Feeling lost.

Xaudt

Hi, I'm Eskay and I am new to this site. However, I am not new to the frustration of my weight hindering my life.

I'm 22 years old and feel stuck, unmotivated, and not sure where to turn to. I've tried the whole "dieting" thing before. And for the first week, I feel powerful and unstoppable. But, then the cravings hit and I end up gaining even more than I lost.

I feel like this is my last shot at really trying. I know, I know: I'm the only thing stopping me. But, it is hard to keep going when I never got support from family or friends. I've been called the "Fat Friend" one too many times.

I guess what I am asking is for some help on not only getting started, but also keeping at it. Any advice you all have would be much loved.

I've never calorie counted before, so that will be a big change for me. (Might be why I failed before - not setting the limits and sticking to 'em.)

Thank you very much.

frmrdtr

Hi Eskay! Joining MFP is a great start. There are so many folks on here who can give you support and help you reach your goals!

Counting calories and portion control are the two biggest things I needed to do to start my (permanent I hope) weight loss. Being able to see how much I'm actually eating is a great help. Something you think is low on calories, i.e. a fortune cookie, actually has a little over 100 calories in it! With that thought in mind, for me it helps to know that I don't really need to spend 100 calories on something like that. Or when I really want something sweet, I know that one Ghirardelli chocolate square is only 53 calories, so I don't feel guilty having one. It helps to know in the back of your mind what the calorie content is of foods, and with MFP it can help you!

There are folks on here that have more experience with advice and where to start. I'm just giving you a little bit of info on where I started out. Feel free to add me as a friend if you want some support!

Good Luck!

tigerlily8045

Choosing to make a lifestyle change is the first step. Count your calories, Move your body, You can do it!

Xaudt

Thank you.

I can see how knowing the calories in something can help drastically (I had no idea that one Ghirardelli is only 53!). Its just not something I am familiar with, so it seems sort of daunting to me.

UhOhItsKylie

Hi Eskay!

A reoccurring theme you'll see in a lot of success stories is that the people always say, "I stopped looking at it as a diet, and started thinking of it as a lifestyle change." Personally, I think this is the most important part. Accept going into it that you will have bad days. Sometimes you'll eat more than you should, skip a workout or two, and give in to cravings - and that's perfectly okay! Restriction does not pave the way for long term success, but moderation and splurging every now and then does! Get in the habit of logging everything. Every night before I go to bed, I try to log my entire next day. That way I have a "plan" to stick to, and I am less likely to make an impulsive eating decision since all my calories are already accounted for.

Another simple piece of advice: exercise! It doesn't have to be an intense, sweaty session at the gym. Go for a walk with a friend or ride a bike... just MOVE. Exercising and nutrition go hand in hand. If you've been exercising, you're more inclined to eat better and vice versa. Find several things you like to do (running, zumba, spin classes, strength training, ect) and keep mixing it up... it keeps your body guessing and helps you from getting bored.

I hope these little tips help. You CAN do this!

dani_1977

First Feel Free to add me as friend for support and motivation.

Next... You have come to the right place, we all have come here for support, motivation and calorie counting.

just remember it takes 21 days to make something a habit. 21 days of doing something everyday. And skipping once or twice you have already broken the cycle.

Be sure to reach out when you need advice, or to vent, or for motivation.

When you have maybe..not made the best eating decision, be sure to GET RIGHT BACK at it. Dont say " oh i can get back on Monday, get back at it... the next meal"

Counting calories... can be overwhelming but you can do IT!

Xaudt

Wow, you're right, UhOhItsKylie.... I am looking at this the wrong way. I should be more optimisitc - I need to look at this as a way of changing my life for the better. I will make sure not to intense about this, and be more comfy with it.

Its not as scary when I think of it that way.

Thank you, Dani_1977.

It really does take a while for your body to get used to something. I didn't realize it was 21 days, though. It's gonna be tough.

EAH123

Hey girl, I am 23 and I started using MFP last January and slowly saw weight come off. When I hit the 50 pound mark, I decided to get a trainer to help me out. I had little definition and didn't realize I needed more protein. He sees me below 200 however we are working towards 200 for right now. I spend six months of the past journey plateaued. It sucked but I knew something was working when I started gaining muscle and the scale wasn't going up.

Here's my advice for starting out:
* Have a support system. Several of my friends use MFP and we encourage each other when you post exercise, below calorie count, and statuses. It's a support circle and is helpful. I have a few MFP friends I've added.

* Get moving. Whether you walk the Target or Walmart area, just move. Take a walk in your neighborhood or around the block. Start small and set small goals for yourself. When I first started out, I did the 30 day shred.

* Track everything. It's eye opening the nutritional content in many foods. I also track water and exercise. Set small goals for water intake and work your way up.

* Celebrate the successes no matter how small. Such as going up in walking (like 20 to 30 minutes in exercise), drinking more water, eating less calories, or actually thinking about what will be better for you in the long run.

* Eat protein. When you track your calories, look at your protein. I get about 120-140g daily and occasionally less than 100g on a lite day.

Drink water. Pure plain and simple.

Get rest!

Breathe in and out. Do the best you can! Supporting you along the way!