Plan ahead! Weighing your options and making informed decisions is the most important thing to keep me on track. Even planning to go off-plan is important when you need it.

My no. 1 weight loss tip: DON'T DRINK YOUR CALORIES :)

This but I'd like to expound. It's just not educating yourself about healthy eating and exercise but learning about yourself so you're not frustrated trying an eating regimen that everyone else seems to losing a lot of weight on but you're not. Case in point, many people have been successful with mini-meals (5-6 per day). I would get so frustrated because I wouldn't lose weight with this approach. It was hard for me to be consistent with my schedule, I was often eating when I was not hungry and felt bloated, and it was overall harder to avoid going over my calorie allotment because I was eating more often (and eating a little extra each time). I found that my schedule and most notably my body responded better eating 2-3 larger meals (no I don't do IF which typically requires a more formal schedule of fasting) so rather than try to make the "more popular" approach work, I just went with this approach for me. The same is the case for Atkins which I didn't respond well to but through trial and error I developed the right balance of protein, fat, and carbs for me by tracking food against weight loss over a period of time (need about 3-4 weeks to see a pattern). There is so much debate about what's good for our bodies and weight loss (i.e. dairy vs. no dairy, should we eat fruit, how much fat is too much, vegetarian approach versus meat eaters, etc.) that you have to really take the time to read a variety of data and then develop an educated eating plan based on your lifestyle, personality, and other factors specific to you. This will increase your chances for success.

Drink a lot of water with dinner. It helps you feel fuller faster and helps me stay fuller longer. Drinking water all the time is generally important, but I always eat less if I drink more.

1. Weigh and measure (with a food scale!) every gram you eat and log it!

2. Don't make a single change you cannot happily maintain for the rest of your life!

I have another one! Don't make excuses!

The cake made me do it.

1. Give tweaks to your plan at least three weeks to work. Some changes show up slowly.
2. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. It is ridiculously easy to confuse the messages your body sends your brain when you aren't rested. A 20-minute power nap can often defuse a craving or binge. Sometimes all it takes is a 5-minute close-your-eyes-and-breathe. But naps rock!
3. Don't eyeball portion sizes. Measure, measure, measure.

Excellent points. I was trying to stick with the "rules" of the first post but I agree completely.

In my case when I read that eating every 2-3 hours was critical to keeping your metabolism humming along I figured if every 2-3 hours was good every 2 hours was better. I'd wake up at 6 am to eat, and every 2 hours I would eat until my last meal at 10:00 PM. What a pain in the butt! Plus I was always hungry because I was never full due to eating these tiny mini meals.

At the same time I had read how important working out was so I was working out six days a week and doing HIIT 3 times a week on top of it. Didn't lose a single lb in the first month dispite eating very "clean" because I was very hungry and needed to fuel all the working out. A massive amount of effort was expended in those 30 days with very little result other than getting into much better shape. I was sooo sore every day and looking back I am lucky I didn't injure myself.

I figured I was just genetically predisposed to being fat after all my entire family is fat.

Everything I was doing at the time was based around the book NROL which had come hightly reccomended but unfortunately is not a great book as far as nutrition goes...

That said - I kept reading and got educated.

So ya ...

"Educated yourself" :D

Mine is the classic "eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a rich person, and supper like a pauper." I realize this wouldn't work for everyone, but it's an excellent fit for my physiology and psychology.

F.

1. Prayer

2. Never, ever, EVER give up. It's not an option for me.

I look at all the clothes in my closet that I want to wear that are too tight. I refuse to buy clothes that are a bigger size, but I will definitely buy something new when I hit my goal weight!

I love this thread.

Here's my little suggestion: avoid eating at potluck/buffet style parties. Often you have NO IDEA of the ingredients of the dishes (or the cleanliness of the kitchen in which the food was prepared!). I always eat beforehand and only eat fruit or vegetables at the event. Yeah, I'm hungry when I go home, but at least I know what I've eaten!

Jen

Make a plan that suits YOU and YOUR lifestyle
Don't be afraid to say NO
Plan ahead
Be truthful with yourself
Face the scale
Drink water
Talk about/discuss your feelings about your weight loss. If I hadn't had the wonderful advice of several 3fc members, I would have given up.