How to Stay on a Diet to Lose or Maintain Weight

I agree with the above article completely. I tipped the scales at 260 after three years of a heavy fast food binge. I got so busy with work, that I didn't really want to cook and gained 60 pounds over 3 years. On May 19, I put myself on a 1,400 calorie diet and amazingly, with minor exercise (walking 2 miles per day), I have lost 38 pounds in 7 weeks. I expect to lose a total of 80 pounds by Christmas Day. I do splurge on rare occasions, but immediately go back the next day to the 1,400 calories. When I say splurge, I mean, I eat the calories (2,200) that a man my size would eat to maintain the weight, not overeat. I find this keeps me motivated and I keep on trucking. I eat 3 full meals and 2 snacks daily and keep a mental calculator of calories running in my head all day. I also enjoy trips to the grocery store to actually look at what foods contain calorie wise and what I can do to mix up what I normally eat, with lower calorie alternatives that don't completely eliminate that food from my diet. I have been amazed how easy that really is. Good luck to you fellow dieters.

John Hair of WA 12:15PM July 06, 2011

I respectfully disagree with Amylynn. Yes we do have chemicals in our food but EVERYONE can lose weight. Americans are notorious for eating very caloric dense foods. All you have to do is create a calorie deficit (burning off more calories than you take in) and you can lose weight.

Most people have no idea how many calories they should be eating everyday.

to find out: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

And to prove my point a professor from Kansas State University went on a Twinkie Diet (we won't even mention how many chemicals are in those things)

His main premise was that he dropped his daily calories from 2600 to 1800 and lost 27lbs in 2 months! (NOT RECOMMENDED)

Heather of IL 6:39PM June 07, 2011