Starting out Tips

charlottesauce

Hello everyone! I am just starting my weight loss journey! I was wondering if anyone had any tips on starting out? What did you do for motivation? Is walking a good way to lose those pounds? Any tips you can give me that helped you when you first started would be awesome! Thanks.

laynethepain

Hi! Welcome!

My doctor tells me that walking, even just a little bit more every day, is a very healthy thing to do for your body and your brain. I gained about 10 pounds when I bought a car (and it took a while to lose them again). But moving your whole body, strength training, stretching, and eating healthy foods are all important, too. I'm not always very good at keeping up with a decent exercise regimen, but I can almost always go for a walk (if walking around bores you, take music or make a phone call! or walk when you run errands, I always find having a destination helpful).

Good luck!

kristy12379

Hello there! I've been using this site for over a year. I reached my goal last Christmas, but still utilize the site almost daily just so I don't get too far off track. It's been wonderful for motivation and to help keep me accountable.

I started out walking and then gradually worked in a mintue or two of running. By last fall I was able to run 5k nonstop. I also did various exercise dvds and the occasional Zumba or spin class to keep things fresh.

I made sure everything I drank was zero calories, water mostly. Also, if something has a low carb, low fat, light, or no sugar alternative, then I switched to it. It's amazing the amount of cals you can cut from doing that.

Finally, I made small goals for myself. Lose 20 lbs by a certain date, which would usually be a special occasion. Even just a family get together that I knew was coming up or going to see a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. Anything to make that date something to work towards.

Good luck with your journey!

Atlantique

Hello everyone! I am just starting my weight loss journey! I was wondering if anyone had any tips on starting out? What did you do for motivation? Is walking a good way to lose those pounds? Any tips you can give me that helped you when you first started would be awesome! Thanks.

-Take some measurements today, and a 'before' pic. Every few weeks, take your measurements again(you can record these on your 'check-in' page) and another pic in the same clothes to help gauge your progress. Very motivating, especially if you have a week or two where the scale doesn't move!

-Buy a food scale. You can get a great one for under $30 and you will have much more accurate food logging if you use the food scale.

-If you haven't downloaded the phone app, do that too. It will synchronize with the PC app. Having this on your phone makes it much easier to record everything that goes into your body.

-Start slowly. If you try to change everything at once, you'll be frustrated and overwhelmed. So just try to stay within your calorie goal for a week or two. Then set up little goals every week or two-eat more veggies, eat more fruits, eat fewer processed foods, etc. As each of these becomes a habit, add another goal. And so on...

-Don't kill yourself with exercise. 3 or 4 days a week is plenty.

-At least share your diary with your MFP friends. They'll cheer you on and help with any questions you have. They can also help you figure out if anything needs to change.

Good luck!

rodeobobmom

One easy way to get some exercise is to always take the stairs. Skip the elevator or escalator. It may sound small but if you make it a habit to take the stairs, you'll not even realize your getting in those extra steps! I try to walk outside when it is nice or on the treadmill during the winter. When I miss a few days, I can definitely tell. Good luck!

ReaganAlexis3

i need help someone helpppp meeee....(: