Advice from Successful People, please?

1.) Count calories and log what you eat everyday.
2.) Determine what your maintenance level is (i.e. 1800 calories, 2000, etc) and then cut 20% from that number (i.e. 2000 maintenance to 1600 calories for 20% deficit)
3.) Increase physical activity (start off just walking every night in your neighborhood, gradually increase the distance and speed, use the stairs instead of elevators, park further away from buildings and walk further to them, etc)
4.) Add in some weight training if possible to help build some muscle (you wont get big and bulky from lifting like some women worry about)
5.) Drink lots of water. Once your urine is almost clear you're well hydrated and can taper off a little. This will vary depending on your activity level during the day.
6.) Weigh yourself no more than once a week in the morning when you first get up and aim for 1-2 lbs of weight loss per week (might come off faster at first)

The problem with things like NutriSystem is that it doesn't teach you how to eat healthier and how to control your portion sizes. It just gives you stuff to eat, but once you quit, you're no smarter than you were before because all you did was eat smaller meals from the microwave and freezer. Knowledge is power, and the more knowledge you gain about weight loss on your own the more successful you'll be.

It sounds like you are at odds with your mother at this point in your life. I'm sure that will change as you get older, but for now, use it to your advantage. Lose the weight for yourself first, but you can also prove your mother wrong and that you can do it. Prove yourself right that you can do it, and prove her wrong that you can't.

The sooner you take action, the sooner you'll see results. Keep at it, be consistent, keep your eye on your goal and dont like the bumps along the way deter you, and you'll get there before you know it!

First.. you need to know your worth and your identity. Forget all the naysayers. This has to be about you doing it for you..b/c you are worth it.

Second.. you need a real specific goal. So, "i don't care how long it takes me", isn't going to set you up for success. Set a real goal that's specific measurable atrractive realistic and timely.. I want to lose 24 lbs by Christmas so I feel better in my new Christmas sweater.. for example.

I was also heavy all through my teenage years.. and once sports ended ballooned to 232 lbs at 5'1. I have had a ton of success and am now at 137. My goals have changed all along.. first it was under 200, then 185, then 165, then 145, then 135.. and now that i'm almost there..i'm thinking 127-129 will be my true fit weight. And.. i finally believe that I can actually do it.

You have to believe that you are worth it and buy into the truth that you can do it. Add me if you want. Write down what you are eating always. Become friends with the scale. It always tells the truth, whether its the truth you want to hear or not, the scale doesn't lie. Measure circumferences of your waist, hips, thighs etc. Keep a pair of pants that you fit in now and watch yourself shrink. Reward yourself. Enlist accountability. Find a path that works for you and GO!!!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

^^read this.

QFT
/thread

Again, this!

+3

Seriously, OP. If you want solid information and a method that does not involve gimmicks, and are willing to put in the work, then read the above.

The best that I can do is tell you what I have done because I can't tell you what works for you. I was in the same boat as you. I had always been heavy growing up and every time I tried to do something about it, I failed. I finally got the motivation to do something about it when I bought a scale, weighed myself, and weighed 320!

When I first started logging all of my food, I realized just how much I was overeating. Logging calories was a real eye-opener. I began walking approximately 3-4 days a week and drastically cut back my caloric intake. Then, the pounds started coming off. If I happened to have a bad day and put 1 or 2 back on, it just motivated me more. Don't get discouraged if you have a bad day or week. Everyone has them. Just be positive and keep looking forward. I'm sure anyone on this site would be more than happy to give you positive support. Good Luck!

Let me add that a big step, and one that is often not easy to make, is to stop blaming your parents for where you are. I'm not saying that they're not somewhat, or even largely, at fault, but if you focus your attention on how others have caused your problems, rather than what you can do about fixing them, then you are putting obstacles in the way of your success. Getting to your goals involves changing those things that you can control (and, honestly, there is plenty that you cannot control) and that is where your energy and efforts should be focused.

To avoid any confusion, let me also say that the Serenity Prayer, whether you are religious or not, or a former addict or not, contains more wisdom than I think many understand:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference."

Put your efforts and energy on those things identified in the second line up there.

Good luck, OP.

The diet and exercise advice you've gotten here is solid. If you follow it, it will serve you well. But THIS^^ about letting go of blame and focusing on the power you have to change is so important. Your focus can't be on what your mom says and whether or not other people in your life support you. You can find the support you need from other people outside of your family but you have to remember that the impetus to change comes from you.

hey girl! im in the same exact boat as you! im 18 and ive been overweight my whole entire life and i dont just mean overweight, i mean obese. Sometimes its hard for people to understand certain situations but im totally there with you! My mom is a health freak who thinks her way is the right way and she's tried to force me to loose weight for years and ive always wanted to but nothing ever worked for me and i think now im realizing that it was my mind set at the time. I was just so depressed about how my mom and sister are sticks and im the fat one. But then things started to change. I changed. And thats what you have to do also. You have to change your mind and i no thats cliche but it works i swear. Instead of saying "ughhh how come i dont have that girls body" say "Thats gonna be me in a few months" cause it will be true. Now im 5'1 and i was 240 pounds at my highest which was in december of last year. Im now 210 pounds and i can honestly tell you ive never felt better. ofcourse i still have some ways to go (my goal is 160) but im getting there and you will too!

I wont give you any advice on healthy food because theres a million different definitions to healthy out there, but i will tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Id be a liar if i said that i ate breakfast everyday cause sometimes i just dont have time and since im at college the food here is limited but i do know that this will help you immensely.

Mainly what ill give you tips on is exercising. Okay so at first i hated it with every single passion in the world. It hurt, I hated being seen at the gym, i thought people were looking at me and i couldn't stand seeing the skinny gorgeous girls with full faces of makeup and there hair done to look like they were going out! it still bothers me to this day BUT, i soon learned that i had to get over it. If someone looked at me wrong id give them a **** off look. because i was at the gym to WORKOUT not find a boyfriend. SOOOOO anyway, if you don't want to go to the gym because you feel embarrassed, just please remember that your there to better yourself and anyone who you think is looking at you weird is most likely thinking "You go girl!"

okay so
the first week:
Elipitical: 25 minutes with the 5 minute cool down
- at first i was like holy **** i hate life this hurts but after the first couple days i swear it gets better
Treadmill: 15 minutes (walking at 3.1mph)
Bicycle: 15 minutes

i did this for a good month actually untill i started to up the pace
(please of you feel i was too slow or too fast, go at your own pace)

then i started advancing to 30 mins , 35, 40, now 45 on the elliptical
treadmill i keep the same cause i think of it as a cool down
and then i think of the cardio workout as my warm up
after the cardio (and this is me talking now but you are soooooo welcome to do this)
i do some weights and the machines, its very important to put resistance training in your workouts to make you stronger and shrink the fat!

in july i stopped working out and eating right and i just felt disgusting. i gained like 15 pounds back and so a couple weeks ago i got back into the swing of things so im seriously right there with you trying to be the best i cant be. We are a work in progress but i know we will definitely make it!

please please please message me with any questions anddd tell me how your doing and ill do the same!!! everyone needs a workout pal (even if its over the internet haha)

goodluck and i hope i helped a little

Like the first person said, log your foods, figure out your BMR and go from there. I used to do the super low calorie diet, and drink 5 hour energies to workout, but I won't do that anymore. I eat over 2000 calories a day, and live a VERY active lifestyle. However, over the years I learned to focus on macros vs calories. I'm more concerned about the quality of my food vs quantity. Over time, it'll be easier for you.

Great advice on here. I just want to second (or third) the idea of logging food BEFORE you eat it. You probably will make different choices based on this. And it certainly beats eating something, then logging it and regretting it/beating yourself up over it. Logging first keeps the knowledge and control in your hands, and you'll feel so good about making good choices.

You've come to the right place for help. I would suggest first to set your goals and then use the food diary & log everything you eat & your exercise for the day and stick with it. The first couple weeks may be hard as you fight the old habits & urges to snack but I warn you when you start to eat healthy & see results on the scale it will become addictive!
But I promise you, you will lose it, maybe more than you think...

I have been on this program for two months and have lost 15 pounds. The big think for me is to be hones with myself and record everything I eat. Also excerise is so important. You can do it.