a handbook for your body

So I am writing this post as a helpful guide to those of you whom wish to shed the fat in a healthy manner and what it takes to achieve that without doing something drastic and try some dangerous diet that will do more harm than good to you in the long run. It is intended to be a how to of sorts to get you on the right track and see those pounds come off while working with your body and not against it. First off lets get one thing set straight, fat loss is simply eating less cals in than what you burn, however there are limitations to what is a healthy reduction of calories for easier fat loss. For instance lets look at a typical man/woman analogy; Intake is 1500 cals a day, workout and burn 2000 a day, what does that leave left over? -500 cals now this is not a healthy thing to do, and it should be common sense as you no longer have the fuel required to keep the body functioning properly. Is it doable? Yep you bet, the body can and will adapt to it, but this is about staying healthy while you shed fat, not about what you can do but what you should be doing to make it last. I also ask that you pay it forward with the knowledge you gain as you shed the fat and retain the muscle, teach others whom ask you if you have the time. The bottom line is probably not what you want to hear and that is that there are no easy fixes, no magic formula to weight loss it is simple. So here are a few helpful links that will explain some of the basics and if you do not like to read a lot then break it up and read each link to get a grasp on the finer points of healthy weight loss:
A guide to how mfp works: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Newfiedan/view/how-mfp-works-referenced-for-those-whom-need-it-98235

A guide to starvation mode aka survival mode, what it is and you decide if it applies to you or not http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/226600-rename-starvation-mode-to-survival-mode

Tips to set yourself up for success: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/225156-so-you-want-to-be-successful

Things I recommend buying if you can afford it but not required:
1) A good heart rate monitor, polar, sportline, there are many good names out there.
2) A measuring tape to get body measurements, true fat loss is a a measure of inches as much as it is pounds, and this is about shedding the fat and retaining the muscle to maximize metabolic rate.
3) A guide to healthy fat loss, for simplicity and health as the main focus Tom Venuto is my author of choice, it was his writings that led me to learn the better path for myself and it should do the same for you.
4) Comfortable workout clothes, get used to it as you are going to have to sweat and workout to get healthier.
5) A good pair of running/workout shoes. These do not need to be expensive but they do need to be comfy.

You do not need expensive gym memberships, crazy diets or a ton of weight, you have the best weight you are going to need sitting underneath that head of yours. Running is free, so is walking. Its about making small changes every week that snowball into making you a new you and a you that you will love. You should not feel like crap every time you eat, nor should you feel like you are worthless if you happen to fall off the wagon. No one will remember the number of times you fell, they will always remember the victory so stop beating yourself up, learn to love who and what you are and learn that you are worth the time and the effort to make a perfect you, not what someone else deems to be perfect.