When I was deciding where to post this, I thought this forum would be the best, since obviously, everyone's doing something right.

I have about 15-25 lbs to lose.

I've been checking out different diet plans, and most of them seem very complicated to me, where instead of living a life style, I'd be concentrating on eating/diet all the time, I know that it's not going to be easy, but I also know that it has to be something 'doable', and practical for me and my schedule.

Ergo, I have decided to do the following, and I'd like your opinion on it:

- Exersize six days a week cardio and weight lifting for 30-60 minutes
- Drink at least 64 oz of water a day
- Cut out crappy junk foods
-Cut out white foods
- Cut down on portion sizes
- Try to eat more fruits and vegetables
- eat more balanced meals.

This may sound huge, but a lot of it I do already, like not eating white foods, and I'm trying really hard not to eat crap..I drink about 24-32 oz of water a day currently...

I just think that with guidelines like these, rather than have/can not have lists, or you can only eat that during the vernal equinox at the equator in your purple pajamas plans...

As I get the ball rolling, I'll do more, but right now I get scared off by very complicated plans.

What you're doing sounds good. I don't like diets either that restrict certain things. I count calories so I can eat what I want as long as I stay within my calorie limit for the day. This way I don't feel deprived. Good luck to you!

alteon..i have around 20 pounds to lose as well....i am waiting to see what responses u get to your question....

my current plan for the last couple of months has been working out 6 days a week....cardio + weight training and eating around 1200-1300 calories...and guess what ..i haven't lost a pound in the last four months...

i work full-time...its even harder to stick to eating right when u see absolutely no weight loss.....sigh

hopefully i will get some good advice from this post..

Weight lifting 6 times a week can be ok - but you have to remember to alternate which muscle groups you are working on - ie. upper body on Monday, lower body on Tuesday.

Otherwise, you don't give your muscles time to heal (and grow stronger) - which leaves you vulnerable to serious injury.

This is the advice from my physical therapist, anyway.

I have learned that your body will go into starvation mode if you stay at the same calorie intake everyday. You need to give the body some variety so that it never adjust to a certain amount of calories.

Maybe you should try increases you calories a little bit with fruits, vegetable and grain and continue the same workout and see what happens. You may also try increasing you water to at least 64oz a day. I find that if I fill up a 32oz cup at work - I will finish it faster than if I have to keep getting up to fill my glass.

Good Luck!

It sounds like you are on the right track. I think it's important not to try to lose too fast on too few calories, otherwise you can set yourself up for failure because of feelings of deprivation - was well as being plain hungry!

The easiest for me was to basically eat 1/2 as much as I used to of meats and high calorie foods such as bread and pasta. I also choose whole grains instead of processed "white" foods. I also use half as much butter and olive oil. I think portion control is the #1 reason I've lost weight. Keeping a food log is a "must" for me.

If you have a "treat" food, make sure to add it into your daily allowance and only have one serving in the house. For example, if I want some chocolate, I'll buy a Lindt Lindor chocolate truffle ball (70 calories each). I only have these once or twice a week, but I really savor it and eat it slowly. If I had a whole package in the house, they'd be gone in a day!

A food log for me was the #1 thing. I found that when I was thinking I was doing pretty good on calories, I was usually totally forgetting about something I ate 6-8 hours before.

LMAO, god that's so true. I'm not big on by the book plans myself. I did south beach, and it worked well. . .when I stuck to it, but it was hard and I don't have tons of time or patients to cook etc. I count calories myself, but you don't have to do that, just as you said, watch portion sizes, stay away from junk/white foods. All that usually means that you're eating lower fat lower calorie foods anyway! It just kinda works out that way. I try and workout 5-6 times a week when I'm good. I drink about 100 oz. of water a day, but I don't drink anything else at all, so it's not that bad, and I know that helps me a lot with feeling full. I think for those of us who don't wish/want to follow a book plan there is just as much success. That way too you don't feel like a failure (like I tend to) when I get a craving and eat, even a small portion of something that may not be typical of you normal diet. On a plan I tend to feel as though I blew it because that food wasn't on the plan. I also tend to want to rebel more when some one else made the rules.

Good luck to you! I think you have a good plan!

Just a suggestion. Atkins is not complicated, and is very similar to what you are already deciding to do. The only thing is "fruits" you would probably limit to berries or very low carb fruits, and vegetables to the not too starchy kinds. Atkins works well and quickly for most people. You might want to check it out.

Thank you to everyone for your answers to my questions. One thing I intend to do that I forgot to put in my list is keep a food journal. I also like the idea of halving my portions of some items, like pastas.

I checked out the Atkins threads and it does seem like it's rather complicated, where much research and planning has to be done on what I eat... It may not be that difficult once you get into it, but it seems very scientific.

Well, I have learned a lot from what everyone has said. I currently do not count calories, but I am going to start putting my foods in fit day to see where I end up and see how my foods break down in respect to carbs/protiens/fats.

I always thought it was wierd that people say that they are "on" a medication or "on" a diet plan, rather than taking a medication or doing a diet plan...It's just a strange part of the English language. This came up because on an issue of Optometric Management that I have, the cover says "Put your Patients On the Pyramid", meaning the new food pyramid. It makes me think that they are being impaled.

Tonight I am joining the Y here, I have to weight until tonight because my husband has to go with me. I am getting the membership for free because it's a benefit of his company. He has to be my living proof that I'm not lying about it.

I'm all excited!

Take it easy! Slow and steady wins the race! It's a great how you have planned it all out. But is it realistic! I've learned to combine my life with excersise so everything I do is getting those (kg) or (pounds) off. Good Luck! mwah