Hi, I'm lost

OP. I started at 337.

It's possible. It sucks at the first, but it becomes habit. I've picked up a few things since I've done this... and I post this same thing all over the place.

It might help here too:

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. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
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 to stay on.

Best of luck. You deserve a new you and I know that you WANT the change. Make it manageable and it will certainly stick.

I have struggled all my life with my weight as well. I wasn't able to start pulling things together until I was 50. Like you, I've been overweight all my life and couldn't remember ever being a normal weight. I pretty knew what to eat and that I needed to exercise. I'm good at losing weight - I've probably lost 300-500 pounds over my life. The problem is always put it right back on. My main problem was me. I would sabotage myself at every turn. It was like one side of my brain wanted to make changes and the other side thought there was no hope, and so would sabotage every effort. Then when I failed again, I would tell myself "see I knew you couldn't do it." Then I felt even worse. I tried to "get motivated," but that never came. One day I woke up and realized that I was ruining my body. I had a real fear that I wouldn't live very long at my current pace. I told myself, "ok girl, you can either get busy living or get busy dying." In that moment I realized that I really wanted to live a full life. I guess all I can say is you have to change your mindset, make small changes, and do it over and over and over.

Part of the change in my mindset is that I realized I couldn't do it alone. I'm just not strong enough. I had a revival of my spirit and turned back to God for help. I'm not saying you have to go to church. But I do think that you have to find something that you can put your trust in, and for me that was God.

On the ground level here's what I actually put in my mouth. I decided to try clean eating habits. I've tried diet foods all my life and I've only gained weight, been unsatisfied, and I don't like how diet food tastes. I decided to push vegetables and fruits, while cutting back on meat. I try to avoid processed foods and diet foods as much as possible.

I would love to friend you and support you how I can.




Love this post- Im exactly the same-age,weight,faith and food....