Feel like I'm never going to be at my goal

As you said, you've only been doing this a week. It didn't take a week to gain the weight, and it will take longer than a week to lose it. You've made good steps so far, especially switching to water.

Use this site to help you stick to it... the Success Stories thread is really really great. No matter how hard it is, keep up the walking... you'll soon find it will be easier and that will feel ssooooooo good!

Slow and steady wins the race... especially as a lifestyle change. You can do this! :flowerforyou:

At your weight, it's probably best to not go into an extreme exercise routine right now. Start out slow, working out 2 times a week at short intervals. Then when you can easily do that, move up to 3 and 4 times a week. Endurance doesn't come overnight, it's consistency that builds it. You have to learn to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Wear the sweat like a badge if honor.

Right now--work on your calorie intake by following MFP. 96 percent of weight loss comes from eating less. Exercise is to put you in shape and burn calories, thereby speeding up your weight loss, (if you're not over eating your workouts?) It's very important that you find an exercise program that you like doing. Not everyone likes to run. I have to work out with others or I won't. My husband has a complete gym downstairs, but I get bored on machines, so Jazzercise is it for me. I am kind of a social person so it gives me time with the gals.

Healthy Choice dinners, if you don't like to cook. It's all about portion control. Going on weird diets, that eliminates food while bulking up on another only add weight in the long run.

Just eat less and move more--and you'll be on your way. Be patient and consistent.

My neighbor has lost 105 lbs. 3 years ago she had trouble walking 3 houses to the corner, she now walks 6 miles a day, and works out at the gym. She loves it and is just now your weight. Its only been a week, just make up your mind and everyday will improve. Remember, the changes you make need to be life style changes, don't deny yourself something if it will not be sustainable. Slow, steady, moderation and sustainable are the words you need to have on your mind when you make changes.

Great job, on making the decision to get healthy!

You have walked anywhere from 20-28 miles this week. Did you do that last week? It doesn't matter if you're slow, you are doing it.

Try jogging for 30 seconds at a time. Then walk for a minute or two until you catch your breath, then jog for 30 seconds. You will get there. After a week, jog for 45 seconds and walk for a minute. And so on, and so on. You don't have to run a 5k your first day. Look up C25K (couch to 5k), they use the same cycling of jog/walk as I put above. Maybe not the same times, but it's the basic format for that program.

As for your food, maybe sit down one day and plan out your meals for the week. Make them and put them into single serve containers in the freezer. Then each day, just take one out for lunch and eat that.

The frozen meals (Lean Cuisine) tend to have quite a bit of sodium. So if you start with that, just become aware of your sodium intake. Drink lots of water, both while walking and with all your meals.

Add a bit of lemon to your water. It makes it taste a bit fresher. Also look up other combinations of veges to put in water and try those. Sometimes variety takes away the dullness of "water again???"

Just want to say, you can do it! The more you work at it, the easier it will get.

There's a lot of brilliant resources on this site, so use it to your full advantage.

If you need any encouragement or motivation, feel free to friend me!

Welcome and good on you for starting your journey!

I'm a walker aswell, I refuse to run. I see the same articles "Start walking, lose 20 lbs in a month" and crap like that. To me walking is a way to work every part of my body (I swing my arms like a crazy person when walking ).

Your legs burn because they are getting a good work-out, most likely! Just make sure you have some really good shoes, since most walking nowadays is on asphalt. It's better to invest in some good shoes than to be in constant pain when walking

When you get to the point of "I don't want to anymore" Just think of your goal and the minutes of mental exhaustion will be soo worth it in the end

Also, I set myself mini-goals where you treat yourself to something (saw a thread on this just today). That make it more worth it and you won't feel like it is such a long way to go.

You can do it!

Shoes are really a personal preference. What works for me doesn't work for someone else. If the Sketchers work for you, great. If not, don't be afraid to try other brands.

Here's a WebMD article on choosing shoes.

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/choosing-best-workout-shoes

When I started I was overwhelmed by the number of pounds to loose and would have my doubts about getting there. What is working for me is setting myself smaller goals of 10 pounds. Focussing on those 10, once I get to that goal I plan the next 10 pounds. I reward myself at each goals, I have a bracelet that I love and each small goals I achieve I get myself a trinket to add to it. It is a reminder of what I achieved.

I am loosing slowly also getting use to my new eating habits which I know will be this way for the years to come.

Best of luck you will get there may it be one step at a time or 10 pounds.

Tabitha - you're doing great! When I get sore, I just figure it's my fat crying out, trying to make me settle down so it doesn't have to disappear. LOL! One thing to be careful of - it's absolutely awesome to be so motivated that you push through some muscle soreness. But really listen to your body - if things get sore and stay that way OR if its more than soreness, please see a doctor. I've got stories about people who didn't listen, and they ended up 'benched' for longer than they should have been.

You're doing awesome - you'll be so glad you decided to do something about your fitness. Just remember, it took a long time to get to your current fitness level - it'll take a long time to get to the one you want. In my case, it took 13 years to get to over 200 pounds. I'm fortunate that it's only taken about a year to get back into a size 10 pants.

Keep it up, beautiful! :flowerforyou: