What was the first thing you changed?

larrodarro

I started with two nonconsecutive low calorie {600} days a week. Later as I lost more weight I started the rest of it. Weighing and measuring, logging all food and exercise. Less food and more exercise is what worked for me.
Edit: The one food I gave up was cheese grits. An order at our favorite seafood place is 640 calories, more than my daily limit at the time.

CrescentEddy

I just started 5 days ago. The first thing I've changed: logging everything I eat, without judgement. We'll see how it goes! Loved reading everyone's answers!! ^&^

kerricus

I stopped buying certain foods because if I bought it, I was going to eat the whole thing. All at once.

The next step was logging. I'm a very healthy eater in general, I just ate way too much.

cwolfman13

I didn't really change a ton. I love to cook and have been doing so for years and I'm a big time foodie...so I've always enjoyed freshly prepared meals using whole ingredients and what not. I've never had a huge appetite or issue with things like candy, or cookies or cake or anything like that...I've always had much more of a savory tooth than a sweet tooth. i suppose I was fortunate that I didn't have to completely re-invent myself and figure out how to cook and figure out what veggies I liked, etc...I had that all down pretty good, I just ate way too much for my level of activity at the time.

That said, I did drink quite a bit of soda which I cut back on and ultimately I pretty much gave up...I have one once in a blue moon these days and actually just prefer to have bubbly water with a twist of lime or something these days. Barring that, my biggest change was moderating my portions and working in some exercise. Growing up I was involved in sports and all manner of athletics and then off to the military after high school where I was paid to train and even in college afterwards I was pretty active as my only transportation at the time was my feet and my bicycle and I was always off on hikes and playing roller hockey or whatever with my buddies. Basically I graduated, took a desk job, and stopped being as active but continued eating. The first month or so of getting back into exercise was kind of tough, but after that I started to fall back in love with it pretty quickly.

Kekibird

Drinking water and moving more.

charmedp326

First stopped drinking soda, then stopped consuming anything with caffeine in it altogether. Now I don't even drink juice, it's just mostly water or herbal teas (with stevia if they're too bitter). I was given the advice to "never drink your calories", and it was the best advice I've received.

sentaruu

completely cut out any other beverage except water.

nonquitter

1. I stopped drinking soda.. Used to have one almost every day
2. I stopped eating cake and cookies and desert with every meal.. used to get a sweet baked item every day for breakfast, snack, lunch and dinner
3. started moving a lot more and eventually started regular exercise

katiemegcz

Gave up diet sodas. Not that it is wrong to drink for others, but I realized after failing at reducing calories for awhile that the artificial sweetener made me crave more sweets. Of course I was drinking 6-10 cans per day (UGH). I replaced with water, went through a ridiculous withdrawal, but my migraines and cravings went away, and this time, everything seems to be working. I don't even miss it any more.

AceCC86

I work as a restaurant manager, so the first thing I did was start bringing my own food to work rather than eating restaurant food every day. Now when I do have to eat food from the restaurant I limit it to kale and beet salads or simple fish dishes.

Oh, and water. Tons of water!

CharleeCali

My pants - when I saw how much fat and calories I was eating on Atkins.

ktsmom430

From the very first day, consuming way less calories than I was pre-MFP. It really works.

mellyboobear

thanks so much for your responses!! i learned a lot of new tricks from you guys!(= if anything is posted after this, i will deff read it and then add you!! thanks so much! <33

Point202

First thing I did was buy a Fitbit. I was stunned by how little activity I got in a day.

Next I started logging for a couple of weeks. Not really trying for a deficit, just logging it and paying attention to portions. Like many, I thought I was a healthy eater too. Until I started measuring. (I seriously was like - what do you mean one serving of crackers is only that many, and is 2tbs of peanut butter really only that much?).

Next I've committed myself to a calorie deficit, and a minimum of 20 minutes of activity every day. Sometimes I only have time for a quick walk with the dog, but other days I find I'm hopping on my elliptical machine, or doing some of the FitnessBlender.com workouts.

MelsAuntie

Weighing food and keeping track.

AsaThorsWoman

Cut the soda, started walking.

s1rens0ng

lower intake of salt ,sugar, carbs and fat.

AmyZ46

I went cold turkey with the sodas.

Me too , This was my very first thing .

daw0518

Logging my food consistently. & drinking only water & coffee, sometimes diet soda if I go out [rarely].

CheatinLil

Reading MFP and logging meals. I still don't get what macros and TDEE are. LOL! But I'm losing weight trying to stay under my calorie goal. I will learn more and buy a food scale if I stop losing before I reach my goal. It's an exciting slow journey Baby steps.