Eat less do more!!! Isn't that what everybody tells you when you are trying to lose weight?
So why in my last 6,7,8,9, attempts at trying to lose weight did I not try that Numerous attempts at having a low calorie intake, eating only healthy low fat foods and structured exercise plans always ultimately left me feeling like I was forcing myself everyday and denying myself of all the foods I love. I would last a couple of months and then have a bad day and then think " oh well thats it then" and go back to stuffing my face at night when the kids have gone to bed and cancelling my gym membership.

So, I now have a confession

For the first couple of months I did exactly that and got that familiar feeling and thought " oh no here we go again", but this time I was terrified about going back to square one, so I ate a pizza!!!!

The next day I went to the gym as usual and kept on plan, at the weekend I had a takeaway and then the weekend after was easter and I ate eggs and a full sunday roast ( with dessert)!!!

For the last 3/4 weeks I have not once felt like I have denied myself, I have been sensible with portion size when it comes to eating " non diet" foods and maintained my daily exercise routine and still managed to lose 2lbs Now don't get me wrong I am not saying this is for everyone but I think this is the way forward for me, and my best chance at losing weight and keeping it off. My initial loss on a 1200 calorie a day diet was 28lb over a period of 10 weeks and then a 5lb loss on my less strict diet over a period of 5 weeks.

If I had stuck to the 1200 calories then it could have been more than double but I would rather eat a little bit of what I want everyday and lose very slowly and keep it off.

So it really is that simple and I could kick myself for not figuring it out before now, I feel absolutely brilliant, my body shape is changing all the time through a combination of cardio and weights and although I have only lost 5lbs in the last few weeks I have dropped another dress size and I feel so much healthier and energetic!

My initial goal was to reach 13st by my anniversary (22nd may) but now I have moved it to the end of the year to allow for my switch in plan but I know I will get there and that is the difference, I could never say that before because it always seemed too far away

Congrats on the discovery. This happened to me too. Like 10 diets I went on "thinking" I was eating low CALS. But I wasn't. I went to a diet program and they taught me what was so simple that I wasn't grasping before. I was eating food I felt was healthy but was high calorie.

I was eating low volume high calorie food. I was hungry because I wans't eating properly. Now I have figured it out. And it works! Damn it.. it works. Eat high volume low calorie food!

My calorie count was wayyyy lower than yours (medically supervised) and you know what happened to my health NOTHING... but it improved.

The diet was pretty strict about not cheating but they put it another way... they told you to stay in the box... so only eat their food or approved foods and you know.. that helped. I find that 'staying in the box" improves success dramatically.

I fear a lot of us dieters have gotten off the track of what actually works and when we think we are eating low calorie --we aren't.

Great post! I feel that what you describe is the right road to weight control for me, too.

Good for you!

If you can lose weight while eating what you want, good for you!!!
I finally realized how true "eat less more more" is, I think we're so resistant to it because it's simple, and requires self control, but if you can do it, it works, keep going, good luck!

Let's see.... 10 weeks on a low-calorie, restrictive diet resulting in an average weight loss of 2.8 lbs vs. a 1 lb a week weight loss without feeling hungry or deprived? Which one is more sustainable in the long run?

I think we both know the answer to that question.

This is what I have done and I too have questioned why I never was able to do this sooner. Something just clicked this time! Like you said, I would much rather eat what I want in moderation and lose slowly than eat strictly "healthy foods" and lose more quickly, but feel deprived. Now, if I want the cupcake, I eat a bite or, on a treat day, I'll eat half the cupcake. For me, and it sounds like for you too, this approach allows you to eat anything and still lose...especially as long as you keep up the workouts. Plus, this is a real, sustainable long-term approach rather than some crash diet.

Congrats on figuring it out!! I'm so glad it's working for you!

Thankyou, it is definately working for me

I had a similar "revelation". My doctor had told me, "You get fit with exercise, you lose weight with diet" but I stubbornly continued to think I could eat what I wanted and just exercise and I'd be fine. Well, that might have worked in my early 20's, but it didn't work in my 30's. I had to start being more careful about what I ate.

I just restarted what is probably a 100th attempt at this whole loss weight thing, so maybe this will work for me. A huge problem of mine was growing up in a "big" family and mom making big meals, expecting the plate to be clean. I was so used to having that stuffed full feeling, I felt like when I wasn't FULL, that I was hungry.

I came across that revelation like 2 years ago. I have done much better with my compulsive eating but not when I deprive myself the foods I like. So maybe it would be in my benefit to try eating some of the things I enjoy in smaller portions. I was SO disgusted with myself Sunday when I got on the scale and measure my waist. So because we had JUST gone grocery shopping, I wasn't willing to throw away all of the food we just bought. Instead, I cut out all drinks (leaving those for my son and hubby) and only drinking water. I still eat the not as healthy foods but have been limiting them to appropriate portions. I've already dropped 3 lbs!