I am afraid to even post this...

doxie_mom_db

Hi!

I've been on MFP before and lost 40 lbs with ease. On that journey, I learned that the constant support of people with the same challenges is vital. I couldn't have done it without them. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I gained the weight back plus some--dang it! :explode:

I looking to build a support team (just like you) that will help cheer me on when I need a boost, give me an ear to vent to, and friends to celebrate my victories with. I promise to do the same for you!

Let's do this together. We can do it! :flowerforyou:

Just send me a friend request if you are interested.

kittyhasclaws

Hey, good to see you here! Feel free to add me. This is a great tool if you stick with it and eat right! There is some hit and miss with it in the beginning, so don't get discouraged.

Celeigh12

Hi Tom!

I see you're up to 175 friends, so you probably don't need me on the pile, but I'm happy to support you if you'd like!

My advice? Focus just on each day as it comes. Trust me, the whole number is too overwhelming to think about at first. But work on making each day a good one - sticking to your calories, doing some sort of activity - you'll get where you want to go. Good luck to you!

meeper123

You CAN do this! Dont allow yourself to push to fast and fizzle out. Instead of a diet try making small changes and substitutions to things you already eat. Example swap oreos for blue berries and whip cream or jstins hazel nut spread with a few grahm crackers. Try walking go a little further each day until you can eventually run. Baby steps and presistance will get you there.

mazekah

Bless you. Another option you may want to consider is Overeaters Anonymous-HOW program. You can attend on the phone and get tons of support. It's different than anything I've ever found, and helped me name the problem I have - compulsive overeating. The program is only for people like me who can't stop.
Here is the link to find a meeting: http://www.oa.org/membersgroups/find-a-meeting/
It has saved my life.

A fellow Traveler - Deb

bookworm_847

Good for you for posting your OP and for taking the step to join MFP. This is a great place that has helped me a lot. I gained weight after I got married and have never been able to get rid of it until I joined. I've learned a lot and met some really great people.

You can add me if you'd like... I'm on every day and love to support people. I'm no expert, but I'm always glad to help if I can.

Good luck to you and I hope you're able to reach your goal. You've got this!

amaysngrace

Just start little and make one healthy change at a time until it becomes habitual. Maybe start with dietary changes first, since they will be the easiest. You could make one goal a week. The first goal could be give up soda and try to wean yourself off with something sugar-free, then once you get that going, maybe wean yourself off the sugar-free stuff to water. Maybe start off with a 10 minute walk, then increase it next week to 20 minutes. Take it one day at a time, do not focus on the future, just start with the present. Do not go around anyone who is negative or will try to sabotage your efforts, stay away from negative energy people like to exude. Reward yourself everyday for the small changes you make. Think of the end goal when you need extra motivation. Friend me if you like.

Ophidion

You've got this!

Blizaine

Go get'm Tom, you got this! It's all about making better choices everyday. And replacing bad habits with good ones. Good luck man.

maab12

sent a friend request and message hope to hear from you soon

tlangenfeld

reaching out for help is always the right first step in reaching your goal.
and you will find that the support here at myfitnesspal is amazing because we all are here to reach our goals
friend request sent :flowerforyou:

Mrsfreedom41

Congratulation for being brave and postting . Their is not point going on diets , they don't work. It's Life changes you need to do and stick to it.

baby steps make one change each day and you soon find it become second nature.

What this person says !

Snow3y

Mind if I add you so I can assist with any of your concerns and to help motivate you?

Retiredmom72

friend request sent

KimINfortheWin

And this is something that may sound hard to do (IT TOTALLY IS) but take before pictures and measurements of yourself.

I had new badge at work taken right before I started my weight loss. And my scale shows that I really haven't lost many pounds recently. But Iooking at that little badge picture of my face where it was before, and where it is now is super encouraging. It also is making me less reliant on the scale to tell me I'm doing a good job.

Same poses, same clothes. You will be shocked at how quickly you'll be able to see the weight loss! And don't forget the 'Success Stories" thread on here. Anytime I am feeling like I can't make it, I lurk through those posts, of people who look just like me, now sporting bikinis! It's such an encouraging time.

MJDuley

Friend request sent! :happy:

skebo28

Hi Tom,

You must be honest with yourself and you have to stop toying around with this. You must decide that you are the problem and quit making excuses. Losers make excuses and try to blame other people or events in their life for the reason they are like they are. So, let's get off the "pitty pot" and get busy. Only you can do this.
It's time to start eating "clean" and charting every bite that goes in your mouth. I started this program a few weeks back and have found that it works if I chart everything and am honest with myself. You will find the same to be true.
A method that works for me is having the same foods every day. The same 300 calorie breakfast, the same 450 calorie lunch and the same 500-600 calorie supper. I also have the same 150 calorie snack two times a day.
I have also found that I have to get moving. I am walking 10-15 miles per week....no excuses.
It's your call Tom. Go for it.

short_nerdy_lady

Add me as a friend if you like. You can do this, I know cravings are hard and somedays just getting out of bed is hard but even small changes can add up.

Brandon74

Keep the faith!!!! You can do this!!!

gypsyrose64

You already gotten bunches of wonderful motivation and words of encouragement. I scanned through them, but just wanted to add my .02 cents.

* Cut yourself some slack. Like any major life changes, nothing gets done overnight. The same can be said for not-so-good days... one bad day does not negate 6 good days! Look at this as a decision to make better choices every time you eat. If you slip up, just make the next choice better! Giving up isn't an option!!

* Realize that weight-loss isn't consistent. You may lose a bunch at first and slow down. You may go 30 days without budging a pound! It's taking me forever to drop weight, but I refuse to see the scales as gauge for my success. Just plug ahead making better and better choices, and it WILL eventually yield results. Even though I am plateaued at the moment, I am feeling better and stronger than ever. Every healthy choice builds towards feeling better.

* Walk. I can't say this enough. ANY movement is better than none. Find your starting point, and build on it.

* Sleep. Consistent sleep makes a huge difference in your mood, energy, and outlook on life.

* Read. Every day, make yourself peruse success stories, read a health article, try out a new recipe...educate yourself on better health and invest time relearning how to cook, eat, and live. (this site is invaluable for this!)

You can do this!! One day at a time..... ;-)

Heaffym

It's so awesome that you're working to lose the weight again and I wish you the best of luck! Lots of people gave good advice for losing weight, and I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but I thought I would throw this in. In my experience, one really important aspect of weight loss is dealing with why you might overeat the way you do. Some people can just change the foods they eat and lose the weight and keep it off. For me, at least, this was different. I found that the reason I would binge eat or just eat junk food was when I was having emotional issues. Trying to find a new way of expressing myself was, and still is, the most difficult part of the weight loss journey for me. In my opinion, I think that figuring out why we do what we do is really, really important and if we keep with the same habits then we'll just gain the weight back the next time, for example, there is something that really emotionally affects us. Hopefully this helps a little, sometimes finding the underlying cause can really help. Good luck!!

cybergaluk

Hi and welcome......you got this!!!

Friend request sent... :oD xx

kellijauch

All you really need to do is eat healthy (control your portion sizes) and exercise. I know that's the hard way, but it's the only way that will ever work and stick with you. Do NOT eat fast foods, processed foods, and heavy meats. Lean meats, lots of veggies, and move around more. You have to get in at least moderate exercise, and you have to stick with it. It is super hard, especially from where you are starting, it is going to be very difficult for a while, but it is worth it, and you want it, need it, so just remember to stick with it. Instead of letting go in a month when it's getting hard to stay the course, clench your fists, grit your teeth, and dig your heels in. You are the only person who can really help you. You have to want it. Good luck my friend.

jkleinknecht

Hi Tom,

We will be here cheering you on through the entire weight loss journey. You have taken the first and sometimes hardest step already.

Sandytoes71

Bump to read later.

blondegirl102511

You're very brave. And I will be sending a friend request. I know you can do it.

beckydragonpoet

You can do this Tom!

I've been working on this for a long time. I've come to the conclusion, that goals are what keep me motivated. I want to move faster that a Zombie if one/many comes for me and be strong enough to fight it off if it/they can catch me.

In the meantime I'm also working on a healthier diet. Vegetables, fruit, fish, chicken, even extra firm tofu. Healthy non-processed food. It makes me feel good and satisfied.

Just remember each day is a new one. Yesterday is not Today. We all fall off the wagon and eat like tomorrow is not coming. It’s ok. Today and all the tomorrows are yours. Just get back on the 'wagon' if you ever fall off.

In the meantime I suggest get a nutritionist. You will need a way to slowly lower your calories in a way that is safe and healthy for you. Don't just stop eating, you body will think you are starving and it will save your calories instead of using them wisely.

I would also get trainer at some point. Since I'm not sure of your physical status, such as can you stand on your own or walk ok...I don't have a training ideas for you per say, but I know from myself weights help along with cardio. These combined help you lose weight as well as give you strength to accomplish your goals.

Don't forget to have goals, small ones, big ones, medium ones. These will push you forward, and help you every time you get down in the dumps you look at your list of all you have accomplished. Trust me it will be EPIC!

Feel free to add me as a friend.

fitnh

~~Friend request sent~~

Don't ever forget your "why". Can't wait to watch and cheer you on through your journey!

bateslin

There's not much that I can say here that hasn't already been said. Welcome to MFP! The first step is getting started. I would encourage you to take it at a reasonable pace. Don't jump in trying to do too much too soon or it will cause more problems for you. Do what you can and build off that each day. If you start walking (it can sometimes be difficult on joints depending on weight etc.) then walk until you are at your limit. (even if that is to the end of the street/driveway. Then, build off it daily by trying to take it a bit further. Before long you will be amazed at how much more you can do. I wouldn't start some strict diet that will likely cause you to give up at times. Cut your portions of what you eat down. I've seen people use smaller plates so it appears fuller than it is and drink a lot of water. Drink water before your meals as it helps fill you up. If you don't like the taste of water or find it boring, you can add fresh fruit for a mild flavor (lemon works great).

If you have access to a pool, I would recommend this 100% as a good place to start. The benefit in the pool is you get resistance from the water but not the gravity strain you feel on land. You can walk, run, lift weights etc in water. I started in water aerobics because I had flipped a car 3 years ago and my back and shoulder have never fully recovered. You can get a great workout in the pool and see weight/inches fall off. I have slowly changed my routines to use both aqua aerobics/classes with land classes and regular gym. One thing you can also do is if you feel you become plateaued or aren't seeing results after a time period, disrupt your routine and try something new to jump start more loss.

I would also say don't focus so much on the numbers on a scale as it can get depressing. I will say I know this 1st hand because I stayed the same weight for 1.5 months even though I was working out 5+ days a week. It can mean that you are gaining muscle as you are losing weight. I recommend taking measurements as sometimes you'll notice changes there when the scale seems to be a broken record. In the 1.5 months that I stayed the same weight I lost 20 inches in my body (arms, legs, stomach, etc.). So, I recommend taking measurements all over and not just chest, stomach, hips. Feel free to add me if you'd like.

Best of luck to you!

jandjcassidy

Its great that you have reached out that is the very first step!!! I'd love to help you with your journey!! I'll add you!