I'm new and I need help

Hi Erica. I just started this today. I've been heavy all my life, and know what I need to do to change, but can't seem to stick to anything. Let's just try to focus on what we will feel like... going up a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing, letting people take your picture without standing in the back trying to hide behind everyone else, wearing clothes that didn't come from a plus-sized shop. Try to remember to eat those veggies... but stay away from the starchy ones like peas, corn, and potatoes. And when you need to "cheat", try to have just a bite of something. Remember, it won't be easy but it will be worth it!

Welcome to mfp...You are so right, it is a lifechanging event...It takes time to learn everything you need to know and it's a wonderful journey...There are a lot of nice people on this site and if you need help, just ask...I'm still learning as well...having fun with it too...You are in the right place...Feel free to add me as a friend and good luck on your journey...

Erica, congrats on taking the first step. MFP is great, you will love it, and sticking to it is super easy. Best of luck.

I my name is Kim and a cleint told me about this website today and already I see my problem. Breakfast alone was almost 600 calories soo not good. But let the NEW journey began.

I can give you a few tips for eating right....I've spent my life studying health and nutrition. I know how to be healthy but actually applying it is the hard part.

Lean meats: chicken, tuna, lean beef, turkey, fish, EGG WHITES.....obviously grilled, smoked, poached is the best option. Fried food is not good.

Vegetables: try a variety of veggies, taste every color of the rainbow. I enjoy salads with low fat or fat free dressings or vinegar.

Starches: Eat carbs that are good for you such as sweet potatoes, whole grain products, brown rice and pasta, light breads and buns. I love Thomas's light english muffins. 100 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 8 grams of fiber per muffin.

Fats: keep this category limited but include healthy options such as avocado, almonds, extra virgin olive oil

Try to avoid butter and heavy cream condiments......start looking at nutrition facts of your favorite foods and try to find a healthy alternative. For instance, I use fat free cream cheese, sour cream and ranch. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little flavor, but you save HUGE in calories. I also use fat free syrup which is 20 calories per 1/4 a cup as compared to 200 for the regular kind. It's best to eat healthy proteins and vegetables as your staple food.

My typical breakfast is a light english muffin with two eggs whites and 2 strips of turkey bacon....the whole sandwich is under 200 calories and it beats most fast food places in taste! Sometimes I add fat free syrup to it if I'm having a sweet tooth, otherwise I'll add fat free miracle whip or mustard. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions! I love nutrition so I'm always up for researching or discussing it.

Welcome! I've been on my journey since Dec/Jan 2009/2010. I've lost 59 lbs to date and found MFP through a friend about a month or so ago. I love it here! Everyone is very supportive and you can learn a lot. I still have about 20 lbs to go before my goal weight, but I've come a long way. I hope you find the support and motivation that you need! Feel free to send me a friends request if you like! Good luck on your journey!

Hi! I'm new to this group too and have lost 5 lbs so far. I stopped drinking any soda and juice (any drinks with soda). Several years ago, i lost 20 lbs. in about a year without exercising by simply cutting out all soda (Coca cola was my drink of choice back then). Now, i drink unsweetened green tea (which i've read helps burn extra calories just by drinking it!) or water.

What helped me was seeing a small loss rather quickly. I lost 5 lbs. in about 10 days. I do some kind of exercise everyday and I also made a super huge stockpot of vegetable beef soup and eating that for 2 meals a day, along with 2 healthy snacks, and a decent dinner. Drinking lots of water will help you shed water weight. You will lose the water weight fast, but it just helped me to see ANY kind of result. Helped me move in the right direction. If you are interested, i logged the recipe for Homemade Vegetable Beef Diet Soup on my page under my recipes, and it's also now in the database. I also did a diet chili, but i saved that for week 2 of my journey. Not sure yet what week 3 will hold, but i think i'm going to stick with the soups because they fill me up and are low cal.

Good luck to you and you can add me as a friend too if you want! I can always use the extra support!

Hi -- If you are looking for a wholesome, nutritious and tasty diet; the first place I would go is your local health food store. Ask if they have any recipes or suggestions. Next, try the Weight Watchers cookbook -- it has some good recipes that are pretty healthy
Otherwise: fresh is always best!! Use natural sweeteners (like pineapple, date syrup, honey...) rather than sugar. Watch your salt intake. Using basic herbs and spices make your foods more filling and tasteful -- you can often get inexpensive fresh herbs at your local grocer. Watch sauces and dressings -- they can kill a good thing fast! Try flavoring meat with jelly, salsa (so easy to make! a mango salsa is esp tasty on chicken or fish and is very simple: you can google recipes to find which one you like best!), or a homemade, olive oil based marinate rather than store bought marinates. Portion size is crucial: Look up the recommended portions and slowly work your way into them -- if it is a gradual change, your stomach will begin to feel fuller on less food. Also, put smaller amounts on your plate to begin with, and don't keep unhealthy snacks around the house or within view: if you see the food, your brain will convince you it needs to be eaten Finally, do everything in balance: don't completely go cold turkey on your favorites, especially if your are having a lousy day (not diet related) and just want some comfort food. If you don't, you will begin to resent your diet and dietary changes which will make the transition harder!
I hope this was in some small way helpful!!!
Best of luck to you!!

Erica1965...

You're going to LOVE it here. A friend told me about MFP...and I've been HOOKED ever since. There is so much support and encouragement here. Tracking my food has REALLY been the key in my learning to eat better and make better choices.

As for exercise...start slow. How about just 15mins...3-4 days a week. I have a "Walking" DVD that's great by Leslie Sansone. You can walk in 15min increments. Do the entire session...and you will have walked for 45mins. It has helped me ALOT.

Again...welcome. Look forward to watching your success!

Shelley

Hello and welcome.
You have come to the perfect place to get motivation and support.
First step is knowing that you must change your lifestyle.
It's not something you can do for a short amount of time.
This is something you need to do for the rest of your life, hince LIFESTYLE change.
It will be well worth it.
You can to this.
Feel free to add me as a friend.