Dieting seems to take up a lot of discussion time and often arises during meal enjoyment (usually because somebody you are eating with is taking the bun off their 1/2 lb. burger and refusing the fries).

Although a few friends of mine claim success on Atkins or South Beach, I am a firm believer that these diets don't really keep the weight (fat actually) off unless you incorporate old fashioned dieting techniques: eat low fat foods, watch your total caloric intake and EXERCISE. I don't know anyone personally who has lost serious weight (forget about that 10lb loss in 2 weeks while on Atkins-got news: 5lbs is water weight) and kept it off without excercising and getting rid of the fat out of their diets. No pain no gain.

The problem with what I am calling the old fashoined way is that its takes discipline. You need to make time for exercise, actually go excercise cardio and weight lifting), plan meals in advance, prepare most meals in advance, say no to the wrong foods and the right times.

Comments?

I fad dieted about 16 years ago and dropped 60 pounds. But that was in conjunction with jogging 7 miles a day.

Stopped jogging and slowly put all 60 pounds back on (and a few more) over the past 15 years or so. Am planning on slowly reducing my caloric intake and getting on a slow to moderate exercise regimen to start. Hope to drop the pounds off slowly but permanently.

I tried Atkins but was rseistant to the diet. After being on the strict induction diet without cheating for two weeks, I had lost 8 pounds. In his book he says if you need to lose 50 or more pounds, which I did, and lose 8 or less on the two week induction diet, you are resistant and mustr stay on the induction diet. Well, I stayed on it and lost about 50 pounds extremely slowly. Then I started exercising and slowly increased the exercise. I now work out 7 days a week, running 7 days and lisfting 2 or 3. I have kept 100 pounds off for almost 4 years now, but with all the exercise I do, I'm merely maintaining my weight. Seems like I ought to be losing.

Nope, I follow a very simple formula.

Burn more calories in a day than you take in.

Works every time.

All weight loss is a combination of two things, reduced calorie intake and exercise. My doctor want's me to loose weight and suggests Weight Watchers because it not only teaches you to diet, but to eat reasonably in a healthy way.

However, personally, I am a believer in the saying "I'm in shape, round is a shape."

But for health reasons, I have to drop some weight. The biggest problem I have is not sneaking snacks and keeping my serving size reasonable. It doesn't help to say I only had one serving if that serving was 4 times the size it should be.

I have a diet. What I have a problem with is sticking to it.

I can diet, and I can exercise.
In my case, if I don't do both, it doesn't work.
I actually think part of my problem is the increased calories
from the wine that I drink!!!
I'm going to have to try cutting back to just weekend imbibing.

I'm with dinwiddie on this.

My cholestorol is under 130. My blood pressure 120/70. 5'8" 260 lbs.
My vet says he has never seen in such good shape for somebody my shape.

calories in. calories out.
on occasion i have tried atkins, slimfast, etc, for a temporary weight loss. but at the end of the day..
calories in. calories out.

I'm with Eric - for the record I have lost 23 lbs since mid September.

It's the only way to go, just excercise and don't over eat. I don't cut anything out. I eat butter, oil, and carbs with every meal, Just not as much as I used to. Another key is to not get to far out of shape in the first place. I made sure to catch myself before I was overweight, that way there isn't as far to go.

I will be back to my high school wrestling weight in no time!

I don't believe in fad diets. If I find myself needing to lose a few pounds I cut back on meat, eliminate sweets, and become a vegetarian while upping my exercising. But right now I maintain weight between a 10 lb radius.

I need to start lifting... i'd be much hotter than i already am

No fad diets here. Only actual diet I ever tried was the raw foods diet(lifestyle) which definitely works. Just try to watch what I eat on a small level and exercise(surf).

Like DJH and others, I adjust for a day or two if things go up. And it comes back down. Conversely the reverse also happens. Mind over matter. Can't gain weight/fat/ if you don't stuff your face. The Pfizer commercial, however, is true; a shapely slim toothpick mid aged honey can have dangerously high cholesterol or triglycerides so I take-

a baby aspirin 1/day or every 2 days
when I hit age 50, 1 statin/day- when the statistics show there is a direct effect-
Diet and exercise in moderation.
Now to reduce job stress. Retire/ semiretire early

At one point, I had actually lost 121, but I'm maintaining my weight at almost exactly 100 pounds lower than 4 1/2 years ago.

I'm a firm believer in the KISS theory of dieting. more calories out than in = weight loss. In my case I cannot do the loose all carbs deal. Working out and exercising requires carb intake. The key is to make sure your taking in the right carbs that your body will be able to process easily. I am a big believer in getting rid of the sugar from my diet. Sugar is often overlooked and can be very detrimental to weightloss.

I never dieted in my life. Don't believe in it. My secrets to staying in shape & never being over weight (in my life):

1. Plenty of SEX!!!
2. I drink plenty of wine.
3. I eat a lot of fruit. All day long, I eat fruit.
4. I eat a lot of veggies.
5. I eat a lot of garlic & onions.
6. I eat everything in moderation...
7. I stay away from junk food.
8. I stay away from fast food.
9. EXERCISE.

#'s 3, 4, 6 & 9 should apply to everyone..

of course with the6 and the9 , you get #1....

Certainly can't argue with flawless logic like that!