But this is fat logic. Dieting alone does work. That's what worked for me. In order to maintain it, I just continue to count my maintenance calories. I smoke (quitting is next on the list), so exercise isn't a thing for me, but counting calories is easy. You don't have to eat healthy or exercise if you're just after weight loss, you just have to eat at a deficit. You can eat nothing but ice cream all day, and so long as it's 1200 calories of ice cream you'll still lose weight. You lose weight in the kitchen, and if you want to, then you get toned at the gym. If you want to feel better you can, and should, eat healthier, but it's not a requirement. Calories in calories out, and maintenance is a continuation of the same. Eating less is simple and it's more than enough to lose and maintain weight on its own.