Gertie,
I am not able to follow 'diet plans' long, or I fail miserably. I just love food too much, so I have to be flexible in my eating or I will binge big time.

I don't know what height you are, but I am 5'3 and I shoot for 1200 calories max per day of anything I want, with meals every 2-3 hours. 5-6 times a day. Obviously they are smaller meals/ snacks, but more often. I always end up having at least one cheat day per week, so my metabolism never gets out of whack. I try to drink two large water bottles per day. I exercise occasionally, but lost most of the weight without it. I started at 194+ and I'm now at 126-127.
This works well for me. Not fast, but it's doable long term.
I hope you find what works for you.
Plateaus are no fun!
Let us know if you have any other questions :)

Thanks so much for your input. I am 5'3", too. I am so glad to know what is working for other people. Maybe just counting calories is the way to go. I realized after I posted that I may be retaining water since that usually happens when I shock my body by working out :) Hopefully, if I stick with it, the bloat will be gone by the weekend. I have been hovering in the 139-140 range for the past 2 weeks and I cannot break through. grrr!

Yes, I get a gain whenever I do a 'real' workout. Probably water retention like you mentioned, but it is SO discouraging! I also eat more when I work out and defeat the whole weight loss thing.
You'll break through sooner or later :) Determination helps.

Your weight loss history is really inspiring. And great to know that you did it with a cheat day per week. Also good to know that you did it without much exercise (yay!) Did you ever experience plateaus along the way?

Plateaus....Oh my gosh, yes! I reached a plateau at 142, then a major one, teetering b/w 132 and 137.5. Could not for the life of me get below the 130's and now here I am :)
My plateaus are more cheating on my diet and the scale obviously not moving as a result! Diet is the key to weight loss. If I get stuck or want to lose faster, then I drop to 1050 a couple days of the week.
Everyone is different re: how many calories needed to lose, but 1050-1200 is what helps me. I just try to add veggies and some fruits to help make up for what I'm cutting out.
I'm kind of stuck at 126-127 right now too... but that is more due to not sticking to my calorie counts. I recommitted this morning, so hopefully by next Thurs I will see some results :)

130 today 129 here I come

Nice work, Skittles! 129 is going to feel great!

I see there is a 120's thread I can't wait

That is an amazing loss (hope it's o. k. to just blurt that out)! It takes a lot of dedication and stick-to-it-ive-ness. Hope I can continue that this year, after gaining over the holidays.

Thank you, Hunger! It took me a very long time, and only since September did I pick back up and continue moving down. I am very small-framed (even x-small gloves are too big) and still need to lose another good 10-15.
We can do it! :)

So 131 today but I had a late dinner last nite.im gonna start weight trainning at the gym with the machines

Yay, Skittles!

130.0 today yay. 129 here i come

Not weighing today, as yesterday was an "Up Day." :D Will weigh in tomorrow morning, first thing.