What do you think is the most effective weight loss plan?

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Been debating with some of my family members what the best thoughtline is for getting healthy.

Do you think it's more effective to count calories? Or do you think it's better to count the nutrients per calorie in everything you eat?

What kind of diet are you on? Paleo? Seafood? Vegan? etc. Do you take into account of processed foods?

How do you work out? Do you do the tradition of sets and reps? or do you have 1 set of slow, intense interval training?

My main reason is that I tried the whole counting calorie thing and honestly it hasn't worked for me. And from what I've studied and from personal experience, cutting food away to reduce caloric intake and increasing your exercise routine isn't efficient. We're naturally not efficient burning calories anyways, it's neigh impossible to burn more calories than you consume in a day, unless you decide to starve yourself.

My goal is to find the most efficient means of achieving health.

[Anonymous]

On the whole, a calorie is a calorie. Regardless where it comes from. Of course, it's healthier to eat an apple than eat 100 kcal worth of chocolate.

You say that you've tried calorie counting and it hasn't worked. I tried it a few times myself (by using sparkpeople. com) and it worked for me insofar as I get much more conscious about what I eat, and hence eat less. Usually because I think "damn, if I eat this chocolate bar now I have to open the site and enter it and I'll go above x calories". But after a while, I get bored with adding my food to the site and so I stop, I also find it hard to do when I eat out and don't have the packages with all the nutrition info that is required.

I'm personally a vegetarian but not for weight loss reasons (I'm not trying to lose weight, am a normal weight).

I know how hard it is to lose weight when you want to. In fact, I don't think I've ever lost weight when I tried. All the times I've lost weight were times when I wasn't even trying.

As you can see I can't be very helpful. I don't believe in diets where people restrict themselves for a short amount of time and then return to their old eating habits. I believe in changing one's diet for good. Maybe you could post what you eat on an average day so that people can give you more advice on how to improve?

[macncheese]

I lost 10 kgs by counting calories and burning enough per day, so I swear by that. I know counting nutrients is healthier, but this works for me. I would just eat as much junk as I want under a certain amount of calories (which is unhealthy, I know, but it helped me so much)

[Words_and_Wisdom]

How many days a week do you exercise? How many hours each day? Is continuing to do so stressful?

[macncheese]

I exercise everyday for 1 hour. Now I eat healthy instead of just counting calories, but it gets so so hard to resist

[nickdg]

For me the most sustainable way is a combination of, whole foods, slightly fewer calories than I use, hit cardio (short duration high intensity) and weight lifting. Muscle is more metabolically active than any other tissue so it will help keep the fat off. If you are gaining a lot of muscle focus more on body fat loss than scale weight. Under 20% is OK, under 15% is good.

[BertMacklinFBI]

it really depends on your body and how it responds to things but generally what seems to work for everyone is a well balanced diet, natural foods diet for me personally, and a decent workout/exercise routine. weight lifting with cardio/HIIT every other day or same day if you will.

[SensualScribe]

The Dash Diet. I am currently reading the book and will likely begin following the program soon. It has been voted the best for overall health 5 years in a row by US News & World Report. It is basically a low sodium diet. It helps to prevent osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

www.mayoclinic.org/.../art-20048456

[vickonator]

DITCHING THE HELL OUT OF SUGER!!! also, getting a blender, and frozen berries or yoghurt, and having smoothies, regularly, and having green tea. Also , having a lot of salads, and Asian styled foods.

[Tokana]

Screw these fad diets. Losing weight is simple. Go on a caloric deficit. Calculate what your maintainence calories are and go below that. Calculate ot using an online calorie calculator. 3500 calories is equal to 1 pound.

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Has that actually work for you? Have you been able to maintain that lifestyle and effectively lose fat / gain muscle? Do you feel stressed doing it?

[Tokana]

It's worked for a friend I coached. He went from 260 to 170. I regularly use that approach myself when bulking and cutting. It's a bit of a choir but we'll worth it. Yes, I have been able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

[Words_and_Wisdom]

How much time a day does your friend have to dedicate himself with exercise to maintain that weight?
How many days per week?

[Tokana]

O hours and 0 days

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Seriously though...

I mean what's the chore then?

[Tokana]

Tracking calories

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Well if he doesn't exercise then how's he shedding calories?

[Tokana]

Re read my answer carefully

[YazanAA]

To be honest with you I don't see any better plan to lose weight rather than the usual way which is eat healthier and working out.

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Well eating healthier is debatable. Who's to say what's healthy anymore? Some say meats aren't healthy. Some say starches like corn and bread aren't healthy. This is why I ask. =/

[YazanAA]

Ok but who are the "some" that you are debating with? Experts and doctors? or your local friends in the neighborhood? Can anyone argue about apples being healthy? or can anyone argue about pork being unhealthy? ... I think that we already know what is healthy and what is not

[ChillinChic]

I just run. Lost 50lbs. Watch the junk food too.

[Words_and_Wisdom]

Nothing to note in what you eat other than that? How often do you run? How long did it take you to lose 50 pounds?

[ChillinChic]

Went for high protein. Drink lots of water. Cut out pasta and bread. No soda or juices. Run 5-6 times a week. 2 miles. I started off just walking cause I couldnt run then started running alil and walking. Leveled ground. Incorporated hills when I was comfortable. Still got a ways to go but today I ran 3 miles up and down a hill that was a 100feet elevation difference.

[ChillinChic]

Oh! 6 months to drop the weight. Enjoyed life and def had cheat meals. Its a life change. Not a snap of the finger.

[BaarkmannRISEN]

starve yourself,