After my last big surgery, I started to work on losing a few extra pounds. Nothing crazy, just get in better shape and focus on eating better and being a bit more active, if I could.
Over several months, I wasn't seeing any results. It seems likely now that that was because my HAE was going completely untreated.
Now that I am on treatment, I am already seeing results.
I will ALWAYS stand by my method to help with weight loss -> over any diet, calorie or point counting, or medicated weight loss.
SLOWLY DECREASE YOUR PORTION SIZES
Basically, ween yourself off of large portions slowly, just like you would for certain medications (like Prednisone). For however long, your body has become accustomed to eating a certain amount. The longer it has been at the highest count, the slower you will have to ween yourself down.
Obviously, counting is necessary. In my experience, counting calories AND paying attention to nutrient intake is essential to keep track. Plus it keeps you balanced in the sense of nutrition.
So if you would normally eat 3 pieces of pizza for dinner, plus pop, 6 wings, and garlic bread... trying going without the bread or wings. Or 1 piece of pizza. Or HALF a piece of pizza. Or go for the medium pop instead of large.
Look, it is going to take longer, it is a much slower overhaul, but it is EASIER!!!
Lots easier!!
Why?
Because usually, in the first few weeks to months of a new diet, your body tells you you are STARVING!! You end up so insanely hungry that you wind up having a cheat day, which turns into a couple of cheat days, and then we all know what can sometimes happen then.
Or you have to give up so much of the food you absolutely LOVE that you are cranky as hell for a bit and have intense cravings that you can't satisfy.
When you slowly reduce your portion sizes, you still can enjoy foods you crave, you don't have to jump to any super-low daily set of calories, and you don't feel like you are starving.
By reducing little by little, you are training your body to feel full after less food. You are allowing your body to adapt to a tiny bit less food, each day, or every few days. You are training your body to be satisfied by less and less food, until you get to a more appropriate, healthier level of nutrition. Once you are healthier, eating better food, with better portion sizes, the chances of yo-yo-ing are slim because that hungry feeling is not there anymore. You have taught your body to ignore any signals that you are hungry or starving.
So instead of setting a weight goal, or instead of ONLY setting a weight goal, set yourself a nutrition goal. Set yourself goals like following the food guide or one that is customized for YOU. For your body, your cravings, your sugar and cholesterol levels, exactly what you are looking for -how you are looking to feel - with the activity level you want to be at.
Then ween yourself down until towards your goals, but really, if you FEEL better, have more energy, maybe even less pain, and don't feel like you are suffering and starving and craving 5000 foods you can't enjoy, then stop there.
And if you feel amazing exactly the way you are, then that's exactly how you should stay.
Because it doesn't always matter how health-conscious and focused you are, you can still develop diseases and chronic pain and major health complications.
Feel your best.