Last year I cut a few things out of my diet and began making more dishes from scratch. As a result I lost around 25lbs over 4 months and was at 145 lbs. Then I lost my job, winter set in, and I did less in exercise and my eating regime. I didn't really do much in the way of exercise, I simply changed the way I ate. If you really want to kick start weight loss start an exercise regimen and then introduce less caloric intake. It may take time to see results but persistence is key.
I weigh 175 lbs and my goal is 130 lbs. If I were to fit in the wedding dress I wore in a fashion show many years ago, I'd need to weigh 115 lbs. Any less and I'd look pretty awful and bony. Online 5 - 10% is the goal you should set for losing weight, but no more than 1.5 lbs a month. Calculated, losing 40 lbs would take me 8 months about Christmas.
First things first, increase water intake. Sounds like a 'duh kind of thing but most commonly overlooked.
Second, reduce the amount of sugar I eat. Most of your die-hard cravings will occur in the first month of lowering the amount of sugar you consume - include soda, dessert, even sugars in food you cook. Cut down/cut out the soda, eat more fresh fruits for dessert, and change how you "season" foods that normally call for sugar like candied yams, use brown sugar but not the marshmallows or vice versa.
Tertiary, forget how the day is set of specific foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eat the most in the morning and then graze the remainder of the day will help you regulate how "hungry" you are vs. "cravings." Eat foods that will fill you, give you nutrients and hydrate you. Go ahead and throw caution to the wind.
Can't get away from that, try this for one day:
Breakfast: oatmeal with some fruit and nuts, a bit of cinnamon, some cantaloupe, along with an egg.
For lunch find some fiber with a good salad, add a tuna or chicken salad sandwich, some fruit or veggies dipped in a container of Greek or active culture yoghurt,
Dinner a grilled salmon filet or baked skinless chicken. Spice it up with herbs and balsamic vinegar or mustard as a rub. Steam some veggies, and for dessert make sure to leave room for Jello! Often, incorporate soups like Minestrone or other lentil rich soup.
Finally, keep in mind that wanting something that isn't "healthy" is fine - just remember portion control. Portion control also is about how often you have that item too - everyday is a no-no but once a week may work okay for you, while once a month might be fine too.
