Here I go again!

I'm right there with you Paula!!! I wake up ready to go and by early evening...I lose that motivation. Why don't you friend me and let's see if we can motivate each other on this journey? I'm so ready for a different outcome. :happy:

Me too. I"m 41 and as age is creeping on, so are the pounds!

Let's keep in touch and support each other. We can do it!!

That makes FIVE of us.

Hi I have been down this road before, I have lost weight kept it off for a while and then figured I am good I can go back to my old habits and lifestyle for a while, well a while turns into forever and the pounds I lost are found again and they bring friends along with them. I have tried several plans, I counted points, did low fat, low carb, you name it. I find I do the best when I log what I eat, I guess it makes me think about what I eat knowing I will see it online. I adjusted my diet to 1200 calories at 40% protein, 40% carb and 20% fat, this makes me really think about what I eat and keeps me off the processed foods.

I would like to shed 50-60 pounds but figured I would tackle it 15 pounds at a time. I started my journey on Saturday, March 22.

We can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm with you all! I used to train and then was rear ended and have had neck and back pain. It's been 4 years and I'm now flabby and have gained 15 lbs. and lost motivation. Pain isn't as bad or I'm just used to it now so I'm back. I've been power walking and just got a kettlebell. I'm excited!

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. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. 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/

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

Too Long to read it all? Stop falling off the cart. Make it easier to stay on this time so it's sustainable long term.

Retreads need to stick together! This is my second try on MFP. Last time, a couple years back, I lost 40 lbs. Then, I took a new job and let it take over my life. Before I knew it, I'd regained 22 of those pounds! On 1/6/14, I decided to come back and I've lost 12 pounds since then. This time around, I started using the social network part of the site and have to say it's so much easier this way. Every day, I get multiple supportive likes, comments, and messages and they boost my motivation and confidence that I can finally reach my goal weight and be healthy again! I'll send you a friend request and anyone else can feel free to add me.

start by writing down what you eat here and use small portions so you will know what you need to change
keep an open diary so friends can advice you as well
if you don't feel like working out ... well ... don't then ...but at least go for an hour walk everyday

remember that you cant expect anything different by not doing changes in your habits

I think we have all been here before. This is my second time. Lost all the weight and ofcourse put it back on, Feel free to add me.. I need all the motivation that i can get.
-Chika

what a great post! Nice to see someone so honest

you can add me if you want im trying to stay active