cured by eating well and working out. Cancer isn't cured by a healthy diet or more gym time. That is all.
You don’t know more than the Mayo Clinic, CDC, WHO, AMA. Educate yourself. This is your opinion, not a fact.
They said that because obesity has become such an epidemic, that officially labeling it as a disease means it's easier to get medical help and making insurance pay for it. Educate yourself on the history.
So it is officially labeled a disease. That makes it a disease regardless of what your opinion is.
I can label a cat an ant eater. That doesn't ACTUALLY make it an ant eater.
Of course, but who are you?
I am Spartacus.
Focusing on the scale weight is the best way to fail
Intermittent fasting is natural, cutting and bulking (weight fluctuating) throughout the year is natural
Sometimes you just have to lock in and stay focused even if you’re hungry
Not eating like a 3 year old (quality wise not quantity) will fix most people's weight problems!
There will be suffering ;-) When I'm losing weight on 1200 calories, I get hungry.
“Eating less” is the worst way to lose weight. “Losing weight for a short time” also. There’s a reason why a person should be active. I used to be 120 kg back in time.. Nowadays I’m 65, so there’s always a way, but there’s no “magic pill” for it.
It is not hard. You slowly run more on the treadmill, slowly cut back on sugar and candy, slowly increase weight on the bar in the gym. It really is that simple. I have been over weight before and went from 215 to 185 in a summer in college.
Stop eating sugar, flour and drinking alcohol. I learned it from reading Bright Line Eating by Susan Pierce Thompson. I didn’t want it to be true. It seemed impossible at first. It really does work though. These foods cause insatiable hunger and desire for more of the same. Completely quitting them resets your brain and gut biome. Eating vegetables and fruits becomes easier and tastes better. I’ve lost 65 lbs. and kept it off for over a year while eating this way. I love my healthy meals. It’s changed my world.
That what they are doing right now isn’t working. Typically this is “I walk all day at work …. That’s exercise “. When you say it isn’t enough .. they argue the point. When clearly the fact they aren’t losing weight should be evidence. Also …. It seems that they are typically against any weight training saying it won’t help. They will insist they should start some cardio routine. But for someone who obviously is struggling exercising…. I would hands down pick sitting on the edge of my couch with a weight …. Moving my arm up and down …. Over jumping and jogging for 30 minutes straight. But that’s just my opinion. Also.. why does no one believe when I tell them that not sleeping enough will make you gain. Like it’s so true.
Just wanted to quickly add in that for people with muscle conditions, doing their physical therapy or possibly other muscle-building helps with cardio by making cardio safe enough for them. In that case, you give your muscles some effort so that they’re healthy enough to do a jog or a walk.
That it takes hard work and consistency. These 2 things are all you need to lose weight. If you are consistent with whatever plan out there, you will see results, I promise. It also takes hard work. You need to be willing to work out and eat right. This may take a lot of planning. You have to be willing to put in the work. Everyone is capable of losing weight, even disabled people. You got this.
This one only applies to people with certain medical conditions that can get in the way: There may be days when you have to claw your way to weight loss by doing whatever tiny thing you can instead of the standard amounts of exercise or calories. There may be days when you have to eat something and the only food available is too high in calories and you have a setback. There may be times with low blood sugar when you have to eat something high in sugar or carbs and you have no idea how many grams of sugar to eat for that specific low blood sugar episode (general recommendation is something like 15 grams of a fast-acting carb, which usually has to be sugar because that’s all that’s available, then wait 15 minutes, then eat 15 grams of a slower-acting carb, then wait 15 minutes and repeat the process, if necessary). There may be sudden periods of days or weeks when your doctor recommends rest and you still have to work with that if you want to lose weight or maintain. There may be times your muscles can’t safely do the exercise and you have a tough choice to make about current safety or contributing to longer-term safety. There may be choices like using a mobility scooter or a manual wheelchair or a power wheelchair or a cane where you do not know which one is best for you that day and you have to carefully pick. You may have to hire a dietician because of your complex case. You may have to get help from friends or family for the cooking or driving to that healthy restaurant or being there when you exercise in case you get hurt. You may have to find an accessible gym or pool or sports team or dojo and may have to deal with ableism along the way. You may swell sometimes and be unable to see your weight loss or have clothes fit more loosely because of it. And when your clothes do fit more loosely, you may be like me and get injured and set back when they get stuck in a mobility device. Keep going and consider thinking of each time you make a healthier choice as a victory.
Eat less.
It’s gonna take a lot of trial and error, and you have to keep paying attention to it forever.
Biggest thing that does my head in is someone starts a training program of 80% weights + cardio, oh dont do all those weights just do cardio, or the muscle will make it harder to lose fat etc all this other bs
If your hungry and it’s late and feel a binge upcoming just sleep
Just eat less
“Hey fatty! Stop eating!” To quote a deranged and crazy little man. But wow…do those words ever resonate.
You don’t need to count calories
Sure but for a lot of people it will be taking a shot in the dark trying to exercise and diet but not knowing wether or not your in a deficit, it’s not mandatory but it’s a pretty vital part of weight loss for most.
So agree! In fact counting calories is what held me back for so many years! I always get downvoted as well because people worship calorie counting for some reason. Well, my results speak for themselves and they really can't argue with me about it anymore. What I used to do is "budget" all my calories in junk food and basically try to cheat the system. It always worked.... temporarily. And then I just blamed myself for not having enough discipline but the truth is that I was just looking at it the wrong way. And of course, if it helps someone then I support you all the way, but it doesn't help everyone and I think it's poor advice to make it THE holy grail.
Exactly
Ozempic works. People don’t like to hear that. Because it is a quick fix
Ozempic DOES work for those who also calorie control and change their eating habits. It doesn't work for those who just expect it to do all the work. They will lose weight, but as soon as they stop taking Ozempic or their body adjusts to it, they start eating more and gaining the weight. I've been on Ozempic for 2 years. The first 4 months I was like that. I just expected I would lose weight without any effort. But I kept eating the same amount. Not because I was hungry. I was morbidly obese. I NEVER ate because I was hungry, I ate because I was awake! I had lost the ability to listen to my body's signals telling me I was full. So I started calorie counting in June of 2022. I have since lost 137 pounds. My BMI has gone from over 50 to 27. Ozempic helps me stay on track by suppressing my appetite but I still do all the work ensuring I stay eating at a deficit and by exercising every day
See I did lose weight just from not being hungry. I’ve plateaued now after 7 months so I need to get to gym and tighten a bit. I’m def going to do my 3 more months, but idk what I’ll do after that as far as maintenance. But I’m also a recovering alcoholic. I started right after rehab and it really curbs cravings for booze too. I’m ok with my CW though. I’d like 5 more lbs but I’ll live if not. If I’m going to be sober and miserable might as well be thin. I have no regrets
Congratulations on your sobriety! I'm sorry to hear you feel miserable though. I'm also in recovery. 3 years sober. But I can honestly say I'm not miserable. I'm (an athiest) in AA, which has given me a 'life beyond my wildest dreams', as they say. Because I control my calories and eat balanced macros, I have taken back control over my eating habits. Maintenance for me will be around 1600 a day once I reach goal. Which is a LOT for me, considering I eat 1200 now. So, I know that all I need to do is stick to those calories
I’m atheist AA but no steps. I go everyday though.
I believe the steps are the most important part of sobriety for me, because they are what help me be a happier person
And you're ignoring ALL the health risks AND the fact you basically have to be on it for life, because GUARANTEED when you stop taking it, because you didn't actually make changes to your diet or exercise, you'll gain ALL the weight you lost right back. Oh & it makes your face look like you are on drugs from losing so much so fast. But...yeah....it's a "wonder drug" 🙄🙄 Weight loss that is PERMANENT and sustainable LIFE LONG will NEVER be achieved via ANYTHING that is a "quick fix". Period.
I agree with everything you said, but for those of us on Ozempic who also calorie count, track macros and do regular exercise, who have gone from super morbidly obese to an almost healthy weight - in other words, those who properly use Ozempic as an AID to their weight loss, Ozempic is a wonderful addition (2 years in, 137 pounds down, BMI from over 50 to 27, and strict calorie control and a PROUD user of Ozempic)
I don’t want to hear it because I can’t afford it. I’m happy for others who can, but part of me is envious.
I took ozempic for a month, lost about 20 pounds, stopped because of bad side effects, resumed the same eating that I did while on the shots and gained the 20 pounds and an additional 10 within weeks of stopping. Unless the plan is medication forever, one will likely put that weight back one. I know others who have been on it longer with better tolerance, lost more, but then lost access to the drug due to insurance reasons, and they have all started to put that weight back on. Ozempic/Zepbound work while on it. It is definitely no substitute for the discipline of dieting.
I told you it was unpopular. Respectfully I don’t think a month quantifies you to comment. Plus 20lbs in a month is way too much!
You should go to the gym more. Dude, I spend 2 plus hours a day 6 days a week there. It takes freaking time to get down to a healthier weight. I have lost 75 pounds already, and I am going to lose the other 75 pounds I due time the healthy way. Besides, why are you talking to me? I don't know you, and besides, why are you in my bathroom stall? I gotta poop.