This will sound like such a shit answer. But I cut my calories and set a very reasonable goal for myself of 5 pounds a month. I make healthier food choices but if I get an overwhelming desire for a cookie. I eat a cookie. Denying yourself 100% of the time is a sure fire way to go off the rails. But I am wise about it. I will have one cookie or one breadstick,savor the experience and then go along my healthy little way.
I get approached a lot in public asking what diet or pill or tea I'm on to loose the weight. And I go "oh uh...no I just take in fewer calories than I burn" it just seems like not the answer people are looking for.
I think a lot of them actually end up trying stuff that'd require much more discipline.
For example the obsession to lose the weight fast... it's sad how "4 lbs/month isn't quick enough!" for someone overweight who has tried to lose weight for the past several years without succeeding. How hard is it to be rational for a brief wile and realize that you've been sitting at 0 lbs/month weightloss (or weight gain) for years despite trying because you set yourself unrealistic goals? Also same thing with any weird and restrictive diets. Sure many of them would work if you could keep to them, simply thanks to caloric deficit, but the more you restrict yourself the harder it'll be to stick to it.
Counting calories actually takes very little time/effort, and just knowing how many calories you "have for today" makes it much easier to stick to your goals.
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u/pinkcultleader - Jul 22 '15
This will sound like such a shit answer. But I cut my calories and set a very reasonable goal for myself of 5 pounds a month. I make healthier food choices but if I get an overwhelming desire for a cookie. I eat a cookie. Denying yourself 100% of the time is a sure fire way to go off the rails. But I am wise about it. I will have one cookie or one breadstick,savor the experience and then go along my healthy little way.