new to this

I am new to this I have a lot to lose, any tips? x

Log everything. Really everything.

After a week - and every few weeks after that - look over your diet to see where the easiest calories to drop are. For me, I had no idea things like rice or bread or a piece of cake would add so much to my diet. I found substitutions that easily cut the extra calories out.

I remember getting a Starbucks piece of cake and seeing it was 500 calories (when I only had 1300 for the day) and just being appalled.

Cut out the easy calories first and see where that puts you.

The only thing that really works to keep me motivated is to weight myself Every Single Day. It shows me that a temporary setback is just that -- temporary. Otherwise, a once-a-week weigh-in might catch you at that moment, that single day, when you have gained back the pounds you lost earlier. The next day, they'll be gone, but you won't know it, and you'll think nothing is working. I find that weighing myself every day lets me ride out the ups and downs better.

This contradicts most advice given out by "professionals", but hey, it works for me. Maybe it will work for you.