Hi there,
I believe that you need to find what works for your emotional needs, lifestyle, and body.
Emotional:
If you have body issues, eat for comfort, then you need to consider this.
Lifestyle:
No point in joining a gym or planning any strict exercise regime if you're not an exercise person or have many other commitments. Find the activities you truly enjoy - dancing, swimming, walking the dog.
Body:
Some people do well eating loads of protein, others need more carbs. Eating tons of vegetables fills one person up, while another could eat a bucket full and still crave something more.
Discovering your metabolic type could help with this.
I am anti calorie-counting, unless you are truly stuck. I prefer learning what constitutes as healthy food, manage portions (use smaller plates!), manage blood sugar (by managing carbs), learning to listen to my body and thereby eat when hungry.
This creates a healthier lifestyle rather than a fad dieting regime.
I lost 3stone by eating good fats, and plenty of them, lots of meat, and managing my carb (bread, pasta, starchy veg, sugar products) intake. (not low carb,
managed carbs)
I also found that plenty of water is essential. NOT to fill you up. If you're hungry, EAT. But to ensure your body is at top working order while you lose weight.
More small meals rather than 3 large meals.
Stop eating about 3-4 hrs before bed. Or having a tiny carb snack before bed if sleeping is an issue.
Remember, rapid weight loss is a con. You can lose
weight fast, but what you actually want to lose is
fat. Weight can mean fat and muscle. Losing muscle is bad news. Firstly, you'll pile the weight back on as soon as you start eating normally, or have a large meal. Secondly, muscle keeps your metabloism up (more muscle, more you can eat!). I recommend a set of scales that measures your fat percentage. It's too easy to get excited as the numbers go down, but it's pointless if it includes musle loss.
Good luck!
The Metabolic Shift Approach