any tips for newbies?

michellefbop
michellefbop Posts: 3 Member
in Getting Started
Hello,
I'm Michelle and I'm starting my weight loss journey today- no more stalling, I am ready!

Do you have tips related to things that have helped you the most along your journey??

Thanks!!!

Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    My top tip for everybody who is ready for something, anything - and this is one of the tips that has helped me most, even though I, like everybody, loathe the manual - is to wait with the tips until the basics are in place: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/
    When you've read that, you will know what specifically to ask for tips about, or maybe not need any tips at all!
  • NickTeim
    NickTeim Posts: 44 Member
    If you miss one day, you miss every day.

    So focus always at the day you are at!
  • Imatrekkie
    Imatrekkie Posts: 17 Member
    Move more, eat smart. It really all boils down to that.
  • competeagain
    competeagain Posts: 770 Member
    michellefbop wrote: »
    Hello,
    I'm Michelle and I'm starting my weight loss journey today- no more stalling, I am ready!

    Do you have tips related to things that have helped you the most along your journey??

    Thanks!!!

    Move. Sweat.
    Underestimate your exercise when logging.
    Overestimate your food when legging.
    Don’t quit.
  • musicfan68
    musicfan68 Posts: 1,143 Member
    Use a food scale to weigh foods.
  • gstaubs1
    gstaubs1 Posts: 200 Member
    I can tell you 2 weeks ago I knew nothing about losing weight. I always had a high metabolism then I turned 40 and boom I gained 25 lbs. Joined MFP and started tracking my food and calories and running 2-3 miles a day 6 days a week for about 30-45 mins cardio, then started strength training 3-4 days a week for 1-1.5 hrs...I have lost 10 lbs already and I can see my abs again starting to come through the fluff. Best advice I can give ditch the fast food and pizza, start eating complex carbs instead of simple. Hit the gym and run until you want to puke. Stay in a calorie deficit and you will lose weight. I actually cant believe how easy this was...I have found great support and motivation here. Add me if you like, and best of luck. Much Love, 🐱‍👓
  • sdanemrtn
    sdanemrtn Posts: 187 Member
    Welcome and congrats on taking the first step! I will be here for a while, but so far I have learned to weigh/log everything, if you can. Yet, at the same time, dont beat yourself if you have an off meal or day every once and again. It's a Marathon, not a sprint. Best of luck in your journey.
  • competeagain
    competeagain Posts: 770 Member
    edited September 2018
    Do what works for you. Find what works and do it.
    Don’t listen to people on sites haha
  • born_of_fire74
    born_of_fire74 Posts: 776 Member
    Be patient
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    My top tip for everybody who is ready for something, anything - and this is one of the tips that has helped me most, even though I, like everybody, loathe the manual - is to wait with the tips until the basics are in place: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/
    When you've read that, you will know what specifically to ask for tips about, or maybe not need any tips at all!

    Start here. Don't get too overwhelmed. Just start with logging, then after a week, start looking for small sustainable changes. It's doing things you can live with indefinitely that make the transitions feel less uncomfortable. Sometimes it's the small changes that can make the biggest difference. When people make large changes that are outside of their ordinary, it can become really easy to go back to old habits when they become frustrated.
  • orangegato
    orangegato Posts: 6,572 Member
    Another vote for Food Scale and Read the stickies.
    If you’re goal is to lose weight, remember that weight loss is not linear and there are daily fluctuations up and down. Look at the overall trends.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,225 Member
    Demander2015 wrote: »
    1. Weigh/measure every little thing you eat. A teaspoon of oil, a gummy bear, a sip of wine - every damn morsel and religiously log it in the diary
    2. exercise. Start with light cardio. As your fitness improves, Increase the duration and intensity. When you are able to sustain 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity cardio, start adding HIIT intervals every 3rd day or so. When you are within 20-30 lbs of your target weight, add weight training
    3. Not just the quantity but the quality of food matters as well. make sure that you are eating plenty of protein and veggies and fruits for a good nutrition and not just consuming useless empty calories.
    4. for every 10 lbs you lose, your metabolism will burn 100-200 less calories. Readjust your goals every 10 lbs lost. Decrease food intake by a hundred and increase exercise intensity to burn another 100 calories to see the same results.
    5. Always underestimate calories burnt and over estimate calories consumed.
    6. Always differ in your exercises. If yu are using dumbbells try kettle bells or sandbag. If you run, try playing tennis, dancing, kickboxing or MMA. Keep switching it up to prevent plateaus.
    7. Always always give at least one complete rest day per week. And always listen to your body. If you have aches and pains, do a lower intensity workout and take time to stretch. If you feel you have the energy of 10 men, go harder, faster, longer.
    8. Make sure your workout schedule is a little flexible so that you can afford to listen to your body.
    9. Take plenty of sleep and drink lots and lots of water.
    10. When making changes and setting goals - Set a final goal. Break it down into smaller (2 monthly) goals. Take these and break them into weekly goals and those into daily goals.
    11. Set goals that are not only achievable but also sustainable. Cutting down to 1000 calories is of no use if you cannot sustain it to time immemorial.
    12. Never go on diets but make lifestyle modifications that become a part of your life and stay with you forever.
    13. Every time you achiever something or like something that you did or how you feel in your body or in your mind, write it down. Every new benefit you discover of working out, write it down. It helps to look at this when the going gets tough and you wanna stop. When you don't feel like working out, look at these write-ups and remind yourself why you must work out and all the benefits you have found till now.
    14. Weight yourself at the same time in the same routine every week. Measure yourself every 3 weeks to keep track.
    15. Don't try to "fit in" workouts. Make time for them. There should be a designated hour, place and intention for every workout every day. Workout with a prupose and work towards specific goals in your fitness as well. eg my arms are week, I will focus more on upper body a couple of weeks. I need to improve my cardio-respiratory strenght, I will do a little more hiit. On such goal at a time.
    16. Take it one day, one meal, one wrokout at a time. All will fall into place.
    17. Don't seprive yourself completly of things you like to eat. Work little bits of thwm into your saily calorie intake and restrict yourself to that.
    18. Most of all remain diligent and stay patient. Good results take time.

    Basically good advice - mosty very good. A little overwhelming for a beginner, maybe, but largely accurate.

    Bolded items: Not so much.

    Ideally, start strength training (weight training per se is one option) as soon as you can, to preserve as much existing muscle as possible while losing weight. (That said, it's entirely possible to lose weight with no new exercise at all . . . though including exercise is healthier.)

    HIIT is completely optional, unless you need VO2max improvement for a competition.

    That whole "body confusion" idea - that you have to switch up exercise and keep your body guessing, to gain benefits or avoid plateaus - that's inaccurate. It's a myth spread by people like Beachbody, who want to sell you new videos and equipment. If you get bored with your workouts, phone them in (less intensity) . . . that'll cause problems. If you keep enjoying them, and pushing for improvement, it'll be fine. (Elite athletes don't need to switch sports every month or so to progress, right?)

    Best wishes!
  • michellefbop
    michellefbop Posts: 3 Member
    Good morning!
    I read all of your advice and tips above and want to thank you all! You guys are amazing- thank you for taking the time to offer your ideas!
    I will incorporate these in little by little- ill go do some of the suggested reading.Cheers everyone!!xxx
  • brettmillward4471
    brettmillward4471 Posts: 8 Member
    stewarm01 wrote: »
    Consistency. Even when you see no progress on the scale for weeks at times. It'll come.

    This is a good thing to read. I have, for the past couple of weeks been stuck at 11 stone (was 12). It's because I am still eating the 1500 calories and exercising + using weights to tone. So even though I assume I am not burning I am converting (hoping anyway lol). But it is annoying to get on the scales and to still be 11, god that it has not gone up though, so I remember that.

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