Before I write this I should add a disclaimer...this works 'for me', and for my particular lifestyle / psychology...
After Christmas and being ill way too often just because I was chronically unfit and weighed almost 300lbs I made a decision...that I would lose 100lbs.
Now, I didn't set a limit for *when* I'd do it by but the trajectory I was on should point in that direction. I started by looking at why I'd gotten to the point I was at...why had I put on so much weight and let it get as bad as it was. Well, I wasn't happy with my life in general, really wasn't sleeping more than a couple of hours a night, was getting stressed at work to a degree which wasn't healthy and did very little physical activity. Oh, and my diet sucked...I was living on fast food and Pizza.
So, what to do...first I needed to get my sleep sorted out..so off to the doctor. Got some Prozac and Ambien...again not for everyone but this vastly improved my life...I was sleeping and dealt with stress far better. This led to clearer focus during the day and just generally feeling better about myself. Should add that the sleeping pills were only temporary, got me back in a sleeping rythm and I use them very occasionally now to jerk me back into the pattern if I start drifting off again...you need sleep, it impacts everything else if you don't get it. The extra sleep and antidepressant also began to impact the rest of my day...danger of getting a bit psychological here....but it certainly improved my confidence and just led me to a more healthy mindset when dealing with problems.
Now, on to the diet...
My major problem is plain and simple impulse eating...get hungry, by a triple bacon cheeseburger meal...not good. So, plan was: prevent getting hungry.
Starts with: Breakfast
I did a lot of research with different options but what works for me is:
300mls Crystal Geyser water
1 Banana
1 handful of unsweetened Berry Medley (red berries, no strawberries)
3 tbsp Soy Milk Powder
2 Scoops Metabolic Reset Shake
1 tbsp Green Tea Powder
So, that's all blended into a shake...the Green Tea adds some caffeine to get me going in the morning as well as having some effect on appetite suppression. The Metabolic Reset shake is pretty cool stuff, high protein (again, suppresses hunger), contains viscofiber, good for digestions as well as adding bulk...fills you up. The whole shake is also low-GI (important as I have diabetes and don't want a high glucose spike, this is absorbed slowly).
Adding to that I also take a multivitamin pack, fish oil and soy lecithin. The Soy Lecithin is due to a slightly odd component of my diet:
Piracetam - I use a bulk powder and add 1tsp of it to 500ml of water with breakfast (tastes bitter but you get used to it). The main reason I use this nootropic is that it keeps my energy up during the day (without caffeine). I have researched this pretty intensively, and I can say that the side effects seem very limited...I do feel it improves my concentration when fatigued...but I include it here for reasons of disclosure rather than a recommendation! Oh, and my experience is that without Lecithin, I get a headache at the end of the day from this stuff.
Lastly I take a Breakfast Blend juice ('cos I like it)...
Excercise...walking...simple, easy. I try to do 10000 steps a day (buy a pedometer). It works for me, I snack during the day on these, and have a normal (i.e., cooked at home) evening meal. Well, it works for me...I sleep better and generally feel better on this regimen...