I need some help.....I am a newbie and have only been keeping track of stuff for two days and I already need help

Hello,

I am new here and this is only my second day that I have really kept track of my calorie intake and stuff.  The problem is that I don't know what to do.  Yesturday and today I got a C- on my food analysis and I cannot get to the gym right now (I am in college and my wife works days so I get to watch the kids during the day...don't start classes till the 9th).  I don't eat that much but, like today I went to Wendy's for lunch and had 4 waffles and syrup for dinner.  I don't know how to go about this diet thing and I don't know how to monitor myself to get this done.  Could someone please help???

Also I have a Billy's Boot Camp DVD at home and I was wondering if it would be a good substitute for the gym on days that I cannot go.

I want to thank yall in advance for any help.

Hi.  welcome.  I have only been here 3 days myself.  but!!!  I have already lost 3 pounds.  the main advice that I would share is that it is ALL up to you.  Don't misunderstand, I love wendys too, but was that really the best choice?  what did you eat?  could you have chosen a chicken salad?  or did you choose the burger?  it starts with us.  What I do is really look at the calories of what I am eating.  If it is in a container with the calories I look there, if not, I come here. I am VERY faithful at entering my food here, ALLLL of my food and drink at every meal.  right down to the sweet'n low.  I try hard to stay within my allowance.  It is hard sometimes, but I know it will benefit me in the long run. Take tonight for example.  I went to the in-laws for dinner.  I only had aprox 400 cal avail for the day.  I counted and measured out what I could eat.  I actully got full and my husband had to finish my plate.  then we played cards.  I got hungry about 4 hours later.  I asked for a peice of cheese.  My husband suggested tuna instead.  I LOVE cheese.  but I knew his suggestion was MUCH better.  So I ate a WHOLE can of tuna (in water..plain).  150 calories.  Protien calories.  I would have been able to only eat about an ounce MAYbe 2 of cheese for the same calories and it would have been all FAT.  But I Chose.  I chose the best thing to help me reach MY goal.

Just think of how fast time really does go by.  Why think, if you had started losing Last year at this time you would probably be at or near your goal RIGHT NOW!!!  This thought is what really started my motivation to lose this time. and to really be serious about it.  my slogan is "you can do this!!"  So just be careful, don't eat waffles and syrup, eat an egg and dry toast. 

Drink LOTS of water.  It fills you up and your stomach really doesn't know the difference between liquid and solid.  it just knows empty and full.

As for the excercise tape...I have SOOO many, but I tell you what, they don't do any good if you don't use them.  It is definately something you should be doing on a regular basis, especially because you can't get to they gym.  Even 30 min a day is better than none.

I wish you the best.  Be tough on yourself to stay strict and motivated.  Don't beat yourself up, if you mess up, but admit it and get back to the goal you have placed on yourself.  By this time next year, I WILL be at my goal!!!  AND YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOAL TOO!!

"you can do this!!!"

Learn to cook!  The best thing you can do for yourself is get a really good low calorie cookbook and learn to make the recipes.  Before buying, I suggest checking a few out of the library. 

You're home all day, until the 9th, right?  So you have time to cook good food for yourself.  What you need is fresh vegetables, fruit, lean meats and fish, complex carbs like whole grains and good fats like olive oil and avocado. No refined sugar or white flour or trans fats!

If you need cooking and shopping tips, contact me!

hi. so, this is my first time too. my best friend (who has been very successful thanx to this site and other motivations) has set me up with an account. well...she set it up 3 days ago, and today might be the first day i actually use it. i just find it difficult to put in everything that i eat right when i eat it. i think the leading cause of my weight problem is that ill eat a handful of cashews of a grahm cracker and not believe it actually "counted against" me. here, im learning that EVERYTHING counts. well, im going to give it a try this time. ill be at work all day, but ill keep in mind exactly what i ate and enter it as soon as i get home. ....hopefully i wont be too disappointed in myself upon entry.

just wanted to say congrats to all of you that have gotten in the swing of this already, it seems to me that after you break the barrier of convinience, and make calorie count a part of your daily routine....your half way there.

-Nicole

when I pack a lunch for work in the morning I plug it in there, usually that way I know what i am missing or have to much of- works well!

hi Elindow, welcome to the forum!!!

Here is the nutrition guide at the Wendy's web site. What I do is go to the sites of my favorite restaurants and download the PDF format nutrition guides. I make my choices at home and next time I visit the drive thru I know what I can have. If a food place does not have a nutrition guide, ask if they plan on offering one. If enough people ask, maybe they will provide one. I know I won't visit any place that does not offer one, my dad has diabetes and the guide helps me make food choices for him. Enough places have guides now, that I don't feel am missing out by not patronizing a place that doesn't have one. BTW - the most nutritious food you will ever find will be what is prepared at home, LOL. Because you control the ingredients. Take it from me - I hate anthing to do with the kitchen in my house - but I make breakfast, lunch, and some dinners now for me and my dad (wifey works, I am retired). If you ever have the opportunity, take a nutrition class at your school. You will learn so much!!

One more thing - it's ok to make changes gradually. Keep a written record of everything you consume, every day. Then start substituting healtier items for what you are doing now.

Go through the Wendy's Nutrition Guide and see what all you could have for the calories you consumed eating the waffles. I look at this dieting thing as a puzzle - little pieces of knowledge I gain everyday helps me get closer to my goal.

http://www.wendys.com/food/NutritionLanding.j sp

PS - welcome to the forum to all the newbies!!!!!

I'm new to this site as well, however last year I lost 36lbs... ten of which I gained back in december by baking cakes and pies twice a week! Anyway I agree that you have to make smarter choices.  As far as the exercise goes Billy Blanks is GREAT. Before I was really serious about having a healthier lifestyle I did taebo 4 times a week and still ate whatever I wanted (lost 20lbs in 2 months), but once I stopped exercising I gained it back.  The key is consistency!!!! DON'T QUIT

HELLO from afar:-)

I'm also new to this site. I use to do taebo and it really worked!!! I toned so much. Like coyote21 said consistency is the key!!! I wish If I had kept my dates with Billy, Damn I'd be looking REALLY good right now:-) Anyway, don't give up... Cook meals at home... I found that when I eat out, I blow it. Meals like chili, cabbage, soup, stews, chicken and rice go a long way. If you make a large pot, it will last a while plus they taste really good. I'll be back to check on you:-)

Take Care

~Electicblaque

Hi  Elindow, Welcome to this fantastic Site. The one thing I have taken from this site is the support. You are not always going to here what you want, but sometimes you here what you need to.

I personally started this site a bit more than a month ago. The one thing I can sugest is to START SLOWLY!! For example, I started by eating 500 cals less than my deficit. Thats it. For the first week, if I wanted to eat a big mac, I would.. or pizza or (my personal nemisis) Chocolate. Dont get me wrong, nutrition is really important, but not as important as making this work for yourself. (I lost about 10lb in 3 weeks this way)

Now, a month later, I am looking at healthier alternatives in my diet, and am about 1000 less than my deficit, and I plan to take it another step very soon and up the nutrition intake. Do this at your own pace and reward yourself regularly. (not with food). My first reward was a new pair of runners! GOOD LUCK!