GETTING STARTED 200 + TO LOOSE

Awwww...a new baby! I LOVE IT!! Listen, anything you can do to move more and eat the correct kinds of foods, is a good thing. You have a little one, so time will be challenging. Why don't you start with drinking at least 64 oz of water a day, and doing some aerobics when you can. Try that for a couple of weeks and then begin to incorporate a meal plan that involves healthy choices! You've made the first step by reaching out, which is a MAJOR step! Kudos to you!

First, great job deciding to take this step to getting healthier!!! Anything you do to move beyond what you are currently doing will be beneficial. When I first started I was just walking on the treadmill for 15 min a day and gradually built up my time, speed and incline. Oh and I have to agree with the other poster about the Jillian DVD's, when I did 30DS the first time it was pretty bad. You will get there. It is a gradual process-BABY STEPS. That goes with cutting your calories too, just start with reducing what you are eating a little bit at a time. Don't make yourself crazy thinking you have to jump all the way in the deep end Small changes that you can sustain will lead to big progress!!!

You can do this!!!!

I agree with checking with your Dr.

I believe you will be most benefitted from finding an activity you can do and enjoy - that way you will not launch into something you are too overwhelmed with and hate. I started at 399 and lost my first 81 pounds through portion control and walking exclusively. I started walking slow -- very slow -- because everything hurt! Slowly as I lost weight I was able to increase speed and distance. I was too embarassed to go to a gym and didn't have the money anyway. I did Walk Away the Pounds, and I walked outside. I cannot say enough about the benefits of an exercise you enjoy.

In my opinion, you can accomplish anything as long as you can stick to it!

Congratulations on your new baby If you are nursing, please talk to your Dr about how many calories you should be consuming to ensure you don't harm your milk production. Take care!

Yes, be careful. Joints, tendons etc need gradual pressure increases. You will just injure yourself. Plus, your fitness levels will increase gradually. It took a while to be where you are, it will take a while to go back. My tips:

1) Make a time and stick to it for your exercise;
2) This is a lifestyle choice NOT a diet. Dieting implies you do not intend to stick to it permanently;
3) Stay away from sugar. This is my no.1 dont as far as my diet is concerned;
4) Fat does NOT make you fat no matter what you may have read or been told. Too many calories is what does it;
5) Log everything;
6) Water - drink it
7) Water - drink more of it;
8)...more than that

You mentioned you feel embarrassed...let me tell you something:

Where I run, I see skinny size 4 women and I see overweight size 22+. I have FAR more respect for those who are overweight and doing something about it because I know what it is like.

It has taken me four years to lose 3 stone due to skeletal imbalance, muscular nervous irregularity and poor dietary choices. But I have lost it none the less.

Set yourself a target of 2lbs a week to lose...I bet you will lose more...

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1153071-phase-one-complete-110-pounds-lost-in-8-months

New baby! Way to go on that front. They are a lot of work, and no one ever tells you that when they are finally old enough to leave home they take your checkbook with them.

1) By all means, get your doctor involved in this process.

2) Whether you know it or not, or believe it or not, you are a perfect candidate for the gym, providing your overall health is good. A good gym will have a program just for people as yourself. They will help you pick the right combination of workouts --lifting + cardio-- that will challenge you without being a threat to your immediate health.

3) Eat at a calorie deficit, and log everything you eat....everything!

4) If you can breastfeed. Not only is this good for your baby, but it is good for you. It helps bond, but a lesser known fact is that breastfeeding uses calories. You are feeding two of you. Not at the calorie level you need of course, but over the months it will add up.

5) Start with little goals. You can lose 10 lbs, I know you can.

Extremely nice post Patrickfish. We wouldn't need to feel embarrassed if there were more men and women like you out there. Just what was needed. And congratulations on your own journey.

When I started, late January 2013, I just started with exercise. I did that for several reasons. First, will power is a finite resource, so I didn't want to change too many things at once. A book I'd read (The Power of Habit) led me to think that a regular exercise routine would help to build my will power, which would then make it easier to change other aspects of my lifestyle. Second, although my weight is a significant issue, I really wanted to improve my health, so again, the exercise seemed like the first thing to tackle. It has been working for me so far. I haven't missed a day of exercise since I started (although when I was sick for a few days I didn't do a lot). I started tracking my food - at first not really trying to keep strict track (i.e. weighing and measuring to the gram), but just to be more aware of what I was eating - using MFP, back in March. I've gradually gotten to where I keep closer track, but I haven't hit the dreaded "plateau", so I'm still not that strict about measuring my food intake. I do try not to "cheat" too much by not entering things. Because I'm exercising as much as I am, I can eat enough food to not feel desperately hungry and still run a calorie deficit. My weight loss hasn't been fast, but over the almost 11 months since I started, I've lost about 3 pounds a month.

As far as the type of exercise - I wanted to do something at home. It's 20+ minutes to go somewhere to work out and having been teased mercilessly about my athletic abilities as a child (even though that was a loooong time ago), I really don't like exercising where others can see me. I had tried using a Wii Fit for a few weeks several years ago and found that I didn't mind doing that, so I bought a used Nintendo Wii, a used Wii Balance Board and the Wii Fit Plus software and just set a goal of doing 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise. Anything further - for instance the yoga, strength & balance exercises that are also part of the Wii Fit software - was optional. I gradually worked up to longer times and harder exercise. At this point, I'm doing at least an hour of Wii Zumba Core every day. I'm still not willing to be in a class with other people - it gets me moving but I know I look awful doing it. I ought to do more yoga and strength training, but...

The exercise, and weight loss, have made a tremendous difference in how I feel. Many fewer aches and pains - although since I keep pushing myself there is usually some ongoing muscle soreness. So, start slow and find something you can stick with.

I got myself a Fitbit One about a month ago. I like having something that tracks my activity and registers the calories I burn. It isn't perfect (it's windy here today, so it thinks I've climbed 72 flights of stairs), but it helps.

My tip is to focus on one thing at a time. Don't try to look after a baby (first priority), watch your diet and do exercises, clean the house, etc etc.. all at the same time. It is GREAT that you are taking the firs step by logging on! and focus on Baby and portion control. If you are a snacker (I was when I was breastfeeding my babes..) have healthy snacks around.
Welcome!

Baby!

I'd go ahead and have your doctor give you the okay for exercise, before anything else.

Maybe make a goal of: "I will log and measure everything I eat for 1 month."
Then evaluate and start to make the changes you want, and your doctor and your friends here on MFP recommend. (Even if it's little things, like, "I will only have one helping of pasta at dinner instead of two and I WILL measure it.") Don't drastically cut your caloric intake and expect good results. Lower it slowly and carefully (like quitting smoking; one fewer cig a day attitude).

If the logging is feeling comfortable, try just walking for 5 minutes everyday (put the baby in the stroller, hand him off to someone, or just walk around the house purposefully while holding him!). After two weeks of that, try walking for ten minutes. Don't even expect to lose weight, because what you want is to build a habit which will get you through any slumpy or bad day.

Little, little goals are and have been my saving grace. If I look at a huge goal, I break down.
Like when I said I would start weight lifting. My first goal was to just walk around my gym's weight room, just ONCE. Then I gradually got more comfortable. I was inspired by this guy at the beginning of my weight loss: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/03/03/game-of-life/


All the best on your journey of healthful motherhood!

Congrats on your baby! If you can't get to the dr yet, why not start something easy, like just going out for a walk? That way you're moving without over doing it? If you live somewhere cold, if you have a local mall, go there and walk, if you're in warmer weather areas, get outside and enjoy.

Set up your profile, see your calories and eat that, don't try to do extreme weight loss plans where they set goals of 1200 or less, drink lots of water and log every.single.bite of food you eat. Get a food scale if you don't have one, they are the best thing to have and are more accurate than eyeballing foods. Good luck and definitely make an appt with a dr!

First of all congrats to you for deciding to make a change. Your health is the best gift you can give yourself and your family and I am starting to realize that myself. I would certainly consult with a physician in regards to your diet, how many calories is suggested especially since you are still considered postpartum. As far as exercise the best way to start working is walking.. you cannot go wrong with walking. You can walk around your neighborhood, the mall or even better since it is the winter months there are workout videos you can do where you walk in home, that is what I am doing when I cannot workout at the gym. I use Leslie Sansone walking workout videos, there are no awkward movements and you can't get the movements wrong. That is a great way to start, see results and build confidence. If you want to join a gym I use Planet Fitness and I love it because it is normal people! I am currently 263lbs so I know how it feels being embarrassed at the gym but I can tell you, there is no embarrassment felt at this gym at all. Whatever you decide to do, start small and build up even if it is working out for 10-15 minutes, it is a start and your body is moving.

Best wishes to you and your family!

Don't get discouraged! It won't happen overnight. You just need to have the correct mindset and remember this is a life style change not I diet! Good luck!