Diet Community

Hi ebony, I always recommend that new bloggers here start out with the Webmd Food and Fitness Planner or the one on Fitday.com either one will help you to coordinate your daily menu better by giving you a visual "chart" or graph of the projected calories you are going to or do consume and the nutritive values of that daily menu.
These charting systems also give you a standard caloric intake schedule and a daily exercise caloric burn goal so that you can see what you need to do in order to lose the weight you want to lose.
Remember. It's not a race. It's a goal. It doesn't really matter WHEN you arrive at your goal, as much as it matters that you eventually do healthfully.
It takes years to accumulate extra weight , don't expect it to come off in a matter of a few weeks or even a few months really. You could easily sabotage yourself , your determination, and your health by setting unrealistic time goals.
The best basic things I can point out are, read all food labels, Stick to the single serving size determined on the package.
Eat raw and fresh more often than not.
Don't be taken in by the "catch phrases" that companies put on the boxes. I can't tell you how many "fat free" things are out there that have more sugar and sodium in them to make them taste like the regular one of that brand.
Remember, just because it says HEALTHY in big letters, doesn't mean it is or that it's good for you. All Natural, healthy, fat free, heart healthy, I don't care what they say, READ the labels and determine for yourself if it really is.
The best foods for you are the foods with NO LABELS. Raw fruits and veggies, Raw/fresh meats. Single ingredient foods in their natural state are always the best choice.

Hi there and thanks so much for your posting. First, welcome to our community! We always love to hear from new people. Second, you'll soon see that you're not alone at all. There are many people who have either been in your shoes and are further down their journey with weight management, or there are plenty of others starting out like you who want to learn what to do.

First, i really recommend your logging onto WebMD's Food and Fitness Planner. You can't just wing this process. You need some structure and baseline information and guidance to get the ball rolling. Remember the goal is not to drop weight and have it creep back on. Instead, it's to remove the excess fat, strengthen and tone your muscles, build mental fitness throughout, and then sustain this achievement for life. Yes, you can do this!

Once you've logged onto the Planner, then you'll get a recommended range of calories, as well as suggestions for food plan, and physical activity based upon your personal data. Then you can start your journey.

The key is to keep it simple. Get up and walk more. Do it throughout the day. The heavier you are, the more cals you burn when you move. Make this work for you. Then, clean up your home and work environment ditching the junk food and any foods you feel addictive around, ones that lead to a binge and feeling out of control. Clean up clutter so you can get organized and have your sneakers ready by the door for a walk, and fresh produce in your fridge. To drop this weight you need to have a plan of attack and stick with it.

Ask yourself when do you tend to overeat? What are your patterns? The cues of stress that lead you to mindlessly overeat? Remember HALT--- True hunger, anger, loneliness and tired. If you're truly hungry then you eat. Watch out for emotions that knee jerk you right into a binge. Get plenty of sleep as well.

Let us know how you're doing. We're here to help.

Dr. Peeke