New and scared stiff

Hello everyone, Ive just joined MFP today. I got weighed at the doctors today and weigh 208lbs (14st.12lbs), I knew I was overweight but thought I was a lot less. So today I joined this forum and I bought a set of weighing scales as I didnt believe the doctors scales, lo and behold i DO weigh 208!!! I woudl like to get down to 9st. (126lbs) which is 82lbs and am terrified of that figure it seems enormous to me. Doing my maths at a 1lb a week thats 82 weeks to shift it? Just over a year and a half, a year next march. March 2015! However I know that I can do this one day at a time and more importantly I need to watch my food for life to keep it off, so I guess the time scale is unimportant, what is important is I make a start, stick to it and dont look back.

if anybody would like to add me as a friend I sure could do with the encouragement and hopefully learn from people already losing weight

thanks everyone :)
«1

Replies

  • poohpoohpeapod
    poohpoohpeapod Posts: 776 Member
    I have lost 113 lbs, most before MFP, the time is going by anyway. Why not make a change.Do it day by day and forget the times. I guarantee some weeks you may lose more than 1 lb and some weeks /none This needs to be a life change/diets Do not work. Good luck!:bigsmile:
  • ddky
    ddky Posts: 381 Member
    Break it down into smaller goals. Like 10 pounds before Thanksgiving. Give yourself little (nonfood) rewards when you make that goal.

    When you mess up (and you will), just forgive yourself and get back on track.

    Lots of veggies and lots of water and you will do fine. Good luck.
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,854 Member
    Hello everyone, Ive just joined MFP today. I got weighed at the doctors today and weigh 208lbs (14st.12lbs), I knew I was overweight but thought I was a lot less. So today I joined this forum and I bought a set of weighing scales as I didnt believe the doctors scales, lo and behold i DO weigh 208!!! I woudl like to get down to 9st. (126lbs) which is 82lbs and am terrified of that figure it seems enormous to me. Doing my maths at a 1lb a week thats 82 weeks to shift it? Just over a year and a half, a year next march. March 2015! However I know that I can do this one day at a time and more importantly I need to watch my food for life to keep it off, so I guess the time scale is unimportant, what is important is I make a start, stick to it and dont look back.

    if anybody would like to add me as a friend I sure could do with the encouragement and hopefully learn from people already losing weight

    thanks everyone :)
    You're off to a good start! You figured out a reasonable length of time to get this done. By doing that you can skip the part where some people set goals that are too aggressive and therefore discouraging when they can't be accomplished. You're on your way. Welcome.

    P.S. Tips: Take some good "before" pictures. Some of us were too vain to have pictures taken when we were heavier and when it came time to do the "Before" and "After" victory lap, we didn't have many before pictures. I have just one and it's not very good.

    Two, if I may suggest: Take measurements don't just weigh yourself. (I wasn't smart enough to do this.) You may find yourself shrinking but the scale doesn't say so. Measurements do.
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    Some weeks you'll lose 1 others maybe 2. Be patient. Your in the right company though I couldn't have lost the weight without this app/forum.

    I'm down 40 lbs in 4 months (266-226) and never thought I would be. Ask questions, learn from everyone and remember

    ' Eat less......Move more'. :)

    Ill add you.
  • JKDLady
    JKDLady Posts: 131 Member
    Break it down into smaller goals. Like 10 pounds before Thanksgiving. Give yourself little (nonfood) rewards when you make that goal.

    When you mess up (and you will), just forgive yourself and get back on track.

    Lots of veggies and lots of water and you will do fine. Good luck.

    I really agree with this, especially setting up the non-food rewards! Glad you jumped right in. Congrats.
  • norahwynn
    norahwynn Posts: 862 Member
    By your calculations, it does seem daunting. But remember that you'll be losing the whole time. Just because you're 208 lbs now, it doesn't mean that it'll be that way till March '15 and all the sudden you'll be at your goal weight.

    Over the next year and a half, you'll enjoy seeing your body do amazing things, and you'll be fitting into a new set of clothes every couple of months.

    So just work hard, but also take time to enjoy the transformation. Take A LOT of pictures, because when you get a few months in, a year in...etc, you'll go through those periods when you just want to give up or you might think it's not working fast enough. These are the times that you'll want to pull out all the photos you've taken over the last months or year so you can see how far you've come.

    Good luck and enjoy the view along the way!!! :drinker:
  • pwnderosa
    pwnderosa Posts: 280 Member
    I felt the same way when I started off here, I thought it would be a drag and take forever. But you know time really does fly! Don't stress about it, if you start to make changes you will be looking better and better every month! Try to focus on the baby steps and the little successes along the way!

    Feel free to friend me if you like, I am slowly easing into maintenance now after a year that has flown by on MFP!
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    thank you southcarolina,poohpooh and ddky for your kind replies. I just got a shocl today because ive been dieting at home for the last 7 weeks and already lost 18lbs , what i hadnt realised is my old scales were rubbish and they were showing my weight as 13stone 10lbs. It wasnt until today when I got weighed at the doctors and bought some weight watchers scales that i found out i was over a stone heavier. so ive had a wobbly day. In a way its been a good day too as at least I know the accurate truth and also ive joined MFP which my doctor mentioned
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    Here ya go.

    1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
    2. Make sure you eat enough.
    3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
    4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
    5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
    6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
    7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines.
    8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
    9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
    10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
    11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
    12. don't set time restrictions.
    13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
    14 BE PATIENT.
    15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
    16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

    pretty much that.

    ...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

    the typical MFP users does this:
    1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
    2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
    3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
    4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
    5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
    6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
    7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
    8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
    9. Argument ensues about who is right.

    Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

    I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

    Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

    Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    Take the tips, links, and info above and make the cart more manageable.
  • LMJS
    LMJS Posts: 157 Member
    Hi there,

    Well done on making the first step and logging onto the MFP. It's a great place to get support and motivation.
    I've been here for 3 months now and plan on losing about 42lbs to finally get to a healthy BMI.
    I'm also from the UK - not too far away too as I'm in Berks :-)

    A couple of bits of advice
    - Log EVERYTHING! If you have a smart phone, the app makes it really easy with the barcode scanner & you can in time create recipes/meal plans to make repeat meals easier
    - Don't look at the whole amount you want to lose in one go, break it down into small goals, say lose your first 10lbs - not a set time, but you when you get there, set a new goal. One step at a time :smile:
    - Don't sweat the occasional bad meal/day - we all have them, just wipe the slate clean, pick yourself up and start again :smile:
    - use the forums to help - there is a lot of good advice and success stories - if you ever need a little boost, its easy to find!
    - don't think of this as a diet, its a lifestyle change and one that you can start and stick to for the long haul!

    Send me a friend request if you want to share some support!

    Good luck :flowerforyou:
  • InForBacon
    InForBacon Posts: 1,508 Member
    IN for "stiff"

    Also, you can do it!
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    thank you everyone for the kind words, when ive had a cup of tea i will try and work out how to get friends invited. Pwnderosa thank you for the friend mention and Norah youre so right i didnt think about the getting smaller part it sounds stupid but i didnt and i wouldnt have thought to take pictures either so thank you for that and thank you too JKDlady
  • Kruckey
    Kruckey Posts: 1 Member
    Hello there! Welcome! I was doing really well with MFP for quite a while, but I've fallen off and just getting back to it myself. I, too, am a bit nervous. Best of luck to you!
  • LMJS
    LMJS Posts: 157 Member
    As well as taking pictures, take measurements - waist, hips, thigh. Sometimes you may find you're losing inches rather than just weight. Don't rely solely on the scales :smile:
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    Here ya go.

    1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
    2. Make sure you eat enough.
    3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
    4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
    5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
    6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
    7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines.
    8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
    9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
    10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
    11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
    12. don't set time restrictions.
    13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
    14 BE PATIENT.
    15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
    16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

    pretty much that.

    ...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

    the typical MFP users does this:
    1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
    2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
    3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
    4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
    5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
    6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
    7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
    8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
    9. Argument ensues about who is right.

    Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

    I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

    Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

    Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
    Take the tips, links, and info above and make the cart more manageable.


    Wow that list is incredible ! I need to print that off and pin it someplace handy, thank you so much and i definitely need to check that calculator thing because when i entered my information into the MFP thing about half an hour ago, put in im 53 years old , I weigh 208lbs and it told me to eat........1200 a day"!!!! just like you said!!!!!! there is no way i can manage on 1200 so I will do the scooby thing in a minute thank you so much youre awesome, much love
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    thank you kruckey, LMJs and inforthebacon for being kind enough to reply to me also xx
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Welcome!

    First, forget the dieting. This isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle change. All you need to lose weight is a calorie deficit.

    Calorie deficit = weight loss
    Exercise = Fitness

    Secondly, MFP vs. TDEE-20%. Either method will work when followed properly. If you follow MFP's method, eat at the goal provided. Think of the goal as a finish line and try to get to it every single time. Do not undercut. Since 1200 calories is the BARE MINIMUM a woman should be eating, make sure you are always at that 1200 line. If you exercise, MFP will tell you you've earned extra calories from it. That mean you eat those calories as well. So for example, you eat 1200 calories, and you burn 200 doing 30 day shred. 1200-200=1000. Your net calories at 1000 calories. But your goal is to net 1200. So you need to eat 200 extra calories to be back up to goal.

    If you decide to follow TDEE-20%, I recommend using http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ to figure it all out. TDEE is your Total Daily Energy Expenditure, which means, that is how many calories you need to consume to maintain your current weight. You take off 20% from the amounts given, after providing how much exercise you do. With this method, you DO NOT eat back any exercise calories, because your exercise has been included for you.

    Third, back to the 1200 calories. 1200 calories is a hot topic around here. In alot of cases, it's just not enough. Some are able to function quite normally on it. But it's really dependent on your height and activity level. I personally started at 1200 because that's what MFP gave me. Although I did lose weight, I was NOT happy. I felt hungry all the time. I was what they call "hangry." So I chucked it out the window and upped my calories. I'm currently sitting at 1500 + exercise calories. When all is said and done, my MFP goal and TDEE-20% are pretty close in numbers. I have lost weight consistently every single week. I feel much happier. I have energy to do all of the activity I want to do. Trog already touched on this subject about people falling into the 1200 trap as well

    Fourth, macros. Along with your calorie goal, you'll notice macro nutrients. Carbs, Fat, Protein, Sodium, Sugar. IMO, throw the sugar out. It's useless to track, because after a single piece of fruit you'll be over. It'll drive you mad. REAL sugar is counted in your Carbs. You don't need to track added sugar. I recommend changing that last macro to Fiber. So for the macros, I like to generally follow this pattern: Stay under Carbs & Sodium. Meet Fat. Go over on Protein & Fiber. Protein and Fiber will help you feel fuller longer. Too much sodium will make you retain water, and it shows on the scale. When you start watching your macros, you sort of naturally start eating less processed foods. At least for me I did. I started looking for lower sodium foods, breads with less carbs, etc. It's been an incredible learning experience. It kind of naturally stems from just fitting my daily food into those macros.

    Fifth, don't do things half-assed. You want to lose weight, so put the work in for it. Invest in a digital food scale and measure your portions. Don't guess or estimate. You'll find after measuring that guessing is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off. I found I was eating way more than I thought when I was estimating. So yeah, go get a $10-$15 scale from Target/Walmart.
    Also, for exercise, think about investing in a heart rate monitor. I bought one and it was worth every single penny. A HRM will give you a more accurate calorie burn estimate than MFP or machine will. This will helpout ALOT when eating back those exercise calories.

    And Sixth, Log religiously and 100% faithfully. Even if it's at the end of the night, do it. If you have a smartphone, there's an app for that. You can log as you go. Easy-peasy.


    Good luck!
  • jadunn64
    jadunn64 Posts: 3 Member
    Hey, you took the first step. I have lost 80 + pounds and it took time. What helped me was looking at it as a journey and setting small goals to meet. Once you get into a habit it becomes easier. Keep a positive attitude and good friends to encourage you and you can do it. Also joining a fitness center and exercising helps, I know that it made a big difference on my part and I met so many wonderful people who are working on the same thing and the support they give you and you give them helps keep a bright and positive attitude.

    Go get it.
  • atiana19
    atiana19 Posts: 94 Member
    Im on every day and very commited, I have 50 plus pounds to lose ...fee free to add me we can do this
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    Welcome!

    First, forget the dieting. This isn't a diet, it's a lifestyle change. All you need to lose weight is a calorie deficit.

    Calorie deficit = weight loss
    Exercise = Fitness

    Secondly, MFP vs. TDEE-20%. Either method will work when followed properly. If you follow MFP's method, eat at the goal provided. Think of the goal as a finish line and try to get to it every single time. Do not undercut. Since 1200 calories is the BARE MINIMUM a woman should be eating, make sure you are always at that 1200 line. If you exercise, MFP will tell you you've earned extra calories from it. That mean you eat those calories as well. So for example, you eat 1200 calories, and you burn 200 doing 30 day shred. 1200-200=1000. Your net calories at 1000 calories. But your goal is to net 1200. So you need to eat 200 extra calories to be back up to goal.

    If you decide to follow TDEE-20%, I recommend using http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ to figure it all out. TDEE is your Total Daily Energy Expenditure, which means, that is how many calories you need to consume to maintain your current weight. You take off 20% from the amounts given, after providing how much exercise you do. With this method, you DO NOT eat back any exercise calories, because your exercise has been included for you.

    Third, back to the 1200 calories. 1200 calories is a hot topic around here. In alot of cases, it's just not enough. Some are able to function quite normally on it. But it's really dependent on your height and activity level. I personally started at 1200 because that's what MFP gave me. Although I did lose weight, I was NOT happy. I felt hungry all the time. I was what they call "hangry." So I chucked it out the window and upped my calories. I'm currently sitting at 1500 + exercise calories. When all is said and done, my MFP goal and TDEE-20% are pretty close in numbers. I have lost weight consistently every single week. I feel much happier. I have energy to do all of the activity I want to do. Trog already touched on this subject about people falling into the 1200 trap as well

    Fourth, macros. Along with your calorie goal, you'll notice macro nutrients. Carbs, Fat, Protein, Sodium, Sugar. IMO, throw the sugar out. It's useless to track, because after a single piece of fruit you'll be over. It'll drive you mad. REAL sugar is counted in your Carbs. You don't need to track added sugar. I recommend changing that last macro to Fiber. So for the macros, I like to generally follow this pattern: Stay under Carbs & Sodium. Meet Fat. Go over on Protein & Fiber. Protein and Fiber will help you feel fuller longer. Too much sodium will make you retain water, and it shows on the scale. When you start watching your macros, you sort of naturally start eating less processed foods. At least for me I did. I started looking for lower sodium foods, breads with less carbs, etc. It's been an incredible learning experience. It kind of naturally stems from just fitting my daily food into those macros.

    Fifth, don't do things half-assed. You want to lose weight, so put the work in for it. Invest in a digital food scale and measure your portions. Don't guess or estimate. You'll find after measuring that guessing is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off. I found I was eating way more than I thought when I was estimating. So yeah, go get a $10-$15 scale from Target/Walmart.
    Also, for exercise, think about investing in a heart rate monitor. I bought one and it was worth every single penny. A HRM will give you a more accurate calorie burn estimate than MFP or machine will. This will helpout ALOT when eating back those exercise calories.

    And Sixth, Log religiously and 100% faithfully. Even if it's at the end of the night, do it. If you have a smartphone, there's an app for that. You can log as you go. Easy-peasy.


    Good luck!

    again this is incredible information i need to print off , its too much to take in right now and its so important i will come back and reread this over and over in the next few days. Im going to take a half hour break at the momet as besides making a profile and putting in my start weight and making this post, i apparently have a food diary somewhere which i have to open? i need to go and find this food diary and open it so thanks for the replies and be back later, I also have to go and work out how to add friends i can see a cluedo head with numbers i think thats friends?
  • ChristineinMA
    ChristineinMA Posts: 312 Member
    Welcome to MFP! Looking at the whole amount you want to lose can be daunting! I didn't even put the whole amount at first because 73 pounds sounded so demoralizing. Once I lost 10 lbs though, I felt more hopeful and adjusted my settings.

    My very first goal was to get out of the 200's - 13 lbs lost. The next was to lose 10% of my starting weight (21.3 lbs lost) I have recently met this second goal - from there I plan to look at just 10 lbs at a time. I figure this will take me about a year, so my mantra has been "Next summer, next summer". Of course, there are a lot of NSVs (non-scale victories) along the way and the forums here can be very inspiring (take a look at Success stories).

    That said, there is a lot of misinformation from deluded (or just plain hungry frustrated folks) so take everything with a grain of salt. Find yourself some people whose posts make sense to you and ask them to be friends.

    You are welcome to friend me as well. Click on my picture above the blue "ChristineinMA" and you will be taken to my profile. There you will see a green button that says "Add Friend"
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    Some weeks you'll lose 1 others maybe 2. Be patient. Your in the right company though I couldn't have lost the weight without this app/forum.

    I'm down 40 lbs in 4 months (266-226) and never thought I would be. Ask questions, learn from everyone and remember

    ' Eat less......Move more'. :)

    Ill add you.

    thanks Roy, ive added you and ive opened up my diary theres nothing in there yet !
  • JaneAero
    JaneAero Posts: 95 Member
    Welcome to MFP! Looking at the whole amount you want to lose can be daunting! I didn't even put the whole amount at first because 73 pounds sounded so demoralizing. Once I lost 10 lbs though, I felt more hopeful and adjusted my settings.

    My very first goal was to get out of the 200's - 13 lbs lost. The next was to lose 10% of my starting weight (21.3 lbs lost) I have recently met this second goal - from there I plan to look at just 10 lbs at a time. I figure this will take me about a year, so my mantra has been "Next summer, next summer". Of course, there are a lot of NSVs (non-scale victories) along the way and the forums here can be very inspiring (take a look at Success stories).

    That said, there is a lot of misinformation from deluded (or just plain hungry frustrated folks) so take everything with a grain of salt. Find yourself some people whose posts make sense to you and ask them to be friends.

    You are welcome to friend me as well. Click on my picture above the blue "ChristineinMA" and you will be taken to my profile. There you will see a green button that says "Add Friend"

    thanks Christine, congratulations on your weight loss so far, do you know as you lose weight does MFP automatically adjust the calories im allowed a day? Ive just changed my MFP settings which told me to eat 1200 calories a day and told MFP I only want to lose a 1lb a week and its now allowing me to eat 1450 calorioes a day, this seems a bit better to me.
  • redladywitch
    redladywitch Posts: 799 Member
    I'm on here every day. Feel free to add me.

    Just be patient. Make sure you do your own research and don't believe everything you read on MFP.
  • benjicloverdale
    benjicloverdale Posts: 92 Member
    You'll do fine! Just stick with it, and be patient. Yes. Get a good heart rate monitor w/ chest strap (I use Polar). Your calories burned will be much more accurate than what a machine might tell you, or what the MFP database might list. I think the HRM comes with generic inputs for ht/wt/age/sex that you can enter...but I highly suggest finding a gym that tests for your own personal metabolic rates (where you wear a mask while doing cardio). This will be more accurate.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Maybe you will feel less scared by setting a smaller "first goal"? That's kind of what I did.

    I was at 307 lb about 5 yrs ago and even being at 226 lb (where I am now) would have seemed impossible to me back then.

    I didn't "discover" MFP until I was down to 262, but even then my first goal was 220. Now that I'm close to 220, I adjusted it down to 200. I don't know where I'll end up but I am thinking somewhere in between 175-200. For me setting the goal of 180 would have been WAY too intimidating even when I was around 250 lb.
  • TheCaren
    TheCaren Posts: 894 Member
    Losing 82 pounds might seem like an overwhelming task. But when faced with the enormity of a task, my mom would always say to me "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time". That's the thing. You don't have to commit to what you'll be doing the rest of your life. Just commit to a lifestyle change for today. Then do it again tomorrow. And the day after. And suddenly you'll be like me, seven days away from one year on MFP and at goal weight (I only had 45 pounds to lose so of course it went quicker).
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    don't let fear or anything else stand in your way!
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    1. Do what works for you. You will have lots of folks tell you "the one" or "the best" way but there are really several and it needs to work for you. The science of nutrition and obesity are still developing and complex.

    2. Take control of your own food and exercise choices based on recent science and good advice. Don't let the tone of voice folks use in their MFP messages to dissuade you from doing what you think is right.

    3. Realize that there are no shortcuts and NONE of the over-the-counter or mail-order products have any real science showing they work and some of them are downright dangerous. Keep your wallet in your pocket until you've seen independent research.

    My choices? TDEE-20% using the "Healthy Nutrition Plate" http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/ as my model with a bit of exercise to develop stamina and strength.

    Oh, and I'm a retired librarian. If you ever want help searching for reliable info on something give me a holler.
  • Hello everyone, Ive just joined MFP today. I got weighed at the doctors today and weigh 208lbs (14st.12lbs), I knew I was overweight but thought I was a lot less. So today I joined this forum and I bought a set of weighing scales as I didnt believe the doctors scales, lo and behold i DO weigh 208!!! I woudl like to get down to 9st. (126lbs) which is 82lbs and am terrified of that figure it seems enormous to me. Doing my maths at a 1lb a week thats 82 weeks to shift it? Just over a year and a half, a year next march. March 2015! However I know that I can do this one day at a time and more importantly I need to watch my food for life to keep it off, so I guess the time scale is unimportant, what is important is I make a start, stick to it and dont look back.

    if anybody would like to add me as a friend I sure could do with the encouragement and hopefully learn from people already losing weight

    thanks everyone :)
    You're off to a good start! You figured out a reasonable length of time to get this done. By doing that you can skip the part where some people set goals that are too aggressive and therefore discouraging when they can't be accomplished. You're on your way. Welcome.

    P.S. Tips: Take some good "before" pictures. Some of us were too vain to have pictures taken when we were heavier and when it came time to do the "Before" and "After" victory lap, we didn't have many before pictures. I have just one and it's not very good.

    Two, if I may suggest: Take measurements don't just weigh yourself. (I wasn't smart enough to do this.) You may find yourself shrinking but the scale doesn't say so. Measurements do.

    ^I agree! Best of luck, & feel free to add me! :)