5'2 and 227 lbs

Welcome and good luck! You can add photos to your profile (My Home > Profile), or you can start a blog and more photos there (My Home > My Blog)!

Good for you! You have to take care of yourself first! Happy to help in any way!!!

Welcome to MFP. Your story sounds a little like mine. When I started in April of 2009, I was 245 (5'4"). I lost the first 50 lbs. in less than 8 months. This site will change your life, and the tools will make the journey to success much easier than any other time you have tried to lose weight.

If I can offer some unsolicited advice...look on this as a plan for the rest of your life--not a "diet." Don't obsess over what you "can't" have. Go out of your way to look for healthy options that you DO like. Keep your high-calorie favorites in the back of your mind as a once and a while item, that you can enjoy in moderation, with a little planning. Set small goals for yourself, and as you reach them, reward yourself. Try to find non-food ways of rewarding yourself.

If you find you have "trigger foods" that make you binge--KEEP THEM OUT OF THE HOUSE!! I did really well on controlling myself, and then learned the hard way that having Newman "ohs"--Ginger snap sandwich cookies is a recipe for disaster, so even though I love them, I don't buy them. Once every few months I will buy a package, eat a few of them and then take them to my parents' home, with instructions to eat them quickly or hide them if I come over again before they are gone!!:laugh: :laugh:

There are many on the website who advocate eating "clean"--meaning avoiding processed foods, and that is certainly good advice. However, it isn't something that is likely to happen overnight, so for the items you DO use that come in a package, become a label-reader. Watch the sodium content of what you are eating. It is just as important as fat, carbs, and calories.

Don't be intimidated by the thought of exercise. Find something you enjoy doing, and go out and do it. If you aren't sure what that is, in the meantime, get some good footwear and start walking. I am fortunate to have some excellent walking paths near my home. During the Summer and Fall last year, I was doing 20- 30 miles per week on them. If you do walk, protect yourself from the sun. Sunscreen is your friend. And another thing I discovered is that wearing a hat with a brim makes even the hottest day a little cooler--'cuz the sun isn't in my eyes. A hat is a wonderful way to prevent a sunburned head also.:bigsmile:

Don't underestimate the importance of drinking your water.:drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

Take advantage of the support you will get from this website. Don't expect your friends and family to be as consumed with your new lifestyle as you are. There could be many reasons why they aren't as interested, or why they might even go out of their way to (subconsciously or otherwise) sabotage your efforts. They may not feel they need to change, or they may deep down know they should, but not like the fact that you ARE taking the steps that they SHOULD be taking. There can be jealousy of your success, as well as fear that your success might mean a change in an existing relationship.

I could go on, and I probably said more than I needed to to make my point. In summary. YOU are the best person to take care of YOU. Congratulations on taking control of your life and your future.

Also, you asked about posting pics. Here is a link to the tutorial post that will tell you how to post photos in a forum post:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/104076-posting-pictures-on-the-boards-tutorial?hl=posting+photos#posts-1470965

Good luck. You CAN do this!

Weaklink109 has offered some great advice. I can definitely say that most of what she says I have also learned from experience to be true!