New to everything- so need help!

I read or heard somewhere that it takes 30 days for a new routine to become a habit. For 30 days you will need to really push yourself to go out and do your exercises and count your calories. After 30 days those things should start to become natural. According to Tom Venuto, weight loss is 80% diet and 20% diet so go easy on the exercise as you begin to tone up your body. However, pay close attention to counting your calories on MFP. Venuto also says that people tend to oevrestimate the number of calories they burn during exercise and under estimate the calories they consume. I try to go the opposite of that.

When you hit a weight loss plateau, read this... http://fitnesswithnatalie.blogspot.com/2011/05/most-dreaded-word-in-weight-loss.html That will help as your body is made to search for new equlibriums.

Don't expect miracles overnight. Remember it took you a long time to get where you are and it will take a long time to get where you want to be. You are not alone.

wow thanks- ok this sounds awful what is an eliptical? I've never heard of it before?

The elliptical is the machine that somewhat simulates running, but it is much easier on your joints!

Here's a picture ---> http://www.treadmill-world.com/sitebuilder/images/proform-el1200-elliptical-bg-258x258.jpg

When you get on it, it will start out at an incline of 10. . . you can lower that!!! I can't tell you how many of my friends starting out didn't know you could change that level and it makes it much more doable for the beginner.

My advice: Take it one day at a time. You will not be perfect every day, and it's going to get hard. But nothing worth doing comes easily. Just remember that you are worth being happy and healthy! Make sure you eat breakfast, and eat small meals (split up your calories pretty evenly) every 3 hours or so to keep your metabolism going. Also drink a ton of water! I don't know what weight you're starting at, but when I was 250 pounds I know I didn't want to step foot in a gym because I had no idea what I was doing. This was a mistake. . . make sure you are working out too, and not just cardio. Do some sort of weight lifting or you can end up with loose skin issues. Sometimes things can get overwhelming. . . just make sure you turn to your support group in those times and don't keep your thoughts to yourself.

I have faith in you! You can do this! Good luck with your lifestyle change.

Hello, you can feel free to add me and i will try to help you the best i can!
I have two Victoria's Secret sports bras that are amazing and i would never get anything else but i don't think they come in very large sizes though. :ohwell:
Anyway though, I'm pretty sure that everyone will try to keep you motivated and encourage you as much as possible. Anything is possible with encouragement and positivity! :happy:

Hi Taylor, Welcome, this is a great site to get help and motivation. You have already been given both. Here is my contribution. Losing weight is a COMMITMENT to yourself. You are in CONTROL of how it goes. Tracking is an excellent way to see where you need to make changes. As someone else has already said, be honest with yourself.

It is hard when you also have a family to feed, but sometimes you have to play little tricks on yourself, here's a few tips . . . portion control, you are in charge. Look at the food package and see what the recommended serving size is, give yourself a smaller plate or bowl. It makes it look like a big portion and eat slowly.

Here's something I do, I leave the food in the kitchen. Fix the plates in the kitchen and take the plates to the table. You are much less likely not to take seconds if you have to get up and go get it. Works for me! Oh, and when you are cleaning up after a meal don't eat "that" because there's just a dab left. You will be sabotaging yourself.

Hope this helps. Stay with this site and you'll succeed. You can add me as a friend if you like.

Lois

Welcome!!

When I first started, I couldn't do 5 minutes on the elliptical without feeling like I would die. I had no idea what to eat or how much or what was in what I was already eating. But if you are persistant, you'll improve and get better.

I made it my goal to increase my elliptical time by 5 minutes every week (I went to the gym 3x a week). Within a few months, I was going 45 minutes at max intensity...and clasping my hands behind my back or neck to increase the difficulty. The next year, I started running. This old lady couldn't even run next door, but I ran as far as I could, then walked a minute or two, then ran some more...et al, until I could do a mile, then two, then a 5k. Yes, it took a long time, but that's ok.

I learned how to not go over on carbs (because they make me sleepy and really hungry later) and how to get enough protein (I lose weight better with higher protein levels). I learned what snacks keep me content and which ones just make me want to eat more and more and more. I figured out that water helps keep me feeling full and helps prevent me from bloating.

And finally, I learned that having friends on MFP to share my victories with is extremely motivating. So feel free to add me!

Good luck!! :flowerforyou:

Stormie

On the sports bra tips...they also make compression style sports bras that might help.

Shoes--there are a number of good ones, depends on how much u want to spend. I am using Asics, a lot of the people I Zumba with use Reebok Zigs just for a couple examples.

Other advice...be consistent, allow yourself some cheats.

And start lifting weights.
I think that has made the most difference in my body. I started seriously in January and have lost about 18lbs (including the extra 3lbs from Christmas) and over three inches in my waist, 3 from my hips, 2.5 from each thigh.
If you do strength training, you need to make sure you are getting lots of protein, to rebuild those muscles.

Oh, and Drink lots of water.

Lol...I feel your pain. I am very tiny in stature and I am a 30F. If I am going to run or jog I wear my normal bra and I have a sports bra that I wear over it. It gives great support and little bounce. This site is great motivation and the peeps are so supportive. You are more than welcome to add me.

Good luck and well done for starting off!

If you really are as 'lazy' as I was when I started, then walking is really a great simple way to start your exercise regime.
I had 'weak ankles' when I didnt do much walking, now they are much stronger.

i started with half hour walks 3-5 times a week.
Then tried to increase the pace, so can walk two miles in half hour now. (used car to figure out some 2 and 3 mile routes)

If you do something like that already, maybe you could try 'couch to 5km'. It recognises that some people are starting off from nothing and wont be able to go straight into running. So you run a bit, walk a bit, for half hour three times a week, increasing the running ratio every week.

The other people have already given great advice if you (or anyone else starting off today) are more advanced than this.

Good luck to all!