complete newbie ..dont know where to start?

FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!! losing weight is 90% diet!!!! only 10% exercise!!!

so if you havent got your diet right, you need a slap, love!!

Fill your fridge with greens, fruits and *kitten* like that - it's all common sense really.

20 mins light exersise would do, build it up from there! grab a workout DVD or look on youtube, they're free online and you'll burn fat all over the place!!

Lose the slimming world bullsh*t - it's good for group motivation but you got that here, in the LIKES OF ME!!
Why pay money to be told the same inforamtion you get for nothing and you probablu already know anyway!!?

DRINK WATER LIKE ITS GOING OUT OF FASHION!! you can never drink enough!! carry a bottle everywhere with you!!!
Its good for weight loss and drink enough YOUR SKIN WILL BE F*CKING FLAWLESS!!!!! super-model style!! KElly Brook drinks H2o all damn DAY!! shes proof!!

You dont need a gym membership to be THIN!! I'm thin as hell and I havent seen a gym since the stone-age!!! DIET DIET DIET!!

plus gyms are full of sweaty people on treadmills running nowhere - im sorry but last time I checked it's OKAY TO RUN OUTDOORS AND THAT SH*TS FREE!!!!

if you want weights, go to ebay and get light dumbeelss - workout during your fav TV shows or something. BREAKING BAD IS EPIC!!! try that!!!

DO as above and you'll be a fcuking GODESS in a month - trust me!! come back and thank me!!

oh and dont eat after 7-8pm - you'll be amazed how much youll lose. boom!!

FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!! Take the stuff you read on these boards with a pinch of salt as there will always be people trying to get you to do things their way. Lots of good advice here if you read around, but try and find what works for you.

Great work on your loss so far. I personally would rather not pay to be part of a group like SW, when I can do this for free but I know people who have had success with it, and benefit from the face to face support they get in the group. If it's helping you, there's no reason you shouldn't do it.

Keep doing C25k if you're enjoying it; running will really improve your fitness, and can be a great calorie burn. Don't discount the walking either, it's definitely better than no activity at all. I lost quite a lot of weight with walking as my only exercise, then added in weight training, and then running. Making fitness-related goals is really helpful in keeping you motivated, so try to have something in place for when you finish C25k, to keep you going.

As for joining a gym - it really depends what your goals are. Some kind of resistance training is definitely to be recommended. This could be with weights, resistance bands, or even just your body weight. It will help you burn fat, and help to maintain your lean mass (which includes muscle) as you lose weight. It's inevitable that you will lose some lean mass, but with resistance work, you can minimise that loss. It will also help you to achieve a more "toned" look when you get to your goal weight, than if you just do cardio.

If you want to start with just bodyweight exercises, there are some free routines on this site: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/top-posts/ Youtube also has a lot of good videos.

There are lots of good exercise dvds you can do at home. A lot of people on MFP have had good success with Jillian Michaels' dvds (eg. 30 day shred) or programmes like Insanity.

If you get interested in lifting "heavy" (which you'll see a lot of women recommend here - not for getting "bulky", but for a more athletic look) then you might want to invest in some adjustable dumbbells and a barbell, or join a gym with a free weight section. If that's the route you want to go, check out New Rules of Lifting For Women, Starting Strength, or Strong Lifts. That might be something for later though.

Your diet is going to be the main way you lose weight though. First and foremost, you need to meet your calorie goal. You need to have a calorie deficit to lose fat, but not too large of a calorie deficit. You will find a wide range of opinions on MFP of what the "perfect" diet is, but start with calories. Some people only pay attention to calories, some will only eat a very strict, "clean" diet with no processed food. Here's where you find what works for you. Try to get a decent amount of protein in, and pay at least some attention to the overall nutritional balance. My advice would be - if you want to overhaul your diet, do it step by step and make small changes that you know you can live with. You don't have to cut out specific foods or food groups unless you have a medical issue with them, or unless you choose to.

You might find that some weeks you don't lose any weight, or even gain. Try not to become to emotionally attached to the number on the scale, and understand why weight fluctuations happen. It helps to take measurements of your body, and progress photos too. These will help keep you motivated if the scale isn't moving.

MFP is an awesome place to get motivation and help. I initially joined back in 2010 but really started April 2011. I lost 48 lbs from May-October 2011 and then got pregnant...

I had the wee one in May of 2012 and started back up on the weigh loss train in June 2012. I have lost 56 lbs so far, and have hit my pre-pregnancy weight before my little guy turned 9 months old. I have another 20-30 lbs that I'd like to lose and then re-evaluate.

I did it the first time by going to a gym 5x a week and watching what I ate.

I did it this time by exercising at home and watching what I ate.

Holding yourself accountable is the biggest factor. I eat every dinner after 6 pm, I have adult beverages, I still eat chocolate/donuts on occasion. Everything is good IN MODERATION! It's mostly keeping yourself accountable for what goes in your mouth.

I've tried almost every fad diet out there (weight watchers, HCG, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Slim Fast, Med Fast, etc.) and I can honestly say that this is the ONLY place that I have had the most success.

You can do it, but you're not going to be successful until YOU are in it for YOU!

Feel free to friend me

Best of luck to you! You can do it! If I can, anyone can!

It depends on what intensity you can handle both physically and mentally. I personally prefer to stay away from the gym as it seems to be more of a social gathering than anything else. If you want an intense workout, the gym or fitness center is a good idea, but most people who need to lose a bunch of weight, cannot sustain the time and inconvenience of continually going to the gym. If you truly like to jog, DO THAT. Just remember to move your arms a bit while you jog. Running/jogging will shed pounds unless you are cramming calories in at the same time. If you are really serious about weight loss and want to develop a new better eating habit, take a look at your lunch and dinner meals. Take your fork and knife and separate 1/3 of that food and throw it in the trash. As you go you will learn to not take as much in the first place. Hey, your stomache is going to growl, and your brain is going to ask where that food went, but both will adapt. They have been adapting since you were born and began eating the way you are now.

If you enjoy jogging, you might try bicycling too. It is a good relaxing way to get out and see the neighborhood. Just DONT go crazy and over do it, as your body will not want to repeat that agony and will shut you down (breaking that "willpower" we all talk about.) Good luck and keep me posted on your success. I too am endeavoring to lose about 50. On my way....:happy:

FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!! losing weight is 90% diet!!!! only 10% exercise!!!

If I may....It's 90% Mental, 10% Action. Within your action, 80% diet (not a short-term fad BS diet, but a LIFESTYLE CHANGE), and 20% exercise.

Getting your setting right on MFP, eat for goal, work-out (Strength training and Cardio), get your sleep, and whatever you do STOP MAKING EXCUSES.

Just joined MFP and I dont know where to start...what is the best way to maximize the use of this site? Is the secret in the friends and support groups?

Stop reading to much, start eating less and exercise, focus on your target, it may take couple of months. good luck:)