[swtnsassync02]

I officially started my change on Monday. I didnt have any idea what to do so I looked online and found a 3day diet thing and decided to start with that then decide what to do once thats over. Well, today is the 3rd day and I have no idea what to do! I have thought about just doing calorie counting, but how many calories do I eat a day? Im just lost. All I know is that I am sick and tired of being big, and I HAVE to lose weight.

FWIW this 3 day thing STINKS! For breakfast this morning I was allowed to have an apple, 1 oz of cheddar, and 5 crackers. Lunch will be a hard boiled egg and a slice of toast. UGH There HAS To be a better way!

[neonwildflower]

Hey! I've just recommitted to calorie counting (I basically let life get in the way and went way off plan for the last 6 months) and I'm loving the power and control I feel when I'm doing it. It's like having a budget for your food and exercise! I use Livestrong primarily to track it, their Daily Plate application is really easy to use and the basic features are all free. I also calculate on the fly throughout the day since I don't have a new fancy phone that would let me enter food into an application. The Daily Plate will give you an estimate of how many calories you should be eating in order to acheive your goals, whether that's a pound a week or more. You can adjust it to your needs, and if you eat similar foods regularly you can save "meals" and it becomes a one click task. You should check it out! There are lots of ways to get there, but it sounds like your'e ready to make the necessary changes so good for you!

[Song of Surly]

Wow... A hard boiled egg and a slice of toast for lunch? There sure is a better way! That is just NOT enough food.

I totally recommend calorie counting. I lost over thirty pounds calorie counting in 2010, and since starting back, that's the choice I've made as well. I think, if anything, its a good way to start off healthier eating habits. It makes you realize how much food you should be eating in a day, and it makes you think about your food choices.

First thing you need to do is find out how many calories to eat in a day. Different calorie calculators might tell you different things, but they will all be within a reasonable amount from each other. Here's a pretty good one I've used before: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/calories-goal.php

There's also a great F&Q in the calorie counting forum of this website. I know that when I first started, reading over it definitely helped clear up some of my questions.

I also feel like I should say that you really need to try and set reasonable goals for yourself. Don't go into this hoping to lose 3-5 pounds each week. Sometimes it will happen in the beginning, but healthy weight loss is only 1.5-2 pounds per week. Sometimes, due to life circumstances, that doesn't even happen. It's all about the journey.

Good luck!