i feel very overwhelmed

Don't know if this helps, but my first week I just lived my normal routine and logged everything. That gave me something to work with. Then week two I started making changes. It helps to see what you've been doing that HASN'T been working to see how to move forward. If you're in it for the lifestyle change it takes time. Give it 1 month..a good effort at least and see where you're at then. You didn't learn bad habits overnight, you're not going to unlearn them in a week. Good luck!

I did this too! I wanted to see exactly WHAT I was eating and how many calories I was consuming. Then I started to make some changes and REALLY check out the nutritional content to see if I wanted to spend my calories on those items. I tried to make sure to have items to snack on like fruits and veggies. I also included more items that were filling but not extremely high in calories. I did not really notice much of difference until about a month later when I decided to buckle down and take it all seriously. I knew the weight had come on gradually and I had managed to lose before but this time I was going to make REAL changes in my entire lifestyle so that I could keep this up even after reaching goal weights.

Be patient. It WILL happen if you are making the changes. I completely agree with others that the scale is NOT your friend. In fact, I just reached the high end of my healthy weight range and then in the grocery store saw one of those kiosks that took your blood pressure, weight, eye exam, etc. Well, it told me my weight was 15 lbs MORE than my scale at home has been telling me. It was kind of frustrating.....until I realized I was wearing my heavy walking shoes, clothes, had my keys, phone, wallet and change on me. I normally weight with NOTHING on but all these extra things, plus sitting rather than standing, made it seem like I had gained 15 lbs. I try to keep a set date for weighing myself so I don't get discouraged. Lately, it has been the way my clothes fit (or maybe DON'T fit since they are getting so big) that has been telling me I'm on the right path.

If you are still not noticing any changes after a month, go back and reevaluate .... and give us all a "call" for some help. You will be able to do this! We ALL started at the same place you are. :flowerforyou:

My advice is to make small changes. It might not be good to give up everything you like all at once. That's very hard, and why we give up so quickly on healthy eating. Think of this as a lifetime eating plan - not a diet. Give yourself permission to have a desert - maybe once per week or once every two weeks - and count it in your calories. Start out giving up one thing, and adding more vegies and fruits. If you are already exercising, that's great - but muscle weighs more than fat so you may not see a change in the scale for awhile.

Although I love vanilla malts - I've limited myself to only one per month. Otherwise, I'd eat one every day! It took time to put the weight on. It will not come off overnight. Also, I've found that if I weigh more one day, I've probably eaten something the day before that has a lot os salt - so limit salt.

If you are doing it right, the weight WILL come off! About all of us have been through that. Don't give up,your body doesn't know what to think of this change! But it will adjust. I lost 1/2 half pound today.It could've been frustrating, but it is coming off. I've lost 36 since 1-30-12. Some weeks have been great and some disappointing. But in the end it works out! You'll do great!:flowerforyou:

you don't need to go to the gym to get results. Simply cutting back and then adding some type of cardio should do it. Then you can always work out at home.

While you been at it for four days good job! Now, you have to do it a lot more. Like three months or more. Even years. Hang in there and you will get it.

Go to precision nutrition.com they have great I info and videos that are free to help you be successful with changing your diet. It must be done in very small steps or it won't happen!! Finding this info has been a life changer!

They say you can eat those calories that you burn. I never do. My body need a deficit of calories. To me eating the calories you burn defeats the purpose.

I rarely check the scale. Maybe once every couple months. Do things for yourself and not for the scale. Do it for your health and body not your weight. Once you get your head right in the game the weight will come off. Weight loss should be a side effect of the positive changes you're making in your life.

This is a lifestyle change not a diet. You can have treats just don't make things like Sonic a way of life. You can fit them into your life but eat your healthy foods first.

Your body changes from the inside out meaning your cells, muscles and everything else starts to react before you see changes sometimes. That is my super non-medical explanation. :-)

I would encourage you to keep reaching out and read the forums, learn to understand fact from fiction, talk to your doctor, and like everyone else says be patient. The scale is only 1 way to measure things and it is one of the most unreliable. Go by how your clothes fit. Your increasing energy level may be one of the first things you see and that should be a good indicator that your body is starting to respond. You may feel that before you notice it on the scale.

Thank you everyone! I guess I need to give it sometime! I will try to put the scale and weigh myself every Sunday!

this.

Be patient. You didn't put the weight in 4 days. It may take weeks to see real changes but you will start feeling better very soon ( if you are making healthy choices). DRINK MORE WATER! Stay away from the scales! It can discourage as fast (or faster) than it encourages. Let your clothes tell the story. Keep at it! Don't give up! You will be happy you did!!

^^this!!!!^^

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!

Look into some workout dvds.