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579258 tn?1250649343

How Do We Begin???

Many of our new members are asking "How Do I Begin?"  This community has such vast experience and knowledge that I would like to create a Health Page to answer this question.  So .. I am asking for the kind assistance of those willing to share their knowledge and suggestions.  

Then, we'll take this post and I'll roll it all into a Health Page that can be accessed by all our members and we can reference it in the future.  What do you think?

Please comment below and our new members will be immediately provided with some guidance, while we simultaneously begin building resources for future use.  

By the way, if someone wants to volunteer to pull this together and create the Health Page .. that would be awesome as well.

Thanks for being a member of the community and for your participation and caring.  We are truly a team!!!
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Avatar universal
I can't seem to start a thread ...I need advice on where I've been stuck for 3 years now
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
It's easy to get in a rut, a LONG rut.  I had one about that long myself not long ago.  :>)  Do you need help posting a question?  AT the top of the forum there is a red *ask a question* area.  Click on that and you get a question screen.  You may need to click around but in general, it has the title of a post you want to make first.  You fill that in and then another square section you write your question in.  Then you hit post question!  Looking forward to getting to know you!
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I think the idea of a health page would be wonderful.  Everyone has posted some great thoughts to get started and I'm sure there will be more to follow.  

Feel free to use the yoga post I did for a start on exercise, as well as anything else I've written.  Sometimes I feel like a broken record because the answers are the same for someone who needs to lose 15 pounds as for someone who needs to lose 150 (or more).   It's all about commitment.

As wonko said, I think it's important to keep the $ crunch in mind because a lot of people can't afford to join gyms or buy exercise equipment.  My usual suggestion of a pedometer might even be excessive for some; however, it doesn't cost anything to go for a walk or sit in a chair and do leg and/or arm raises with a can veggies for weights!

I think costs are going to be the same (or less) for healthy foods as they are for junk food, so I can't see $ as a valid excuse for not eating healthy (sorry if that sounds harsh, but I think that's just a bad excuse to eat junk food).  A head of lettuce, tomato and dressing doesn't cost anymore than a large bag of potato chips or a pack of snicker bars!!  The key is being willing to set priorities and stick with them.  

Goku's statement of "accountability" is another major factor.  Most of us start out with great ideas, but with no support, motivation, etc, it's too easy to let it all go by the wayside.  That's where logging in here every day comes in because of the willingness of everyone to help with ideas to get going, support for those days when we fall off the wagon, games, challenges, etc.  For myself, I know that I can't keep up with some of the younger members, so I try to concentrate on besting my own records only.

I do often mention that new members should check with their doctor to make sure there isn't a problem because I know how frustrating it is when there's a medical problem involved - that's because of my own unbalanced thyroid condtion is making it so difficult for me, both with losing weight and having the energy to do what I need to do - but that's not a license to give up.  I also want to make sure that someone isn't trying to do something that their doctor might advise against due to their health conditions.  

I'd love to offer to put the health page together, but I'm afraid that my work obligations would not allow me to do it in a timely manner; however, I will be most willing to assist in any way I can.  

Now, it's time for me to get to bed in order to fulfill those work obligations, not forgetting that sleep is very essential to weight loss.  Have a great evening.  
Helpful - 0
362249 tn?1441315018
There's so many places to start and things to do but on a personal note i say ACCOUNTABILITY! That was what got me going accepting responsibility for my weight, for my what i was eating, how my body looked, how i felt about myself, for everything!! So i knew if it was my fault and up to me i was going to change! i was going to watch what i ate how much when and most of all start exercising!! GL 2 Every1 on their weight loss and WELCOME new members!!!
Helpful - 0
428506 tn?1296557399
For me, an important place to begin was THE KITCHEN!

Many if not all of us have those "trigger" foods or bad eating habits that manifest in several forms in our kitchens.  And I'm not only talkin' about the food!  I know I used to have oversized bowls and spoons, toenable my over-sized portions.  And while I never owned one, I know some people have appliances such as deep fryers and other means of treat preparation.

I hate to throw out food, but either finish it, give it to a neighbor or nearby family, or do go ahead and toss out the bad stuff.  Start fresh, literally, and go to the store to stock up on better choices.  I know a lot of us are feeling a $ crunch, but my grocery bill is the same or less now that I eat less, and don't spend money on empty calories from soda and processed foods.

And as noted above, use the trackers and the forum to be accountable and to post what you are up to.  I totally love the trackers.  I have the ones for weight, workouts, and mood.  It's really neat after you use them for awhile to see trends and changes over time.

Of course, I'm not so thrilled that my weight tracker has flat-lined for months, but I am optimistic for 2009!  Plus, if I totally threw in the towel and stopped tracking, I bet would be gaining instead of maintaining.  

I also think for those of us looking to lose a big number, be sure to break it down into mini-goals.  I think every 5 lbs is a great accomplishment!  

I also like to look back over the years and recall the last time I weighed a certain amount.  I know the last time I was at my current weight was 2004 or earlier.  Somehow, measuring my 40 lb loss in years makes me feel better about what I've done, even though I've still got a ong road ahead.

Good luck to everyone, and I look forward to seeing what others post here!


Helpful - 0
703362 tn?1427766328
Where to begin....Hhhhmmmm....I believe that we have all been there.  

When beginning, I believe it extremely important to know exactly where you are.  Learn your numbers....weigh yourself, measure yourself (chest, waist, hips, biceps, thighs, neck, ankles, etc.).  Log your food intake for at least a week (even better if ongoing) and get a realistic idea of your current eating habits and the calories and nutrients that your are taking in.  

Next....think about where you would like to be.  Look at the starting numbers and consider what things you might be able to do in order to begin to make changes to work towards your goals.  These could include things like, cutting empty calories, finding ways to work exercise into your schedule, making dietary changes such as exchanging bad fats for good ones, etc.  

Find support....this is a great place to do that!  Keep logging in and sharing with your support system in good times and bad....all the members of our team learn from each other when we are willing to share our experiences.  

Be open to learn from others.  Sometimes you just never know what you might learn that you had not expected!  Very valuable information can be obtained just by remaining open minded when considering the different exercise routines and eating habits of others sometimes.  ; )  
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