19. Eat fewer than 20 grams of carbs a day.
“The number one thing that got me on track to actually losing weight was a low-carb diet.
It was less than 20 grams of carbs a day for the first 2-3 weeks, then one cheat meal a week, and just doing cardio and some strength exercises, upping it gradually as I got better at it and lost more weight. I improved a hell of a lot at my exercises as I progressed.
Lost about 60-70 pounds in 2 and a half months—seriously, no bullshit. Never got it back, even years later, on top of that. I went from being a size 38 (men’s) to a size 33 (hell, I could even fit in 32). My shoulders got bigger and my waist got flat. I’m not in as great of shape as I was then and am a bit fatter due to a long period (years) of eating lots of junk food and not exercising, but I never got nearly as fat as I was before I started that diet.
The amount of respect I was treated with, even by people who never knew me before I lost weight, compared to before the diet, was absolutely night and day. It was truly weird in a depressing way (people—oddly, guys and girls both—really do treat you much better and life is easier if you look better), but a huge confidence boost nonetheless.
The trick was that I went into the diet with an absolutely determined mindset, adhering to it very strictly, making an effort to exercise and get better at it, and not quitting after only a few weeks. Food stopped being a stress reliever/comfort source and more of a source of nutrients and sustenance.
I stopped caring about food lacking the gushing, overpowering, and addictive flavors of something unhealthy that you get used to when you’re not on a diet and learned to like the subtle flavors of healthy food. When I did have a cheat meal, it tasted ten times better.”
20. Eat only 500 calories two days a week.
“I do the 5-to-2 diet. Basically this means fasting (eating only 500 calories) two days a week. You can even choose the days you want, and they can also be consecutive.
You can eat whatever you want on the 5 other days. Of course, if you do not only want to keep your weight but lose some, you shouldn’t binge eat fast food these days.
I feel generally healthier and lost quite a bit of weight, but I wasn’t really overweight to begin with. The only downsides I’ve experienced: My body doesn’t get “warm” on fasting days, but that is really just a problem in winter. Also I drink lots (1,5l /day) of calorie-free /-low sodas, when before I was just happy with water.”
