So, What have you had your best luck with? What diet actually works?

I am concidering the band. Id rather not though.


babysteps

Hi there! Welcome to the board.

That is a tough question. Its tough because no one plan works for everyone. I am really approaching the changes as more of a healthy lifestyle change. I am changing what I am eating and using a journal which tracks my calories, etc. and I am limiting the amount of calories per day that will allow me to lose weight without going hungry or letting my body think it is starving.

I have a long way to go, but I did not get to this size overnight and I know it will take a good while to get to a more healthy weight.

What are you currently following for a plan?

I agree that no one thing works for everyone too.

I am a calorie counter. I write down EVERYTHING I eat. I started off just counting calories but have moved to paying a lot more attention to nutrition and eating fruits, veggies, etc.

If you are considering a lapband, I recommend you talk to people in the WLS forum. There are pros and cons to surgery. One thing I keep hearing over and over though, is that it is a tool, not a magic wand. You still have to eat right, etc.

What seems to work is to find something you are comfortable with and to do it consistently. That might be a specific plan such as Weight Watchers or South Beach, or it could be eating whole foods and/or calorie counting.

What has worked for me personally is calorie counting because it allows me flexibility. I have the problem of immediately starting to crave any food that I decide is "off-limits" and therefore I need to make nothing forbidden. I try and eat between 1800-2000 calories a day, and when I do that consistently and get some exercise, I lose weight. Of course as simple as that is in theory the practice of it is another matter entirely.

Very well said Nancy. I'm the same way and totally agree no plan works for everyone.
What ever you choose, do your best. There's only one you!