Calorie Counting
I started off in a very similar place as you- in December I was 246.5 lbs at 5'4". The most foolproof way of losing weight is by counting calories.
Disclaimer: I throw a lot of information at you here. I tried to keep it clear and organized, but I probably made this sound way more complicated than it actually is. If you have any questions please let me know, I'm happy to help!
Start by calculating your TDEE. I don't think I can post links yet because my account is new, but googling "TDEE calculator" will bring you to websites that will tell you how many calories you burn in a day. Select "Sedentary" for your activity level, even if you think it's higher, because you can always adjust it later on.
From there, you can calculate how many calories you should eat every day. To lose 1lb a week, subtract 500 calories from your TDEE, and for 2lb a week, subtract 1000. It's not recommended to lose more than 2lb a week (or 1% of your body weight, so it's ok for you to lose a little faster than that at first), or to go below 1200 calories a day, as that can make it hard to get all of your required nutrients.
Now that you know how much to eat, you can track your intake with an app like myfitnesspal or loseit, or with plain old pen and paper if you prefer. The apps have a huge database of food that makes tracking really easy.
The best part of calorie counting (some call it CICO) is that you can eat pretty much whatever you want, as long as your daily calories are below your budget. If you want to eat a cupcake, go for it, just make sure that you're accounting for it and maybe eating a little less the rest of your day to keep everything on track.
The thing that has kept me on track is online weight loss communities like this one. Instagram and Reddit (/r/loseit) both have really great communities that have helped keep me accountable and motivated, and have helped me lose almost 60lbs so far.
Summary: Calculate TDEE, eat 500-1000 calories less than that number per day, stay accountable
Tips
-Reddit's /r/loseit sub goes much further into detail about CICO and is probably way more helpful than I could ever be. They have links for beginners and an FAQ in their sidebar (I don't work for them I promise lol, they've just helped me out a lot).
-While you can eat whatever you want while calorie counting, it's a lot easier to feel full and satisfied with higher levels of protein and fats, and fewer carbs.
-Weighing food on a kitchen scale will give you much more accurate measurements than measuring cups.
-Everyone is different, and what works for someone else might not work for you. Don't be discouraged if it takes you a while to find the best meal plan for you.
-Find a way to keep yourself accountable. Whether it's an online community, a friend/accountability buddy, or a nutritionist/trainer, having someone who understands what you're going through and can motivate you when things are hard is invaluable.
-Exercising is not strictly necessary to lose weight, but it will increase the number of calories you burn in a day and make losing easier. Find a type of exercise that you enjoy and can stick with. Forcing yourself to run when you hate running just makes it more likely for you to quit.
-Make sure to count things like soda, salad dressing, and cooking oil into your calories. These things seem small but they add up fast!
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College student struggling to lose the weight... needing help in my 100+ lb WL!
