Best tip from You, success stories!

That is a good question. I just started yesterday and would like to know too! I feel like it's giving me too many calories but I don't know.

Oooh, OK, my story!

I started at the beginning of December. Knew I had a wedding to go to in May and felt I could lose "a few pounds". When I weighed myself, I was horrified that I was 11 stone 5 (159 lbs). I set myself a target of a "toned ten stone" (140 lbs) by end April. At 5'2", this would still be above the dreaded recommended 25 bmi , but it would be a good position to reassess from.

My strategy was to halve the carbs I normally ate, and continue going to the gym, but focus on strength training, lift heavier. And I joined MFP to keep an eye on my overall nutritional intake. I wasn't initially setting out to count calories, but I fell into the habit and as I love graphs and charts I enjoy recording my food diary each day!

3 months in I sent a "thank you" message to my gym instructor after I'd lost the first stone, recognising how important the serious strength training had been in my progress.

I don't stress too much about eating back all my exercise calories, but I do make sure my GROSS cals (ie before adjusting for exercise) are at least 1200 per day.

Top tips?

1. Keep your carbs in check, but don't cut them out altogether.
2. Strength train! As heavy as you can go.
3. Loads of water.
4. Sneak in extra exercise when you can - take the stairs, walk further in the car park.
5. Recognise this is a long journey and keep the faith.
6. It's 80% nutrition and 20% exercise, so don't lose any sleep over a missed gym session.
7. There's no "right" way, so experiment with what works for you. See 5 above.

Today, half way through April, I weigh 138 lbs (9stone 12) and have dropped 2 dress sizes. My fiance has remarked that we're eating better than we ever have, I don't feel bored of my food intake, and I haven't had to drastically reduce my alcohol intake. Yeah I still have bad habits!

1) strength training and overall fitness - exercise makes you feel goood. Since you already feel good you don't need food to fill that hole in your life. And strength training, with heavy weights and low reps, is amazing and very empowering.

2) don't be afraid to change it up - if something's not working, don't stubbornly continue on the path -see if mixing it up will help (eg. New exercise routine, higher intake, more sleep, etc.)

3) set yourself some goals of the non-scale variety - eg. Run a 5k in 20mins (mine!) or something like always being under on sugar. You'll be amazed how quickly these things can reflect on the scale and the measuring tape.

Good luck!!

Accountabilty if I hold myself accountable in some way then I have to stick to it! I do this by telling my closest friends my future plans

i agree with this.

tell someone you know will be supportive about what you're going to do. Someone that will ask about your progress and just keep you in check if need be.