Hey Welcome to the community and thanks for your question!
The first step is always the most important step in losing weight but many don't have the courage to do it. As far as am concerned you have taken the first step to seek help and there is no better place than an online community with similar people fighting their own battles! I say you have the guts!
When it comes to weight loss there are some important measures you can take to help you on your journey. The following steps were written down by one of the prominent memebers "Whatawoman" and I think they are really helpful!
Apart from the following steps know that help, support and motivation is something you can look forward on this forum and know that it is only a click away.
There is a weight loss challenge going on in the forum so make sure you check it out as well.. Here is the link -
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Weight-Loss--Dieting/Any-one-up-for-a-CHALLENGE/show/1037852
As long as you are posting and sharing your jouney in the forum you have a better chance of sucess and there are so many weight loss tools you could use on the forum to aid your progress!
If you have any questions just ask! any Good luck with your journey and know you are not alone!
Weight loss tips - form Whatawoman
1) Set yourself realistic weekly goals - that should stop you feeling overwhelmed - aim for a weight loss of 1-2lb a week - sounds small but is achievable and anything you lose more than that will feel like a great bonus.
2) Write down everything that you eat - take the time to read the calories on the box, or weigh and research the calories. Set yourself a realistic daily calorie allowance - I have mine set at 1800.
3) Keep an emotions journal - keep it with you at all times and when you feel depressed or craving comfort food or any food write about it first - usually by the time you do this you have come out of that immediate need to gratify yourself with food.
4) Try to drink 8oz of water every 90 mins that youa re awake - this was hard for me as I don't drink enough normally so increasing it was tough and meant I spent the first 2 week on the loo weeing like crazy! but it works well to flush toxins out your body which help the body hang on to fat and glycogen!
5) Get a pedometer and set yourself a daily target for steps - It took me 5 weeks to get up to the recommended target of 10,000 steps a day. For you it may be that you start at 3,000, and work up adding 500 a week till you can do 10,000.
6) Make sure you are in bed resting if not sleeping for at least 8 hours a night- thats 8 hours with no stimulus like TV, game boys, books and 8 hours with no eating or drinking.
7) On a Sunday sit down and decide what you will eat teh next week, plan the menu and the shopping list. Stop buying the extras, the snacks, cakes, cookies, candy.
8) Get a weight tracker on here and chart your progress - use the journal feature to share with supportive friends on here your highs and lows and accept their advice and friendship and use it as crutches when you need to.
9) Allow yourself a little of what you fancy, occasionally. And build in a reward for a good week - if you lose weight spoil yourself, if it has to be edible thats okay - but could be a new item of clothing, a book, a DVD, make up, jewelery etc...
10) Remember a bad day is not the end of the world - each day is a new start - infact each meal is a new chance.