FIRST DAY --- I would love tips for getting started!!

Drink your weight in water. I'm about 135 give or take so I should be drinking 135 ounces a day. Also, try adding lemon! It makes drinking the water more enjoyable

1. Sparkling water is awesome. Flavored sparkling water has vitamins. Drink this when you want soda, eventually it will be your healthy go to. I like the brands Talking Rain and Cascade Ice, but I am in a small area so you might have access to better!
2. WEIGH AND EVERYTHING!!!! VEGGIES, MEAT, EVERYTHING!!!!!!!
3. Don't just calories, make them count. when cutting and eating less, it is important to find a way to eat enough that you don't feel hungry without going over your intake. Find out if you can eat the calories or not. I personally can't, some people can, it is trial and error.
4. You are going to be hungry, get used to it, you will adjust and it will eventually go away when you get used to eating a lower amount of calories
5. Talk to a Nutritionist. Even only one visit can give you a wealth of information.
6. Do online research on healthy and productive ways to lose weights. If it involves pills, powders, or some "magic" thing then its bull.
7. Make exercise and your health your number one priority! Seriously though, a lot of moms I know say "I don't have time to eat right, I don't have time to work out, My husband/kids are picky eaters and will only eat KFC, pizza, and Taco Bell". I also have friends that have kids, work more hours and have more responsibility and have time to work out, eat right, and feeds their families healthy nutritious meals. What does this tell you?
8. You don't have to eat the same meals as everyone else and you don't have to be the only one that cooks.
9. Explore your options! research recipes that use unique ingredients to make low cal healthy versions of comfort foods! Like cauliflower for pizza crust! Lavash Bread as a bun for fat free or veggie hot dogs!
10. What works for one person doesn't always work for another. Find what works!
11. Log EVERYTHING! If it goes in the mouth, it goes in the log!
12. Beware those that say "Well what YOU should do is.." especially those not going through what your going through.
13. Exercise. You can also exercise with your kids! They are little cardio machines! Play hide and seek or tag! Plus you get the added benefit of feeling young, laughing, and bonding with your kids!
14. Days you don't want to stick to it are the most important. Prove to yourself you can push through the hump and feel your confidence from it improve!
15. You are not a dog, do NOT reward yourself with food. Reward yourself with a new book, day at the spa, a night dancing, anything you like, but not food. Ever.
16. Don't drink. Alcohol inhibits weight loss. Stay away from it until your get to where you want to be and then find out what you can have without packing the pounds right back on yourself.
17. Make friends! We are all here to support you!
18. My final one, do NOT look at my food diary as a model for you. I have had medical problems, I no longer have a gall bladder and did not adjust well to that removal after that surgery in 2008 and it severely changed my ability to digest. I can't even use olive oil because of what it does to me. I've talked to docs and I've done a ton of research so I am only eating no more than 1000 calories a day. This is temporary and short term. I will adjust once I get to a point of weight loss needed and eventually find out what my daily calorie count and combination of foods I can have that I will be able to digest fully without causing the painful problems I've had for a long time. Normal people should not go under 1200 calories a day without guidance of a doctor. I am not normal. Moral of this, their could be other people like me so don't think if your eating say 1500, your eating too much. Feel free to point out if someone is eating too much fat or sodium, but don't think you need to do what they are doing. Weight loss is a science and everyone's physiology is different. Do what works for you!

I would say good luck, but that has nothing to do with the ability to lose weight. I have lost over 13 pounds so far thanks to hard work, dedication, and commitment. As long as you put the work in, I promise you it will work. Also, you won't change overnight (god I wish), just keep at it and take it a day at a time!