I've had a much harder time controlling my weight since I got my pacemaker, no idea why. Of course, despite the title of this post, there isn't just one way to lose weight. I counted, and there are 88,461 ways to lose weight documented on the internet and in books. (I'm kidding, I didn't count: if I had, I might've seen that there are more than that.) But after dozens and dozens of experiments using myself as the laboratory rat, here's the only thing that works on me: to stop eating every day at a predetermined time in the afternoon or early evening. Three o'clock, four o'clock, five o'clock. Even six o'clock although that's kinda late. Then, the next morning, I hold off eating for as long as I'm not really hungry. (Most people aren't hungry after waking; try starting with tea or coffee but without milk or cream or any fake-dairy additive.) Of course, it helps if, during the day, I eat slowly, sparingly, and at defined mealtimes, and strive to avoid salt/sugar/fat as much as practicable. Takes a few days to get used to. That's it; this is the only thing that has ever worked for me. You'll have to try it to see if it works for you.
Mike
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Featured Comments from:
Jayanand Govindaraj: "What you describe is called intermittent fasting. I have been practicing this for 10 years now, but mainly for blood sugar control—though weight loss has been a byproduct. I also do OMAD (One Meal A Day, i.e. fasting for 24 hours) at least once a week. In my experience over the last decade,these fasting techniques work perfectly with an LCHF/Keto diet to deliver real overall benefits for general health and well-being. In my case, after being on diabetic medication for 20 years, I stopped all medication within nine months of starting the diet/fasting combo, and have maintained an HBA1C in the range of 5.75 to 6.5 since 2016. Beware, it requires real willpower to maintain!"
Or maybe just get up in the morning and run a few miles, swim a few miles and actually enjoy some cream in our freshly made coffee...
Neither of us are experts at this. You're into diet and I'm into movement and exercise. I think it's all about whatever works for each person. I would not do well at all with a time limited diet. Unless there is an exclusion for Trader Joe's mint chocolate ice cream after 9 pm. But then again I'm not out to lose weight. Just to maintain.
Posted by: Henry White | Tuesday, 19 August 2025 at 02:48 PM
Eat less. Exercise more. I don't know why that formula is so difficult.
Posted by: David Brown | Tuesday, 19 August 2025 at 05:09 PM
I don't drink, don't smoke and don't do drugs. I will not deprive myself of edible pleasure. I eat dairy, bread, and meat. I use one teaspoon of sugar in my two 20oz coffees that I drink each day. I will have an occasional desert, but don't crave it and I don't beat myself up for being human and enjoying things.
What I do though is exercise. No matter what, I'm swinging my kettlebells, rucking with my weighted pack and cranking out push ups and pull ups. Does it suck sometimes? Maybe, but not as much as deprivation. Movement is an investment. Don't invest and you can become broke.
FWIW.... your weight on a scale tells you only one thing, how many pounds you are at that moment. Two 6 foot, 180lbs men can look completely different. A pound of muscle occupies less space that a pound of fat. Don't get hung up on a number from the scale. Get a tape measure and work on your waist measurement. I haven't been on a scale in years. I keep my waste to 32 inches (in my late 60s). If it hits 33 inches, I crank up my exercise until it gets back to my normal.
Posted by: Albert Smith | Wednesday, 20 August 2025 at 07:51 AM
"Exercise more" works for some, not all. For my wife, it just makes her much more hungry, and she's good at exercise, ran a half marathon recently. To lose weight, though, the only thing we have found that consistently works is the weight watcher approach. Essentially it's low fat, lower carb mediterranean stye, combined with daily weight checks. The pounds fall off. A long list of "eat all you want" foods is key to avoiding hunger.
Posted by: John Krumm | Wednesday, 20 August 2025 at 03:26 PM
Some articles to be aware of. I don’t have personal knowledge or an opinion on this — yet.
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-is-intermittent-fasting-a-helpful-practice-or-health-risk/
https://newsroom.heart.org/news/8-hour-time-restricted-eating-linked-to-a-91-higher-risk-of-cardiovascular-death
Posted by: DB | Friday, 22 August 2025 at 05:41 PM