If you could give only one tip.....

eig6

Eat 200-300 calories below your goal weight TDEE, as recommended by fat2fit.com. Much easier and more reliable than eating exercise calories (unless you have a heart rate monitor).

runfatmanrun

Be patient.

Qarol

Don't drink your calories!

blasphemy! :drinker:

bluefox9er

AVOID mfp Forums. that is all.

mandy_lee86

Buy and HRM and don't trust the machine's calculations.

Lift_This_

drink lots of water.

start slow...dont get discouraged if things are going right in the beginning...stick with it.

TexanThom

Do what works for YOU...Not what others think you should be doing.

CallieM15

AVOID mfp Forums. that is all.

They get me through the work day...Id actually have to do stuff I get paid for if it wasnt for MFP forums...

Beewallows

If you're not crawling to the shower after a workout, you didn't do it properly

fitnfancy80

NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

Jacwhite22

Don't feel like you have to cut out everything you love to lose weight.

Capt_Apollo

lol, "just the tip" was my favorite game in college.

jesska224

YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE. This is wholehearted.

Donnacoach

Don't over do it ~ Never ever quit ~ Eat

jamiem1102

1. Buy a heart rate monitor.
2. Don't develop a fear of having a good time. Everything in moderation!

bulbadoof

Indulgences happen. Lazy days happen. Plateaus happen. Don't get discouraged, just keep your eyes on your goal and keep moving toward it.

BigDaddyBRC

Im surprised no one has hijacked this yet...I'll keep it clean....


Don't just choose to be healthier. Take Action on the choices that get you there.

tthroenle

if you have a bad day and go off track...get back on the wagon, don't throw in the towel...keep going!! The path to success is not a straight easy line...it's bumpy and curvy and worth the commitment!

BigDaddyBRC

STAY WAY FROM POTATOES, WHITE BREAD, PASTAS, AND WHITE RICE! THESE ARE YOUR ENEMIES! DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. EVEN BETTER...ADD LEMONS TO YOUR WATER. YOU'D BE VERY SURPRISED WITH YOUR RESULTS!

Yeah, this is a negative, Ghost Rider

NicLiving

My friend actually said no to working out with me because she didn't have anything to wear to the gym....SERIOUSLY??? So my advice/tip for anyone starting out on this journey is:

Doesn't matter if your workout clothes don't match your shoes! And who cares anyway. We (I) didn't come to the gym for a fashion show and chances are nobody is looking.

Mercenary1914

$5

Elizabeth_C34

STAY WAY FROM POTATOES, WHITE BREAD, PASTAS, AND WHITE RICE! THESE ARE YOUR ENEMIES! DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. EVEN BETTER...ADD LEMONS TO YOUR WATER. YOU'D BE VERY SURPRISED WITH YOUR RESULTS!

I eat white bread, potatoes, pasta, and white rice, and I lost 42 lbs.

SRH7

Buy a scale and weigh things. What I found was that I thought things weighed more than they did. I found that I could have more (beef/chicken/etc) than I thought when I weighed it and I could enjoy it more because I wasn't stressing over the unknown.

*** This ***

It's incredible how many calories are in things that you don't expect. I love milk and won't give it up - but now I measure it and include it in my calorie count. All those cups of tea throughout the day really can add up!

And sauces are my downfall! Put your plate on the scales and weigh everything as you put it on your plate - if you eat it, log it!

Elizabeth_C34

Buy a scale and weigh things. What I found was that I thought things weighed more than they did. I found that I could have more (beef/chicken/etc) than I thought when I weighed it and I could enjoy it more because I wasn't stressing over the unknown.

^ This would be my tip also.

Just to add one more: Do not ever give up, even if you screw up, because you will many times. It's a long-term thing, not a short term one, so just stick it out.

Jacwhite22

STAY WAY FROM POTATOES, WHITE BREAD, PASTAS, AND WHITE RICE! THESE ARE YOUR ENEMIES! DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. EVEN BETTER...ADD LEMONS TO YOUR WATER. YOU'D BE VERY SURPRISED WITH YOUR RESULTS!

Not sure if srs? Evil carbs?

kellyreynolds14

Ok, so much for the one tip!

1) buy a hear rate monitor! You would not beleive how even the same excercise can burn different amounts of calories depending on your intensity / lack of sleep / tons of other factors! and every individual is SOOO different when it comes to burning calories
2) Water Water Water - I am so weak at this but when I really try hard I notice a tremendous difference in so many things
3) If you bite it write it! Yes - and I also agree with the poster who said it is easier in the beginning if you eat the same thing until you get into the habit of logging
4) keep trying! You will never get there if you quit!

yoovie

Dont decide something isnt going to work for you personally, unless you've given it an inscrutable honest try.

veerichie

I have SO many little tips but my biggest tip for people just starting is to PLAN AHEAD. It has been the number one key to my success so far. And when I don't do it, I start slacking and things come to a stand still.

And by planning ahead I mean:

Schedule time in your day or week for activity. Have your gym bag packed and in your car or your work out clothes ready to go for whenever you decide to work out or be active. If you make it a routine, it becomes easier.

Measure out food and snacks as soon as you get home from the grocery store in tupperwares and baggies with the calories written right on it.

If you are going out to eat, track your meal first (if you haven't been their they probably have a menu online).

As soon as you are up in the morning, sit down at your computer and track as much of your food and meals for that day as possible. In fact, track as much for the next day too. When you know for sure what you are going to be eating and when, you know how many calories you can spend when it comes to snack time or indulging in a treat or drink.

Also when I plan ahead to cook something for dinner, I look forward to that meal all day when I'm at work, and as soon as I get home I'm excited to start preparing it.

PeaceCorpsKat

Two words:

REAL FOOD!

KyleB65

Plan and follow through!