Freaking out a little over how to diet!!?? HELP!

I'd start with planning healthier meals for your family. It'll benefit everybody involved. And as far as eating the right amount of calories... yeah you'll probably lose weight, but it won't be healthy. I'm not a big fan of veggies and I've dieted before and not eaten many veggies or fruit and still lost the weight.

yes you can lose weight by staying within the calories that are set for you. The moving and cutting out pop all helps.

It's just portion control and calorie control.

Hello and welcome,
As long as you are not going over on your calorie intake and you keep up with your exersice you should be fine.
Lots of fruits and veggies and lots of watter.
Don't forget to pay close attention to not having too many fatning foods.
slow and stedy is the best way. You might have bad days but insted of getting discuraged just say ok I messed up and now i'm gonna fix it. With that in mind move forward and keep at it and soon enough you will be loosing weight.
Good Luck!!

What you're doing right now is creating a lifestyle change and you're doing it well!:flowerforyou: You've added in workouts, cut out pop and nightime snacking (you can most definitely eat healthy snacks or portion out less healthy snacks), coming here for help and joining this site to log and keep track.

I don't see that you're doing anything wrong starting out, many ppl simply eat smaller portions of what they ate before, moderation really is the key to all this changing of habits. Lose the word 'diet' and you'll be set:flowerforyou:

As time goes on you might find you enjoy healthier choices for dinner more and begin to incorporate them for family meals and bring your family along for the ride. It often works that way with folks on here. But to start out you've really made huge strides and you don't have a thing to worry about because you ARE doing it, you're making changes and you're in the midst of changing your lifestyle already!:flowerforyou:

I don't know if 1200/1450 is the proper cals for you, if that's what MFP has suggested then I say go for it:drinker:

To answer your question you will most definitely see losses with all the changes you have made, just keep track of your sodium with the family dinners and be sure it's not to high, if so you can switch things up abit there.

I'm so proud of all that you've already accomplished, you're gonna be just fine!!!

EDIT: oh and don't forget to get plenty of water in each day to flush out the toxins and simply because our body needs it and loves it!

Have a seriously picky eleven year old and I've been trying to make subtle changes to meals we already eat like whole wheat bread instead of white, mission brand carb smart wheat tortillas instead of the regular white flour tortillas and so on. It's slowly getting easier.

The day after I started my lifestyle change, I went to the grocery store and bought all healthy items for me. We're a family of 5, so I know what you mean about preparing food. I've been on this site for 8 days now and I've lost 6lbs by watching what I eat- always portioning everything out. I never used to be a breakfast person either until I started doing this- a cup a coffee is all I used to have. Now I have a cup of Raisin Bran and a cup of 1% milk. For lunch, I'll have lots of veggies (raw celery, carrots, cucumber) with light Ranch and a sandwich. For dinner it's a little tough.. sometimes we might go to Subway or I'll have some grilled chicken breast with steamed veggies. You literally have to keep an eye on everything you make your food with. Drink lots of water- I've never drank this much water in my life.

I had to cut out soda and all that sugar.

Congrats to you on the lbs lost Hon!:flowerforyou:

OK I have a question.. (I AM VERY NEW TO DIETING) which I don't even know now if I am realIy dieting...

I started working out 60min a day everyday since the 20th.. I cut out pop and night snackin.. I was not eating breakfast or lunch usually... but now I am as (I have read) this helps you lose weight.. smaller but more meals.. I am still eating the things I was eating for dinner (as I have a family of 6 and it's hard and costly to make two meals... but I have keep my calories at 1200/1450.. so far... by a lot smaller portions of our dinner, and eating fruit and salads during the day.

So my question is can I keep losing weight this way??? Can I eat what I want to as long as I keep the calories down? How do you plan out what you are going to eat for each week week?? And how did you start eating right??? This is going to be the hard part for me.. i really have no idea where to start!! Is there a menu planner here??

If you figure out your daily cals I know there are a number of suggestions for menu's for say 1500, 1200, cal etc. meals in the archives.. Let me know what you're looking for or any of us and we can bump it for you. I don't mind at all. Google also is very helpful in that as I'm sure the ones I've shared on here originally came from there. :flowerforyou:

Its not like a 'diet' plan per se like something you've have used in the past but it gives you ideas on what/how to plan your meals when you have 1200 cals to eat a day or 1500 or whatever you are allotted. Some great ideas on those threads.

Actually lots of really good ideas ppl have shared before you that others have ask about 'lunch ideas', snack ideas', healthy dinners' that the whole family will eat. Many on here have learned to switch their whole family over to healthier meals and the family has not all flipped out. Crockpot meals go over well and it amazes me how some kids have adapted quite well to veggies I've not even tried out myself. Just don't call it 'diet' food and sometimes even the word 'healthy scares those that don't understand 'healthy can mean yummy! LOL

To answer your questions :
"So my question is can I keep losing weight this way??? *More than likely but everyone is different its best to talk to your Physician and work with a Nutritionist.*
Can I eat what I want to as long as I keep the calories down? *Not usually...and as soon as you slip up the weight will more than likely come back, Your food choices need to provide as much nutrition as possible, empty calories are really wasted calories in my honest opinion so choose wisely for healthy reasons not just weight loss its a lifestyle change to live longer and more productive*
How do you plan out what you are going to eat for each week week?? I dont really plan by the week I take every day as a new day and every meal is thought out prior to putting anything in my mouth. I always need to ask myself why am I eating is it because Im hungry or stressed etc.*
And how did you start eating right??? * I just did it I didnt want food to have that much power over my day and life.*
This is going to be the hard part for me.. i really have no idea where to start!! Is there a menu planner here?? * I dont think there is a menu here Ive never seen one but there is recipe section. I think your over analyzing it all just relax and make every choice a good choice and its not important to label your new changes a "diet" I think its best to say your just realizing how important it is to take care of your body and encourage your family to do the same*....good luck Mya