Hi! I'm new here, too - just registered today!
Congrats on the progress you've made so far. I think you're smart to set 20-pound goals. These are so much more doable than thinking about what you want to lose altogether, plus you have the joy and satisfaction of regularly celebrating victories.
I've lost about 58 pounds, and am now holding steady at about 118. Mine was a very low-fat diet advised by my oncologist for preventive purposes. This was excellent motivation while it lasted - the link between my cancer and dietary fat has since been disproven. Now I try to focus on maintaining a low weight for general health reasons, and because I just feel so darned good.
I lost the weight by restricting my dietary fat - I only loosely count calories. I base my diet almost wholly on plant foods, making a point to eat a wide variety, lots of brightly colored fruits and veggies, whole grains, and some lean protein. Luckily for me, I love this stuff anyway, and prefer almost any food as unadorned as possible by sauces, gravies, etc. I like the way foods taste on their own.
I very strongly believe in the value of regular exercise. When I am active, I seem to naturally want to eat well. If I don't exercise for some reason, not only am I really irritable, it is much harder for me to eat the way I should. Exercise, for me, is as much for mental health as it is for physical.
Good luck, and here's to your continued success!
New Here...Desperately seeking advise!!
