I know starting out can seem really overwhelming at first so just pick one new thing youre going to do each week. Like this week start writing down everything you eat, then next week start switching out some of the not so good for you stuff for better. Its not just an overnight thing so take it easy on yourself and dont get burnt out. Hopefully youre in this for life so you have some time to get it all perfect

I agree with alot of what people have already said...I keep a tiny, spiral notebook as my Food Journal...I keep it in my purse so I have it whenever I eat something...If I can't write it down that minute, then I'll put the wrapper (or something to remind me later) in my purse so I can write it down later. Also, I've got a Calorie King handbook that gives calories, fat, & carbs for most foods and even lists some restaurants...or if I'm at my computer at work, I'll just go to CalorieKing.com..it's free and super handy. After you've counted cal. for a while, you'll start memorizing counts so you won't have to look up every little thing...especially if you eat alot of the same things from day to day...for me, dinner is usually the only meal that will vary from day to day...

and yes, as someone said, you'll find things that aren't WORTH the calories in them...and then you'll find things that will TOTALLY BE WORTH IT and you'll learn to save for them...I've found that if they have cake at the office & I want a piece, I'll eat it...try to figure the cal. (always better to OVER estimate) and then I'll adjust my cal. intake down a little the next day

the weight will come off slow, but I feel this is the best way...the daily habits you create while counting cal. will become just that...HABITS...so when you reach goal, these habits will be engrained in your head...you should be able to then maintain

hope this helps....and WELCOME TO 3FC! I've only been here a few months and I LOVE IT!! Good Luck with your journey...I'm sure we'll all be here for you throughout it!

a method i use is portion control through small containers...much easier after buy a bento box at a japanese gift store. I am fortunate to also have some 6oz, 8oz and 16oz containers to put my meals into. Small plates also help in that they will make your portions seem larger as they take up more room. My meals are also veggie heavy. because veggies don't have the water content as fruit and meat, they take up space in your stomach with little calories added.

I also make it a point to have a different calorie imput from day to day. this is to keep the body guessing. My body has an amazing ability to adapt when there is a pattern to my eating habits. Usually if I have a 2 month stint of lean times and there is little food to have, my weight will maintain. (so much for that old thin person cure for fatness of "just eat less") But i have been very success full bouncing around 1200 to 1600 calories, large lunch small dinner, small lunch large dinners. I also have the benefit of having a fairly active job.

Good luck!

I am glad that you asked the question about getting started. All of the information here is very helpful and now I have some sort of direction. Good luck and I wish you success!

I am also just starting out with the calorie counting and I want to say thank you for all of the info!!

I use the Lose It! app for my iphone. I have it with me all the time and it makes it easy to add everything I eat.

Thanks so much for posting this! I'm new to calorie counting myself and was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.