Please.. Help me?

Welcome back! Check out this super helpful link to get you started. You can do this, OP!

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

I am sending you an invitation to my group.. we can help.

It works. It WILL take time though. I'm down a lot of weight, but I don't really see the difference in the mirror yet, this is a long-haul thing, so you will definitely need patience.

DEEP BREATH!!!!

Yes counting calories work if you really count the calories!! Its simple formula of calories in vs calories out. You don't have to "diet" just eat smaller portions. Be more mindful of the types of food you eat (less processed foods, less chemicals, less sugar (HFCS), less bad fats). Do that and move more and you will see change. But you did not gain over night and you will not lose over night. Its a slow process - a marathon not a sprint. If you truly want it you will succeed. But understand you will have bad days and you will have good days. Don't look at the finish line... look at today - look at how you can change today then carry it on to tomorrow!!!

Also, seek the advice of a nutritionist to help you if you feel overwhelmed. You can do this!!! Good luck!!

I have been on diets for most of my 56 yrs, the best way to lose weight is to change the type of foods you eat and to get support. I went to weight watchers for awhile and it changed to way I looked at food. I started choosing healthier foods. Making sure you record every thing you eat so you are aware of all your choices. It is a life change some of us has to stick to for our entire life. So don't cry just make up your mind that this is what I am going to do and do it. Good Luck!!

The biggest key is to first become conscious of what you're eating. When you first start, just really pay attention to what you're putting in your mouth. Ask yourself if you're really hungry or just eating because of emotional reasons. Find out what you eat too much of. Do you drink a lot of caloric drinks? Just limiting those can really have an impact. Honestly, before counting calories I lost a boat load of weight just by working out more, cutting out caloric drinks, and eating less. The hardest part isn't what to eat, but being able to stop when you really should stop. I have an iron stomach and can eat more than almost anyone in the world. It was, and still can be, very tough to stop myself.

This this this! When I started, I just started logging my food. I ate the same things I always have, not trying to stay under any certain amount of calories or anything. As I became aware of what I was eating, I was able to make changes to stay within the calories I needed to in order to lose.

Don't get overwhelmed by this process. You can take it a step at a time. You can eat the foods you like in smaller portions and slowly add things to your diet to give you more healthy options. You don't have to eat 100% healthy and you don't have to be perfect 100% of the time.

^ This (and the rest of Dianne's post) is great advice. Don't think about THE DIET and then freak out. Think about eating what you are eating now, only less of it, and gradually swap in some healthier alternatives over time.

For many people, "diet" means restrictions; it means cutting things out, having no fun, renouncing pleasures. Those people may lose weight when on that diet, but when they reach their goal, they give up the restrictions and end up gaining the weight back. Those who are successful think of "diet" in terms of the food that they eat on a regular basis, and that they follow all of their life. If you want to not only lose weight but also keep it off, it helps to reframe what the word "diet" means, so that it is closer to the second.

I've lost over 50 lb. in the last 16 months by eating less, but I haven't cut anything out of my diet. I eat chocolate from time to time, I have bacon, I spread butter over my toast and cream cheese over my bagels. I have a drink or two most days. I just eat less of everything, and pay more attention to whether I am truly hungry or whether I just feel like eating because something looks good or I want a distraction.

Veggies are good, but you can take it slow with them. Eat the ones you like, and try small portions of new ones. It takes 12-20 tries before most people learn to like a new food (unless it's full of fat and sugar), so don't give up easily.

You can do it if you put your mind to it! It's not easy, but it can be done. Good luck!

For me carbohydrates are not nice / good for me. I can eat same amount of calories but if my carbs are too high I will not lose. I talked with a dietitian and what I generally follow is eat three meals, each meal should you should not have more than 45 carbs, I eat three snacks per day (morn, afternoon, evening) each snack should not be over 15 carbs. You are welcome to look at my diary if you want. This has helped me. Everyone is different but you might try this. Also make sure you have protein at every meal, if you don't get protein you may not feel as full. Sometimes I use almonds 1/2 serving of cocoa roasted almonds to get me past a "I want something" craving.

Apples and bananas are great! I particularly like the "Pink Lady" variety of apple if you can find them at your store!

As far as other veggies go, maybe try 1 new one a week. Or blend them up with some yogurt and a little juice and drink them. Or just stick with what you like.

You're going to do great. Add me if you like and we can help each other. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying and that's all any of us can do, right?

You've had a ton of great advice. I definitely think starting by just logging and going for a bit of a deficit, but just having the kind of things you normally would is a great way to start, once you start to make progress and your head gets in it you might find you naturally start making healthier choices, I do :-)

Don't get overwhelmed by this process. You can take it a step at a time. You can eat the foods you like in smaller portions and slowly add things to your diet to give you more healthy options. You don't have to eat 100% healthy and you don't have to be perfect 100% of the time.

^ This (and the rest of Dianne's post) is great advice. Don't think about THE DIET and then freak out. Think about eating what you are eating now, only less of it, and gradually swap in some healthier alternatives over time.

For many people, "diet" means restrictions; it means cutting things out, having no fun, renouncing pleasures. Those people may lose weight when on that diet, but when they reach their goal, they give up the restrictions and end up gaining the weight back. Those who are successful think of "diet" in terms of the food that they eat on a regular basis, and that they follow all of their life. If you want to not only lose weight but also keep it off, it helps to reframe what the word "diet" means, so that it is closer to the second.

I've lost over 50 lb. in the last 16 months by eating less, but I haven't cut anything out of my diet. I eat chocolate from time to time, I have bacon, I spread butter over my toast and cream cheese over my bagels. I have a drink or two most days. I just eat less of everything, and pay more attention to whether I am truly hungry or whether I just feel like eating because something looks good or I want a distraction.

Veggies are good, but you can take it slow with them. Eat the ones you like, and try small portions of new ones. It takes 12-20 tries before most people learn to like a new food (unless it's full of fat and sugar), so don't give up easily.

You can do it if you put your mind to it! It's not easy, but it can be done. Good luck!

The biggest problem I see with people getting started is they think it has to be all or nothing. IF you say no to something that you love, and you know in your heart it is not forever, than you will go back to eating unhealthy portions of the things you love. You can have whatever you want if you have portion control. Just remember that many unhealthy foods do not fill you up and keep you full, so you will learn quickly how to eat something that will fill you up as well as eat what you want. Do not deprive yourself of things you know you cannot stay away from for life. If I really want something that is high calorie I will exercise and log it so It allows me more calories to enjoy it guilt free.

For me, if I am so hungry but close to my daily max in calories, refried beans prevent me from feeling hungry. Although talking to a nutritionist will be helpful, don't trick yourself into thinking that you need to speak with one first and delay starting. Simply start logging your food and activity. Be sure you are looking at the portion size and measuring. Lying about portions will only cause problems for yourself.

DEEP BREATH!!!!

Yes counting calories work if you really count the calories!! Its simple formula of calories in vs calories out. You don't have to "diet" just eat smaller portions. Be more mindful of the types of food you eat (less processed foods, less chemicals, less sugar (HFCS), less bad fats). Do that and move more and you will see change. But you did not gain over night and you will not lose over night. Its a slow process - a marathon not a sprint. If you truly want it you will succeed. But understand you will have bad days and you will have good days. Don't look at the finish line... look at today - look at how you can change today then carry it on to tomorrow!!!

Also, seek the advice of a nutritionist to help you if you feel overwhelmed. You can do this!!! Good luck!!

THIS! Counting calories do work. Like stated above its not going to change in one night. It's a slow process. One step at a time. Don't cut everything out now. Personally, I don't believe that processed food is evil but you should definitely add more fresh food to your diet. Anyway start with one change first because if you try to do it all at once you will find yourself posting this topic again in no time. So start with something like replacing sugary drinks with more water. Try for two weeks or so, you will see changes on your scale from just that change. Then once you got that down move onto the next change. After a while you'll see all the many changes you've made and before you know it you'll be in onederland!!!

You've gotten alot of good advice on here and you have made a good start with seeing the nutritionsist and signing up with MFP, you have the dedication you need, and you can always add friends that will be there for you. I didn't think I would be able to count calories but I have some great friends on here, great motivation, and although I am not loosing weight that fast, I am losing it in a healthy way and making lifestyle changes forever.

Your body will learn to love working out and eating right, and although it won't be right away, it will all soon pay off!

Good luck with everything!

Make small changes that you can keep doing for the rest of your life. I've failed at every diet I've ever done. I'm succeeding this time because I'm eating what makes me happy, just less of it.

Here are the small changes I made each month. It gradually has added up to a better all around way of eating, but I didn't do it all at once. I'm not saying these are the changes you should make, but only a look into changes that you can make:

1st month: Eat at the calorie goal MFP gave me. Don't care what I eat, just so long as it only added up to x calories a day.

2nd month: Looked back at my first month's worth of diary entries and saw I ate a lot a lot of sodium and sugar. Worked to get that under control. I didn't give up processed foods or sugars, just made sure I wasn't eating as much.

3rd month: Worked on increasing my protein intake

4th month: Worked on increasing my veggie intake

And now here I am on my 5th month, and I'm pretty darn happy with where I'm at food wise. I don't feel like I have to make any more changes. Notice I didn't say I got rid of anything totally. i Haven't banished white flour or fat or bread or sugar or chocolate from my diet. I haven't deprived myself of anything. I'm not missing pizza or macaroni and cheese or cheeseburgers, because I make sure I eat them every once in awhile - not every day mind you, but just enough so that I look forward to it and savor every bite. I eat fast food twice a week. I eat chocolate nearly every day (delicious delicious dark chocolate chips). Yup, I could eat this way for the rest of my life, and that's what I plan to do