New to all this need help

neen2179
neen2179 Posts: 2 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just downloaded the app today. I have no clue of where to start. I'm trying to lose some weight I have tried everything from pills to teas. I gave up soft drinks I'm on only water. Bread and pasta are a long gone but I see no change.

Replies

  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    neen2179 wrote: »
    I just downloaded the app today. I have no clue of where to start. I'm trying to lose some weight I have tried everything from pills to teas. I gave up soft drinks I'm on only water. Bread and pasta are a long gone but I see no change.

    Because you must eat fewer calories that you burn. It's as simple as that. Don't worry about the type of food you eat. Eat whatever you want. Just eat fewer calories than you burn. Of course it is very important to be able to track and log your calorie intake and that is typically done by weighing your food to get an accurate count.

    Sounds like you don't know how the process works so the best thing you can do is educate yourself.
  • PopeyeCT
    PopeyeCT Posts: 249 Member
    It's not what you eat that matters. It's how many calories. If you cut out all bread and pasta but you pour a bunch of Sweet Baby Ray's all over your grilled chicken, and you cover your steamed asparagus in Hollandaise sauce...you could be eating as many or more calories as before.

    To start fill out the profile accurately. Be honest about your activity level. Then the most important thing is to accurately track every single bite or sip that goes in your mouth. That means you need to use a food scale, or scan a bar code. I have bread almost every day. I like tuna sandwiches. I buy the 45cal/slice bread and then the sandwich is under 200 calories.
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    neen2179 wrote: »
    I just downloaded the app today. I have no clue of where to start. I'm trying to lose some weight I have tried everything from pills to teas. I gave up soft drinks I'm on only water. Bread and pasta are a long gone but I see no change.

    A good start would be to first set up your profile and determine your calorie target. Be as honest as you can about your activity level (not what you want it to be, what you actually do). Don't be too aggressive about how many pounds/wk to lose (2 lbs/wk is tempting, but really hard unless you are pretty obese).

    Second, spend a few days just logging what you eat as accurately as you can. Give yourself a good idea of what you have been eating per day. Read the "Food Logging 101" for an idea of how to do that best.

    When you've done that, you can start looking at ways to prepare meals that fit in your calorie target. Don't worry too much about the macros (carbs/fat/protein) to start off with. As long as you are getting adequate amounts of each while staying under your target, you'll be doing well. You can enjoy those foods you have been denying yourself, within your limit.

    Lastly, there's a lot of bad info that gets promoted by fad diets. You've probably internalized a lot of that ("bad foods", how many times to eat a day and when, magic foods, etc). Be open to unlearning a lot of that.

    And above all, have some fun with it!

  • ncboiler89
    ncboiler89 Posts: 2,408 Member
    edited May 2015
    bpetrosky wrote: »
    Lastly, there's a lot of bad info that gets promoted by fad diets. You've probably internalized a lot of that ("bad foods", how many times to eat a day and when, magic foods, etc). Be open to unlearning a lot of that.

    Take note of this. This right here. Don't forget it.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    There are some good "stickies" (permanent posts) at the top of the "Getting Started" Discussion Boards. Here's one to read:
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants#latest

    It's a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient with yourself! And ... WELCOME!!! :smiley:
  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
    And lets not forget to log your food here on MFP on a daily base you need to start weighing your food and a food scale
    Only than you can be as accurate as possible how much calories you eat.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    ncboiler89 wrote: »
    bpetrosky wrote: »
    Lastly, there's a lot of bad info that gets promoted by fad diets. You've probably internalized a lot of that ("bad foods", how many times to eat a day and when, magic foods, etc). Be open to unlearning a lot of that.

    Take note of this. This right here. Don't forget it.

    +1
  • atypicalsmith
    atypicalsmith Posts: 2,742 Member
    neen2179 wrote: »
    I just downloaded the app today. I have no clue of where to start. I'm trying to lose some weight I have tried everything from pills to teas. I gave up soft drinks I'm on only water. Bread and pasta are a long gone but I see no change.

    Just eat regular food, but less of it. Give up a few of your favorites. Don't lie to yourself. Don't say you burned 1,056 calories on an hour of the elliptical which gives you license to consume what you admit as an extra 800 calories. Chances are, you only burned 600 on the elliptical and ate 1200 extra calories. This is when people fail.

    When people succeed, it is because they are honest with themselves and are truly eating less calories than they expend. Be one of those people, and you will succeed.

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