EVERYONE is welcome here!!!
Here is my advice:
The biggest thing is if you want to lose the weight and KEEP IT OFF, you MUST make LIFESTYLE changes!!! You cannot do crash dieting...cutting too many foods out all at once or just going crazy insane exercising!! You will not be able to maintain this pace and you will end up quitting and sadly, probably gaining the weight back because you deprived yourself too much! To be successful, you have to make changes that you will be able maintain for the long haul and it sounds like you understand this and are ready to make the commitment!!! The good news is YOU CAN DO IT!!! Kelly (aka Veteran1) lost over 100 lbs last year!!
So, where should you start? Sounds like you have already targeted some of the known culprits like soda, alcohol, pasta and white breads. Good!
My question is not so much of what you AREN'T eating and more of what you ARE eating!!! I highly recommend keeping a food journal!! Calories have a way of sneaking into our mouths and we aren't even thinking about it. Little bites here and there (think that little handful of M&Ms as you walk by someone's candy bowl at work) may seem harmless but they can add up!!
I would also recommend getting your fiber from FOOD and not in a pill or powder form!! Think VEGETABLES, FRUITS, WHOLE GRAIN CEREALS.
Also, stick with LEAN PROTEINS like chicken, fish, beans, and lean cuts of red meat. EGGS are our FRIENDS!!! EAT THEM!!!!!!! They got a bad rap back in the day, but research has found that they aren't as bad as they thought and most of the nutrients are actually in the yolks!! To save on some cholesterol, try making an omelet with a mixture of 2 regular eggs and 2 egg whites. Consume low fat varieties of dairy products such as milk, cheese and yogurt.
CARBS are NOT the enemy!! Only certain carbs are our arch nemesis!! Harvard has a good article on separating the good carbs from the bad carbs here:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritio...carbohydrates/
Know what SERVING SIZES are!! For instance, a serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. Take a look at that T-Bone steak you are gnawing on....typically weighing in at least 12 oz, that T-Bone is about 3 servings of meat!!! That is 600 calories!!
EAT 5 to 6 times a day to keep your blood sugars balanced!!! Basically, have 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks. Start everyday with CARBS and PROTEINS...think oatmeal and boiled eggs for breakfast. Pairing the two will keep you fuller longer. Same with your snacks....pair protein with carbs...think apple with a cheese stick or peanut butter.
And, last but not least...get a subscription to Men's Health magazine! The articles are very informative! I also found that getting fitness magazines in the mail help keep me motivated!!! This thread is also a great place to find motivation and tips, great recipes, and support!! We are here to help each other succeed!!!
Okay, enough of me on my soap box for now. I know a lot of the above might be "no-brainers" but sometimes bear repeating just to keep the focus where it needs to be!
Sounds like you have a good plan! Looking forward to watching you progress!!!
Word of caution on the livestrong.com website....it has a calories burned calculator.......DO NOT take it at face value!!!! I know a girl who was thinking she was burning 1200 calories leisurely riding the stationary bike at level 1 for an hour and half-ass lifting weights for a half hour!!! NOT SO!!! Unless they have changed the calculator, it only goes off the exercise and duration, it does not factor in rate of perceived exhaustion or resistance or anything like that so it isn't very accurate. If you go off the counter, you could find yourself being sabotaged into thinking you burned more than you did so that cupcake or cookie you think you earned....well, nope, you didn't!! LoL!