Advice\Help Needed

The very first thing I did was to start writing down everything I ate in a notebook. I didn't measure or count calories. Rather, I wrote "1 serving" or "1 spoonful", etc. I made it a point to eat less junk and more fresh veggies and fruits. I had one serving of grains per week and one dessert per week (both on Sunday.) Those were two types of food with which I exhibited poor impulse control so I ate them only on Sunday and only one serving.

After a month, I started walking 3x/week. After another month, I started doing bodyweight workouts 2-3x/week and doing C25k on the in between days.

I went from 202.5 to 170ish doing the above. No calorie counting, weighing, etc.

I have had a history of starting diets aggressively. Most of the time I couldn't keep it up, but every once in a while, when I had no competing interests and lots of motivation, I was successful. Sooner or later though, I regained. Just over a year ago I finally tried to lose weight slowly. After the initial drop, I aimed for only two pounds a month. I was not only able to sustain my efforts (because it was so easy) I am convinced I will never regain to any degree. So small deficit, more protein than I'd been having (which was very little in the past) and exercise for the feel good effect. Stack the odds in your favour.

Don't fall for fat loss schemes. Don't make yourself suffer the loss of foods you like. Measure and weigh everything you eat. Use a scale to know exactly what you are eating. Figure out your total calorie burn and get into a modest deficit. I like to stay around 20% when I'm cutting. You will lose weight, give yourself some time.

itsthelegacy wrote: »

So i want to lose 50lbs. Ive tried losing weight many times. Ive tried eating better or home workouts but i find i lose my motivation. Maybe im doing something wrong i dont know. Can anyone tell me what the VERY first thing they did to kick start their weight loss was? Or healthy foods/good exersise to target stomach and back fat? I currently am 205lbs!

I had joined MFP, back in.. 2011/2012 determined to lose weight. Then I gave up. Life got in the way. I didn't have time to workout. I lived with my family and believed they didn't support my weight loss journey. No gym membership. I think I rejoined back in 2013, and same thing; I didn't have time.

This past December, I was looking at photos of myself and realized that I was on the path of pre-diabetes. My family's medical history is chock-full of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc. All signs that point down the road to unhealthiness. I realized that's not what I wanted to do. I wanted to be healthy! Something just clicked and I started logging. I first started by measuring out my food into cups, but quickly realized that I needed a food scale (thanks to the MFP community). I joined some challenges here on MFP that pushed me to try new exercises. My boyfriend dragged me away from the elliptical and introduced me to weightlifting (and now I lift 6 days a week -- I can't get enough of how empowering it feels)

Since January, I've lost about 16% body fat (I'm almost in the normal range and I can't even believe it), about 28lbs off my body, and countless inches. I'm only halfway to the goal my doctor has set for me, but I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a lifestyle change. I'll still go out and get pizza, or visit the new gourmet doughnut shop down the road from me (seriously -- they have coffee milk doughnuts, I just... my mouth waters). I track my macronutrients. I've changed how I see food, and trust me, I was a bored eater. I used to just sit with a box of cookies or pint of ice cream and finish it with ease because I was bored.

Find what motivates you, and you'll stick with it. Accurately log. Hold yourself accountable even on those days when you binge. We all have them. Food scales to weigh your food and show you just how much you are eating. Drink plenty of water. Know that even if the weight scale doesn't move, you may be improving in other ways (faster run times, holding a plank for longer, losing inches off your body, etc). It's a journey, and you can do it.

Start off by logging everything you eat and getting in to the habit of doing this!
Your motivation will come from within. How bad do you want to reach your goal? Let this be your motivation.