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• August 9, 2012 6:18 p.m.

  This seems to assume you're not already active. It seems to ignore that you probably cannot eat what you enjoy and you may not be able to socialize the way you once did and enjoy drink etc. And it sounds good to say "just don't give up." It's good advice. Reality: you are likely to go forward and back in your weight loss plan if you do it slowly. Another reality: it's a lot faster coming on than going off. Easy to go out and consume a few extra hundred calories at parties or business dinners than to cut the same number of calories from your diet or exercise them off. If you're not athletic (so you're walking and no running) and you're a woman and short so that an inactive day where I'm stuck at my desk working from 8 until 8 and really don't have it left to hit the treadmill for over an hour, I may only burn 1200 - 1400 calories. So, can't lose 1 lb/week if you stick to the recommended minimum of 1200 calories. You get depressed and get up again in the morning and say you're starting over. But I can't go to fun. Never. I've been at it for over 2 years. I'm 40 down but it's a daily, hourly struggle. And I'd rather read a book than walk no where on a treadmill. And I hate the outdoors - humidity & bugs. I lost weight with 3 days of pilates a week, 3 miles of sweating on a treadmill a day and misery.

  - Denise

• May 16, 2012 3:17 a.m.

  nice post.keep posting good things.

  - watch family guy

• July 10, 2011 2:08 a.m.

  I lost 45 pounds since I been working setting up kids fun jumps. I been in the sun working hard lifting heavy equipment. Unconventional but hey its working and Im getting paid! I eat 5-7 small meals throughout the day and drink about a gallon of water or more daily.

  - bobby

• June 24, 2011 11:02 a.m.

  I am 64 and thought it would be impossible to go from 148 to 120 - 4ft 11 in. I need to weight 112. I currently weight 117 by following the Mayo Clinic 1200 day program. I use the elliptical (depending on knee) 3-5 days a week 30-45 min. sessions. I only lost 0.5 lbs average per week! It adds up, so don't give up. Some weeks I just maintain. I have never regained a lb loss. I record every bite! It keeps me honest. I weigh and measure food, just like myself! I have gone from a size 12 to a size 4-6! We all can do it - but you have to have "no excuse" approach. Holidays, Birthdays, Weddings, all the same! Your body does not have a vocabulary that includes excuses! Stick with it daily - if you fall off, it is harder to get back on track - so don't!

  - JJ

• April 24, 2011 5:44 p.m.

  Great strategies everyone! Congratulations to those of you who are embracing this. For some of you - don't get discouraged! Keep a positive attitude, try new strategies, focus on health, and similar to what Reesee wrote - 2 pounds of weight loss per week is 100 pounds in a year!

  - Don Hensrud, M.D.

• April 12, 2011 2:57 a.m.

  I thank you for the great post in theis blog it has actually given me the the precise infomation I need.Please keep it up. www.vegetariandietweightlossplan.in

  - Olalekan

• March 21, 2011 9:28 a.m.

  i am 44 year male 5ft. 6in. my weight goes up and down extremely. my weight average is around 335-340lbs. in the last 30 days i have lost 22lbs. dangerous? no... i eat healthy and try to be active. right now i weigh 32O. 13 years ago i weighed 190lbs. 32 waist now 46in. i had been diagnosed with major depression and anxiety and was put on almost every medicine for this. my doctors told me some patients have weight gain from depression. also many of the meds. have a side effect of weight gain. i might have gastric surgery soon. this may be a blessing or a nightmare. i must have a positive change. at this time the outlook of growing old is grim...2

  - jay r

• March 17, 2011 Noon

  I have lost 74 pounds since last May, 2010 and I continue on my weightloss track with my Zumba, walking and diet. However, I also have fibromyalgia pain and I am determined not to give in to it. But I was wondering how this effects my weight loss. It has recently taken me 1 month to lose 3 pounds. during that time, I was hurting. Can anyone explain how it effects my weight loss?

  - Dawn

• March 11, 2011 9:20 a.m.

  Very confused! I don't see the difference between the Lose It and Live It phase as far as servings are concerned. Both refer me to Pg. 71 and the 1200 calorie goal. I lost 8 lbs. in 2 weeks on Lose It and juse 5 lbs in 5 weeks on Live doing exactly the same thing. Geez. In the future can I expect slower results because of my age (63) and diabetic?

  - MaryAnn

• March 9, 2011 11:02 p.m.

  I've been using the Mayo Clinic food pyramid since 2002, found it in Women's World magazine. Dec 1997 I weighed 262 lbs, got to 154 in 2006, two strokes 2006, brain aneurism 2008, light stroke 2009, unusual food craving result of strokes and hormones, started taking extra magnesium last year, weight then then was 194, blood pressure 153/64, now weight's 166, blood pressure 119/72, 21 lbs to lose to goal weight of 145, I'm 79 1/2 and ride exercise bike for 30 minutes every day and walk as much as I can, I hope to be close to goal weight by end of this year, my arteries are clear and I've never been hungry eating lots of fruits, veggies, I take warfarin blood thinner, no other prescription drugs, no blood pressure pills.

  - Janet

• March 1, 2011 9:23 a.m.

  Hi its me again. This is my 9th day and I have only lost 2.6 lbs. I ride my exercise bike for 5 miles an exercise. And if I can I walk 2 to 3 miles a day. I've been eating really well. Veggies and meat and protein and fruit. I'M GETTING DISCOURAGED!!!!

  - Alisa

• February 28, 2011 9:54 a.m.

  Hi all. Just checking in to give people some encouragement. I started the mayo clinic diet a year ago tomorrow (03/01/2010) and I lost 30 pounds. I went from 165 to 135 by the end of July and have maintained since then. I did gain about three pounds over the holidays but managed to lose it again without too much trouble. This week I am starting a two week "lose it" just to recommit to healthy eating and exercise - I'm eating enough servings to maintain my weight but going without any sugar and making sure to keep my daily food and exercise log. For those of you discouraged by faltering new year's resolutions - I find that January 1 is a hard time to start something new! The dark and dreary days of winter make it hard to get out of bed in the morning and hard to get outdoors for exercise. On the other hand, as the days get longer and I know that spring is just around the corner it's a lot easier for me to make it to the gym in the morning and even add in walks in the evening when it's dry outside. On top of that, more fresh produce will be in the markets soon as well. The weight loss does take time and it can be slow from week to week. You feel so much better when you are eating right and staying active though - so keep up the good work!

  - Brandy

• February 27, 2011 12:16 p.m.

  To Jami, I understand your frustration. I too am struggling with losing weight. One thing I have used to help me feel better when the scale doesn't say what I want it to is, I ask myself how do I look and feel. If you are doing strength training, you may be gaining muscle, which weighs more than fat. Another thing you can do is instead of weighing yourself, measure yourself. You may still be losing inches. Keep up the good work and do not let that scale stop you from making progress. Think about it like this, if you keep losing weight at the pace you are now, you can lose over 120lbs this year.

  - Reesee

• February 26, 2011 9:58 p.m.

  Eating a small dinner and nothing after is key! I start the day with some apple cider vinegar and raw honey with water and a water chaser. Then I have a moderate sized meal of less than 500 calories. I usually eat Kashi Go Lean Crunch with skim milk and a piece of fruit, or alternate with eggs and low carb bread from the Julian Bakery (13 g of fiber and 9g of protein in one slice) and some almond butter spread with cinnamon (no sugar) and a dot of agave nectar. Then I will not eat until after noon. The noon meal is my largest meal of the day at about 600 calories. In the mid-morning and mid-afternoon, I drink organic green tea (this will curb your hunger). Buy tea at an Asian grocery store. I buy about 100 tea bags for less than $5. If you use sweetner, use agave nectar. The real key to weight loss is the evening dinner and beyond. Remember that during your weight loss plan, the key is to take in less calories than what you burn. You burn less calories in the evening and at night. So, eat a paltry dinner and NOTHING after that. You should go to bed slightly hungry during a weight loss period. You CAN do this if you get really still and learn to quiet your mind and spirit. Tea helps! No soda...even diet Weigh yourself every morning after getting up while during a weight loss period to track how the pervious day worked for you. Alternate workouts between an 45-60 minutes one day and 20-30 minutes of intense interval training the next followed by a day of rest.

  - Todd

• February 26, 2011 4:46 p.m.

  I started the diet 6 days ago . I've lost 2.2.lbs. I take alot of medicine. So I'm pleased I'm trying to lose 10 lbs. I walk and exercisa. Kyotjg

  - Alisa

• February 15, 2011 10:47 p.m.

  The best thing I ever did, and the hardest was to give up all soda, energy drinks and just drink water. I started a diet plan 2 years ago when I found out I had severe back issues. I drink spring water with bubbles to stop the thrist for soda, the other changes I made was to read carefully the labels and did not buy food with corn syrup additives, suger was ok if not in the first 5 items listed. It took time but I have lost over 100 lbs and am on the high end of normal for my height and weight. It was easyer for me becouse i live alone and only food I buy makes its way into my house. Much harder for my friends who still have kids at home.

  - Anna

• February 15, 2011 8:51 p.m.

  I understand your frustration Roger, I too am having trouble losing weight. I started a diet January 23rd, 2011. I am a 33 year old female who is 5' 2" weighed 235.8 on January 23rd, have exercised 5 days a week on treadmill for 40 minutes at 3.5 mph as well as 30 minutes of strength exercises and have cut my calories to 1300 and have only lost 7.8 lbs. as of today. In 11 days I have lost 1 lb. and the week prior gained a pound. I was consuming around 3500 calories or more per day before...I feel I should have lost more weight. I am eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and exercising. I really want this and am trying so hard I feel; however, am becoming discouraged. Since I currently have no health insurance I am unable to go to a doctor I have searched the internet for answers as well as talked to people at my gym trying to get their take on my issue. If anyone has some suggestions on how to boost my weight loss or any insight as to why I am not losing very much weight it would be greatly appreciated.

  - Jami

• February 14, 2011 11:45 a.m.

  Roger, I understand your frustration, weight management is very challenging - as evidenced by the fact that 2/3 of the U.S. adult population is overweight. First, congratulate yourself on the 10 pounds you've lost and kept off. Don't ignore it- it's great that you were able to accomplish that! Also, most people gain anywhere from 4-10 pounds when they quit smoking and about 10% of people gain at least 25 pounds! I realize you didn't smoke much, but if you've maintained your weight, that's success! Congratulations on quitting chewing also, which is extremely important for your health. There are many potential reasons why your weight isn't going down faster, many of these are listed in our book, The Mayo Clinic Diet. For example, most people underestimate the number of calories they eat, even if they're not trying to lose weight. I won't be able to determine exactly what is contributing in your case, you may want to see someone such as a dietitian, physician, or other health professional who specializes in weight management. There are other programs available also. If you haven't tried the 2 week Lose It! phase in The Mayo Clinic Diet, I would recommend that to jump start your efforts. Good luck! Maggie, glad you're feeling good - congratulations!

  - Don Hensrud, M.D.

• February 13, 2011 5:31 p.m.

  I wrote a comment on February 11. I'm not saavy on technology "blogs." When you write (as in February 11) does anyone from Mayo Clinic or elsewhere answer? I wasn't writing because I was interested in telling my life story or developing a penpal. I'm desperate to find answers. Why am I not losing weight? Is there an answer out there?

  - Roger

• February 12, 2011 2:15 p.m.

  I have always done one or the other- I either focused on my eating or I worked out like crazy. because my style I would neglect one for the other. I have found that no question I need to have balance between good eating and enough exercise. I found good exercise products that work for me at fityourworld.com and I have found I follow the eating off the Mayo Clinic website suggestions. It helps to do exercise I know is making a difference, then I can focus more on my diet and have good results. I am at my lowest size in over 12 years and feel better than I have in years. It is worth the work. I do their Deskercise 3 times a day 3 days a week and their Sphereosculpt program 2x a week. I feel soooo good!!

  - Maggie

• February 11, 2011 6:25 a.m.

  I'm frustrated. Need help. I'm 67 years. 5' 11". I've been dieting for several months. Lost 10 lbs from 203 to 193 before Jan 1. Have maintained calorie intake of 1300-1500/day for past 42 days. I record food intake each day. Faithfully work out an ave of 5 days/wk (usually on treadmill) for 50 min or 2.3 miles. Gave up tobacco use (mostly chewing; small amt of smoking. . . 2 cigs/day) 12 days ago. Using patch. That is going well. Today I still weigh 193. How is that possible? A few months ago I inserted my data in the Mayo calorie calculator, and it computed my maintenance figure should be about 2500 calories. Thus, I figure I have foregone about 43 days x 1000 calories plus about 160 calories x 25 days on the treadmill. That's a staggering 47,000 calories divided by 3600 calories/pound or -13 pounds. I've not lost 1 pound! Somethings wrong. I eat generally 6 times/day. Banana, toast for breakfast; fruit at 10 AM or bowl of Cheerios; 1/2 subway (chicken) for lunch; apple at 3; veggies throughout day; bigger meal for dinner (not huge); ice cream (1/2 cup w chocolate sauce for dessert); peanuts. Eat whole grain breads; low fat butter; no salts. No luncheon meats. Regular fruits (apple, grapefruit, orange, cantaloupe) and veggies (lettuce, tomato, celery, carrots). Lately, I've tried to alter workouts. Longer, faster, slower, ride bike. Can't do much modifying. . . knees are not great. Can you help? I'm REALLY frustrated.

  - Roger

• February 2, 2011 1:30 p.m.

  Rachel, good question. It might be due to a number of factors. Eating less calories and eating less of certain foods may increase energy. This is just the opposite of the big Thanksgiving meal after which people may feel tired. In that case, it is a combination of increased overall amount of food to digest (during digestion blood is shunted to the intestines leaving less blood and oxygen going to the brain), and perhaps also the increased carbohydrates and turkey that stimulate serotonin production and cause mild drowsiness. If you've lost weight that may be another factor. It takes less energy to move around after losing weight so there's more available for other things! There may be other factors as well, regardless it's a nice benefit! Diana and Carol, great suggestions!

  - Don Hensrud, M.D.

• January 25, 2011 11:47 a.m.

  Brush and floss your teeth immediately after your night meal. It seems to help with snacking at bedtime.

  - Carol

• January 21, 2011 8:17 a.m.

  I find that drinking more liquids during the day helps me keep to a diet plan. Water is the best; no calories there. Herb tea is also very good, especially in cold weather. Drinking many cups of such liquids a day is healthy and keeps the stomach full, so I feel less of an urge to eat.

  - Diana

• January 20, 2011 12:06 p.m.

  Last fall, I began a program that sounds very similar to the Mayo Clinic Diet – changed the way I ate, exercised more, and lost weight. It was so effective that it completely revamped how I eat and how I feel about food – and it was painless! My question: I ate more low-energy-density foods (no bread, lots of veg) so was taking in fewer calories, yet I had (and continue to have) a lot more energy. What's the science behind that?

  - Rachel