Hi, getting started

haha! DEFINITELY a good thing. You will probably be amazed at the caloric content of foods you usually eat without even thinking about that. I know I was. Um...words of wisdom...well, I read here somewhere that it's usually a good idea to log your food BEFORE you eat it whenever possible. Good advice and I try to do just that. It really makes you think twice about what's worth it and helps keep you on track to know what you have available for the day. Good luck! I've been really impressed with the site so far and the members here are wonderful and very inspirational.

Check out the food database here. I have found that using that helps tremendously with my meal choices. I've almost turned it into a game...let's see how close I can get to my intake without actually going over! I work a lot and I have a small child so any bit of exercise I get in is a big deal to me. I joined a week ago and have already lost 3 lbs. I'm noticing a difference in my food cravings and mindset. I guess it has been an immediate difference for me!

Good luck!

Great advice, thanks. I'm finding that my iPhone is hand for checking foods before I eat. Just got back from a 30 minute walk... evry little bit counts ! When did you begin to see results?

Ken

I saw results from the first week. It looks like you've got less to lose than I do :blushing: which makes a difference also and you're activity level is likely to be different. Me - I am very sedentary - work from home at a computer and was getting NO exercise. First week, I started off doing 15 min on a gazelle 5 days a week. I noticed after just a couple days that my energy level had increased. I went from feeling very tired and lethargic to almost bouncy, lol. I lost 6 pounds first week. 2nd week, I increased my exercise time on the gazelle to 20 minutes (still 5 days a week) and lost another 4.5 pounds. This is my third week. I am continuing for now at 20 min on the gazelle and today at weigh-in had lost another 3.5 pounds - and I had a cheat meal on Friday and went over my calories for the day by almost 300 :noway: .

When you signed up, you would have picked what activity level you are at and your exercise that you do should be in addion to that - meaning, if you aren't normally walking 30 min for example, log that in your exercise (click on the exercise tab, I believe there is a box to enter walking) and that will add additional calories that you are able to eat that day. Some people don't eat their extra calories, some eat all and some eat half. You probably should just play around to see what works and sometimes change it up. Maybe eat them one day, eat half of them another day. This is because when you signed up and chose your activity level, the calories that MFP has you set at is already counting for a deficit to allow you to lose at your goal rate (1 pound per week, 2/week etc). So, the exercise is additional. Good luck!