I've lost 48 pounds in the last 2 years. It's been a very slow process but relatively easy, and I haven't really done much in the way of exercise, mostly walking. I have about 30 more pounds to go. 
I'm a total foodie and love to eat, so whenever I get discouraged I just remember that it took me over 15 years to put the weight on. I seldom think of what I do now as a "life-style" change but that's exactly what it is.
I actually started in increments. I didn't make a radical change at first, but many gradual little changes until my eating habits were healthier, and then I stuck with it. This isn't the fastest way to lose weight, but it's been pretty painless - so far.
One of the easiest steps to take for me: I cut out soft drinks, even diet drinks. I drink water or iced/hot teas during the day, and I also drink about a gallon of skim milk a week (including in my oatmeal). Hafta have my glass of milk before iIgo to bed. I also think getting enough liquids, especially water, is important.
For me the ost significant change was lots of emphasis on portion control. I'm now satisfied by much less food. I don't deny myself foods I love, and I don't try to starve myself, but if I eat something at one meal that's high carb or fattening, I eat smaller servings of it, and I watch what I eat more carefully the next couple days. (I can't remember the last time I had fettucine alfredo.) This keeps me from pigging out on foods I really miss and suddenly just "have to have"...which is why I didn't go on the Atkins or SB diets again. I was able to lose weight very quickly on low carb diets in the past, but I couldn't stay with them easily - I love carbs too much. This way I can stick with the plan and still aim for well balanced meals.
I seldom eat out, and when I do, I usually share an entree or eat half of what's on my plate. I brown bag my lunch - soup, Lean Cuisines etc, since we have a micro at work. I don't hang at Burger King or Dairy Queen or McDonalds. Fast food was never very appealing to me, and much less so now. When I travel, I like to stay at motels that have fridges and micros, so I can take along my own healthy snacks and breakfasts.
BTW, I always eat breakfast, always - usually oatmeal and fresh fruit. I also try to eat 3 "meals" a day.
I try to eat fresh fruit and veggies every day, and luckily I like veggies a lot. I stick to mostly lean meats, or very little meat, but I eat pretty much what I want, including roast pork loin, steak on special occassions, and ground beef in my chili etc. I just don't eat big servings of meat, and I don't like fat at all. (Alas for me, I really don't like much fish either.)
If I snack, it's with a small bag of plain popcorn (100 calory packages), fruit, raw veggies or a handful of raw almonds (I actually love all this stuff, especially nuts). If I'm truly hungry, I eat a bit of the above, but just a bit; Ive also learned that you can feel you're hungry when what you really are is thirsty, so I often drink something first before I grab the nuts or an apple.
Luckily for someone in my fifties, I've never had diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. I'm not a big fried food eater, plus I don't care for candy, doughnuts, potato chips, brownies, french fries, etc. This makes eating healthy much easier on me than some other people.
I confess I DO love starches, especially breads, pasta and rice. I haven't totally given up pasta or rice - I simply eat it in smallish portions, and eat mainly to brown/wild rices. I didn't give up bread totally either, but I prefer the "real" thing - artisan fresh baked breads like whole wheat baguettes. Bagels are pretty much a thing of the past.
I've always preferred whole wheat breads. When I get a sandwich out, I normally ditch the bun or bread (hate white bread). I occassionally get a craving for salty or crunchy, and have been known to grab a handful of pretzels, but I don't do it very often.
I love ice cream, and I still really enjoy a little something sweet in the evening. Ice cream is a special treat only so I keep none in the house.
For dessert, I like the Edy's Frozen Fruit bars. They're only about 80 calories and are nice in the summer. I will also do the 100 calory serving of a pudding. I also love fresh berries in season.
If we're at a party and there's a lucious dessert I have some, but not very much. I just try to be very careful about sweets, and fortunately for me, I never ate lots of sweets to begin with...well, except ice cream
. No milkshakes except on my birthday - which is usually whiule I'm in Kentucky, which is the one day a year I alow myself a Hot Brown (which must be among the most fattening things in the world you can eat).
I use canola oil and olive oil, real butter sparingly. I don't like a lot of dressing on my salads, which surely helps. I do notice that to be satisfying I like my food occassional well seasoned, with what depends on the cuisine. Although i don't use much salt, I do love flavor, and I think bland food is broing - I know I used to make porr eating decisions in the past because I suspect I was craving the sensations of flavorful food.
I don't know if this "eating in moderation" life-style will work for everyone, as I know some of you obviously have special dietary needs or must drop weight quickly. But it's something that has worked for me, something I can continue to live with. I would not be happy in a world without pasta or fresh hot crunchy french bread (YUM). But I don't have to eat mountains of it to enjoy it, and I surely don't miss the fat.
I'm a total foodie and love to eat, so whenever I get discouraged I just remember that it took me over 15 years to put the weight on. I seldom think of what I do now as a "life-style" change but that's exactly what it is.
I actually started in increments. I didn't make a radical change at first, but many gradual little changes until my eating habits were healthier, and then I stuck with it. This isn't the fastest way to lose weight, but it's been pretty painless - so far.
One of the easiest steps to take for me: I cut out soft drinks, even diet drinks. I drink water or iced/hot teas during the day, and I also drink about a gallon of skim milk a week (including in my oatmeal). Hafta have my glass of milk before iIgo to bed. I also think getting enough liquids, especially water, is important.
For me the ost significant change was lots of emphasis on portion control. I'm now satisfied by much less food. I don't deny myself foods I love, and I don't try to starve myself, but if I eat something at one meal that's high carb or fattening, I eat smaller servings of it, and I watch what I eat more carefully the next couple days. (I can't remember the last time I had fettucine alfredo.) This keeps me from pigging out on foods I really miss and suddenly just "have to have"...which is why I didn't go on the Atkins or SB diets again. I was able to lose weight very quickly on low carb diets in the past, but I couldn't stay with them easily - I love carbs too much. This way I can stick with the plan and still aim for well balanced meals.
I seldom eat out, and when I do, I usually share an entree or eat half of what's on my plate. I brown bag my lunch - soup, Lean Cuisines etc, since we have a micro at work. I don't hang at Burger King or Dairy Queen or McDonalds. Fast food was never very appealing to me, and much less so now. When I travel, I like to stay at motels that have fridges and micros, so I can take along my own healthy snacks and breakfasts.
BTW, I always eat breakfast, always - usually oatmeal and fresh fruit. I also try to eat 3 "meals" a day.
I try to eat fresh fruit and veggies every day, and luckily I like veggies a lot. I stick to mostly lean meats, or very little meat, but I eat pretty much what I want, including roast pork loin, steak on special occassions, and ground beef in my chili etc. I just don't eat big servings of meat, and I don't like fat at all. (Alas for me, I really don't like much fish either.)
If I snack, it's with a small bag of plain popcorn (100 calory packages), fruit, raw veggies or a handful of raw almonds (I actually love all this stuff, especially nuts). If I'm truly hungry, I eat a bit of the above, but just a bit; Ive also learned that you can feel you're hungry when what you really are is thirsty, so I often drink something first before I grab the nuts or an apple.
Luckily for someone in my fifties, I've never had diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. I'm not a big fried food eater, plus I don't care for candy, doughnuts, potato chips, brownies, french fries, etc. This makes eating healthy much easier on me than some other people.
I confess I DO love starches, especially breads, pasta and rice. I haven't totally given up pasta or rice - I simply eat it in smallish portions, and eat mainly to brown/wild rices. I didn't give up bread totally either, but I prefer the "real" thing - artisan fresh baked breads like whole wheat baguettes. Bagels are pretty much a thing of the past.
I've always preferred whole wheat breads. When I get a sandwich out, I normally ditch the bun or bread (hate white bread). I occassionally get a craving for salty or crunchy, and have been known to grab a handful of pretzels, but I don't do it very often.
I love ice cream, and I still really enjoy a little something sweet in the evening. Ice cream is a special treat only so I keep none in the house.
For dessert, I like the Edy's Frozen Fruit bars. They're only about 80 calories and are nice in the summer. I will also do the 100 calory serving of a pudding. I also love fresh berries in season.
If we're at a party and there's a lucious dessert I have some, but not very much. I just try to be very careful about sweets, and fortunately for me, I never ate lots of sweets to begin with...well, except ice cream
. No milkshakes except on my birthday - which is usually whiule I'm in Kentucky, which is the one day a year I alow myself a Hot Brown (which must be among the most fattening things in the world you can eat).I use canola oil and olive oil, real butter sparingly. I don't like a lot of dressing on my salads, which surely helps. I do notice that to be satisfying I like my food occassional well seasoned, with what depends on the cuisine. Although i don't use much salt, I do love flavor, and I think bland food is broing - I know I used to make porr eating decisions in the past because I suspect I was craving the sensations of flavorful food.
I don't know if this "eating in moderation" life-style will work for everyone, as I know some of you obviously have special dietary needs or must drop weight quickly. But it's something that has worked for me, something I can continue to live with. I would not be happy in a world without pasta or fresh hot crunchy french bread (YUM). But I don't have to eat mountains of it to enjoy it, and I surely don't miss the fat.
