I have a friend who started exercising this month. she is going to a club, trying to go everyday. by the 2 week mark she hadn't noticed any weight loss, she became discouraged. thankfully she commented on FB & this is why I am starting the topic. One of her friends sent this message to her.

Melissa wrote: "Jackie, stay with it. food Journal is a great idea, it's just simple math; Calories in-calories out=calories deficit. Livestrong.comhas a place to keep track of the food and the workouts, giving you an approximate idea of how many calories you've burned. What you're doing so far is great, adding some strength training in there will help a lot. When you have more muscle you burn more calories, even just sleeping. Strength training can be lifting weights, pilates, yoga, boot camp...something where you are taxing the muscles. Weight yourself once a week about the same day/same time...you will go up and down everyday a bit. But don't be so concerned about the weight, think about how your clothes are fitting you, even better take measurements of your waist, hips, thighs, and upper arms, monitor those. 1 pound of muscle and 1 pound of fat are the same weight...but muscle is much more dense, hence you may lose fat and gain muscle, but your clothes get looser. The best way to lose weight is 2 pounds per week, it's been proven that's the best way to keep it off. It didn't take you 1 month to put the weight on, it will not take you 1 month to take it off. And like I said have fun, don't get obsessive, just enjoy the day for what it is and the goal will come, you just have to keep working. It's fantastic that you feel better after only two weeks, enjoy that! Be Proud! You're doing great! Ask questions when you need to. Sounds like you have lots of support, that's huge...we are all routing for you! You've got this ROCK STAR! http://www.livestrong.com/"

Do you have support? Do you accept support? Can you listen to that support, even when you don't want to?

I love the support I get from this site. I don't know any of you but I feel encouraged and accountable. I feel that it is important to support each other, as most of us have only had criticism. I feel that it is important to enjoy each day for all the minutes I am given. I hope that I never forget the weight and inches I lose and forget who I am.

Paying it forward is our responsibility. Can we really do this?

Thank you for sharing - very sound advice and I appreciate the support from this website too!

Me too! I was having a hard time when the website went down.

Great post! Thank you for sharing.

It makes some very important points: It is not an overnight process, it does take work, and you can find support in complete strangers.

I was on vacation for 2 weeks and even though I had tremendous support from my family, I missed the support I got from the site. When I returned, and the site was down, i began to have serious withdrawal symptoms. Glad to be back online!

WOW ! I hate to say it, but it sounds like me..

I have been saying that stuff for a long time, only to add 1 other thing that did not get mentioned.

Don't get hung up on the scale ! If you allready know that you loose 1 1/2 - 2 Lbs. a week, and you step on the scale

not to see a 3-4Lb. weight loss, and then get Discouraged... Thast's unreal.

You allready know better ! So, get weighed when you see a Dr., and you will be as suprised as they will be.

If No Dr. visits are lined up, then weigh yourself 1 X a month ! Make sure it's not on carpet "not a true reading".

Do it in the morning, and No cloths on "then you don't have to worry about the weight of cloths". Or in underware only.

Add this to the list. Because it is best to go by your cloths size. Then you really see the difference.

So don't get hung up on the scale !