Don't know where to start!!

mockchoc

Since you're new here...

I post these tips all over the place. They may help.

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 to stay on.

He is awesome. Listen to him please!

VictoriaParr82

Since you're new here...

I post these tips all over the place. They may help.

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 to stay on.

He is awesome. Listen to him please!

I definitely will! I have read this about 6 times already! Xx

Eeyeore

Love your post and the inspiration - I have a LONG WAY TO GO - many health issues that limit my mobility but I am trying to do the best I can every day and hope to see some difference - I need to lose at least 100 lbs and I will still be "obese" at that point - but I have to start somewhere -

VictoriaParr82

Good luck Eeyeore! Are you finding MFP helpful? I'm really glad I joined! I haven't started much yet- just making healthy choices and researching. Want to have a clear plan for moving forward! Going to work out TDEE and log everything I eat over this next week to establish calories/patterns etc. I have bought a diary (I love to write and I think this will really help me) and I've also made a folder to put stats and pics in! Feeling very organised & motivated! Xx

anewlife1980

Since you're new here...

I post these tips all over the place. They may help.

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 to stay on.

Yep got it right, you have to remember that to lose the weight & keep it off is a life time thing, not just a fix for a few mths til the weight is gone & then you go back to what you were doing before. It has to be a forever thing, if you make it hard to do, you won't keep it up. I've been at this 7mths & within a few weeks this went from being something "to do" to just being an automatic thing, when it gets to that point you know you got it. The its SO much easier & less chance of you "falling off the wagon" as so many people do. Good luck!

bridgie101

Hi everyone, I'm Vicky. I am 31 & a stay at home mum at the moment to two girls (3yrs & 1yr). I have had a lot of surgery before, during and after my pregnancies for endometriosis & I have used my pregnancies & surgeries as excuses to not start or stick with any diet & exercise plan. As a result I look and feel terrible! So I've made the decision to do something about it! I want to be a mum my girls can be proud of and look up to & also to be a positive, healthy role model to them.....but, I have no idea where to start! I've never counted calories etc and I'm a bit lost with it all! Can anybody help??!

I'm 5ft 2, weigh 175 (goal 120). I want to lose slowly (2lb a week would be great). I am going to be doing Tracy Anderson post preg DVD 5x a week, at least a 3 mile walk everyday (intervals of fast pace & really slow - no where near being able to jog yet!!)

Does anybody have any advice on how many cals I should be eating or any other wisdom? I want to do this sensibly! Anything would be great! Feeling lost! Xx

2lb isn't slow, it's fast. That's eating 1000 calories less per day than you need to maintain, what everyone around here calls your 'tdee' (total daily energy expenditure or something..?)

as a young active mum I would ask the machine to plot me a 1lb weight loss. Ease into it gently. It takes time to work out what meals you can have to stay under calorie budget. If you are finding it okay after a few weeks, maybe go for 2lb if you really feel you have to. But it took me quite some time to learn how to eat low calorie. I think I started on 1800 cals a day the first time I was on here, and I felt incredibly deprived on that. I'm a bit more seasoned this time around so feel like I can hook straight into it.

also - perv at other people's diaries for meal ideas. ;D You can get a lot out of looking at diaries. Some of the people on here eat incredibly well.

VictoriaParr82

Thank you, yes I've realised that's fast after spending most of last night reading through posts! I'd now be really happy with 1lb a week. I think the biggest loser, weight watchers mindset where people are led to believe 5+ a week is normal has a lot to answer for!
I've started looking at some diaries and once I have worked out my TDEE I will look at some people who have similar to me to get some inspiration! Thanks for posting! Xx

red0801

Start by keeping a food journal for 7 days & going for a 15 min walk every day.

lins69

I have decided to just add a wee note as I'm leaving for work and don't have enough time to read it lol. Good advice Ive just started as well so lookin g for alot of help

VictoriaParr82

Hi, I already walk for about an hour each day & my weight has been steady for some time now. I'm going to do a food journal for the next 7 days and see what I'm consuming etc (not going to do it in retrospect because undoubtedly it wouldn't be a true reflection as I will have forgotten things and haven't weighed anything!) I am trying to figure out all the things I'm doing wrong now so as I have a clear plan is I make sure I'm doing things properly! And also so I can plan around things like my usual daily routine etc xx