This thread went somewhere weird.
I've always struggled with my weight, especially over the last few years. I was 185 at my heaviest last year ("That's obese, fatass!" -- my Wii fit), and I managed to get down below 160 by following
the Paleo diet. (Also, triathlon training might have helped a bit too.) Then I started grad school, my life went to hell, and the weight started creeping back on. FFFUUUUUUUUU.
I tried counting calories -- eating only 1200-1500 calories per day for several months -- but barely lost any weight. This wasn't the first time I've struggled to lose weight by counting calories, either; science tells me it's supposed to be as easy as calories in/calories out, but I look at my brothers who will eat a box of Oreos in one sitting and remain sticks, I have to think there's more to it than that (I had something of an eating disorder for a few years in high school; maybe I irrevocably fucked up my metablism? Dunno.) I was METICULOUS with counting cals -- I used a scale to make sure I was eating proper portion sizes, and if I was ever unsure, I way overestimated on the calories -- but the weight would NOT come off unless I a) exercised my ass off every day (which I don't have time for) or b) cut processed crap out of my diet and limited my carb intake. When I was counting calories, I would often have a) yogurt for breakfast b) sandwich for lunch and c) pasta for dinner. Yeah. There were veggies and protein and shit in there, but my energy was crazy inconsistent and I had to deal with headaches all the time.
I'm back to eating Paleo(ish -- I still eat dairy, and I'll kill anyone who comes between me and my scotch) now, and I am also training for a 5k and ride my bike to work (about 5.5 miles roundtrip) on days when I'm not too lazy/the weather cooperates, so about 2-3 times per week. As of this morning, I'm down 17 lbs and feeling great
Only 28 to go!