In desperate need of help and support

You can do it..this is a good app and we are all here to motivate each other..You will be in my prayers

Hi Jen,

I am not in the same situation as you, but a lot of folks here have been there. Click on "Community" then "Find Members" and look for folks that have made your journey.

I would caution you against trying to loose weight "fast". You really need to change your mind set to becoming HEALTHY, when you do, the weight will come off. Forget the fad diets, throw out the junk food and get serious about your health. YOU CAN do it, because you are a daughter of God.

Some things I have learned...
1. In the first weeks of starting exercise program most folks gain weight because a cubic inch of muscle weighs more than a cubic inch fat. SO don't just weigh yourself... MEASURE to see what your body is really doing.
2. NEVER eat less than about 125O calories... OR try to loose too much too fast. Your body goes into starvation mode and retains fat.
3. It took YEARS to put on the weight... eat HEALTHY (food pyramid) exercise regularly... and slowly it will come off.
4. Also, SLOW weight loss is most likely to stay off long term.
5. DON"T "diet"... just learn to eat properly and exercise regularly. Make your goal "good health."
6. Eat back at least SOME of your exercise calories. This motivates me to exercise more!
7. Don't deprive yourself. Learn to have just ONE bite of that cake. Total deprivation may lead to fast weight gain later.
8. As you gained weight you probably had plateaus going up. Your body remembers these plateaus and will automatically plateau there again on the way down. Some refer to these as "set points." It may take some time and sometimes some adjustments to get past them.
9. Mix it up. Vary your exercise from day to day and vary your menu. If you get bored you are less likely to be successful.
10. Fill out your MyFitnessPal.com profile, particpate on the boards and add some friends who will encourage you (and maybe inspire you too) .... and HAVE FUN with it!!
11. Move More + Eat Less = Lower Weight

"It matters not if we try and fail, and try and fail again. But it matters much if we try and fail and fail to try again."

Jen,

You're not alone. You'll find friends here and we all keep each other going. If you're having difficulty starting, we here for that too. Take a look at my 2 latest blog posts (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/pixardad ), hopefully you'll find a little inspiration. Feel free to add me as a fiend. Good Luck!

--PixarDad

Jen, don't do slimfast. I mean, you bought them, but I would just use them as an emergency meal when you don't have time to eat. You can do this. I have food addictions too. Emotional eating, the whole nine yards. If you do this with others, and talk about what's going on, you can overcome these obstacles.

And remember, you are embarking on a lifestyle change, not a diet. Keep in mind that while you're cutting calories, you're building good habits. Eventually you can eat a bit more, but you will have the control you lacked and you have to keep that or you will gain it back. It's a new way of thinking. We need to find alternatives to munching.

Start with 1 doing the calorie requirements on the site...find out how many you need.
2. plan a couple days worth ahead of time til you start to get the hang of it.
3. stop eating everywhere but at the kitchen table, even for snacks. We're trying to break old associations and old habits. So eating, for now, is just at the table.
4. Exercise. Find something you can do every day, and don't go hog wild into something that is such torture that you are going to quit. You can increase the intensity or length once you have formed a habit. Just for now, do what is tolerable and pleasurable.
.5. Get an SOS buddy. I'm totally willing. When there is a time you feel you must cheat, SOS your buddy (easy if you have a smart phone and use the app) and you can be talked down from any snack.

It's all behavior modification. And on top of that, if you have any other issues, medical or psychological, make sure you have the appropriate professional help. (BTW, I had a flareup of an inflammatory arthritis that freaked me out big time. I quit smoking because I thought it would help. I felt better, but it didn't help. Then I tried going gluten free and it improved 100%. Not saying that will work for everyone, but keep it in mind. Food intolerance can be a factor. Keep investigating and trying out things. Arthritis is a *****. I could barely walk at one point. I know how it feels.

Well, good luck and you can do this.

Welcome and good luck! We're all here if you need support!

Hi Jen,
Welcome to MFP, you have come to the right place! People here are so supportive and friendly, it gets to be a habit and it really does help. I have been an emotional eater my whole life.....and it is consuming and overwhelming, but you have made the first step in recovery which is to decide to do something. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something...start small with the exercise and just keep at it, and the endurance will come...it really will. Log everything you eat, hun, it really does help, just to know that you are holding yourself accountable. I would love to be your friend and help you on your journey.....you can do this...and we will help you. I will send you friend request.
Today is your first day......rock on!
Carol

Being an emotional eater myself.....I KNOW you can do this. It's really hard to ignore those cravings especially at night. I've found some really good suggestions on here, some of which are go and brush your teeth.....make a cup of tea......pop a piece of gum. I know they sound silly for emotional eating but it has worked for me so far. Also just try and change your environment. If you're sitting down at night and want to eat, as much as you hate it, go and clean the toilet or do a load of laundry. Those are just things that have helped me because I used to inhale probably 80% of my calories between 8 and 11 pm. You've come to a great place with great people and I know you can do this.......one hour at a time.
Add me as a friend if you like

Welcome! Many prayers are with you. Add if you like!

You have my support. Lord knows its not easy. I'm having the same problem. One day at a time, and
don't focus on any off days you may have just keep going.

I've been to MANY sites over the past years. I have to say this is the only one I have been consistently supported on. I feel accountable but not judged. I know my MFP friends have my best interest at heart.