I'm New. Looking forward to a change.

Hiya! I started about two years ago or so. I started at 200lbs, and now I've been maintaining roughly around 104lbs for about a year (I'm short, this is actually in my healthy range). It is possible to do!

Just remember it is about 90/10 for diet/exercise. I recommend looking for lower calorie versions of things you like, so you don't drive yourself crazy. Love PB&J? Get lower calorie bread (if it is softer, just toast it slightly), something like PB2/powdered peanut butter (takes out the good fat, but is muuuuch lower calorie), and preferably a low cal jelly/jam. I try to go sugar free when I can, but it can get expensive. Yeesh!

A digital scale for food (weighing in grams) helps a lot for accuracy, too.

PixelPuff wrote: »

A digital scale for food (weighing in grams) helps a lot for accuracy, too.

I'd practically call a digital scale a must-have in the first few months before the user starts figuring out reasonable estimates of their intake.

Coincidentally, PixelPuff, do you mind telling me if you had an original goal weight higher than 104 when you got started? I ask because my GF is getting her weight down and I think she finds the idea of having a goal weight almost 100 lbs lower than her starting weight pretty intimidating.

It's a matter of personal opinion but I find it a bit puzzling when people lose 50+ lbs and understand the biomechanics of weight management, but still settle (in some cases) in the overweight-obese range for their goal.

brendanwhite84 wrote: »

PixelPuff wrote: »

A digital scale for food (weighing in grams) helps a lot for accuracy, too.

I'd practically call a digital scale a must-have in the first few months before the user starts figuring out reasonable estimates of their intake.

Coincidentally, PixelPuff, do you mind telling me if you had an original goal weight higher than 104 when you got started? I ask because my GF is getting her weight down and I think she finds the idea of having a goal weight almost 100 lbs lower than her starting weight pretty intimidating.

It's a matter of personal opinion but I find it a bit puzzling when people lose 50+ lbs and understand the biomechanics of weight management, but still settle (in some cases) in the overweight-obese range for their goal.

I started at weighing roughly 200lbs (I'm 5'2").. My first goal was 170lbs before I realized that was still technically in my 'obese' range. So I adjusted for 150lbs. Then realized that was still well into 'overweight' range. So I adjusted to 125lbs. Realized that was still on the higher average. I was going to maintain at 110lbs, but I was -really- skinny fat from lack of working out. The extra skin from weight loss (that was at 90lbs loss) doesn't show your smaller size as well, especially if skinny fat. Working out + getting sick + surgery + more sick + etc.. Ended up on low range. I'm actually regaining a few pounds at the moment due to recent grief at close family passing screwing with my appetite (Dad) and then super duper sickness (KO'd me for two weeks).

I'd set 'milestone' goals. Helps a lot. 5lbs is mini-goal, but every 10lbs or 25lbs total lost is SUPER goal. I got tattoos that I had been wanting at those tons, felt like a reward to myself. Not planned to do them, but spontaneous "Screw it, I earned this!" things. Aww yiss, Legend of Zelda.