1st week done ugh

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

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here#latest

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10012907/logging-accuracy-consistency-and-youre-probably-eating-more-than-you-think#latest

Some words of advice:

1. Weigh yourself at the same time of day wearing the same clothing - i.e., in the morning when you get up, after going to the bathroom and before eating/drinking or getting dressed.

2. Know that your weight will fluctuate daily. You may weigh 4lbs or more higher at night than in the morning. You may retain water (esp. if you start exercising or eat high sodium foods) Some folks like to weigh themselves often; I prefer 1 or 2x a week.

3. Weigh your foods with a food scale (great $20 investment) rather than using measuring cups/spoons. Use cups/spoons for liquids only.

4. Be sure to verify the accuracy of the food you enter. I usually enter my own stuff or scan UPC codes with my phone. Since I tend to eat a lot of the same foods over and over, it is relatively easy for me. Home made foods may be harder - enter each item individually in the recipe builder for things like casseroles, etc.

5. Drink lots of water - it does help avoid water retention and helps you feel fuller. Sometimes when you want to munch on snacks you may actually be thirsty...I usually make myself drink a cup or two of water before giving in to an urge to munch.

6. Eat the foods you ENJOY and make room for them. Don't force yourself to eat things you hate simply because you think it has to be that way. Take a peek at my diary and see - you have to be sensible...of course...and I focus on trying to meet my nutritional needs (protein, calcium, iron, fiber, fat, potassium, etc) as well as staying below my calories. But sometimes, I treat myself. :)You're allowed!

7. Be wary of the calories MFP allows you for exercise . They are often overinflated...I take about half of the calories that MFP gives me for exercise.

2 of the best books I've read, well listened too, (audible.com) were "good calories bad calories" and "why we get fat" by Gary Taubes. "Why we get fat" is a little easier. Changed my life, there not diet books just well written books about the science of food. I now don't believe "the calories in calories out" theory of weight management, I do excersize and believe it's good for me but I don't need to run marathons to keep my weight under control. Just some thoughts, I hope the best for you.

How many calories are you eating per day? Are you weighing and measuring? Also if you are retaining water, need to go to the bathroom, had a lot of sodium, etc...that can all keep your weight from moving down.

lholmes1985 wrote: »

1260. Measuring. Should I be weighing instead?

I highly recommend weighing instead. Measuring is better than nothing, but often the measurement given in a serving size is quite a bit off from the weight given for the serving size.

Be sure you're drinking plenty of water, too. That can aid in weight loss, especially if you eat a lot of high sodium foods.

Don't rely on the scale only. Measure your neck, chest and waist. The scale may go up as you start building muscle, but the other measurements should start decreasing.

Make your new eating habits a lifestyle change...not a diet. Diets are temporary. I eat whatever I want, I have just reduced the portions. Make a fist, that is a portion size. When I go out to eat, I share a meal with someone.

I used to crave chips and donuts and soda and ice cream and french fries. Then I changed my thinking. Those foods are always going to be around. I can have them whenever I want. But I really don't need to eat them everyday. So I stopped keeping them in my house. I have those foods every once in a while, but now my body doesn't crave them anymore.

Can't remember where I read this advice but the author said when you change your caloric intake and start losing weight you body may start thinking you are starving, so it increases your appetite to gain the weight back. The advice the author gave was one day a week, eat whatever and don't count the calories. That will stop the body from thinking it is starving. That advice has worked for me. I have gone from size 18 pants 4 years ago to size 12 pants (same size I wore in high school in the 80's). My chest has gone down from 44 inches to 38 inches. Waist down from 38 inches to 32. I weighed 210 lbs in 2011, and I now weigh 175. ( I also do 45 min - 90 minutes cardio workouts 4 days a week as well as weight lifting/circuit training).

A really good book to read to help understand why certain foods are "good" and "bad" is called "Eat Right For Life". http://www.drannwellness.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=30

Keep trying...you are worth the effort!!!!

One more thing, keep journaling your food intake. It's hard for me to believe I overeat sometimes (for a whole week even), that's where journaling has been really useful for me.

Don't let an unmoving scale discourage you, I had a serious unmoving scale problem before I came on here and even a bit after, I've been attempting to eat better (it didn't always work very well) and working out diligently 4-5 days a week for 5 months now and I'm just now seeing weight loss, sometimes it takes time and trying new things but no matter how much results you are seeing or are not you have to remember that what you're doing for your body is good for it and that it will pay you back in kind eventually if you're keeping yourself on track happy logging!