ok, i have been on the low carb before and lost 14 pounds but i just can't do it long term because there are not enough choices. So, what about low fat, low calories? I don't know how many to have a day of what. I'm confused.

I hear ya! Variety is the spice of life! I can only speak about my own experiance, but I'm on a low cal diet(1200), and you have TONS of options! I don't feel deprived at all and I'm never really hungry. Lean cuisines are delicious and range from 170-290 cals each meal. There are lots of 100 calorie snacks you can have. Cheerios are only about 150 cals, its a good start to your day!

thanks, how long have you been doing the low cal and are you exercising too and how much have you lost since doing it? trying to decide which way to go. i have been cutting down what i am eating and trying to replace some foods with low fat forms of it. just don't understand which way to go.

I have only been on the low cal diet 2 wks, but I've lost 4 pds. No, I'm not excersizing, but I have a pilates video I want to (re)start doing every day. I have a mag. I just bought today and it states that there is no evidence that low carb eating actually contributes to a weight loss.

I have been on a low cal diet myself. I've been staying around the 1200 calories mark. I've read it's not healthy to go anywhere below that. I exercise, but not as often as I should. I only made it to the gym once last week. (BLAH)Anyway lol! I've been on the whole "diet" thing for about a month and a half and have lost a total of 17 pounds. I definitely recommend the low calories version. But that's what works for me. I don't even feel like it's a "diet" because I can still eat what I want, as long as I stay around my daily calorie goal. I hope that helps!

thanks, i have decided to try low cal. but, even at 1200 calories a day, i don't think i used to even get that. so i will be eating more than usual. won't this make me gain weight?

No, if you don't eat enough calories, you body goes into "starvation mode" and stores up fat. Your metabolism becomes sluggish and losing weight is difficult. You must eat enough calories in order to lose weight.

Wow. I don't know about you personally but if I went under 1200 as a regulation phew I know I'd feel like I was starving. lol Anyway, Jennylee hit the nail on the head. What works for one person isn't universal, but the variance shouldn't be all that huge either. I mean, no one can get by on 600 calories daily. lol! (And be healthy i mean)

When I started thinking about how many calories I was going down to, I thought hmm how did I eat so much as to get and maintain the size I was. 1. Not paying attention when snacking. 2. POP!

Once I realized the amount of pop, and reduced it. Wow! It makes a huge difference.

Whatever you decide to do, I hope it works for you.

i agree with jennylee as well. Its really unhealthy to go under 1200. Were you actually keeping track of your calories before?? Maybe b/c you weren't eating alot you assume its under 1200 when it might of been over???

No i didn't actually keep track of the calories but usually my day went like this: I'm not really a breakfast eater, so i never ate breakfast. I had like 2 soda a day maybe, something for lunch like a cheeseburger or a blt, and for dinner i mainly haven't been eating either, usually a couple bites from my kids plates when serving them or whatever was left on my son's plate when he was finished which wasn't much. and that would be it. a typical day of eating for me. i just don't feel hungry all the time. so, could that be why that i am overweight because my body is in starvation mode? and if i make myself eat at least 1200 calories a day, i won't gain, right? I will still lose?

thats right, especially if you don't eat breakfast. You metabolism will be nearly non-existant.

You got it Jennylee...breakfast is best for raising your metabolism!! If you decide on the 1200,1300, whatever you decide, the most important thing is not to go over your calorie number, but try your best to make the best nutritional decisions possible. Another thing to think about is I've heard, 3 servings of milk (cheese, yogurt) a day will also help loose weight faster.

i have decided to go for 1200 cal/day. but it's 10:30 p.m. and i feel like i have been eating all day long and have only reached 870 calories. i know it's alot more than i usually get because i never eat as much as i tried to today to reach that mark. i feel guilty for eating because i am afraid eating more will make me gain. i guess we will see

If you have trouble reaching the calories, try making some healthy, but high calorie snack choices. Good examples are avocados, almonds, cashews. They're not too filling, but are very good for you, don't worry about them being high fat, its not going to make you put on weight as long as your not getting too many or too little calories. You can do it. But make sure you work on your metabolism, this means breakfast!! Otherwise your eating extra for nothing and you body will still be storing fat because it doesn't know when its getting fed next. A good metabolism tip is adding spicy foods, such as chili. For some reason, the capsin in the chili speeds up you metabolism. Black pepper does the same thing to a lesser degree.

I highly recommend eating every few hours. It shoots your metabolism way up. And for the fats carbs stuff. get like 25% fat, 35% protein, and 45% carbs. Ya kinda wwant all of them around those proportions. But there are a lot of theories on weight loss so I guess you pick one ya like. make sure you get a good amount of protein