A whole lot to lose and feeling somewhat overwhelmed!

Looking at the long term goal can definitely be overwhelming. I myself am trying to take it in smaller chunks. Right now my goal is to get back into "one-derland." Then I'll figure out my next goal from there.
Good luck with your journey! Feel free to add me

hi elizabeth, read success stories when you need motivation or are faltering. sooo many people have been successful with this. read the posts recommended. remember, as others have alluded to, that it isn't an all or nothing goal. you will be happier in 2 weeks, even, and much happier in 2 months, 5 months, etc. you get rewarded for your effort all along the way, in the way you feel, the way you look, and your overall health.
also, shortly after I joined mfp at the end of april, a woman wrote in a thread that her husband had told her not to think of it as how far you have to go. think of it as a journey home. you are slowly, steadily making your way back to YOU - the REAL you, the person you can be, living a fuller, healthier life

Hi Elizabeth, I have a whole lot to lose also. I have been like a yo yo and so I've decided to look at it a little differently. Trying to look at all the weight I need to lose makes me feel that I can't do it. So I am making small goals for myself. 90 days from today is October 28. You can change a lot in 90 days. That's what I'm going to do, try to make some changes in 90 days. I'm sending a friend request. Accept it if you like. I'm the old one here.

Everybody has to start somewhere and why not here for you? Just keep going, be aware of what you eat, and exercise. I'm in the holy crap I have alot to lose club too.

I just read through all the posts to you and was encouraged myself. I started a few weeks ago at 260 and am down to 255...I also have a long way to go. So much good advice...especially taking it slow and a day at a time. I am going back to my Y next week to start water aerobics...I have been in the class before and it is a good place to start along with walking. You have taken the first step and that is AWESOME!! We are all on this journey together...through good days and bad, the ups and downs through thick and thin (smile). Please add me as a friend

I am overwhelmed too! I need to lose 40lbs and have been trying for the last 4 months but have lost nothing. I have just started logging in my food, I joined months ago for the weightloss graph which is pretty much a straight line. The amount of calories in "healthy" foods is shocking. Losing weight is overwhelming because there are so much contradictory information, what is a healthy food nowadays seems kind of mixed up too. Gluten, sugar, GMOs! What are you supposed to eat? I've heard it's normal to be a little hungry that's how you know it's working, but also have heard you should not be hungry or you will binge eat. My husband overheard a trainer say losing weight is 85%what you eat and the rest exercise! but I've heard lots of people say they work out a lot so they can eat whatever they want and not gain weight. Trying to figure out how many calories are in meals you cook is very crazy. Do you weigh raw meat or cooked? How are you supposed to know the serving sizes of the meal? I have been measuring it in measuring cups before anyone eats it, but if my husband gets a plate before I measure it....well I get overwhelmed!

To break down your questions/concerns:

1) "Healthy foods" are nutrient dense. The majority of what you eat should be lean meats, whole grains, fruits, veggies, and fats that are not trans fats. Gluten and sugar are only a problem for a few people who either have celiac disease or diabetes. Exactly how harmful GMO's are depends on who you talk to but you probably can't avoid them.

2) You can lose weight without exercise. You fit the calories in based on your energy expenditure. Sometimes exercising in order to eat more can develop an unhealthy attitude where food is used as a reward rather than fuel. Exercise DOES help retain muscle mass and releases endorphins that can make you feel better. It really helps to figure out a way to move more but is not critical to losing.

3) Figuring out meals can be easier if you weigh everything raw before putting it together. If you cook up a large piece of meat and everyone takes a piece of it, then weigh what you took cooked. Just be sure you use the proper database entry (rew or cooked). Use the recipe builder to figure out how many calories are in the entire recipe before making it, then decide how many servings you will divide it into and enter that into the recipe. You now know how many servings it has and you can then take 1/4 (or whatever serving size) for yourself. This is much easier than trying to weigh or measure after preparation.

I hope this helps. Like I said to the OP, baby steps. Get into the habit of weighing, measuring, and logging what you eat, then tweak it to fit your calorie and macro goals. Try to switch home cooked nutrient dense foods for fast food or over-processed less nutritious foods. Find ways to move more. Assuming that is your child in your avatar, take him/her to the park more and play, walk the long way to the mailbox (like leave the back door and walk around to the front). Someone else said that this is not a big lifestyle change, it is a series of little changes so start by making one little change, then adding in more.

Add me if and I can motivate. I had to recreate my account and lost all my friends.