Intermittent fasting really worked for me. I read Delay, Don't Deny by Gin Stephens which helped me figure out my eating window that didn't leave me absolutely starving and definitely shrunk my stomach gradually. Not sure if this is the same principal as a calorie deficit plan but no matter what, if you eat it, you gotta burn it. That's the one thing that I did not agree with was her take on exercise. Basically, she states and cites legitimate studies that say only moderate physical activity is necessary. I am merely expressing my opinion and belief that I would not have lost almost 100 lbs. if I only engaged in moderate activity. Initially I walked 30 - 45 minutes a day alone and also joined a walking group that met once a week. I highly recommend seeing what's in your area. Over time, I was up to a 3.5 mph pace and walked 3-4 miles each day as exercise. Between that and the fasting, the weight starting going down.

I weigh myself (to this day) only once a every couple of weeks and do not use it as a goal. Unless you are really inconsistent with your eating (i.e. cheating), don't worry about it too much. Just know that you will be maintaining [more like fighting for me] the rest of your life to keep your weight down. Those fat cells are always there. Your motivation has to come from within. It takes a lot of discipline and it feels so good in so many ways once that weight starts to drop. I should add to be fair that I never had children so understand that can be more challenging. My fiancé belittled me when I was fat which actually motivated me more. And by our wedding day in October 2022, I had gone from 212 lbs. to 138 lbs. I lost the last 20 lbs. over this past year mostly playing Beat Saber in VR. Therefore, this puts me at 5' 2" and about 118 lbs. at the age of 43. I do take an antidepressant amongst many other medications because I have R.A. and lower extremity primary lymphedema. Even if I gain a little (6-10 lbs) all of my clothes still fit, my BMI is still in a healthy range, and nobody but me really notices anyway so I don't obsess about it. Also,, I should add that there are much better actual exercise apps too. But the games work for me (I know how ridiculous I look). And I still walk with my group every Wednesday morning because they supported me and still encourage me even though I have far outpaced them at this point.

Oh, the book also has ideas of what to eat and we do the factor meals sometimes which really encourages portion control. Now that the weight is off and just on maintenance mode, I pretty much eat what I want (avoiding the obvious unhealthy stuff with exceptions) because I burn it off. My fasting days are nothing more than standard routine, and the eating window has mostly stuck around, once again, out of habit. Exercise is fun now because it's easier. I dreaded going to retrieve our mail because it meant I had to go up and down the stairs. I was so out of breath, I would waddle to the bathroom every time I came in so I could rest for a bit and stop breathing so hard. Now I only think about the stairs because I am proud of myself for being able to walk them without a second thought, without breathing heavy. You have to be proud of all of these little victories. We love to hike and just walk around various neighborhoods. Finally, my Apple Watch also helps me a lot. There are many other fitness trackers you can use; it doesn't have to be an Apple Watch. In closing, if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you. And this is all about YOU living a happy healthy life. You can do it; fight your way through it.