My name is Mike and I weigh 400 lbs

You've made the commitment to yourself - that's the most important thing. I never paid attention to what I ate, but just the act of entering every single item I ate made me stop and focus on the fact food has nutritional qualities that are just as important as tasting delicious.

You'll be able to do this.

Also - if you're craving the carbonation - sparkling water will give you flavor, fizzy's and no calories.

HI Mike! Fellow redditor here and long time user of reddit.com/r/keto, which I highly recommend. Feel free to add me if you'd like some support!

Hi Mike my name is Mary. I've only been on MFP for less than a month but already I am feeling better. Logging in all your food helps to keep you aware of what you're really eating - you know a cookie here a pepsi there it all adds up. I just wanted to say don't become discouraged - I have been very thin and very fat but you just have to decide you want to do it. I too have trouble exercising my advise would be take short walks a few times a day. I try to go out and walk for 15 minutes at least 3 times everyday. Also google chair aerobics there are some really good exercises you could doing sitting to reduce the stress on your legs (doing them myself they are great). Good luck and hang in there I am cheering for you.

Welcome Mike, baby steps in the right direction add up overtime. With a little effort and the desire you will accomplish your goal. weightloss for me at least has been hard and the progress slow. I slip up all the time but reminding myself that I took my whole life thus far to get to this size, makes me feel like if I dedicate a few years if necessary to lose the weight and make myself healthy then it is worth it. The people here are awesome, so if your desire is to become healthier you are in pretty good company!

I wish you great success! This has been a good place to be accountable for what you eat and how much you move. It's definitely kept me on track without becoming obsessed with it.
Please feel free to add me as a friend. I recently started on MFP and only have a few friends, but they it's nice to be supportive by people who understand. You can do this :happy:

~Lauren

Welcome Mike! This is a great site for motivation! Walking is an excellent way to start!

Welcome! I just joined MFP yesterday, so I'm completely new here, too. Feel free to add me, and I sure wish you all the best on your weight loss and fitness journey! I'm sure you'll do wonderfully with all the great people here supporting you.

Hello Mike!
I myself am working to lose 100 lbs.
The people here are great.
Put any advice for extreme or fad diets out the window!
Set your activity level and weight in MFP then simply eat at or less than the goals.
Until I started logging my food with MFP I really had no idea how much I was eating.
You'll do great!

Mike you can do this! Move when you can and for as long as you can. I think giving up soda and tracking how much you eat is a huge step toward making healthy changes. Feel free to add me as a friend. I can't say enough about the support I have received from MFP friends as I work toward my goal.

Hello Mike!!!

I sent you a request.

I am in a very similar situation as you are. I'm a bit older, 37, but I'm a 5 foot 9 inch female and I have a lot of weight to lose myself. I started out at 414 pounds. God that sounds terrible when you say it and see it in type. How did I ever let myself get that way? Unhealthy habits! That is how.

I'm down to 389 right now. I've been only focusing on food and just now starting to exercise as of August 1st. I started May 1st. I've tried it all. I've tried Atkins and while I lost a lot of weight fast as soon as I stopped I out it back on plus another 10-40 pounds depending which time I did atkins. Atkins is a very nasty cycle. Fast loss but as soon as you go off it out of maintenance phase you gain it back. I've lost a lot and gained a lot with atkins. It is no longer my friend haha.

I've found the best way is for the right way. Watch calories and try to do a little exercise. As for the walking.... I have found Asics to have the best support for us biggest folks. I never thought a brand mattered much. Until I found them. Most beans don't get better as you go up in cost. They just get pricier. Asics actually go up in comfort and support as you go up in cost. I have 8 pairs of them now. Different styles. Like I said, they're the best I've found for heavy folks. Gel Cumulus are a good cushy and supportive style they make. I on,y have one pair of their most expensive brand but the shock support is WELL worth it. They retail for $200 but you can find a bargain on amazon or ebay or ASIC outlet stores. They are style Kinsei 5 .... 4 was good too but no longer made. My shins and legs kill me. But my shoes really make a difference. If you want to know other styles or anything just ask me. I'm fairly knowledgable with them. (No I don't work for Asics either lol)

In the past 3 months I have learned to spread my meals out throughout the day and eat more. I was a starve myself then eat one big meal at night. It's taken me 3 months to make this a habit to constantly eat. In that 3 months I lost 25 pounds. However, even still after 3 months of empty new "habit" if I don't carefully watch myself I could easily slip right back into my old ways. I get busy and I forget to eat. Then by time I realize I'm hungry it was 3pm and I figured why eat now cause dinner is in a few hours lol.

I'm struggling every day with my own demons, we all have them. I'm not an emotional eater or a bored eater. I only drink water by the tons a day or tea and if I sweeten it I use liquid Kal brand stevia.

I read you have issues with the caffeine in the morning and drink black tea. Here's a helpful hint..... Add a Mate tea in with your black tea or just make Mate tea instead. It has as much caffeine as coffee!!! you can get them flavored in lots of favors.

I have been weighing everything and scanning every box code on my healthy choice meals or lean cuisines. Sometimes I'll add a garden salad to dress up my box meal.

The best thing I can give you as advice is if you want something eat it, example pizza, just don't eat the whole pizza. Have one slice with a salad and some fruit. You can still have everything you love, just in moderation.

I know I have only lost 25 pounds like this ... But this is the longest I've stuck anything out and I have made it a slow and steady life change. It took me 37 years to get here. It won't be an overnight change. It will take me years, but I'm going to be much happier and healthier. I already am much happier with just my small changes.

Please accept my request and we can motivate each other. I'd love to be your diet buddy!!!!

PS my name is Lynn .... Nice to meet you,