could really do with a bit of help with losing weight :(

I have 4 children who all eat different at meal times I generally don't have breakfast never have time I don't have lunch either then at around 8 I start to get hungry and eat all the wrong things just befour going to bed any I deas on the best diet to follow as I've been on so many diets I think its more of geeting in to eating healthy for the rest of ur life because go on diet lose weight stop diet put it bk on I don't no how to read all the fats sugars and things on packets I don't understand it and what you can eat I end up just drinking water an eating nothing because I d on't no how to work out the fat etc and what you can have and can't would just like some one that could give me abit advice and maybe I could do the same for them as I'm desperately at the end of my teather trying to lose weight when I don't no where to start I always get it wrong then give up

newlook, you are basically starving your body by not eating, and then sabotaging your diet efforts even more by "eating all the wrong things" just before going to bed...yes, you're right, it's about a lifestyle change. But YOU HAVE TO EAT TO LOSE WEIGHT! Me? I'm what I call a "grazer".
That is, I eat a little here and there throughout the day...long story there because I know that's not really considered "normal" in our society. Nevertheless, it's still about WHAT you eat and portion control. The other part of the equation is exercise. The rule is you've got to burn more calories than you take in. If you have an iPhone or Android phone, you can use an app called Calorie Counter which is affiliated with FatSecret...or, shoot, you can do all that here at FatSecret. I just find it extremely helpful to have that capability with me whenever I'm out and about somewhere, because you can look up whatever food you're about to eat and see the calorie content, fat content, carb content, etc. You can also enter whatever exercise you're getting each day and the summary will let you know how much you've taken in vs burned off. One pound equals 3500 calories, divided by 7 (for days of the week) that means 500 calories a day deficit you need to create. You can do that either by decreasing your caloric intake by 500 calories per day, or by exercising enough to burn off an extra 500 calories...I can't remember offhand the breakdown of carbs, protein, and fat, but it's something like 20% protein, 50% carbs, 30% fat. The little Calorie Counter can help you do that. But the bottom line is, you've GOT to EAT! You will find tons and tons of help here on FatSecret...just look around the site. And find yourself some good buddies to bounce things off of...you've come to the right place for all the support you could ever want. Welcome, and good luck!

And record everything you eat. The site will calculate the calories, fat and carbs for you. You can then see what you have to change.

The one thing I know for sure, you really need to eat some breakfast to jump start your metabolism. And as FOL says, record everything!!! One more tip, drink plenty of water!

Thank you for your reply I do have a ipad can I get that app on there I also have a blackberry so maybe on one or the other I could find a app that helps me to count calories fat carbs etc I just get confused with it all I think if I new how to work everything out properly and weights and measurements properly when cooking I could do it would be just what I need a buddie on here to talk to and share things with as I did start on my diet on the 24th of april but the problem is I'm thinking oh yh I've done really well this week I've lost 8lb but then I'm also thinking but I can't just do this forever drink water all the time and eat nothing but apples I need to get in to a healthy life style and I no its my own fault for letting my self get to this weight in this first place but I really need to do something about it not just for me but for my children aswell as I no being over weight can cause so many heart problems I always have high blood pressure I would just like to start over and enjoy my life more rather than being depressed about my weight all the time and I no its only me what can do it I need to get focused and be determine to do it and to what I can and can't eat would be great to have a buddie to talk to and ask advice and hopefuly do the same for them

Is there any paticular diet any of you are doing and find good or isit just basic eat healthy exercise. I never really get time for breakfast I have 4 children 2 at 1 school 1 at another then a 6 month old baby when there all fed in the morning an off to school I do washing cleanin bed changing getting there things ready for after school then they come home again I'm doing there dinner then the baby then bathing them then washing up putting them to bed bfore I no it the day has gone so I end up grabbing a packet of crisps and sandwich and a chocolate bar just bfour bed aswell so bad or if I have no time I just end up having water all day and over the years I've just put more and more weight on its at a stage now where I really have got to do something

I have an Omron pedometer that I swear by. It attaches to your waist band & records the # of steps taken, calories burned & miles walked. It's an excellent way to keep track of your walks & you get positive feedback when you look at the numbers & see that you've burned off 250 calories. Now all I have to do is delete 250 calories from that days food intake & I'm on my way to loosing the weight. I have walking buddies, which is also a big help. We take a nice walk while we chat & the time flies by. Big thing is exercise regularly & portion control. All these tricks hold you accountable.

You don't say if you're breastfeeding...if you ARE, then you're not just cheating yourself, you're also cheating your baby...I believe the recommendation for increased calorie intake for breastfeeding moms is 500. Sounds like you're a typical "busy mom" where you're actually GETTING a fair amount of exercise just trying to keep up with your home and kids...I remember those days, lol. The pedometer is a good idea for keeping track of your steps, yes...the Calorie Counter app (which is far from perfect, but better than nothing) gives you a choice of various activities and you enter the amount of time you spent on each one, then it calculates the number of calories burned. My preferred exercise at this time is walking...and let me just say, I can personally testify that I FEEL so much better, mentally and physically than I did before...I see now how people say it's addictive. I'm far from a perfect physical specimen, I've struggled just like anyone else on this website...have really only started my planned and "on purpose" exercise in the last two or three weeks, but I'm telling you this stuff WORKS. As for diet, you ask? I count calories...I know there are tons of diets out there...eat this, don't eat that...low carb, low fat, blah, blah, blah....and I'm not dissing ANY of them, ok? But for me, counting calories is the only way to go...it's all about portion control...no matter WHAT you're eating. The Calorie Counter helps tremendously to know how many calories your food choices contain. Oh, one more thing! You can also figure out how many calories you should be taking in per day (your RDI) by entering your age, weight, gender, diet goal, and activity level. Check it out! And again, good luck! You're among friends here...

You do sound very busy, but you need to make some time for you in between all of the cooking and cleaning and various other tasks. Maybe have some small things prepared that you can eat throughout the day, like some string cheese, fruit, veggies, yogurt, something to fuel your body and maybe reduce what you eat at night. Set an alarm on your phone or somewhere in the house to go off at regular meal times so you're eating something during the day. Take something you can eat for breakfast in the car while on the way to or from school (protein shakes are good for that). Your body needs the fuel to keep up with your busy life. I'm like Baxie, I don't have a specific diet I count calories and try to eat more healthy foods than I did before. I'm completely addicted to this site now for counting calories. I was really surprised at how many calories I was eating and how much junk I was eating, but it was good to see it and know where I needed to make changes. You can do this, you just have to figure out the best method for you. If you want to commit to a diet then read some posts here, google different things, or read some books on different diets. I don't think I can stick with a diet for life, so that's why I just count my calories and try to make healthy choices, I know I can stick with that. Good luck!!