If you could give only one tip.....

lol, "just the tip" was my favorite game in college.

Don't over do it ~ Never ever quit ~ Eat

Indulgences happen. Lazy days happen. Plateaus happen. Don't get discouraged, just keep your eyes on your goal and keep moving toward it.

if you have a bad day and go off track...get back on the wagon, don't throw in the towel...keep going!! The path to success is not a straight easy line...it's bumpy and curvy and worth the commitment!

My friend actually said no to working out with me because she didn't have anything to wear to the gym....SERIOUSLY??? So my advice/tip for anyone starting out on this journey is:

Doesn't matter if your workout clothes don't match your shoes! And who cares anyway. We (I) didn't come to the gym for a fashion show and chances are nobody is looking.

STAY WAY FROM POTATOES, WHITE BREAD, PASTAS, AND WHITE RICE! THESE ARE YOUR ENEMIES! DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. EVEN BETTER...ADD LEMONS TO YOUR WATER. YOU'D BE VERY SURPRISED WITH YOUR RESULTS!

I eat white bread, potatoes, pasta, and white rice, and I lost 42 lbs.

Buy a scale and weigh things. What I found was that I thought things weighed more than they did. I found that I could have more (beef/chicken/etc) than I thought when I weighed it and I could enjoy it more because I wasn't stressing over the unknown.

^ This would be my tip also.

Just to add one more: Do not ever give up, even if you screw up, because you will many times. It's a long-term thing, not a short term one, so just stick it out.

Ok, so much for the one tip!

1) buy a hear rate monitor! You would not beleive how even the same excercise can burn different amounts of calories depending on your intensity / lack of sleep / tons of other factors! and every individual is SOOO different when it comes to burning calories
2) Water Water Water - I am so weak at this but when I really try hard I notice a tremendous difference in so many things
3) If you bite it write it! Yes - and I also agree with the poster who said it is easier in the beginning if you eat the same thing until you get into the habit of logging
4) keep trying! You will never get there if you quit!

I have SO many little tips but my biggest tip for people just starting is to PLAN AHEAD. It has been the number one key to my success so far. And when I don't do it, I start slacking and things come to a stand still.

And by planning ahead I mean:

Schedule time in your day or week for activity. Have your gym bag packed and in your car or your work out clothes ready to go for whenever you decide to work out or be active. If you make it a routine, it becomes easier.

Measure out food and snacks as soon as you get home from the grocery store in tupperwares and baggies with the calories written right on it.

If you are going out to eat, track your meal first (if you haven't been their they probably have a menu online).

As soon as you are up in the morning, sit down at your computer and track as much of your food and meals for that day as possible. In fact, track as much for the next day too. When you know for sure what you are going to be eating and when, you know how many calories you can spend when it comes to snack time or indulging in a treat or drink.

Also when I plan ahead to cook something for dinner, I look forward to that meal all day when I'm at work, and as soon as I get home I'm excited to start preparing it.

Plan and follow through!