Is there a way to lose weight and keep it off ...

It will never be just the exercise/exercises, and it will never be just the food that you do or do not eat. It's the lifestyle and habits you develop.

http://mystrongmedicine.com/2008/05/27/dying-to-diet/

yes, you can lose weight but there are three must-do::::  What I call my DEM:  dedication, effort and motivation.

Do not try to lose weight because somebody asked you to; Do it for yourself. You must dedicate at least one hour a day (7 days a week) to work on your body and, third, you must find a true motivation. What motivation could this be? It is different for different folks For me it was the fact  I had recently gone thru a divorce, during my marriage of 18 years had gained over 75 lbs. and I was a mess, physically and emotionally. My motivation was to go back to what I was 18 years before, again, both physically and emotionally.   I signed up for motivational classes, practiced some meditation (with the help of books which I took out at the local library) and made a deal with a very good friend that we would lose weight together.   I started out at 228 lbs. Today, one year later, I weigh 150 lbs. I am happier with my body and with my life. I have lots of energy, have fun with my 4 year old daughter and have a new man in my life.

So, yes, it can be done.   Eat less, eat most of the right things (you can  still cheat here and there) and exercise every day.    Join a gym.  Never go to a restaurant hungry. Drink lots of clean, pure  water every day. Try to sleep at least 7 hrs. a night.   DO NOT TAKE  DIET PILLS. They aren't good for you.   These companies (we all know who they are) who promise you will lose pounds by eating their food, DON"T WORK. I tried them all, only to regain all the weight back and them some.   Remember, dedication, effort and motivation will get you to your goal. Good luck.

The way to lose weight is to explore the reasons why you eat what you do and when you choose to eat what you do. Try writing down for three days what you eat and at what times. At the end of the three days read it. You know what foods you should be eating...whole grains, fresh veggies and fruit, dairy etc. Compare it to what you do eat. Consider changing your relationship with food. Think about other things you could be doing instead of eating. Deepak Chopra claims to have lost 30 pounds just from sitting in meditation every day. He changed his relationship with food because he focused his mind down a different pathway.

I have some good tips for you to help you lose your weight Follow these tips andyou will see the difference -
Tip 1: Find out how many calories you need
BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)
Body Weight [lb] x 15 + (moderate activity [mins/day] x 3.5)
Since you wish to lose weight, your target = BMR - 500 kcal
For instance, you weigh 140 lb and you perform 20 mins of moderate activity every day. BMR of this example = (140 x 15) + (20 x 3.5) = 2100 + 70 = 2170 kcal. BMR minus 500kcal; it would be 2170 - 500 = 1670 kcal. Therefore 1670 kcal is the target in this example to losing 1 lb per week.

Tip 2: Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
Fruits and vegetables are packed with beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They fill up your stomach fast so you feel full earlier. They are also low in calories and helps to keep your calorie count low.

Tip 3: Watch for Portion Size
One serving of pasta means 1/2 cup of cooked pasta. However, most restaurants serve a pasta dish with 4 servings of pasta!!! You do not need to finish and clean off the plate every time. You can simply ask to take home the leftover.

Tip 4: Do not Skip Meals
Eating small frequent meals help to balance your calorie intake throughout the day and also keeps your blood sugar level balanced. Instead of eating 3 big meals, try to eat 5 - 6 smaller meals throughout the day.

Tip 5: Go for wholesome fresh foods
If possible, purchase fresh foods and avoid package (processed) and convenient foods such as fast food. Packaged and convenient foods are often higher in sodium and fat content. Many people we spoke to are amazed that they can easily lose weight by packing a home-cooked lunch to work instead of eating out.

Tip 6: Don't be overly-restrictive
Everyone has his or her favorite treats. Simply allow yourself a little indulgence, but watch out for the frequency and the quantity. Having a small treat once in a while can be rewarding to your weight loss experience. Cutting too much of your favorite treats usually lead to an early relapse.

Tip 7: Understand Food Claims and Labels
A product labelled with a fat-free claim does not mean that it is low in calories. Similarly a product labelled as low-sugar or low-carb does not mean it is low in fat or calories. Always read the nutrition label on the packaging.

Tip 8: Watch for the sugary drinks
Juices, pop, cream & sugar in your coffee or tea all add up. Opt for drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. In addition to providing hydration to your body, it will also help you feel full.

Tip 9: Keep a food journal
Keeping a food journal helps you pin point your eating pattern and will enable you to easily modify it. If possible, have your Registered Dietitian review your journal.

Tip 10: Exercise, period
Most authorities recommend 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity a day to stay healthy. Also try adding weight-bearing exercises at least 2 times a week. This will help burn some of the unwanted calories.
 
More on Weight Lose
Video Tips on Weight Loss
Weight Loss Cure

How about 50 pounds lost over 2 years, without being hungry, without counting calories, and "cheating" all the time?

My secret is that I eat only when truly hungry. Being retired, I am no longer a slave to the clock, so when "mealtime" arrives, I'm not necessarily feeling hungry at all, and will usually not be hungry until late in the afternoon. Same way with dinner time. What time the clock says means nothing, hunger dictates when I eat.

My typical day goes something like this:

1. I wake up in the morning hungry every day, so have coffee and a big bowl of high fiber cereal with skim milk and perhaps a bit of fruit on top. I have no idea how many calories, and don't care. I know only that my breakfast is fairly low calory. This enables me also to know that I can "cheat" occasionally if I want, without much of an effect on my breakfast calories. So maybe once a week, I'll do the biscuits/gravy/eggs thing...mmmmm good, withoutr doing much harm to the program overall.I usually have my second cup on the patio, while planning my day.

A typical day might go as follows: After breakfast, catch up on correspondence, pay bills, walk a turn or two around the block, maybe take a 1-2 hour ride on my 750 cc bike for the pure heck of it, maybe mow my lawn, clean up the house inside, phone a friend or two, clean up the car a bit, and the garage as well. Retire to the house for some reading or writing.

Usually my day is stress free, not too physically trenuous, and I findI begin to feel hungry about 3-4 pm. Time for my favorite sandwich, peanut butter and dill pickle wedges, and again, I have no idea how many calories are in one, only that there aren't too many, so once again, I can cheat occasionally and not do a lot of damage to the program overall. Once again, the time of day means nothing, because I am driven only by hunger, not the clock.

Next on the day's agenda is the news. I find that I get a bit hungry about dark, so usually I zap a one-pound package of my favorite veggies with just a touch of  real butter. Once again, hunger driven, no counting calories, and all kinds of opportunities for cheating, which I sometimes do. I like a nice piece of fish, preferably salmon, in place of my evening veggies, an occasional filet mignon, etc.

At almost any time, I can cheat and do little damage to the program as a whole. Friends can call, and we can go "pig out" at a buffet, at a party, etc. at a moment's notice, without guilt, eat everything in sight.

There are a few restrictions which I have found easy to live with...

no salt...almost no meat, whole grain everything, easy on cheeses, nothing stronger than coffee to drink, mostly only water with lemon,no sugar, nothing fried, except when cheating, absolutely no empty calories(junk food)

THE JOY OF CHEATING... I CHEAT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, WHICH MEANS THAT ON AVERAGE, IT WORKS OUT TO EVERY 3RD OR 4TH DAY, NOT TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO OBSERVE. lOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR DINNER WITH DRIENDS, ETC, AND A CHANCE TO "BREAK OUT" FOR A FEW HOURS.

mY DIET IS QUITE BALANCED, THOUGH NOT IN THE USUAL SENSE. MOST FOLKS TRY TO BALANCE EVERY MEAL INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I BALANCE MINE FOR THE WHOLE DAY. sEEMS EASIER TO ME RATHER THAN SERVING SEVERAL THINGS AT A SINGLE MEAL, WELL BALANCED.

I REALIZE THAT I'M RETIRD, AND FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO EAT WHATEVER AND WHENEVER I WANT, WHICH I THINK IS KEY TO MY SUCCESS. mOST FOLKS DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION  OF ADOPTING MY PROGRAM, BUT RETIRED FOLKS, PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING ALONE, SHOULD HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SUCCESS, BASED ON ONE THING...YOU CAN CHEAT ALMOST ANY TIME WITHOUT AFFECTING THE PROGRAM SIGNIFICANTLY

JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUR LIFELONG SCHEDULING OF MEALS IS WHAT GOT YOU WHERE YOU ARE, AND IGNORING THE CLOCK MUGHT PAY HUGE DIVIDENDS IN THE LONG RUN. I WISH YOU BON APPETIT...