Todays my first day BUT....

it's not what you eat...it's how much you eat.

don't view food as "crappy" it's not...it is a fuel for your body.

All food has some value. You will find some people here who say carbs are bad, sugar is bad, fat is bad...imho none of it's bad.

This morning I am having fruit loops with milk and toast with butter for my breakfast.

Just follow a reasonable calorie deficet...in other words don't starve yourself...eat food but be in that deficet that you are given. Log everything you eat and if possible get a food scale and weigh your food as measuring doesn't cut it.

If you want to exercise do so for health and fitness and log it and eat back some of those calories as MFP is usually too high.

I lift weights for my exercise but it's because I love being strong...I however started with short walks...20mins, then did Wii dance for 20mins when it got too cold, then I did some bodyweight challenages, then moved to videos (Jillian Michael's 30 day shred) then moved to weight lifting.

There are tonnes of videos online that are short (fitnessblender.com) if you want to exercise, lots of sites with bodyweight exercises but find something you love and do that regardless what it is.

Motivation for me is all internal...I just want it.

First I would suggest reading this post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

You can eat what you had been eating, just less of it. Track your food and start researching healthier options so you can start making a shopping list for next month. Eating healthier options like fruits, veggies, lean protein sources, and healthy fats can help you feel better, but isn't necessary to start. Small changes in your habits will help you make long term changes. You don't need to give up things you enjoy, unless you find that they trigger poor decisions that lead you to go over calorie goal repeatedly.

It can be hard to stay motivated at times, but the community here is great for support. Changes will come at different rates for different people. I would HIGHLY suggest taking some "starting" photos and then do progress pics every month or so. Sometimes the scale doesn't do what you think it should, but the progress can be seen in the photos. It is difficult to see the changes just looking at yourself in a mirror. Side by side photos really highlight the changes.

Welcome to MFP and congratulations on taking the first steps!

You've started very well. There's no bad food. Use your food... just eat less of it. Heck you might not even need to just eat one sandwich... but only 2 instead of 3.

Just set a goal with MFP, weigh and log everything you eat, and you'll see you don't have to starve yourself to lose weight... just eat less.

If you have your receipt, why don't you return unopened foods to the store where you bought them...things like chips, packaged cookies, etc., if they may be a trigger for you. Other than that I agree with everyone else - eat what you want in smaller portions. Weight/measure your food so you know exactly how much you're eating. Best of luck! You took the hardest step which is the first one.

What are foods that I could put on my next shopping list?
maybe quick meals i can make for the month?
i heard nuts, lean meats (chicken, fish, Turkey etc)..

I bought a good amount of chocolate pudding, yogurts and stuff of that nature.
So should I just eat half of 1 a day. ? thanks so much for everyones support

You want to try to get filling, lower calorie foods, and a lot of protein - Greek yogurt, nuts, cheese, lean meat, fish, veggies and fruit (I don't eat that much fruit though). You can definitely eat one chocolate pudding or yogurt a day, no problem though... as long as it fits in your calories and you're not too hungry.

I agree with returning some stuff if you're not sure you'll be able to resist though. But yes... I ate horribly before I started this too.

You really can eat anything...in reasonable amounts. The trick is in learning what a real portion size is. So get a food scale, use it and measuring cups and be brutally honest with logging what you eat.
Your calorie limit as set is probably fine for you right now, at the weight you're starting at. As you lose, you will need to lower it as you go, but I think you're good to start.
Be patient with yourself, make good food choices, move more...and you can do this!

I was going to reply but after reading the responses I realized everything had already been said. You have taken the first step and that is HUGE. I will tell you this is a lifelong process that won't always be easy but it will be so worth it.

I have been on my journey for over 2 yrs. I got stuck and it has actually taken me 1 yr to get off the last 25 lbs. The things that keep me going are my wife, my kids, my MFP friends, the NSV's (non scale victories). My first was when I realized my stomach didn't touch the steering wheel when I drove

Another thing I realized is that it's people like you that keep me motivated. I see you just starting out and I want/hope to be an inspiration for people, so I keep going.

I am sending a friend request. You are a beautiful girl and I would very much like to help in any way I can.

You've gotten some great advice already. Just a couple of thoughts to add:

Motivation has to come from within. Sounds like you've got that. But there are a few tricks that are useful. If you're at your daily calorie limit and you're tempted to eat more, think about how you'll feel tomorrow, and about your long-term goal. Sometimes people mistake thirst for hunger: if you're hungry between meals, drink a glass of water and wait a few minutes. I like to keep celery and pickles around for between-meal snacking, since they don't have many calories and they're filling. (I still log them, though!)

My motivation for losing weight this time around is complex: partly because my blood pressure and cholesterol were getting high, partly because I ride my bike a lot and it's easier to climb hills without excess weight, and partly vanity. I think having several reasons makes it easier to keep going.

As for exercise, the best advice is to find something you like. Otherwise it's too easy to find excuses not to do it. I was a fat, lazy kid, other than occasional walks and hikes, but as an adult I found to my surprise that I really like cycling, swimming, Nordic skiing, and running, and I can tolerate workouts on stationary cycles (when it's too dark or icky outside) and rowing machines. Try a range of things. Walking is fine.

And seconding what others have said about food. Eat what you have, but keep to your limits. If you are adventurous and like to cook, try throwing some homemade vegan food into the mix:
http://theppk.com/

You can find unhealthy vegan food (especially when people try to make it resemble meat and dairy), but it's generally pretty good for you, and it can be tasty.

A few other simple ideas: Hoppin' John is a healthy Southern dish (you can make it with canned black-eyed peas if you want).
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Hoppin-John-241198

Soups are good when you're losing weight, because they fill you up - this African curried chickpea soup is amazing; there are a lot of ingredients, but it's not really hard to make, and it freezes well (I usually make a double batch, then freeze most of it in single-serving containers).
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/African-Curried-Coconut-Soup-with-Chickpeas-352349

Another good quick meal idea: a frittata or omelette (Epicurious has many options). Eggs get a bad rap, but 1 large egg has only 75 calories or so and is very filling. A 3-egg omelette with veggies and diced ham or turkey makes a satisfying meal.

Good luck with your journey!

Hi there!

First off, I am definitely not an expert. I've been working on this since mid-January. I started really slowly, just trying to make the commitment of logging everything I ate. And yes, that means the garbage I ate, too. For instance, I'm a nanny, and yesterday was my charge's 5th birthday. My boss got WAY too much pizza, so she sent me home with entire pepperoni pizza. And yes, I ate 4 slices last night. And I logged it.

One thing that has helped me this time around (yeah, this isn't my first time trying to lose weight) is having friends on here.

I'd say start small. Spend this month logging in every day and logging your food. Check the message boards, and try to learn as much as possible about what you'll want to buy next month.

Good luck!

that's amazing.....good for you for wanting to stop the tradition......best of luck.....feel free to add me.....:)

What are foods that I could put on my next shopping list?
maybe quick meals i can make for the month?
i heard nuts, lean meats (chicken, fish, Turkey etc)..

I bought a good amount of chocolate pudding, yogurts and stuff of that nature.
So should I just eat half of 1 a day. ? thanks so much for everyones support

Definitely go for foods that are high in protein. Protein is like the food of the Gods for people, lol.
You can still eat a full serving cup of pudding/yogurt/whatever. Just make sure to log it and keep it within your calorie goal. You don't have to restrict any kinds of foods. Heck, you can still have McDonald's or Wendy's or whatever, but, as I said, you have to fit it into your calorie goal. Moderation is the key to this. So, for example, you go to McDonald's, instead of getting a super-sized Big Mac meal, get a double cheeseburger and a fruit parfait. It's all about the choices.
Since you already have this month's foods, just eat them. Take note of the things you truly enjoy eating, the foods that make you feel full, etc and work around that.

There's definitely alot of GREAT advice already in this thread. I highly recommend that you read the sexypants thread that has already been linked.

Keep going! Yes, it's going to be a long road, BUT it's a very nice road to be on. Give it time, have patience, and ask questions!
Good luck!

Hi Sweety, today is also my first day! I am 56 yrs old and I weigh 266 lbs. I have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well as high cholesterol, fatty liver, thyroid problems, high blood pressure and asthma! Yah imagine all that! And most of it is from being overweight and not doing any kind of exercise! If I can do this then you can do it! My advice is for you to basically clean your house of all the fatty foods and don't bring anything that isn't fat free or low fat or sugar free or all natural into your house! I have a tread mill that I will start out with 10 min. three times a day GOD willing I can handle that much exercise! I hope you will be successful with your healthier lifestyle !

Desert connector :flowerforyou:

Since you only shop once per month I would say:

frozen veg and fruit
lean meats
eggs (a good option are the cartons of egg whites they have a longer expiry date on them and good protein source and typically I eat 1/4 cup of these every morning) the carton lasts over a week.
instead of regular bacon or sausage opt for turkey bacon and sausage (I typically precook the entire package then I can just grab one portion in the morning)
rice (opt for brown if you want but white rice is okay just watch your portion sizes as with anything)
pastas (I buy whole wheat or multi grain)
whole wheat or multi grain breads or buns (you can freeze this and just grab a slice or two as you need it and toast it)
beans or lentils
oatmeal

Fruit and veg I find that have a "longer shelf life" are:
root veg (potatoes, turnips, sweet potatoes, carrots)
apples

If you have a blender smoothies are a great way to use your frozen fruit and you can add spinach or kale (which you could wash and prepare and freeze if necessary)

As you get used to logging you will learn the calorie values of foods and what works for you.

I recommend doing things like homemade soups - you can get a lot of nutrients with the mixture of veggies and add a lean protein

try to opt for low sodium when buying pre packaged things

good luck OP!

Also sorry I forgot to add - you can eat what you currently have just use moderation and careful logging

You can prepare any meals you like just figure out the portion sizes and calories - if you can just portion it out into proper sized meals and put the containers in the fridge or freezer for future use