I could use some help and buddies

bigmamma165

Hi,
My name is Pat and I have tried a couple of diets and have not had any luck, my weight is beginning to concern my doctor so he recommended this web site to me and it would be oh so wonderful to be able to show him that I am making some progress by the next time I go see him. I can use any advice anyone would like to offer up to me.

baxgilter

I think the best thing I learned when I started my weight loss journey is portion control. You can eat anything you want, just watch how much!

poll09

I go to a nurse weekly for help with losing weight and found this website a couple of months a go and everyone is so supportive feel free to add x

jazzy1129

Portion control, drink plenty of water, and exercise... You have to be dedicated and committed to wanting to lose weight in order to succeed. Sounds like you are on the right track!

lahay99

i agree, potion control was my main problem aswell. I have a much better idea of how many cals are in things now aswel and my portions are proper sizes not estimates which are usually big enough for 2-3!! lol
Logging all your food can be boring and time consuming but it really works and makes you think about what exactly your eating.

good luck!

jenlw88

hi pat i be ur friend it takes time start slow

searbear1980

I like to quote Dory from finding Nemo to keep me going. Just keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming. It makes me remember to keep moving and that I can change course and come back.

Getting_Fit_4_Life

I think the best thing I learned when I started my weight loss journey is portion control. You can eat anything you want, just watch how much!

Welcome! I totally agree wit baxgilter. Portion control is the key. Even though I have only been using MFP for about 3 weeks now, I am really learing a lot about proper eating and the friends here are so supportive. Am always looking for someone who is also dedicated to losing weight so feel free to add me if you like Good luck in your journey.

tsaenz09

Hi Pat! I have to agree portion is very important! Also, make sure you are exercising and drinking lots of water!

charmainecurrie

hello
feel free to add me:)
I have been here for about 3 weeks and love the site

dawnannmacg

welcome!! it's hard and tough journey, but you can do it!! start with the small stuff and go from there. once you start seeing results you'll be even more motivated!
logging in what i eat really helps, i'm more aware of what i'm eating..

msbrownie09

Hello Pat. My name is Cheryl and I am fairly new to this site as well. I am losing weight that it took 25 years to accumulate. I wish I'd started earlier but ...oh well. My advice for you is to decide how you're going to lose and stick with it. I would encourage you to stay away from fads like no/low carbs and other crash diets. Remember that if you are eating in a way that you can't maintain after you reach your goal weight then you are more likely to gain the weight back again. Personally, I'm limiting calories to between 1300-1500. I stay away from processed sugar (love me some sweet tea!) and anything fried. I find that this site has been really helpful in helping me limit my calorie intake. I'm also exercising every day which I know has helped. Good luck on your journey to better health.

jmruef

I like to quote Dory from finding Nemo to keep me going. Just keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming. It makes me remember to keep moving and that I can change course and come back.

Now I have that in my head - "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." :laugh:

But yeah. It's great advice.

Welcome and good luck!

hawaiije

I think tracking food will really put it all into perspective! Today is day one for me too, so feel free to add me as a friend..

Whitty1982

Hey Pat,

You sound a lot like myself - Doc recommended my wife and I do the Atkins style diet.
I'm down 32 lbs in 8 weeks. If we exercised on a regular basis, we would probably even be down more.

I'd highly recommend it - go get the new atkins book (not the old one) and check out their website www.atkins.com

I use this site to track my food and exercise which helps a ton but the carbs have to be counted differently on Atkins.

We tried personal trainers, weight watchers, etc. - lost maybe 5-10 lbs during all that over the course of 2 years.

Started Atkins and lost 15 lbs in the first two weeks. Now I'm needing to get new clothes because they don't fit any more. They're literally falling off of me. My belly has shrunk by more than 4 inches and I had to put a couple new holes in my belt because I had dropped 4 notches from where I was.

The hardest part is not eating the fried foods, sugar, and bread that we love. The nice thing is, you're counting carbs - not calories.

Bacon, steak, chicken, pork, seafood = no carbs - you can just about eat as much as you want.
The good thing is, you're never hungry and your appetite requires less food after you get into it for a week or two.

Start it when you have a day or two off - the first day or two can be a little rough in the energy department until your system switches from burning sugar for energy to burning carbs/fat for energy.

You can have 4oz of cheese a day if you want (that's a lot of cheese!)

I have sausage or bacon and eggs for breakfast every morning. I'll have to get some before/after pics online soon to show my progress. If we can discipline ourselves enough to walk at least 30 mins a day - the weight will continue to drop off quickly.

jaci34

Hi Pat! Good luck on your weight loss journey!!! Feel free to add me as a friend, its great to get the encouragement!

Wanting2BSkinny

Okay....so Whitty definitely has me thinking about the Atkins diet. I am so hooked on carbs. I use the Atkins Advantage shakes for breakfast and they really do fill me up. Anyway, I just joined recently also and this seems like a great place to meet people. We're all on the same journey looking for a better, healthier life. You CAN do this. Feel free to add me

kandrews24

I want to be skinning too! I've accomplished just about everything else I wantd to in my life (at some point or another). Now it is time for me to get skinning. It would be so much fun, not to mention healthy!!!

I love this site. And I agree with hawaiije that tracking is step 1. You don't won't believe how much you'll learn about nutrician and calories and weight loss.

Welcome!

sf08003

Hi Pat- The best advice I could give you is to completely embrace the fact that weight doesn't go on in five minutes, and it sure won't come off in 5 minutes. It's not always about losing every single pound at first. It's more about trying to learn about the foods you eat and the better, healthier choices you can make instead. I will be the first one to admit it's not easy to always make the healthiest choice, but everyday I try to do my best. Also, don't look at your whole day as an "All or Nothing victory or loss. If you don't have the greatest lunch, have a terrific dinner loaded up with lots of good stuff! We are, after all just human beings. Not perfect, but not so bad either.

If I could offer you a suggestion for your first goal: Instead of weight loss as your first goal, you might want to try setting a different goad instead. Something small but attainable like sticking to your diet for one whole day. No cheating, no taking little sample bites of food while you prepare dinner for the family. Just sticking to it for one whole day. If you can do that, set the same exact goal for the next day. If it's too big of a goal, then set a goal of eating a nutritious breakfast every morning for 5 mornings, without eating the same breakfast twice in 5 days. The key is to stay interested in yourself and your own progress. Too many of us focus on the weight loss and not on the knowledge gained in learning about the many foods and combinations there are to keep you motivated and get you on the right track.

You have lots of support on this sight. I am a HUGE fan of this site. i hope you will become one too. Good luck!!

jes0704

Feel free to add me too, I need some more buddies too!!! They def help keep you going when you need it!

smagee1973

I agree that portion control, water and exercise are the main things. I do feel that you have to be the one to make the change as well. It's kinda like wanting to quit smoking - you really have to want to change to accomplish anything. I will say though you will have quite a few friends on her! Feel free to add me as a friend.

dhargrave

I started about a week ago and I agree with you about portion control. It's not always about what you eat but how much you eat. I think we just get use to eating until we feel stuffed and by then you are way over your needed calories for the day.

SteveO390

I have had this app on my Android phone and I've been using it religiously since Easter weekend but only recently started poking around the web site so this is my first post because I feel I have one more thing that I can contribute to everyone else's good advice.

What I feel goes hand in hand with portion control is how often you eat. I had a rather modest weight loss goal but I achieved it with the help of this app, a 30 minutes per day, a three day a week, workout routine with my Xbox Kinect (I'm a video game junkie....go figure a video game helped me loose a little weight :-)) and just as important was eating often. Find nutritious snacks that you can munch on and eat a little every few hours. My favorite snack is raw almonds and raisins, good stuff.

Good luck and don't expect the weight to go all at once, set a modest pace for weight loss and "just keep swimming".

mbgw2013

Pat, I love this website...it helps me be accountable to who you ask? To myself. I am trying to loose weight and be healthier... I suggest drinking lots of water. Eat healthy, but allow yourself the occasional snack...and as the song goes...
move it move it move it... ... My friend suggested to pray through it...I have taken this to heart .... Helps to bring peace.
Feel free to add me as a buddy, I would love the mutual encouragement! Good luck.

jwil1231

Hello Pat! I'm new on here too and I'm am so glad to be with "like" people! WooHoo! :flowerforyou: Love the smilies too! I just sent you a flower.

I'm going to try focusing on this everyday to help me stay focused. I forget that I'm trying to accomplish a weight loss until the day is over. I've put on about 25 pounds this16 months--miserable and then eat more. Yes, I'm pathetic. I'm also recognizing portion control also because I'm absolutely terrible with it.

I've set a very present goal that I want to do 1.5 miles in 20 minutes--that's walking and running. And I'm doing that distance at least once a day. I may do more distance but I at least do that. And I purchased a kettle ball today- I've wanted one for sometime so today was the day. :bigsmile: I've got to adjust my thinking...it wasn't always this way--spending 14 dollars for this used to be too expensive but I could buy ice cream and double dip ice cream cones....now, that's affordable:laugh: Hopefully, we'll write each other through our progress! Best wishes, Okrabug.

jwil1231

Hello, how do we add buddies? I hope someone adds me! I want some buddies!