Just beginning

mhaney8689mh · June 17

Hi, my name is Melissa never been on a forum so please forgive my blunders. Need to lose weight, but traditional diets doesn't work for long term. Want something I can do that will be easy to go into maintenance after weight loss.

kcnjjt · June 17

Hi Melissa

I’d recommend writing a list of foods you do enjoy and constructing a meal plan that you can sustain long term.

Including comfort foods so you don’t feel you’ve restricted yourself completely allowing for flexibility.

Have you worked out your tdde requirements?

Always a good indicator to start.

springlering62 · June 17

Hi @mhaney8689mh welcome to MFP.

I’m going to flip that on its head.

What you’ve probably tried is trend diets.

MFP is about the most traditional “diet” you can do, since it’s simply minding calories in versus calories out. I suppose the only non traditional aspect is that it provides a modern day way to log-providing you weigh accurately.

I’d challenge you to lose the “diet” mentality and think of this as a new way of life, way of eating. Diet implies a temporary fix. Do this slowly and accurately and with new habits that will last a lifetime, so you’re not back in a year having gained all the pounds “+friends” back again.

I’m sorry if I sound smug and trite saying this, but I started at 35+BMI, which was the upper end of the obese category. I’m now smack in the middle of normal. I know it works, but it requires changes.

jubrown3 · June 17

Hi Melissa, I hope your beginning days have been positive. I started my new effort to lose weight in May of 2023. Logging what I ate was super important & helped be mindful of my calorie choices throughout the day. It also was educational to read about nutrition and other people‘s experiences each day, boosting my motivation.
I’ve lost 21 pounds and kept it off eight months now, still logging my calories each day. I’m hopeful that my set point will adjust after a year to my lower weight. I’ve read that can happen so our body cooperates, in a sense, with our new lower weight. I’m 73 years old & realized I wanted to be my current weight all my life. What was I waiting for anymore? If you are younger, try to push through this process now and enjoy your new healthier body & life sooner. 💕

Hobartlemagne · June 21

Welcome!
I'll say this- Its not easy but it can be simple.
Forget "dieting".
For permanent success, you need to learn and embrace a permanent healthy lifestyle.
We're all here to help.

LisaMoxon155 · June 23

Hi Melissa, welcome to My fitness pal. Don't call it a diet, call it a life style change.
Put all your stats in and your goal and this will tell you your calorie allowance. As long as you eat within those you'll lose weight.
Add me as a friend if you wish. Ypu can always put a question on the forum and someone will answer 👍 Good luck on your journey xx

AnnPT77 · June 23

I pretty much just started with logging what I was eating, and gradually remodeled my eating habits to reach my calorie goal, feel reasonably full most of the time, and get adequate nutrition while eating food I found tasty, practical and affordable. I lost weight from class 1 obese to healthy weight in a bit under a year, have maintained a healthy weight for 8 years since, so far . . . all eating in that personalized way.

If that idea appeals to you, this thread has more details about that kind of approach:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm/p1

That won't be perfect for everyone, because no one thing is. It's just an option to consider.

Whatever you decide, I'm wishing you success: The effort is worth it!

Just beginning

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