New and really need support

Welcome! You will love this site...the support is great! Feel free to add me! Good Luck!

Welcome to the MFP family! Lots of people here to help encourage and help with your fitness needs/goals.

Happy body transformation and cheers to your new healthy lifestyle!

ttfn
Kyle :-p

:flowerforyou: Hey and welcome! I want to first tell you congrats because you have recognized that you do want to lose weight for yourself and your children. I have been there and is still in the process. I first want to tell you all the frozen dinners are not good for you. They will make you retain fluid and salt. It's better eating home prepared foods where you know exactly what's in it. Another thing with losing weight is that you have to continously eat. It's all about portion control and feeding your metabolism. Once you gain a few friends here, you can look at their diaries to get ideas on meals to prepare. Also, exercise is very important and drinking plenty water. The most important factor of all consistency. You have to stick with it even if you fall off the bandwagon for a day, a week, a meal. It doesn't matter, it takes time to grow and learn from your experiences. You'll find out what works for your body if you experiement with different foods and patterns of eating. Everyone is different. I would loveeeee to help you. You can request me if you would like! Be blessed!!!!:flowerforyou:

Welcome and Good Luck.
Log on everyday and take it slow. Educate yourself on healthy foods and try to stay away from processed and fast foods. Eat lots of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains and fresh meats and fish. Cook for youself. Don't buy thing that are going to tempt you. If it's not in the house you can't eat it. Get healthy snacks. Read the lables and watch PORTIONS> If you get yourself a food scale it really helps keep you with portions. Log in your foods before you eat them. If the numbers are too high make another choice. It's like a puzzle. Once you make all the pieces fit, you are able to see the whole picture.

You can do this. Taking charge is the first step.

I find too (like the post above) that just logging what I eat helps. Just being accountable for everything I put in my mouth- whether it is a good or bad day- keeps me focused. It helps me to be more aware of when I need to eat and to listen to my body's signals.
Take it day by day. You can do this.

Hello there.
Here are some thoughts that come to mind. First of all you are a mom of not only teens but also little ones. That alone is a workout, at least a mental and emotional one. So give yourself a bit of slack on days when you are simply too exhausted to do much more than coast along. At the same time, look into their faces and remind yourself how awesome it is to have this responsibility for the physical and emotional health of them and what better way to do that then setting a great example of determination and perseverance for them to follow.So on days that you waver, grab a picture of them or hug them if they are around and refocus.
Secondly you mention wanting to lose weight for yourself (pool, running around outside, etc). This is often a hard thing, esp. for moms to accept. Namely that they are allowed to actually have their own, independent wishes not tied to being a mom, but instead an individual with her own agenda. (I say this b/c my sweetie is just like that also, always putting others first). So congratulations on wanting to do something for yourself. Being able to run along with your kiddos, chasing them around the yard is so very cool. To keep you motivated you might actually keep little charts somewhere or get a little log to record the minutes you lasted before seeking refuge in the house. Try to set little mini goals like: "tomorrow I will do this again but will last 1 minute longer".
Lastly you say you "tend to give up easily" Ask yourself what does that really mean. Giving up on wanting to be healthy? Giving up on wanting to eat well and instead wanting to eat "junk". Wanting to give up on being fit and instead sliding into unfitness. Where do those roads lead? Not a happy place. I know that the eating well, getting fit route is sometimes a painful one. But (although I am a guy and never did experience this first hand, only by watching my sweetie give birth) remember the pregnancy and birth of your four. Was it fast and easy? Chances are it was not. Long nine month, than labour, then the endless days of dedication to see them grow from infant to toddler to teen. And yet, I bet , you do not regret it. That same determination, applied to yourself, will do wonders. Not sure who said it but: "Everything worthwhile, requires pain and patience. While I do not wish you pain, I do wish you patience. Be well.

p.s. Sorry this was such along reply, a busy mom like you might not have a chance to even red all this in one go:)