164lbs to lose

poohbear1958

Hi Stacey, feel free to add me for mutual support

Wenchiness

Congrats on taking the first step. You say you "don't exercise" but I read on your profile you have 2 kids. I assume this means a great deal of running around after them, cooking for them, cleaning for them etc, and that sounds like both hard work and exercise by itself. While I was in rehab for my bad knee, I would push my empty grocery cart around the store for 10 minutes before I started my needed shopping. Have a staircase in your home? Don't go up it once, do it 10 times, find the 10 minute workout videos on line. Do little bits, in tiny increments throughout the day. You don't need to change into a spandex suit or sweats to start burning more calories. Dance while you're dusting. Go to you tube and learn to twerk and threaten to embarrass your children with that if they don't behave. Build up muscle to burn more calories. You can do this! Gift yourself 10 minute increments of time throughout the day for something that helps you!

staceysforster

Every comment on here has been so helpful! I have readjusted diet, started walking a little and bought a couple of DVDs which I am doing in the evenings occasionally.

Been trying to avoid canteen food, as it's high in fat etc.

Little steps, here goes!

lucystacy71

For me, it helped to break up my big goal into smaller goals. When I first started I would think about how I had 95lbs to lose, and it felt overwhelming. Then, I broke it up into smaller goals and gave myself plenty of time. It helps to motivate me without me feel like it's too big.

Eating healthy on a budget can be done. I like taking healthy ingredients and making up my own new recipies. It makes my food more exciting, exactly what I want, and I can control the calories better.

You've taken a big first step. Good luck on your journey and don't forget they are many us here ready to support you.

trogalicious

Here ya go.

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
Take the tips, links, and info above and make the cart more manageable.

sweetcurlz67

You have received some AMAZING advice!!!

I wanted to reiterate what some others have stated.... set small goals.

You stated you want to lose 164lbs by the end of 2014. My question to you is... You want to lose this weight for good, right? So, you want to lose it the RIGHT way. Therefore, follow the advice the people here are giving you. You may not hit the date goal but you WILL lose the weight. It's a slow and steady process. The body acts and reacts in various ways. Not always the way we want it to! So, if you set the smaller goals with a larger goal - SOMETIME in the future... that will be much easier to attain and you will be less likely to give up!

You CAN do This!!!

Good luck!

vayvonne1999

Awesome advice on this post. I have about 70 pounds I want to lose and I find that I have been very similar to you in the past. For some reason, this time it has just clicked with me. I am logging food, exercising, paying attention to what I am doing. I have always had issues, but it is just working. Best of luck to you. I feel like I am not at a place in this journey to give out advice, but I can cheer you on!!!