Starting out at 360 pounds...

Support!! Add some friends here for support, encouragement & advice! The positivity in your newsfeed will help! Try to challenge yourself each day. I'm talking about things YOU struggle with - not what everyone else is doing. Focus on one day at a time - sometimes I have to focus minute by minute. Drink that water! It really is important for your metabolism! And, believe in yourself - you can do this!

Hey, I started at 330 100 days ago today. Currently I weigh 274. A couple tips for me.

First, dedication. It is a long journey that you have to have patience and commitment for. While it may take a long time for you to reach your goal, it will only take longer if you fall off the wagon.

Second, I set smaller goals for myself. My final goal is 160 lbs. So I split it up into 4 goals: 300 lbs, 250 lbs, 200 lbs, and 160. Then I set dates for each of the goals to try and reach. It helps make the task seem less daunting when your going "25 lbs to my next goal" instead of "135 lbs to my next goal"

Third, make friends. I tend to not need support like some of the people on here, but I have to admit it helps to see other people who are successful. Most of the friends on MFP for me do not need to lose as much as me. However, there are several who do and have. Whenever I'm struggling I'll go on my friends list and look at the dozen or so friends I have who have lost 50 lbs or 80 lbs and even the 3 friends I have who have lost over 120 lbs. It helps when you see other people have done it.

Stay dedicated and no matter what don't give up. Best of luck!

Welcome BexGettinFit!
Im 46 and have always struggled with diet. This time my body took the lead and shut me down. I made up mind that living longer is important to me and started making "life style changes". Its no longer a temporary diet that feel punishing but being able to earn what I eat and reward myself when I deserve it.
Ive lost 75 pounds since December and feel I have found the right track this time.
Good job JMC3Terp and pepfromla!! I appreciate reading your successful steps.

Your calorie goal is set awful low; when I was at 360, I was eating around 2,360 and have lost an average of 2.8 pounds per week. This makes it less of a diet and more of a lifestyle change; you'll be able to sustain yourself longer without getting worn out from reduced calories. In addition, you're at a lower risk for adverse health effects (losing hair, etc).

I set my activity level to sedentary (because I have a desk job), and eat back ½ my exercise calories (only when my Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) shows a burn of 1,000+). Every 10 pounds MFP offers to reset my target calories and I let it.

Everybody has a tendency to think "I didn't eat that much." So weigh everything; seriously. If I eat an apple, I weigh it before and after. If I make cold oatmeal to eat, the empty bowl goes on the scale, and all ingredients get weighed. I don't weigh casseroles after they've been cooked, but I do measure the cuts with a 16" metal ruler and portion as accurately as possible. Of course, all fluids get measured with a cup measure.

Don't try to eat only healthy foods. Enjoy ice cream, chocolate, whatever your "Poison" happens to be. Over time, I've started preferring healthier foods, but that is a change that may, or may not happen; don't force it to happen or you'll start to fall off the wagon.

Drink plenty of water to make sure you are properly hydrated. Dehydration can be mistaken for hunger, so if you start to get hungry drink some water and see if that sates the desire.

Finally, don't change too much at once or you'll burn out. I started with calorie tracking, a month or two later added cycling, a month or two later, started some C25K, etc.

Good luck, and if you wish to add another that started at 300+ you can add me as a friend. My diary is open so you can see how & what I eat, and know that it works. There is also a 300+ Group Here that is fairly active, and is supportive.

I started at 325, currently at 236 (-89 lbs), this has taken over 400 days so far.

The best advice I can give is that consistency is key, but one missed day here or there isn't going to derail your progress, just like 1 day of great eating won't magically make you lose it all. Know that one of these weeks you won't lose weight, and that is okay, weight loss is not linear, so don't expect every week to show a loss, but if you've been honest with your logging, it will come down eventually, so keep the big picture in mind and keep logging.

Having a good support system will also help, both IRL and MFP friends. Feel free to add me if you wish for some online support, however, as much as I love my MFP friends, having real life support through my spouse, friends & family has helped me so much. Don't be afraid to tell people your goals and tell them to help keep you accountable. Best of luck!

BexGettinFit wrote: »

ScrAgnX wrote: »

Your calorie goal is set awful low; when I was at 360, I was eating around 2,360 and have lost an average of 2.8 pounds per week.

Hmmm. I'm guessing you're male, and probably taller than me? I used MFP's auto-recommendations for a 5'5" sedentary woman at 360 pounds with a 2lb/week loss goal, and 1930 is the target they gave me! Do you think I should I switch to custom goals and tweak it a bit?

I would stick to 1930 if that's what MFP suggests and that's where you are comfortable. My guess is the person who said you were low assumed you were the same as him. Male, 30, probably about 6'. I think 1930 is fine. When I started (I'm Male/ 5'9"/ 24 y.o.a./ 320.8 s.w.), MFP told me to eat about 2300. I tended to eat an average of 1600 to 1800 and didn't eat back my exercise calories. It all depends what you eat, how you eat, and what works for you.