Calories in/calories out is right to a certain extent, but you also need to be eating WELL or there's no way you're going to get the weight off and keep it off. Also, cutting that drastically can do unpleasant things to your metabolic rate - especially if you aren't able to exercise at all.

I do understand and don't mean to sound snotty if I do. I started at 303# and am now sitting at 254#. It took me over 1.5 YEARS to lose that 49#, so no quick fixes for me, but it IS possible to lose at least some of your excess weight.

Better than just starving yourself is to journal your normal (non-dieting) eating for a couple of weeks, then sit down with a dietitian if you possibly can. I was lucky enough to be able to take a bunch of modules through our local Health Authority on making healthy changes in eating habits, like eating breakfast within an hour of getting up, never skipping meals or planned snacks, not drinking anything with calories other than low fat milk. We also learned how to make good choices at restaurants and in social situations. It's HARD to totally change your eating habits, but it really is worth it.

If you have an iphone or itouch there's GREAT App called LoseIt! that has helped me a lot along the way. Having my dietitian help me by breaking down my calorie limit into meals and snacks and help me figure out strategies for in restaurants and while traveling was a HUGE help. It also helped that she looked at my food journal monthly for a few months. It helps to always be asking yourself,"Do I want this enough to deal with Carlene when she reads it in my journal? Umm.. no"

There are other online food journals that people use, like Spark, FitDay and the online version of LoseIt!. Do some poking around and try one. Remember that no matter what your calorie level you need enough protein, fibre, water, vitamins and minerals to keep healthy or you're going to get yourself into trouble - and feel like crap on a cracker.

As to what I eat. Well, I average about 12-1400 calories a day, with at least 75-80 grams of protein and 20-30 of fibre. (protein and fibre keep me from being miserably hungry all day long) I eat 5 times a day - breakfast, lunch, snack, supper and snack.

At the moment I'm keeping things super simple.(I have a very stressful life at the moment and need to not have to think about food) For breakfast I'm having high protein Boost (heated, with a cup of hot coffee or tea mixed in), lunch is either the same or a Greek yogurt cup and fresh fruit or a frozen entree (under 300 calories with a minimum of 15 grams of protein) or (if out) a pita or salad with chicken with a limit of 300 calories, snack is a copy of breakfast or a protein bar with 2 glasses of water or crystal light, supper is a large mixed salad with grilled chicken or fish or a big bowl of homemade soup and a flax bun, snack is fresh fruit or cut up raw veg - sometimes with some hummus to dip in.

I don't get all frantic about measuring my fruit or vag, since I sure didn't get this fat on an excess of carrot slices or blueberries.

You say you can't exercise. What CAN you do? There must be something, however small. When I started this journey I used a cane and had a handicapped tag on my car. I'm still too heavy to do much regular exercise, but I go to an aquasize class 3 days most weeks and take my dogs for short walks on the other days. Once I'm in the water I figure I weigh about the same as everyone else, and have gone from being the slowest and clumsiest one in the class to fitting in nicely. No more cane or car tag, and I can pretty much do anything I need to. Water exercise is amazing - and fun!

Back to you. Tell us more about your cir****tances and what changes you're willing to make long term. (diets that you go on and off of do NOT work - you have to make permanent changes to your eating habits and activity levels)

 Yeah, that is totally me - if I don't see constant results I get frustrated & fall off the wagon. It just seems like if I would cut my calories as low as someone whos had wls, I would be considered an unhealthy dieter and chastised for starving myself, and supposedly would hit "starvation mode" and stop losing. But if it works so well for the ppl having surgery, why wouldn't it work for me to just drastically slash my calories, too, withOUT the surgery? *sigh*

 Ok, this has confused me for some time now. Why is it when someone has weight loss surgery and they can only eat a few bites at a time they lose wt super mega fast, but if a person without surgery cuts calories that low, their body goes into "starvation mode" and they stop losing wt, or even gain some back, even though they're barely eating? Just doesn't make sense to me...Thanks!!

 diarreah is a side effect, thats why they tell you to drink LOTS of water... I am SOOO sorry that this happened to your daughter and glad they found an alternate method of controling her sugar. they put me on it for PCOS, and its killed my appetite also. and sadly yes I spen more time in my bathroom... 

My current fav is stir fried veg with ground beef.