This is only my second serious weight loss ever. Over 15 years ago I had gotten up to 215 pounds and lost 40 I kept it off for 7 years. I had to take a couple courses of prednisone and gained weight and couldn't get it off, but didn't try hard. I was around 195, but then last November I weighed almost 200. I am 5'8" tall and will be 69. But the big issue is I have very bad, flat feet, I got really concerned about continuing to walk in my old age. Also I was hypoglycemic and was concerned about diabetes so decided it was past time.
In 2 months I lost 20 pounds. I did the BMI calculator for weight, height, and age. It stated I could only eat 1100 to 1300 calories per day to lose from 1.5 to 2 pounds a week. I did not try and lose more as I don't want to lose muscle.
I stopped eating processed foods plus no beef or pork. I ate vegetables, fruits, rice, chicken, fish and eggs even had a DQ small cone some weekends. Also ate good one day a week to stave off the starvation mode, but not indulge, kept the calories within reason. Everything is sautéed, boiled, or baked. Yep, I use butter, salad dressings for marinades and things like coconut oil. I drink diet sodas, something I'm trying to totally quit, so I have water, sometimes instant coffee, for a treat instant cocoa, the low calorie kind. I check on the calories for each meal and keep a running total per day. I did not exercise during that time.
What I have noticed is my hypoglycemia seems to be gone. Before I would have to eat often to keep my blood sugar up and would have bouts of low blood sugar. I worried about that more then anything, but oddly enough no issue at all. I blame the processed foods for the problems I had. We were in Texas for about 5 weeks so I ate mainly fish, shrimp, or crab, love it anyway.
Now my husband is home its harder. I have gained nothing back. I was at 178.5 this evening. I'm cooking so have lost nothing in a week, very hard for me. I don't crave sweets or anything like that and I really don't miss the processed stuff either.
Today I ate less ended up with a 2 fried egg sandwich in butter this morning and for dinner a bowl of chili. I'm also drinking more water. I have been cooking beef and things so the weight loss has stopped. I will be more careful. I started adding treadmilling, I have my own mini gym in the basement. treadmill, weight machine, and bench. The feet have improved a lot. I was wearing a 16-18 now a 14 so that's nice. My husband also likes my weight loss. I never made it lower then 175 before and that was with excessive exercise and starvation diet but I think I can this time as I have just changed my eating habits Before I tried eating the same stuff just less. I intend to get to a goal weight of 160. I know my BMI states 150 but I think that would be impossible for me. I'm not sure I can maintain 160. I have no deadline, as hubby says could take a year. I hope to make a good dent on it the next 8 weeks he is gone. A lot easier for me to lose when I just cook for DD and I.
My reasons are to look better of course, be healthier, not have high cholesterol, control hypoglycemia, and not have my feet give out on me. Also to go further into old age healthy. My husband is on board too.