Gaaaah so I'm at the point where I've lost a lot of weight (60ish lbs) and then gained some of it back.
I originally didn't lose it in a very healthy way so that explains why it was easy to regain and now I'm trying to do it 'the right way.'
Hardest advice about my food habbits that I have ever gotten: "Don't make any diet changes that you wouldn't be able to maintain for the rest of your life. It won't work."
So I'm not cutting out anything completely. Not even candy bars, ice cream or alcohol.
Buuuut it feels really good when I can just say: "no bread, no cheese, no dessert" for a month and drop some weight. It's really easy for me to drop the weight that way. But it's not something I am ever going to be able to maintain. I am such a food person with a major sweet tooth. I've doing very well with moderation for the past month and a half.
But I think I have finally found what is going to work for me long term. I tell myself "yes, I can have that, just not every day." Variety in what I eat has been really helpful.
Unfortunately, since I am never going to be able to kiss bread goodbye my weightloss is going to be slower than I want. Much slower than last time.
BUT (and this is a contoversial opinion) I DO think that 'crash diets' can be beneficial AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT STARVING YOURSELF AND/OR DAMAGING YOUR BODY SYSTEMS. Without my initial crash diet I don't think I would have EVER seen substantial weightloss. Even through i gained the weight back I realized that change is possible! It made me want to learn more and to find the lifestyle thats going to be sustainable and right for me.
I try not to judge anyone elses weightloss/maintence methods. Keto? Alternate Day fasting? iifym? Plant Based? eim? Low Carb? Meal Replacement?
Maybe it's a forever change. Maybe its a jumpstart to your weightloss. As long as you are eating enough and not hurting yourself you are trying something and I applaud and support you!