I’m currently a lump of chocolate and cheese, but once the new year hits, I’m determined to make 2026 the year I finally get back to a healthy weight (I’ve lost about 20 pounds, with about 80-100 to go). I’m pretty good about exercising regularly, but, as they say, abs are made in the kitchen. Those who have successfully lost weight, is there anything you particularly recommend for maintaining a calorie deficit to lose the weight, and then avoiding gaining it back later on?
Intermittent fasting worked for me. By setting a limit on the number of hours I can only eat, it effectively put me into a calorie deficit. There’s only so much you can eat within several hours.
The great part is I didn’t have to be selective with what I eat. I just needed to quit eating before my daily eating window closed. No need for overly complicated diets.
I’ve tried intermittent fasting before and didn’t have much luck. I’d reach my eating window and be so hungry that I’d blow through my calorie limit for the day
How long did you try it? It took me around 2 weeks to get used to it and it was pretty difficult having to deal with the hunger in the first few days. I just had to power through it. Nowadays I can go up to 18 hours without eating.
This kind of behavior tells me you have little to no hope on any plan without a major change in your psychology. You will just find a loophole and fail.
That’s a lot to assume based on two sentences about something I did eight years ago
Everyone thinks they are a unique case, but when you’ve seen enough examples, it’s not a lot to assume. There is a lot of other evidence within your initial post, other responses and how you wrote about it, such as speed eating versus siblings carrying into current day, coupled with depression issues… It’s many factors and I’ve seen it 1000’s of times. Be prepared to suffer, being hungry, and eating a lot less. There are no secrets, but you will fail if you don’t get your mind right, as you will find loopholes and excuses forever.
I don’t think I’m a unique case, and respectfully, you don’t know me. Certainly not based only on the information contained in this post. If you just want to discourage me, rather than provide actual advice, don’t bother.
This is actual advice. You need mental support before you will be successful with changing your diet habits, and all the reasons for that are really apparent in this thread, and you’re dismissing that’s the case as a defensive mechanism.