Thank you for the motivation to get started and not hide = )

Isca_1

I started last week when a person recommend this site to me. I am the type of person who is usually very introverted and is not one for posting, but I am dedicated to changing how I look at food, dropping the weight and becoming a role model for my children. I originally started with a guesstimate of my weight, which was to my horror, 15 pds shy of what I actually am. I purchased my first ever scale this week, and at lunch today weighed myself. <gasp> Tonight, I will take measurements <holy hell> but pictures are just not going to happen for me.

So, it's going to be a long trek, but my sneakers are on and I'm ready. I guess I'm just looking for like minded people, who are inspired to change for the better.

I have tired to read everything I could before posting and I think I have put the info properly, but....just in case. I have been tracking since April 3 and I'm going to wait a bit to see how my diet is so that I can tweak what I am eating to get the proper nutrients, etc. So far, my protein seems to be lacking a fair bit on a daily basis.

At my weight <gasp> 245, at 5'8, it states that I should be consuming 1810 calories a day, with light movement (two young kids, dogs, etc), with a weight loss of 1.5 pds a week. On Sunday, I started using our elliptical for 20-30 mins a day, which was giving me an extra 200+ or so calories. I had originally put 230 as weight and sedentary and it had 1700 calories a day, and I found that I had a fair bit of calories left over, but wasn't hungry (I tried to make sure that when I hit the calculate button, that it didn't say I was eating too few calories. If it did, i munched on something else to get it up).

For those more experienced, does the calories seem to be about right?

Should I be eating more if I am using the elliptical 30 mins a day + other various exercises (gardening, playing with the kids, etc)? Or should I just let the calories offset the 1810 a day as a deficit? As I said earlier, I'm in this for the long haul, so I am not expecting changes over night.

Thank you so much for any input!

Adc7225

Welcome to MFP!

This is really a great tool for not only weight loss but just getting happy and healthy.

I really, really suggest you take some photos, this process while so worth it does have times when it is really hard and sucks - that is when those pictures will really come in handy. You will be surprised at how much your body can change without seeing movement on the scale - that's one of those things that suck!

You have a great mindset to begin with, I watch my calories but I'm not that good at offering calorie advice so I won't. But you do have the right idea with how to change your eating, the protein is a hard one but it comes in time. As you work out more or get more active you may see how what you eat really effects you and then it is easier to change.

Again, welcome aboard!

bobbijodmb

Welcome-- a little bit of change goes a long way , so congrats on making the journey!! Welcome

sodakat

You can stick with the calorie goal you chose for a couple weeks and see if you lose. If you don't lose, you can change your activity level to sedentary which will lower your calorie goal.

From the copious reading I've done on the MFP forums, most experienced losers suggest eating back "some" of the exercise calories you "earn" (average seems to be 50%).

peter236uk

Hi and really great to see you have decided to make the change, I have found there are no simple answers at times you seem to lose quite a bit one week then seem to sit at a certain weight that it what I found. I think the key for me was to move more and eat regular. I tried to stick to my daily calorie goal and in most cases managed it. It did and continue to have treats. I like a beer or two so tend to keep them for the weekend.
I would eat some of my exercise cals back or save them for the weekend it worked for me. PS I have lost 64lb in around 15 months and log every day.

I have weighed myself every week on a Friday when I wake up, and weigh myself naked. This was for two reason one to give some consistency and also if things had gone well then I have a bigger treat :-)

Isca_1

Thank you for the warm welcome and great tips! I really appreciate it.