hi! i am new to this, duh, i am posting in the introductions section glad to be here.

rakuette!

What eating/exercising plans are you following?

Keep posting and let us all get to know you better ^^

i guess that's why i'm here. i don't know where to start really. i want to go to the gym, but the cost is kicking my butt! i tried to go to the Y they wanted $45 a month but you had to pay 6 months at a time. i know walking around the block is WAY cheaper but then i can say, "it's raining, it's too hot, it's too cold" you know? i think there are a couple of other gyms around, but i am super shy and (i know it's ridiculous, but) it took all i had to go to sign up at the Y and then the discouragement of the cost got me.
sooo.....i need to get on that again.

on the plus side, i may have a workout buddy that is also a good friend of mine and an all around awesome person.

i also need ideas about how to start out slowly. i've been overweight for EVER and i'm tired of it.

The Diet Central area may be a good place for you to start out. It has a bunch of different plans that everyone is following. You could get a feel for what might work for you, and what definitely won't.

The important part of this is that you select something that you will be able to live with for the long-haul. The "diet" doesn't end when we get to our goals. There are plenty of people using by-the-book plans, while others use modified versions of plans that best fit their lifestyles.

Exercise is a great start, and gyms can & do get expensive. And you're right that you don't have to join one. How do you feel about exercise videos? You can always rent a few to find one you like. And there will always be excuses about walking/not-walking. If you make a commitment to do it, it will be easier to get out the door.

A workout buddy can be really motivating! Make plans with them & stick with it!

Slow, positive changes are often what help people to keep this going forever. For example, getting in water instead of sodas/juices. Going out and doing some physical activity, even if it's only for 10 minutes. Taking stairs instead of the elevator. Buying more fruits, vegetables & whole grains to have on hand. Or, just throwing out the food that you don't want around anymore. (It's a great time for a fridge/cabinet cleaning.) Even beginning to just look at the nutrition labels just to know what you're eating. These are all small & doable changes that you can start right away!

Keep us updated! And definitely look around & ask questions when you need to!

It is OK to try different plans until you find what works for you.

Welcome! Im sure youll find a plan to work for you.

I live in northern MI, so in the winter, I use DVD workouts instead of walking outside. No matter what the weather, I have no excuses

I'm a calorie counter, and you are welcome to come visit and ask questions. And everyone is right - try on a couple different plans to see what is right for you

Welcome! I live in Alabama too and I wish you best of luck!

55-60 lbs in six months is ambitious, but not completely out of the ballpark. However, just make sure that you won't be disappointed if you're "only" down 40 lbs or something.

And while long-term goals are great to have, you may want to have shorter term ones, too. (Like 5 lbs at a time or something.) Shorter term goals often keep me feeling successful, and keep me from feeling overwhelmed.

cool. i will be fine with 40, or even 35!

i just wonder what to set my short term goals at?
lets say i want to start and have a goal by valentines day, what do you recommend?

You're going to get conflicting answers for that one. Valentine's day is about 3 weeks away. For me, I could say 5 lbs is a reasonable goal, but that's the way that I lose weight. (Especially since I still have 100 lbs to go.) Some people suggest to forego all "deadlines" as they find it discouraging if they do not attain their goals. You may find it motivating. The only way to know is to try it out once.

A lot of factors are going to come into play. #1. You're just starting out a bit, so you may lose faster right now. 5lbs by Valentine's may be very reasonable for you in the beginning. #2. You don't know how your body loses, yet. This just takes time to get to know your patterns. Unfortunately, I can't tell you ahead of time what they'll be. #3 Our bodies do weird things, so prepare for the fact that sometimes you'll lose a lot less than you think, and other times a lot more. Strange things... these bodies we have.


Now... to answer your actual question! I think that conservatively, 3 lbs by Valentine's day would be very achievable. 5 lbs would be a little more ambitious goal. (Again, not out of the ballpark, though.)

I cannot emphasize enough, though, that if you do not reach a small goal by a deadline, DO NOT GIVE UP! If you want 10 lbs by Easter and you "only" made 8... that's not a bad thing. That's a very good thing, so it's just something to keep in mind.

If you do make your deadline goals... well then bully for you! Keep on keepin' on!

Anyway, I hope that wasn't too confusing. >_<

no that was great!
i'm even good with 3-5 lbs.
i work best under pressure or with goal dates, so i think that would be the best for me.
i love veggies and don't drink pop, but my major downfall is i do drink beer. i don't mind switching to wine because i know it is healthier. i just very much enjoy a drink at the end of the day.

You don't have to cut out alcohol if you don't want to. Plenty of people on 3FC drink regularly, but most do it in moderation. If you want a beer or glass of wine a night, budget it into your eating plan. If that's something that's a "must" for you, then just make sure you work around that. You don't want to feel deprived, that will make this all the more difficult.

ah, good to know.
thanks for all of your help, i really appreciate it!