What approach are you taking to tackle your excess weight, and how's it working out for you?

This time around I'm doing low-carb, mod-protein, and high-fat. I'm not consciously counting calories, but my tracking tool shows they come in at about 1900 a day. With the exception of sugar-free jelly and DaVinci S-F syrups, I don't use any packaged/processed foods.

My progress is slightly slower than when I did a low-fat, high-carb (whole foods) WOE. I weigh 3 pounds more on the scale (compared with what I'd lost at the 12 week stage last time on 1600 kcals a day), but my measurements (bust, waist, and hips) are the same.

Overall I have more energy and less hunger. I'm wondering whether that's the extra 300 kcals a day, or the different composition of macronutrients.

I doing the low calories, trying to stay at 1600 for now. I am also trying to stay away from red meats, high fats and sugars. Just trying to eat healthier. This is how I have lost weight to this point, along with exercise.

I've chosen a low carb exchange plan (so it's controlled calorie as well). Because the carb count is a bit higher than many low-carb plans, maybe controlled carb is a better description). I'm also finding a heck of a time sticking with it, but I think some of that is cabin fever. I'm so ready for spring.

I would call it "controlled calories" more than low calories. It works just fine combined with exercise. If I could talk myself into buckling down to low calories I could probably take off the last few. Nuff said

I'm "good carbing (low carb)" it for now on South Beach. It seems to be working so far (when I stay on plan, of course).

Actually its hard to fit my plan into one category. All plans need to be low calorie in order for you to lose weight, how you achieve that depends up to you. Carby foods tend to pack calories and make you hungry which is why low carb works. Low fat works by removing the high calorie fat foods from your diet.

My diet is whole foods, vegan, relatively low fat, restricted carbs with monitored low calorie. I don't eat any animal products, I eat some healthy fats but not a lot, I eat some carby items but avoid high carby items such as bread, pasta, etc but will eat a limited amount of whole grains and currently I'm doing weight watchers.

I'm doing Atkins, so low-carb and high fat is what I concentrate on. For me, carbs are such a trigger for to binge it's best for me to detox through induction, and not have to deal with cravings except for the hormonal cravings near my cycle. With Weight Watchers, I just couldn't get past the binges, because the carbs were allowed in moderation. If I could handle moderation, I wouldn't have gained all this weight to begin with!!

Congrats on your incredible loss, nelie, and everyone else for that matter! That's a serious number of pounds that have been seen off!

I'm not convinced that this statement is entirely accurate. There's a lot of controversy surrounding how the body utilises different macronutrients, and some schools of thought dispute that all calories are treated the same.

When I'm a bit further along with my journey I fully intend to do a mini study of my own to see how different proportions of carbs, fat, and protein affect my weight and measurements.

I never used to think I had a problem with carbs, but my sister reminded me of the time we were at the Indian restaurant, and I was insisting we needed more rice. I said, "you'd be surprised at how much rice I can eat"; and she was!

oops. I accidently hit low carb instead of low calorie. but I"m sort of doing a smidge of both.

Well I think it depends although I did read that the average person in China eats more calories than the average american but they are a lot more active than us too.

I count calories - watch my carbs - and I don't eat much meat, fish or poultry (like a couple of times a month). I eat a lot veggies and try to stay away from processed foods . I have been wondering if I need to add more protein to my diet.....

I watch the calories, eat unprocessed foods, no added sugar or HFCS, watch the fruits, and limit the whole grains....basically, South Beach. I do agree with Nellie that calorie control is imperative to weight loss. However, I also have to watch my natural sugar intake and my starch intake. Too much of these and I don't lose despite how careful I am with my calories.

Nice to see you dishyfishy. I was doing the whole foods, controlled carb approach (not low) but just couldn't lose any weight. I have moderated it to include lower calorie and low fat foods and find that that has given me a little nudge in the downward direction.