Need tips

First, buy a quality heartrate monitor. There are a tons on makes and models out there an you shouldn't have to break the bank. I use a Polar brand which runs under $100.00. This will help you accurately calculate your calorie burn (do not go by what the machine says as they are usually way off). Second, be brutally honest when logging food intake.

Remember, losing weight isn't a big secret. It's basic math. Calories in and calories out. If you burn more then you consume you will lose weight.

An important thing to remember though is that the number on the scale can be deceiving. Some people react differently then others to excersize and may not drop weight as easily. When this happens, sometimes called hitting a plateau, you could be dropping inches while the scale isn't moving. That's why it's so important to go by how you feel and how your clothes fit and not the number. Good luck.

Read the Announcements at the top of the message board threads. There is great information in them for getting started. Start with this one: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1 and this one http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10097870/the-really-blunt-list-of-things-to-consider-when-losing-weight/p1

Baby steps are key. Don't try to change your entire life overnight or you're bound to end up frustrated and overwhelmed and those lead to quitting. Start out by simply logging everything you eat. Every single thing. Logging everything makes it easier to see where you can make simple changes that have a big impact. For greater accuracy with calorie counts, weigh solid foods using a kitchen scale and measure liquids that can't be weighed. If you don't own a digital kitchen scale, add one to your shopping list. It will be your new best friend.

Don't "play" with the numbers, underestimate calories eaten or overestimate calories burned in exercise. You'd only be cheating yourself.

Start strength training as soon as possible. In my opinion it's more important than doing cardio because it is much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle later. When we lose weight it is a combination of water, fat and muscle. If you're maintaining muscle then more of your loss will be from fat! Additionally, your body has built up muscle mass to move around your extra weight. If you can keep that muscle through strength training while you lose weight you're going to look amazing when you've lost the fat over it.

The measuring tape is a better tool than the bathroom scale for judging your progress. In addition to "Before" pictures, measure your chest, waist, hips, thighs and any other body part you want to track and start recording them in MFP now. When the scale isn't moving your body might still be shrinking especially if you're lifting weights.

Get yourself into the mindset that you're making a lifestyle change and not something that you will eventually finish. Time-based goals for weight loss are bound to lead to perceived "failure". Weight loss is not linear and you will lose pounds faster at the beginning than at the end.