[Dragonfly]

Hello!
After reading what feels like thousand of posts on here, I feel more lost than ever. I feel like everyone has this plan, and I am planless. Everyone knows how much protein is in ____ and I am wondering what constitutes a protein...

So, is there a starter page that I missed? Is there a book, eating healthy for dummys? I don't want some over-lord watching over me or making me do a waterflush(?) for not losing enough... Not that I have the money to pay to lose weight... I just want to be healthy, and I think that if I actually care about what I am ingesting, and get out of my bed, I will lose weight... I mean, it's science, right?

I was watching my caloric intake (portion size is huge for me), and I have stayed away from sugar (candy, soda, ice cream, donuts, etc), I have been increasing fruits and vegetables... But I don't get this weird protein fat carb ratio thing.

So, does someone have a book suggestion on what to eat when to eat it? That breaks all this stuff down? Or will just tell me do this that and the other thing?

Right now I am feeling overly anxious about this all. It could be my self-sabotage part talking... but it usually wins unless it is whipped into submission.

[EatMoreCelery]

It might be best to stick to basics till you're ready to tackle the particulars of various diets. Basically, weight loss through diet is just a matter of calories in vs. calories out.

To lose a pound a week you have to burn or cut out 3,500 calories from your diet each week in order to lose one pound per week. That breaks down to 500 calories per day. I suggest you start keeping a journal of everything you eat and see how many calories you're eating now then go from there.

[lauri79]

Human body is so complicated that no-one knows how it precisely works. Scientists are finding new things all the time about genes, cells and metabolism. And to make thing event more complicated, each of us is unique and what works for one, might not work for someone else. So it is completely ok to be confused in the beginning.

As EatMoreCelery said, stick to the basics. And by basics I mean no fast food, no refined sugars and eat lots of fresh vegetables, lean meat or fist, and some fruit. Eat organic if possible.