Restarting...150Lbs to lose

We have similar goals, Id love to work together on this!

I want to lose at least 100lbs, so I am with you! I sent a request to you. Anyone else can add me as well.

I'm with you.. gotta get healty!

I also have quite a ways to go in my weight loss journey. Having support on here always makes it easier.

Sounds close to me, only last time I lost weight it wasn't nearly close to 82 pounds, but I did gain everything back, plus 25 pounds. I have over 150 to shed as well, feel free to add me if you want! Support of MFP friends has played a big part in my success this time around.

I can relate to all of this. My story is very similar. I've been on the loss/gain roller coaster all of my life. Ready to get serious and do this the healthy way.... and with friends. We all need that support! I would love to be there for you as you start over.

I have 20 more to go and I cant wait to get into maintenance.I hate eating at calorie deficient .i love food

I would love to use my recent pregnancy as an excuse but to be honest I gained all my weight three years ago. Now it's time pull myself together! It's a lifestyle change that I have needed for some time. Let's do this together!

Feel free to add me. 8)

I am in the same position! Just joined. So nice to know there are other people like me. We can do this. This is my umpteenth attempt. Want it to be just my new lifestyle forever....! Would love new MFP buddies!

I feel your pain. I eat smart for a while then life takes over, I get stressed and I give up. I would love a group of individuals that understands that the loosing process is an emotional struggle as well. Feel free to send me a request and I will be happy to help and to reap the benefits from a goup of like minded people.

just gettijng started myself. Need to stay focused...I guess it's just all about how much you want this. I want this and need to stay strong!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

even though you aren't new, you're getting "back on the horse."

make the horse easier to stay on. Check out some of those tips up there in that link.

If you don't wanna click the link, here's the stuff:
1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. If you ask a question on the forum, give as much information as you can ("yes, I have a food scale and weigh my food" is worlds better than "I eat a palm full of miscellaneous boiled chicken parts..sometimes.")
17. Be honest with yourself and honest with us.
18. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

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

...and here's another approach.

Block off 6 weeks. log EXACTLY what you eat for those six weeks, weigh at the beginning, weight at the end. If you've lost, you're eating under your TDEE. If you haven't lost, congrats.. you found your TDEE, if you've gained... then you're above TDEE.

From there, look at how much you lost or gained and you have a rough estimate of how to shift your intake to balance it out.

Online calculators are great, but they're just estimates. They give you decent ideas for starting points. From there, it's on you to fine tune it.

You already know how to lose weight. Now you need to make this a lifestyle change, not something that will end when you hit some goal. Otherwise, you will likely keep putting the weight back on. Good luck, I'll be rooting for you.