Don't Know Where To Start Help :(

The best place to start any journey is with a single step. When I first started I took a long look at everything I was doing related to eating and changed one thing. In my case that was giving up regular soda (or pop or Coke depending on what part of the country you are in). That change helped me loose a little weight, then I made another change, getting more active. after that I worked on learning better portion control. All the changes when made over time didn't seem like as big a deal as all the times I tried to do them all at once. In 2012 I lost just over 100 lbs going from 348 to 245, I am still working on loosing some more but it's not always easy.
The best advice is to remember that it didn't all go on over night and you shouldn't expect it to come off over night either.
1.5 - 2 lbs a week on average is a healthy weight loss, doing that consistently will add up to 100 lbs in a year.

Feel free to add me, i'm far from perfect and have my bad days but I do try to stay upbeat and encouraging

I too support small changes. I'd vote just start logging first and keep it up. Then look at your trends and see what you are ready to change next.

One of the most effective diet tools (research proven) is logging. I had made a few changes on my own, but read the results of a big study of people who maintained a weight loss of 30 or more pounds for over a year - and one of the common habits was logging. So here I came. I'm only on day 10 but just that is affecting me. I look back at a day and think "Oh, there's where I derailed." I don't necessarily see anything as evil, I eat what I call cleanish and have triggers I try to avoid - that was before logging. I didn't have any weight loss - started logging - boom, I'm losing inches. I think it just made me conscious of what I was doing.

Add me as a friend - I have over 100 to lose and I will help you any way I can. But we can't do anything if you don't keep showing up!

I only make changes as I'm ready - no all out full throttle thing or I'll just turn around and go back where I came from. Don't go too far from your comfort zone immediately - you don't have to just to get started.

My number one tip is log your food. Every single thing you put in your mouth. Within a few short days you will start learning what is worth the calories and what isn't. If you go over the amount at first that will correct itself if you are dedicated to the cause and log every single meal and snack every single day.

great job!!! its never too late to start! my advice would be to remember that it will take time and dont beat yourself up if you arent losing as quickly as you want. it will happen and you will feel better and better. just do your best not to get discouraged. i read a great book called "health at every size" about nutrition and health that really motivated me to make better choices and stick w/ it. good luck! keep at it!

oh also, remember that 1 bad day or a few bad days wont ruin it, you just gotta get right back into to it. something i think "oh well i had a horrible week i dont care anymore" but if you think "oh i had a horrible week i need to work harder this week" you build so much more confidence!

i hate to break this to you, but you already started by coming here

realize you have put weight on all your life and it wont come off in a week, due to a pill or by body wraps.

weight out your meals

use the suggested servings.

get out and walk

as you get more and more accustomed to that then join a gym.

eat even healthier food

make sure you track all your food and exercise just so you can see why things are starting to change and to remind you when you fall a little bit.

realize the scale is just a number

lastly, accept every day youre not going to feel good or feel like youre making any progress but know the longer you keep at it the fewer and farer between those days will happen

One step at a time - this is a journey. I agree with many of the comments above! Eat, don't drink calories. Walk a little every day. Log for a while - everything you eat, good or not so good. Take your time.
Feel free to add me!

I have only been on this for one day, but I’ll just tell you what I am doing.

I have wrote out a basic gym plan like whether I’ll be doing weights or cardio in the day and putting down the classes I wish to do, so each day I have a simple aim and a plan of the classes I want. I also put down the time duration I will be at the gym. It's nothing massive just simple which I think is the best thing to do so I don't get over whelmed and just growing from that.

When it comes to figuring out exercises I tend to use Google to help me plan the day’s work out and I’ll go and ask advice from the gym instructors and personal trainers who are in the gym at that time as that is why they are there to “help out”.

My food I just take it day by day. I have given myself a 90 day personal food challenge. I have a massive sweet tooth, so that is what I am focused on. I'm not eating any chocolates, lollies, quick meals, ice cream or take away of any type; even if it’s a take away roast. I do have a cheat day once a week but I still cannot over indulgent. This is just to help in a way, just so I don’t feel like I cannot have my treats but I can in quantities and learn that I don’t have to have it every day which with me it has been like for the past 8 months.


I hope this helps you. Like Hevenerk said " it didn't all go on over night and you shouldn't expect it to come off over night either."

Take it day by day and not everyday will be a good day!

My ultimate recommendation--it isn't a diet.

If you only want to lose weight temporarily, then diet
If you want to lose weight permanently, then make a lifestyle change

I knew I couldn't survive on 'diet food' so I had to learn how to keep an accurate food diary and had to start exercising (have to burn more than you eat...the more your deficit, the more you lose).
The more you have to lose, the faster it will initially come off.
Don't allow one 'bad day' to completely de-rail you, but don't let 'bad days' become the norm.

You can review my profile to see my journey...

I am just starting out too! I have started by cutting out the "bored eating" habits I have, and i'm making all around healthier decisions on what I eat. I also have started running/jogging for about thirty minutes each day. At first I couldn't do it all at once (couldn't run for thirty minutes straight) So I break it up during the day, and do it at certain times, like in the morning before work, after work, and later on in the afternoon. I haven't lost but a pound yet, but I feel better emotionally than I have in awhile!

I have the same, but a little different advice.

The same... Start simple and baby steps. Changing everything at once for some people can lead to system overload and they shut down and revert back to where they started.

The different... For me, I took a walk. I didn't change anything other than on a pretty day I went for a leisurely walk. I liked the way it made me felt, so the next day I went for another walk, and so on. I started putting more effort and energy into it as the days went on. The walks made me feel better and as a natural progression my body wanted me to eat better, so that led to a healthier BALANCE of what I put into my mouth and that led me to here/MFP to help with portion control.

We are all different so find what works best for you and it'll be easier to stick with. Good luck! You'll do great! :happy:

First off, feel free to add me (any of you)...the first step I took was the decision to get healthy. Then I cut out all sodas, or any drinks that had "calories", at this point I drink coffee and water with lemon. Yes, I do have the occassional treat at Caribou but without the soda...big difference. Add in any kind of physical activity...walking has been HUGE for me. Lastly, I would say that you are definitely in the right place here at MFP, find people that you connect with, whom motivate and inspire you.

Good luck to you!

Support is number 1! Also, start small. I know that I have been back and forth and yo-yo dieting for years. The point is to not stress yourself out or start big. Take small steps and those will lead to bigger steps. If you have not worked out start with 10-20 minutes per day with cardio and strength and work your way up. Or, start with walking. My first step was to take out soda and fast food!

Sounds lame but YOU have to REALLY want it. That being said MFP has been my best tool. Another lame statement is that if I did it (or am doing it) so can you.

Definitely look at things in terms of smaller objectives and goals. Thinking "I have XXXlbs to lose" can be very overwhelming so break it down into smaller goals that are easier to obtain like cutting down on soda, eating at least 1 or 2 servings of fruit or veggies a day, walking for half an hour 3 times a week, etc. Take it slow! Soon, things will start coming together and you will see yourself choosing healthier options, being more active, and feeling great!

Feel free to add me! I've lost a total of 123 pounds so far and have an open food journal. Good luck and keep your chin up!