Help me change my life!

allinforfitness

Hi everyone,

I've been attempting to diet for years and now I've decided to try something different by joining MyFitnessPal. I'm on Day 3, and I already feel like things are different. I think by jotting down my thoughts I could really make a difference for myself.

I'm still shy (maybe even a bit embarrassed) when it comes to being open about my quest but I hope to change that soon. I feel like people might not take me seriously because I've tried this so many times before. At this point I have to stop caring about others and put myself first!

After 3 days, I'm already starting to feel more energetic but have lots of work to do.

I look at some of the profiles on here and all I feel is motivation from seeing how much weight everyone on here has lost. Kudos to all of you! I hope we can celebrate our successes together!

Cheers,
AJ

legless11

Good luck! I'm new to this too (again) and i'm also feeling better after a short time. Here's hoping we stick at it and reach our goals!

mandez19

3 days? Me too, lets do this.

Ortizb2

Hi Allinforfitne,

Its awesome that you're trying again and not giving up! It really shows that you are committed to getting your dream body! the thing is, you should consider this a lifestyle change instead of just a diet because diets tend not to work. when we use the word diet we associate it with restrictions on what we can't eat. think about what tasty foods you can eat.

I know it's hard because I'm on my fitness journey too. & at times I find myself losing focus and indulging in food, but we can do what ever we put our minds to. Its all about self-discipline. Good luck to you on your journey to becoming the best you possible. I also want to tell you to reach out to the people on this site whenever you feel alone, discouraged or simply upset at yourself. We're all hear to help. Don't be afraid to shoot me a message because i'll be glad to listen and possibly even share tricks.

riverain

AJ,
Welcome! Myfitnesspal is an awesome place for shy/introverted people trying to get healthy. You can be as anonymous as you want on here, and that makes it easier to share things you wouldn't ordinarily share with others.There are some people on here who judge, but most people are very understanding and non-judgmental, and just want to help each other reach our goals with positive encouragement. I find I get a lot of benefit from having MFP friends who like and comment on each other's activity updates. Feel free to friend me if you want, I will try to like/comment on your status/activity updates, and would just ask that you do the same when you have time! (anyone else feel free to friend me too!)

allinforfitness

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone!! I can't wait to see and FEEL the results! Appreciate all of the motivation. I look forward to tracking your progress as well. Cheers!!

trogalicious

Welcome...


and since you're new here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

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. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. 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/

and make sure to read: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

...and here's another approach.

Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.

From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.

Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine tune it.

Some_Watery_Tart

^^What he said x1,000,000,000. This guy knows his stuff, and he just summed up about 6 months worth of brain damage most people experience. Save your time and follow this advice.

riverain

Awesome list Trogalicious!

#13 is really important and I wish MFP would post inches lost as an update, just like weight lost!