new here, can you help

Hi.  I am new here, 42 years old, 4 young kids.  I use to be a college athlete and am now fat!!  I don't want to be skinny, just fit and healthy. I weigh more than I did when I delivered my first girl!  I need to lose 50 pounds and am a horrific dieter.  I love sweets.  I work out 5 days a week (45 min. elliptical, wights every other day for 30 minutes) but know I eat too much.  I eat when I am bored, not because I am hungry.  I also eat because I love the taste and texture of food.  I like big portions and my stomach shows it now.  Obviously I need to keep track of my food intake, but how many calories should I plan on eating a day to lose 2 lbs/week?  Any certain foods?  Can you point me in the right direction?? 

I really want to lose a bunch of weight before my nephew's wedding in August.  I will be seeing my brothers from Alaska and Utah and dont want to be a fat sister (also my other sisters are size 4 and 8).

Click here for the right direction to be pointed to.

Use the tools on this site to calculate the things you are looking for.

You seem to know what you have to do (eat less, control portions, eat healthy).  All you need is the will power to do it. 

There are no magic formulas, no special diet pills.  Just hard work.

Welcome to CC

Caroline, I suggest you create your profile, then use the tools and enter you height current weight to see what you should be consuming.

2lbs a week is realistic.  I have lost over77lbs counting calories.

There are fantastic recipes to browse through.

There is also a book that might be of help. It is by FlyLady (Marla Cilley), called Body Clutter, Finally Loving Yourself). I have not read the book, but am considering buying it. It is supposed to be a step-by-step journey to change your "stinkin' thinkin'" about foods (like why you eat when you're angry/bored/etc).

Amazon carries it for around $9.00.

Welcome!

I also have a lot to lose and have a hard time cutting out sweets and fats. But that is what I love about CC! I can keep track of everything I consume, and I can also save room if I want to have a treat every so often!! It makes it a lot better than saying to myself 'well, i already had a pack of M&M's today, so screw it, the rest of the day is shot anyway!' which is what I used to do :)

A lot of people also eat when they are bored (including me!) I'm lucky enough to have a pretty demanding job so it's mostly the weekends when I have to worry about this. I try to go for some mini carrots or celery sticks- satisfying and crunchy!!

Good Luck!!!

Welcome.  This link will get you to a walkthough that the site owners put together along with some other tools that will get you started with this site.

You have come to the right place.  THis site is filled with great supportive people.

http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/1730 4.html