Calorie counting plus exercise 4-5 days a week with at least 2 days of strength training, whether with own body weight or free weights. I use My Fitness Pal for tracking, and I used Livestrong's The Daily Plate a while back when I began my journey.

Counting calories and exercising 5 days a week

I log points with WeightWatchers Online and also log calories with myfitnesspal. I find it easier to think in terms of points, but I like how myfitnesspal lets me see the breakdown of nutrients (how much fat, carbs, etc. I am eating). It's worked for me to lose 70 pounds so far.

Another double counter! I do WW and MFP also.

I'm a calorie counter and I track using an app called Tap n' Track. I don't particularly watch any food group (except maybe fat because it takes up a lot of calories and I like a big plate of food) but I don't eat a lot of "outside" food. However, if I really crave something, I try to build in the room into my daily calorie count to have it.

I need to burn calories 6 days per week and be aware of what I'm eating (no sugar, pop, crap etc). I'm not calorie counter, but I'm a label reader and I take a lot of mental notes. Seems to be working thus far!

Calorie counting, choosing healthier foods, and walking a lot and at every chance I get.

I am a calorie counter my limit is 1500/day, but I rarely eat that many. Typically around 1200 calories. I eat low carb, very few grains, whole grain bread once or twice a week, baked potato or sweet potato twice a week. I track my food on The Daily Plate. Itry to 100+ g protien and under 100g carbs a day.

M-F I am creature of habit. It needs to be quick and convienent. breakfast is typically Extend or Atkind protien bar and Atkins or Pure Protien shake. I still kinda feel like I am having my donut/frapaccino breakfast as I used to do, but in a healthier form. Lunch is protien (usually cottage cheese or chicken) Veggies ( usually carrots or a salad of mixed green and other veggies) and fruit (berries, grapes or an apple) an afternoon snack of nut or string cheese and an apple. Dinner is where I mix it up. It is working for me and I am satisfied and rarely, if ever hungry. Wish I could get into the exercise groove though.

Awesome responses, everyone So interesting!

I do WW, lifetime member. Maintaining. I need the structure of the meetings and the support and friendship.

I also strength train 3 times a week and add in some yoga moves and HIIT.

My WW meetings and my gym time are my ME time! No cell phone, no interruptions. It's all about ME!

That's what works for me.

Anyone know any alternative ways to workout without having/being able to afford a gym membership?

Exercise (at least one concentrated hour of cardio a day for now) and conscious eating, aka calorie counting. No more than 1200 calories a day.

I go over by at least 100 calories almost daily except for one day a week when I'm too lazy to cook and have what I call "forage days" where I eat only from my healthy snacks all day (yogurts, fresh fruit and fresh fruit cups, salt-free pretzels, salt-free tortilla chips, raw veggies, sometimes a can of light soup warmed in the microwave - food I have no desire to binge on) and thus end up well under my 1200/day cal. limit on such days.

I'm sure I could officially up my calorie intake by a few hundred and still lose, but setting it low helps me binge less calories when I do inevitably binge. 'Oh gosh, that 4th nutrigrain bar puts me at 2140 cals! Stop!' And I do stop. See, I'm paranoid and confused about how much I burn a day so eating 2000+ horrifies me enough to make me stop, not to mention I'm full enough after 500+ extra calories at one time for will-power to kick in and win out.

Sometimes it seems like I burn 2000/day, but that one week 2 months ago where I let myself eat 2000/day and gained 5 pounds in a week has made me very wary and confused. I mean I did go over a few days that week but 5 whole pounds over? I was so shocked and... confused! Still confused about it to be honest... So yeah, bingeing on 600 and 700 extra calories after having only eaten 600 (on forage days) to 1400 (normally) is why I think I've managed to still consistently lose. I guess I burn around 2000 (and often more than that) but I just don't know.

My favorite way to work out if I'm not going to the gym is using workout videos. I've built up a huge library over time but it starts with one. You can take a variety of classes (walking, aerobic step, strength training, kickboxing, aerobics, yoga, Pilates, almost anything really) from the comfort of your own home. If I recall Netflix had a good selection if you already subscribe, or the public library could be a good free resource as well.

Of course there's always the good old out of doors which is 100% free. You can walk, run, jog, roller-blade, bike, whatever suits you. You may even want to look up walking groups etc in your area. It's social and many of them are free. Definitely don't feel you have to pay for a gym membership to work out.

I am a calorie counter! Like everyone else I used MFP at first, but then I made myself a food/exercise log which I am enjoying filling in every day- I still use the MFP database to check calories.

I am a cal counter too Try to eat lots of health foods and not to much rubbish!