About 600lbs, Time to Lose a Few

welcome... i am a personal trainer... if you need help feel free to add me and good luck with everything, we all support you!

Why was it difficult consideration? Just curious!

Hi Dani - I'm so glad you found MFP because it does really help. Please add me as a friend if you would like as I would be happy to be supportive of you and have your support in return.

There is an amazing gentleman on this site that I find to be so inspirational, and I know he wouldn't mind my sharing his information with you. His name is Ed Davenport and he has a great blog with his story, pictures of his progress, helpful information, and is wonderful because he's "been there" and has a great committment to pay-it-forward in terms of helping others. Here's a link to his blog - I've subscribed and I bet it would be helpful to you, too.

http://www.gettingfit4life.com/author/admin/

Best wishes to you in your journey, and I look forward to seeing your amazing progress pictures on here!

I have 100+ to lose... you are an inspiration for joining. Add me if you want support! Good luck!

Hi Dani, it is nice to see you, and you have made the right decision. I did send you a add request. I feel this is the best place to be, I have gotten so much support and motivation to have gotten where I am today, but still have more to go......Hang in there, and we are all here to help you.......GOOD LUCK!!!!! Joann

Hi Dani! So glad you're on this site! It's great and there are a lot of supportive people on here! Every now and then, someone will post an inspirational story about their personal journey. There's a really great story about a guy who lost a bunch of weight and "got his life" back. I WISH I could remember his name. One of his pictures had him on a riding mower I think... His story is VERY inspiring.

I'll chime in with the others and suggest that you do this under the watchful eye of a physician and perhaps a nutritionist or a dietician who can help make sure that you're eating the right things, getting the nutrients you need, and most importantly, eating enough so that you don't get frustrated and binge. Binging might happen, but it'll be less likely to happen if you have a professional helping you plan things out and giving you a solid foundation of good foods and techniques to work with.

The journey, like all journeys, may be difficult at times, but stick with it until you get where you want to be. It'll definitely be worth the time and effort.

Hope you have a great Tuesday!

Hi my name is shelley and its awesome that u took the first step and reaching out here on MFP, one thing u need to do is fill out all your information here on your profile and most important make some small (mini goals) put it all out on the table something u can look everyday to keep u motivated. I have a blog u are more than welcome to look at mabe it can help u to figure out some goals u want to make for yourself, I know that we have diffrent weights but I would love to check in with u everyday we all have a common goal and I think together we can get what we want! my blog is shelleylynn276.blogspot.com

Just wanted to say I think you are amazing for making yourself the number one priority in your life chica!!!Congrats and I know you can do it.I started off at almost 300lbs and can tell you this site works because the people here give you strength you didn't know you had in you You are more han welcome to add me and good luck doll!!!

Hi Dani! Welcome to MFP. This is a great place to make friends and the majority of people here are very supportive. You've made a very important decision coming on here. Start slow......just set yourself small targets to start with - maybe reward yourself (non-food wise!) when you reach each target. Try making small changes to your diet, maybe a bit more fruit & veg and a little less soda or whatever. As for exercising, just try and keep moving, even if it is just waving your arms or 'air punching' if your mobility is limited.....anything is better than nothing. If your mind is set on it, you can do it! It won't be easy and it won't be quick, but don't give up!!

If you're not sure on diet changes, make your diary public.......those who are your real friends won't criticise but will give helpful advice.

I'll be happy to add you as a friend.

Way to go for you. I know without a doubt that the first step is the hardest. And after that, it's all about keeping going. Even if you emotional eat one day or two, Even if you fall off the wagon. Always remember to dust yourself off and jump right back on. It's a marathon not a sprint so losing weight slowly is what will be the best for your body and keeping it off. You are amazing. This site will work for you. It has saved my weight loss life. My journey was a different weight than yours but, My total loss when I get to my goal weight will be 180 pounds. I would love to add you. I'm always here for encouragement and support and I've been at this over 2 years, I may be able to answer some questions for you as well. Feel free to message me anytime.
Kimmie

Hi Dani,

Welcome to MFP and let me just applaud your courage in taking this step! I don't really have any great words of wisdom or advice, other than to let you know that while, sure there are people on this site of all different sizes, I assure you we all have the same insecurities, the same tendencies to over-eat, binge eat, emotionally eat...the same issues with motivation and self-esteem and the temptation to throw in the towel and quit trying because some days it just feels so useless. But don't give up! Even when you "fall off the horse," get right back up again. Isn't your life and happiness worth it? I don't know you, but I'm confident in saying that it is. You go, girl!

4000 calories gives you a lot of wiggle room. I would start eating lean meats and tons of veggies and fruit, switch to diet soda if you must drink soda at all (I drink the flavored sparkling water you can buy at Walmart instead). You don't have to cut out everything you love, you can still indulge in treats... you just need to be accountable for the calories you're consuming and either make sure they're in your budget or exercise enough to burn it off.

If I were you, my first step exercise-wise would be to get out and walk! I much prefer the outdoors to gyms, so I'm always looking to go for a walk or a run. Walking is easy on the joints and, more importantly, it gets you moving. If it's cold or wet outside, the track or treadmill at the gym is a great option. I'm struggling with a knee injury currently, so I'm trying to walk despite my depression over not being able to run. I always take music with me and I use that time to think/plan/worry/be peaceful... whatever I need at the time.

You've got some great advice already in this thread and you're headed in the right direction! Here's the plan I'd follow:

1. Start logging every bite.
2. Make some good food choices (healthy food can be decadent when prepared right)
3. Cut out a couple bad things you know aren't helping at all (regular sodas, candy, etc.)... you want your food to fuel you, so fods with no nutritional value and tons of calories are only hurting you.
4. Get out there and move at least 20-30 minutes every day, whether you decide to walk or do some sweat-inducing cardio at the gym.

You can do it! Feel free to add me!

WOW Dani.....if all of the above doesn't let you know how much we all care nothing will :happy:
We all have different size mountains to climb but our struggle is the same....the battle to control our eating habits instead of them controlling us. I've only been registered since yesterday but I'm already feeling part of a pretty special community. There's so much comfort in knowing I'm not on this journey alone. Mine has been a life long one, I've been bigger, I've been smaller but I never give up completely.....don't like the alternative - one life darlin, one life.

The exercise bit scares me too.....I've never found a sport I enjoy. Do you enjoy music? If so, put on your favourite band (preferably not chill out lol) and dance your heart out in your chair! Move those arms, tap those feet, wiggle til you laugh out loud! One day soon you're gonna feel sooo much better you just want to get up outta that chair and shake that bootie! Heck, maybe we should have a group dance in, it'll travel the globe!

I wish you so much strength, positivity and positive can do attitude. Feel free to add me as a friend.

I watched a program on someone that was around 600lb a while ago, and his personal trainer simply made him stand up from the sofa over and over again. It may not seem like a lot but he said he's having to shift his weight up and down, it got his heart rate going and it was a good starting point. Once you've gained some mobility then you could look at doing small walks, and work it from there.

This is awesome advice. As I was reading your post, and this, I recalled back when I was almost 300 pounds several years ago. And then I remembered 3+ months ago when I started doing this the healthy way. Even at only 268 pounds, I was in pain all the time and could barely move -- it was compounded with low back compressed disc and fibromyalgia. With just a 30lb loss, I've been able to lower pain meds and I'm in significantly less pain.

You could try moving around in a swimming pool. I go to LA Fitness' lap pools, and I'm now to where I can swim laps, but I had to start just walking back and forth across the pool. The water lessens the pain impact a lot, and your muscles get work because you're pushing through the water. If swimming is not an option, the whole couch-to-standing thing is a brilliant idea. Believe me, once you start that daily, you'll move forward quickly.

I have no doubt you can do this! And you'll feel awesome pretty quickly!

You took the first step, and you're here, WELCOME! Stating your weight to all these strangers took a lotta guts- good for you! Take it one day at a time, but most importantly believe in yourself!

Check out one of my dear friends and his accomplishments for some inspiration: www.gettingfit4life.com