Any tips for a beginner?

Hey there,
Welcome to the MFP community!

the biggest tip that I can give is stick with it even if things seem tough sometimes. This isn't an 'easy' journey but I guarantee you that it is 100% worth it!

All the very best.
Adam

If you want to lose weight effectively you should consult a nutritionist, in my experience eating protein helps. You should also drink plenty of water and exercise because it helps tone and lose body volume.I started the diet before check in and I have lost weight 13 kilosI have experience in slimming since I went to a nutritionist and thin much but went back to eating as before and again so here I started gaining weight again, if you need help just let me know

Keep it simple.

- this method works. If you eat at a calorie deficit you will lose weight. (assuming no medical issues) if you are not losing weight then it is most likely that you are not eating at a calorie deficit. I repeat - if you follow the method, it will work.
- Do not deprive yourself of foods you enjoy. do not think of eating them as 'failing'. as long as you are eating at a calorie deficit you will lose weight. (of course try to hit your macros, too) I repeat - you can eat anything as long as you are eating at a calorie deficit and hitting your macros.
- slow and steady - there's no rush. do not try to lose weight too quickly. even if you succeed, you're body will burn muscle, as well as fat. losing muscle is not a good thing.
- Most people go throw challenges or fall off the wagon. If this happens to you, don't let it get you down. Just start again. It happens to most people.
- get a good bunch of friends who are positive and motivating.

GOOD LUCK !

Food scale and once you start slowing down on weight loss, or your having trouble staying under the calorie limit, try exercising! I've just started working out 5 days a week and it means I can eat basically anything I want! Helps a lot with cravings (which I really struggle with) and not feeling hungry all the time

Good luck! I know your going to rock it!

Adam2k10 wrote: »

Hey there,
Welcome to the MFP community!

the biggest tip that I can give is stick with it even if things seem tough sometimes. This isn't an 'easy' journey but I guarantee you that it is 100% worth it!

All the very best.
Adam

I second this. Also weigh and measure everything. And log everyday even the bad days.

Be stubborn. Be persistent. Be patient but don't give up.

markie166 wrote: »

and if somebody says you might get bulky .... slap them hard

I second this - lift the heavy object, slap the naysayers (common sense )

malibu927 wrote: »

Threads that will become your best friends around here:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here
community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1296011/calorie-counting-101

Agree. Just some helpful tips I have learned in this journey:
(1) Buy a food scale and weigh and log everything.
(2) Use a heart rate monitor (HRM) for your workouts and eat back your exercise calories (at least 50%)
(3) Figure out your BMR & TDEE (http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/). Use sedentary and eat back HRM calories burned or set for what your activity level is. If you just want to use MFP - set for 1lb per week loss (any more than that is going to probably default to 1200 and you need more than that. Trust me)
(4) DON'T GIVE UP! Even if you have a bad meal, day or several days restart again the next opportunity. This does work if you really want it to!

I'll send a friend request and anyone else looking for motivation and help in this lifelong journey feel free to add me!

I like to start slow. First I start recording everything I eat regularly for a week or so, just to get an idea of how I was doing. Then i start logging seriously, focus on hitting macros and hitting under calories. It usually take s acouple days to figure out how many calories i can reasonable eat in a day without starving. Out of the gate i was aiming for 2 lbs/week but 1500 or so calories wasn't working for me so i went to 1.5lbs per week which meant 1700 and I found i could eat and not feel deprived. I'm almost 4 weeks in on 1700 and have been losing steadily.

In the beginning i have integrated a bit more physical activity, since I was almost completely sedentary. So i park further from buildings, do some home workout videos at an intensity I can handlek, find more reasons to move at work. I found my body started to crave being more active so i joined a gym. i haven't gone yet, but am working towards that goal.

Previously I have tried to drop calories to 1300 and work out at a max intensity immediately and it was too much too fast and it made me feel awful and i couldn't stick with it. FOR ME, easing in has helped me stick with it.

Good luck! It is an individual journey, but it is propelled by support and advice from tons of people who are doing it or have done it! This is a great community filled with tons of perspectives and some good and bad advice. Take it all with a grain of sand, do your research and in the end do what works for your lifestyle, fitness level and body!

Feel free to add me if u like

totaldetermination wrote: »

- this method works. If you eat at a calorie deficit you will lose weight. (assuming no medical issues) if you are not losing weight then it is most likely that you are not eating at a calorie deficit. I repeat - if you follow the method, it will work.
- Do not deprive yourself of foods you enjoy. do not think of eating them as 'failing'. as long as you are eating at a calorie deficit you will lose weight. (of course try to hit your macros, too) I repeat - you can eat anything as long as you are eating at a calorie deficit and hitting your macros.
- slow and steady - there's no rush. do not try to lose weight too quickly. even if you succeed, you're body will burn muscle, as well as fat. losing muscle is not a good thing.
- Most people go throw challenges or fall off the wagon. If this happens to you, don't let it get you down. Just start again. It happens to most people.
- get a good bunch of friends who are positive and motivating.

GOOD LUCK !

^^^This for sure. Also saw a couple of recommendations to see an nutritionist. I agree with that. Mine is covered by my insurance (co-pay though), totally worth it. I see her every other week. She's given me recipes, tips on food prep, help me set up food game-plans, adjusted my calorie needs based on realistic goals, did a body composition test on me & told me how many pounds of fat I need to lose vs. just "losing weight". I cannot stress enough how much this time has changed from all of the other times I've tried to lose weight because of my Nutritionist.

I also found a workout that I love to do (swimming), so it doesn't feel like I have to drag my butt to the gym & dread it the whole time. I'm still working on trying to get in resistance training, but I've been working out literally every day for the past month or so & I still haven't gotten bored or "fallen off the wagon". We'll see if I'm still this enthusiastic 6 months from now, but this is longer than a lot of other things I've tried.

Also, remember: you didn't put it on in a day & you're not going to take it off in a day. I know everyone wants amazing results right now. Biggest Loser results. But a lot of those people end up gaining all the weight back. Most of the true success stories I've read on this site say that they made little changes & lost the weight over many months or years.

Good luck!

LAMCDylan wrote: »

Buy a food scale if you do not have one already.

That is a great idea and is very helpful. Also realize its not gonna happen in a week month or even 6 months...be patient, and be consistent ... Good LUCK

totaldetermination wrote: »

- this method works. If you eat at a calorie deficit you will lose weight. (assuming no medical issues) if you are not losing weight then it is most likely that you are not eating at a calorie deficit. I repeat - if you follow the method, it will work.
- Do not deprive yourself of foods you enjoy. do not think of eating them as 'failing'. as long as you are eating at a calorie deficit you will lose weight. (of course try to hit your macros, too) I repeat - you can eat anything as long as you are eating at a calorie deficit and hitting your macros.
- slow and steady - there's no rush. do not try to lose weight too quickly. even if you succeed, you're body will burn muscle, as well as fat. losing muscle is not a good thing.
- Most people go throw challenges or fall off the wagon. If this happens to you, don't let it get you down. Just start again. It happens to most people.
- get a good bunch of friends who are positive and motivating.

GOOD LUCK !

So true. Remember there are many different ways to lose weight find what's right for you some it's low carb others it's the reverse. If you haven't already get some kitchen scales and weigh as much as possible this is the most accurate way of controlling what you eat. Oh and don't think you can't have this or that remember things in moderation won't hurt

markie166 wrote: »

eat less , move more and if you can .. pick up heavy objects and then put them down

and if somebody says you might get bulky .... slap them hard

so much this!