I have lost 20 pounds since college, but I can drop 10 pounds in 2-3 weeks using the same plan. It's really simple. Of course, I have to put the disclaimer in that it's best to take weight off slowly (2 lbs. a week works), but you can take off even more by putting this plan into hyperdrive. I'm currently at 125 lbs, which looks okay on me, but I want that hot swimsuit for summer, so I'm following this plan most of the time, with the exception of alcohol. *snicker*
First, I must say that exercise never did a darn thing for me in taking weight off, no matter how hard, how often or how long I did it. For me, weight has always been a FOOD thing.
1. Do a modified low-carb thing. Avoid the fried food, potatoes, pasta, rice, crackers, sweets and bread, but allow yourself the veggies and occasional fruits. NO sugar (except what's in the fruit), and go easy on fats (mayonnaise, fried food, etc). All meats are good. Some are better like chicken, turkey and fish, but I always change up my meats with ham, pork (even bacon for breakfast) and beef, too.
2. Make breakfast your biggest meal, and make dinner your smallest. This rule alone has taken and kept the pounds off me over the last 15 years. Eggs are my thing, but maybe oatmeal is yours. If you're going to have lots of calories at one sitting (which is never good), do it at breakfast. If you can skip dinner altogether, do it (that's the hyperdrive mode). Or if you have to eat dinner, have a salad. Go even leaner with fat-free dressing (I recommend Zesty Italian).
3. Take all the "junk" out of your house, and don't buy it. And don't get any fast food. Take the time (you're worth it!) to make snacks and meals yourself. It doesn't take much time to peel apart a pre-cooked chicken or scramble up a couple of eggs with diced ham and shredded cheese.
4. Great snacks if you have to: Beef jerky, small amounts of cheese and nuts, rolled up lunchmeat/cheese with mustard, apples with small amounts of peanut butter, veggies with small amounts of ranch dressing, yogurt, fruits (in moderation).
ON EXERCISE -- Like I said above, exercise never took weight off me. But I do exercise regularly (3-5 times a week for 45+ mins. at a time) for two reasons only: mental and strength/toning. The
very day I started looking at exercise, in whatever form -- be it cardio or weights, as something
other than a weight loss activity, I liked it 100% more, and I started making time for it. I need to sweat and grind now to give my brain time to process things so I don't get so bent out of shape, and it really makes my body feel good, strong and healthy.
This is a really simple plan (who can't follow 4 food guidelines?) that works very well for me. Forget counting points, forget counting calories or totally abstaining from carbs. Keep it simple, and you'll find ways to make it your own.
