How do you get started losing weight?

Getting started is the hardest ... that is where I was having trouble.
After losing 2 grandparents and just being overwhelmed with life for a couple weeks, I went waaaaay off the rails.
I started a biggest loser contest at work which helped me get started. 8 weeks in and close to 15 pounds lost. After the first 5 I was able to start running again.
So - competition, support and a fitbit doesn't hurt

I've yo-yoed with weight for a long time, and not going to lie, it's difficult to form habits that turn into life style changes. For me, small changes over time works the best. I use smaller plates (smaller portions), I consciously eat more protein and fiber, I measure out my food and plug foods into my diary. Some times I log an entire day of meals into my diary and see how many calories add up and I'll make substitutions. Food swaps work for me as well -- like sweet potato fries instead of regular French fries.

If I have a real cheat day it's no big deal, I just compensate in other areas or for the rest of the week.

Also drink lots of water and green tea. I struggle with water intake but I'm working on it.

Just being more active in your daily life will help over time too. Taking the stairs or getting off a stop early on transit or parking your car far away, are all little things that will help.

Best of luck, don't beat yourself up too hard and just try to make small changes one at a time and you'll make progress.

Welcome to MFP - you've made a great first step just being here!

Check out the posts listed here, to get you started:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300319/most-helpful-posts-general-diet-and-weight-loss-help-must-reads#latest

Take your time, figure out what works for you, and don't panic if the weight doesn't come off as fast as you'd like or if it seems to stall for a while. If you want to keep it off, you have to find a lifestyle that will work for you long term, so take that into consideration if you're thinking about cutting out certain foods etc.

Good luck - you can do it!

Set up your MFP data for a slow loss, to start with. Weigh and log everything you eat, estimate and log if necessary (like when you eat at others' homes). Use the nutrition info on chain restaurants web sites to plan your meals out. Try to hit the calorie goal MFP gives you, but don't beat yourself up if you don't (particularly at first, when you're learning).

Review your log daily to see where your larger calorie contributions are coming from. Decide which things are worth the calories they cost, in terms of satisfaction & nutrition. If they don't seem worthwhile, reduce or eliminate some of those foods, and introduce new ones that better meet your objectives (filling, nutritious, etc.). Make friends here, and look at people's diaries to see how they do it. Ask them questions about things you're interested in.

Think about how you feel daily, too, maybe put something in the "notes" area of MFP. Do you notice patterns? How does your sleep affect your appetite and eating? Your activity level? The number of times per day that you eat, or the times of day you get the most calories? The specific types of food (protein, healthy fat, fiber)? The amount of water or other non-caloric drinks you consume? Over time, adjust the factors you can control, to feel more satisfied/satiated and energetic. This is a gradual process.

Next, learn a little bit about macronutrients and micronutrients. Try to get enough protein & healthy fats. Try to get vitamins, minerals, antioxidants (mostly just by eating a range of fruits and vegetables). Try new things to see what you like, and keep the nutritious, filling, tasty, worth-their-calories ones in your way of eating.

If you have quite a bit of weight to lose, consider adjusting your loss rate to something more aggressive, if you think it will be sustainable over the long haul. You don't want to be so fixated on losing fast that you have trouble with overeating temptations as a consequence. Know the maintenance calorie level for your goal weight - even if your goal weight is a guess - and gradually try to learn how to eat happily at that level. Allow for some treats, ones that are important to you. Allow for some extra eating at celebratory special occasions.

If you think you'd like being more active, try an activity that sounds fun, and try it long enough to get past any initial unfamiliarity/discomfort/anxiety that may occur. If you then don't like it, try something else. Find some more-active things to do that are fun for you to continue - those are the ones you'll stick with. They may change over time - that's OK. Eat back some of the calories from the exercise - maybe start with 50% or so.

As you get closer to goal weight, decrease your loss rate - there's only a certain amount of fat your body can burn per day.

Stay on target most of the time, if you have an off day don't beat yourself up, just get back on your healthy track. Stick with it. Eventually you'll reach your goal, and you will've learned what you need to know in order to stay there.

And do read those "stickies" - the permanent posts under the "Most Helpful Posts" topic in the forum categories, especially in "Getting Started" and "General Diet & Weight Loss". There's a wealth of useful information there.

I sneak up on anything I "should" do, since I am resistant to everything. Start logging everything you eat, without trying to accomplish anything. Then, once you've got that ( I have a lying-to-myself issue), then have a look at it and see what small changes you can make without feeling deprived. Go for a walk and log it. When you are comfortable with that, perhaps see a nutritionist and take a print out of your log. She can help you by providing places to change your diet to lose some weight. I am NOT a joiner or a rah-rah person, and generally shy away from groups, but you need to look at how you are motivated, and stay true to your own personality.

I weigh and measure everything I eat.

Drink your water each day.

Exercise, even if you just walk.

Eat lots of veggies, fruits, nuts, eggs, fish, chicken

Remember that you are human. You will have good days and bad days. Just keep on chugging along. Don't sweat the bad days. Just track the food and learn from it.

I pretty much just eat whatever, within my calorie goal. The only difference between now and when I started is I try to make sure to get enough protein.

I started a long time ago my daughter was big into fitness and told me about mfp. I used it regularly until my computer died, I sure didn't want any of that logging my weight and food even kinda sorta available for my husband to see so I stopped. Now I have tablets and smart phones with me all the time so it's easy to log everything as I eat. What got me going again? I bought an expensive pair of rubber boots and my legs were to fat to fit in them. I started back up secretly, when people started to notice they started asking why? Oddly enough when people ask why and I tell them they ask why I didn't cut the boots._ seriously if I'm to fat to fit in muck boots I need to fix me not the boots. My goal is 160 I'll get there slowly by walking and eating less.