newbiee in need of some help

Unfortunately like the above poster said, you can't target your weight loss to specific parts of the body, but if you lose fat, it will eventually go from those areas.

Without being able to see your food diary (you can change your setting so that it's public, which may help people advise you), it's hard to comment on whether you're eating too much or too little or whatever. That said, your list posted here seems like it's fairly low-cal. What have you set your weight loss at per week, and what has MFP set your daily calorie intake at? With only 15 lbs to lose, you should probably aim to lose about 0.5 lb a week. It might be possible for you to lose 10-15 lb in a month, but being fairly close to your goal, don't be surprised if it takes longer.

Since your motivation at the moment is to look good in photos etc, you might consider focussing less on the scale, and more on changing your body composition. Have you thought about strength/resistance training? Building some muscle would change the way your body looks, and you would probably find yourself fitting into smaller sizes. Even if you can't get to the gym or don't have weights at home, there are exercises you could do using your body weight, which would be a start. You don't have to worry about bulking up; check out this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/494091-i-just-don-t-care-anymore for the kind of results you could get with weight training.

As well as using the scale to measure progress, it's a good idea to take measurements of your body, as you may see more inch-loss than weight loss, and take pictures too.

Weel first of all I would stay away from the processed dinner foods. They have alot of sodium and processed chemicals. This can cause bloating and excess water weight. Do a google search for Clean Eating Dinner ideas.

I agree with Jbella...processed dinners are bad for you....try to do most of your shopping in the produce isle and stick with lean meats, such as pork, chicken and fish.

Also, it is better for you to eat 5 small meals a day than it is just three. I drink shakeology for breakfast, which I love and could give you more information on if you want it, and then I have an A.M. snack which is usually fruit, veggies, cottage cheese or a hard boiled egg and then lunch, which consists of 3 oz lean meat some veggies or fruits and water. 2-3 hours later a P.M. snack..same venue as earlier, but different from the first or maybe a cheese stick. Then dinner, consisting of 4 oz lean meat, steamed veggies, etc.

Do NOT eat three hours before you go to sleep. This way it puts your body to work while you sleep to burn fat. They say that you should eat your breakfast within one hour of waking up.

Unfortunately like the above poster said, you can't target your weight loss to specific parts of the body, but if you lose fat, it will eventually go from those areas.

Without being able to see your food diary (you can change your setting so that it's public, which may help people advise you), it's hard to comment on whether you're eating too much or too little or whatever. That said, your list posted here seems like it's fairly low-cal. What have you set your weight loss at per week, and what has MFP set your daily calorie intake at? With only 15 lbs to lose, you should probably aim to lose about 0.5 lb a week. It might be possible for you to lose 10-15 lb in a month, but being fairly close to your goal, don't be surprised if it takes longer.

Since your motivation at the moment is to look good in photos etc, you might consider focussing less on the scale, and more on changing your body composition. Have you thought about strength/resistance training? Building some muscle would change the way your body looks, and you would probably find yourself fitting into smaller sizes. Even if you can't get to the gym or don't have weights at home, there are exercises you could do using your body weight, which would be a start. You don't have to worry about bulking up; check out this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/494091-i-just-don-t-care-anymore for the kind of results you could get with weight training.

As well as using the scale to measure progress, it's a good idea to take measurements of your body, as you may see more inch-loss than weight loss, and take pictures too.

I heartedly concur. Strength training yields fast, dramatic results in terms of size, feeling good, but not necessarily on the scale. I've lost 26 pounds in six months, which may seems kind of slow, but through strnegth training, I've dropped about two clothing sizes and even then, everything fits, looks and feels better on me.

Also, stay away from processed foods AMAP. Convenient, but loaded w/ sodium which makes you retain water weight. I've read that adults should aim for less than 1,500mg/day (I try for 1,200). Once you start to track it, you'd be AMAZED how much extra sodium you consume. And those frozen diet meals are skimpy (volume wise). I always feel hungry after eating them. Expensive too.

Here is one of my favorite dinners. Pan sear in a couple of teaspoons of olive oil 3 oz of salmon, seasoned with pepper, fresh dill or red chili seeds, load it up on a big salad (as much as you want) organic spinach, baby greens salad with strawberries, red onion, and homemade balsamic vinegar dressing (one tables spoon energetically tossed in the salad distribute the seasoning and minimizes the fat/calorie consumption if you direct pour and eat without tossing). Top it up with home toasted (not salted) sprinkle of sunflower seeds. Yum! And it only takes about 12 minutes to make. Compared to 4-5 minutes microwaving frozen stuff. And for the extra 10 minutes you know what you are feeding your body.

Load up on non starchy veggies - fresh or frozen (but not frozen with sauces/seasoning). Great for feeling full. And to avoid the hunger pains that can strike just before you next meal....SNACK OFTEN and with intention. Orange, apple, a piece of cheese, low fat yogurt (plain) mixed with fruit you add and maybe a tablespoon of walnuts. During the course of the day, I regularly eat more cummulatively from snacks than I do at any one meal.

Pay attention to how your calories in are distributed among protein, fat, carbs. You can customize your nutrition report to show these plus many nutrients/minerals (I track sodium and calcium).

The more you exercise the better. Strength training, cardio vascular. Get your heart rate up everyday. You'll have to research to see how high you should target your heart rate.

Good luck. You might find that rather than a quick fix, you start to adopt more healthful practises... and if so, you'll never again feel like you are on a deprived diet.

Also, it is better for you to eat 5 small meals a day than it is just three.

This is not true. It's perfectly fine to eat 5 small meals, but it's just as fine to eat 3, or even 1 if you're comfortable with that. As long as you stay within your calorie goals you can eat as often as you like.

Do NOT eat three hours before you go to sleep. This way it puts your body to work while you sleep to burn fat.

Also not true. Meal timing has no effect on weight loss. It may disturb your sleep, of course, but this varies by individual.

They say that you should eat your breakfast within one hour of waking up.

It's true that "they" say this all the time. But who are "they"? You can eat breakfast whenever you want, or not at all.

This is correct.

http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Leg-Lifts i like for upper abs... youll feel it the next day
+ Cardio

Processed ready meals aren' the best choice, but they're OK - if that's what you have in and have planned to eat, then you can work around that, but I'd make the rest of your diet super-good.

It looks a little high on carbs, low on protein at the minute. Have eggs for breakfast the odd day instead of always cereal. Eat more fresh salad veggies. Use cottage cheese on your baked potato instead of oil. Logging all your foods on MFP helps you to look at what you're eating, and see where you can make things better.

Good luck!

I usually have a WW meal for lunch during the week and I've started to keep a bottle of no-sugar diluting squash at work to encourage me to drink water. Well done on your loss this week :happy: