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?
There are a few different strategies I have used at different phases in life.
Where I am at right now.
Don’t eat processed foods. They make it easy to over way by design.
Eat the recommended amount of sodium or less a day. Sodium makes food more palatable. You will find yourself eating less calories simply because the food isn’t as good.
I’ve been eating the recommended amount if fiber on purpose. I eat oatmeal instead of rice/potatoes/bread. It’s filling and less ‘munchable’ if you think you are hungry put a bowl of oatmeal infront of yourself. I do season it with olive oil and spices.
I restrict sugar and high fuctrose corn syrup for the same reason I restrict salt. Sugar makes food taste to good making it easy to eat more then you need to without realizing.
These change help me eat the proper and filling portions of food without overeating. I eat till I’m full.
I also only eat like this most of the time. But even then I’m giving myself leeway on the holidays. I just try to make more good decisions then bad.
This is the only long-term sustainable answer.
I hope so.
It’s way easier to be extreme then constantly make choices. Takes a lot more brain power to says sometimes it’s okay as opposed to never.
Still I’m trying it out.
Eh, I don’t love this one. The idea of intentionally making food shittier so that you enjoy it less is never gonna work for me.
You do you.
It’s way easier to eat the right amount of food if you aren’t making it extra salty or extra sweet.
Basically I need to eat foods that actually taste good as opposed to making them palatable.
I have had to find different ways to season foods. I find I am more sensitive to salt and less salt makes me satisfied.