any suggestions? I'm overwhelmed!

I am just starting out--on CC. that is.  I've tried to lose weight more times than I can count.  But I looked in the mirror (and at the scale) and this can't go on any longer.  I have to do this!  And I am so thankful that I ran across this website!  The support is awesome!  Tools are unbelievable!  So if anyone has any suggestions for me:  I need a PLAN of ACTION!  I would like to lose 30ish pounds and don't know where to start.  The more I read, the more I think, "Where do I start?"  Do I go to the grocery store and get the "right foods" first?  Do I start walking on my treadmill?  When is the best time, morning or evening?  When am I going to find time to get my brain in gear, between odd work hours, picking up kid #2 at noon, being home after bus drops off kid #1? UGH!  The Calorie limit for me (goal) is 1450.  How do I plan out what that 1450 consists of?

Am I thinking too much?  Do I just stop eating like a pig (duh) and get my big bootie on that treadmill? 

Thanks in advance for all your advise!!!

Uh-oh.

Did I scare everyone off?  Am I asking stupid questions?

Sorry if I am.  Sorry to be so dense.  Just want to do it right this time...

don't worry, you haven't scared anyone off.

Here's the deal, you wanna lose weight, keep a close eye on your diet, in a sense that you should focus on eating healthy.  Have you used the tool on c-c to find out how many cal you need for a day?  Don't go below 1200 cal, no matter what.

if you plan to eat 1450, that's fine.  Have balanced diet and yeah, you need to work out.  If you are not active at all, or a couch potato, then you should start it by walking, on treadmill or just walk your dog, slowly for 30 min each, and slowly pick up the pace.  After all, how far and how fast you walk rests on your ability.  But for fat burning, you are supposed to hit 65 -80% of your maximum HR.

For the right kinda food, salad is always your best friend, if you must have dressing, go for a low-fat version.  Personally, I have everything low-fat and avoid fried food.  Hope it helps.

Just get out there and go! Any changes can be a help ! Good luck, and I'm new here too- glad to meet ya!

You're not asking stupid questions at all! 

so... i'd say start by making sure you're eating 3 meals a day. ESPECIALLY breakfast.
when you're eating just make the portions smaller and/or dont go for seconds. when i first started counting i didnt count calories during the day and just made sure i wrote down everything i ate and calculated at the end so i knew what i was eating, how much it REALLY came out to, and what i could do later to cut the extra calories.
also, drink your 2.2L  of water a day! i found it helps to buy a 1 liter water bottle of evian or something and just keep refilling it.

as for what time is best to walk on the treadmill... that's up to you!  I excersize anytime i can.  I'm a college student with 12 classes this semester alone, a senior recital under my belt and other performances all over the place.  So I completely relate with the hectic schedules that dont allow a set gym schedule.


Hope this helps and good luck!

ultimately, you need to look at how and when and what and where and why you eat and exercise... keep the good behaviours and toss out the rest!  replace them with better... things you can do and enjoy guilt free for the rest of your life... that will nourish your body and satisfy you...

you can start with 1 issue at a time... figure it out and move on to the next...  it's ok!

did you know?  that 30 mins of cardio activity 4 to 5 days a week is all you need to do to rev up your metabolism... that more does not increase metabolism so much... but more can be gr8 for other reasons... like increasing stamina, improving your cardiovascular system... improving strength and coordination... improve energy and a host of other reasons.... 

did you know... that you can even break it into 3 ten minute sessions in a single day... like 10 mins of brisk walking will do it 3 times a day... the goal is to get your target heart rate up for the 10 mins (based on your health and physical condition and limitations)... 

so... if the only exercise you can fit in when life gets super busy... get the cardio in!  you can work in those walks while waiting for kidlets... whenever... 

but alternative exercise counts too!  and strength and resistance exercise is important... to add in as your able...

Food.  Start by grocery shopping... Adding in more fruits and veggies... leaner cuts of meat... more complex carbs that are high in fiber and not processed/stripped of their fiber... like switch from white rice to brown rice... try hot cooked oatmeal... whole grain breads... whole wheat or whole grain noodles...

Then as you can... sit down and figure out how to spread your food out over the day for the cals you need to eat... with snacks between meals and even an evening snack... 

then work out some alternative breakfast ideas, lunch ideas... and dinner ideas... and snacks too of course!!!   try to balance meals and snacks with a little protein and some carbs and possibly some of the healthy type fats...  the food will stick with you longer if you include protein and a little of the healthy fats (nuts, peanut butter, olive oil, olives, avacado, etc..)

Hope this helps! 

You really can do this!!!  Welcome to cal-count :)  Look forward to seeing you around :)

I always love your "did u know" , united :)

atsmommy, I suggest that you calculate what your maintenance calories will be for your goal weight, and then adapt that as your calorie intake.  that is what I have done.  I strongly recommend that you don't go any lower than that.  I have no scientific studies to back up my opinion, but it makes good sense to me that we should eat what our bodies will require at goal weight, and no more and no less. 

For example, my goal weight is 109, and my BRM for 109 at sedentary level is 1350, and at light activity level is 1550.  So, my daily intake range is 1350-1550.

You should take a sec and get your measurements, waist, hips cheast, arms, thighs. I kick myself for not doing this. It can be a much better gage then the scale.

Just log the things you eat ALL of them. You will see a pattern after a few days, try to adjust the pattern to reflect the calorie totals you want to acheive. Use the Eat Meter to help you decide portions and or foods. Don't try to do it all at once, it took me several days to find a good balance. i weighed 300 and am heading to 165 (eventually) I've been averaging about 1600 calories, some days more some days less and the weight is coming down. the key is to log everthing and use the analysis tool as a guide to cutting those foods that are high calorie low nutrition and boosting the groups that balance your particular diet don't worry about a bad day try to look at the average after several days to see what your trend is and adjust from there. all food are OK just portion control will help your goal.

1) Do I go to the grocery store and get the "right foods" first? 

That's one place I started: on New Year's Day I went through all my cabinets and threw out anything with trans fat. Then I reorganized the cabinets, placing the less-than-great choices up on the highest shelf (I'm short). Then I made up a grocery list of healthy foods, and went shopping to restock: Flash frozen chicken breasts and fish, canned tuna in water, nuts, dried and canned beans, hummus, low-fat plain yogurt with active cultures, frozen berries, oatmeal, whole wheat bread,  brown rice, quinoa, millet, bulger, buckwheat, fresh fruit, fresh veggies, olive oil, peanut butter, flax seed... and a stash of Tofuti Cuties and Little Bites chocolates.

2) Do I start walking on my treadmill? 

Personally I started with one or the other - diet or exercise. In my case, I started with the exercise, shooting for a walk at least 30 minutes per day on most days. Once that became an ingrained habit, then I tackled the diet. I find I'm more successful if I tackle one challenge at a time, instead of trying to do it all at once.

3) When is the best time, morning or evening? 

The best time is when you will do it. :-) For me, that's around 11 AM, but I work from home, so I have that luxury. I am sooo not a morning person, and if I left it for the end of the day, I'd never do it. I will say that I actually block off my exercise time on my outlook calendar, so nobody can schedule me for other meetings and so I have time built into my schedule.

4) When am I going to find time to get my brain in gear, between odd work hours, picking up kid #2 at noon, being home after bus drops off kid #1? UGH! 

Can you work walking into your schedule? For example, how far is it to that bus? Can you walk a loop around your neighborhood on the way to the bus? Can you incorporate the kids into your daily exercise plan? If you have to, can you plan to park the kids in some other activity for 30 minutes while you tread on the mill? Yeah, even a t.v. show.... let that be their one t.v. show of the day so it's a big treat and they'll leave you alone.

Otherwise, trust me on this one: the exercise and healthy eating will give you so much more energy!! You'll be able to tackle your schedule and fly through the day much easier.

5) The Calorie limit for me (goal) is 1450.  How do I plan out what that 1450 consists of?

I'd figure 300 calories per meal, and two 125 calorie snacks, or one 250 snack depending on what works best for you. Make each meal balanced with a carb, protein, fruit or veggie, and a small bit of fat. Ideally your snack is also something healthy, like an apple and handful of nuts, but you can use these calories for your daily splurge like a glass of wine or a small ice cream treat. This helps keep you from developing overwhelming craves.

Oh!! And don't forget to drink lots of water.

I can't believe how helpful you guys are! 

It makes me feel so good that there's someone in my corner!  Thank you all so much for all of your suggestions...

Today was a busy work day.  My first mistake was missing breakfast.  Here it is, my first REAL day, and I miss breakfast.  I need to plan better.  I realize that.  But I did good on my eating.  I didn't make time to walk, but when I left the house at 8, I didn't return until after 7.  I can feel myself wanting to get better and better at this.  That's a great feeling for me!  Thanks again for all of your help!!

I'm pretty new too!  I started on Feb 19.  I love this website.  I am still a little overwhelmed also.  There is so much to take in.  Can anyone tell me the best source to learn what are healthy amounts of certain items like fiber, sodium, fats.  I see people talking about keeping under certain % of this or that.  Example, I know you need some amount of fats, and other amounts of calcium.  Where can I find these details?  Also, is it really really bad that I'm eatting lots of Lean  Cuisines?  I know that I should prepare more meals.  But again this take me back to how much of what should I be eating.   

I have 3 kids all in school but they leave at diffrent times. I help with Girl scouts and my son has Autism, and my Husband works mostly out of town so i understand where your comming from. I would  say workout anytime you have that free 30 mins. Hit the treadmill while you watch your Favorite TV Show even. It helps the time go by and you dont even realize it.
 AS for food. first off start cutting out all the Junk type food you eat. if the rest of the family must have cookies and such get them the kinds you don't like. Helps to lessen the temptation to eat them. Don't Deny yourself a craving as that will just make it worse, instead have a very small portion, just enough for your brain to say woo hoo I got chocolate but your body not to say hello fat , reside on my hips today please.
 Drink alot of water. I carry a bottle with me everywhere. And instead of 3 meals a day I eat 4 to 6 times a day. Breakfast a snack Lunch a snack and Dinner . and sometimes another snack after dinner in place of desert.  I hate the hungry feeling and it makes me sick to my stomache if I get to hungry so this helps me  keep that feeling gone. Just split your calories between the meals and snacks.  And remember that what works for one person may or may not work for you. Try a few thing out and see what works best for you.
 Key thing is don't stress out. make the changes slowly if you need to and remember we are all here to help one another. It's just not a "diet " . True weight loss requires a change in your eating habits and life style, And since we are all human that can take a little time.
Include your Family as you go and they will learn along with you and in learning with you they also help support you and keep you motivated.

PS getting measured is an excellent Idea. I have lost more in inches than in actual weight. I am down from a size 18 into a 15 16 ( US Plus sizing )  but have only lost about 5 lbs since starting C-C .