Hello, I'm Jane and have decided that being at my heaviest ever I now need to stop and sort myself out, So I am starting the 12 week challenge 1st Jan and the Couch to 5K also.
I think the 1400kcal per day is going to be difficult for me as not really very sure what that is actually going to convert to in food terms. Wish me luck
Hi janem47 and welcome to the weight loss forum.
Use the BMI checker to see how many calories you can have based on your personal details.
You are invited to join our Newbie Club, where you can meet other new members who are just beginning their weigh loss journeys too. Here's the link for all the information you will need to find your way around the forum:
healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
Write a brief note to introduce yourself to other newbies and I'm sure you'll be making friends, in no time.
Good luck with your first week.
Hi and welcome janem47 Please do the NHS BMI calculator as it will give you a calorie range for you personally 
I did mine and ate at the lower end of the range to start with and couldn't work out why I didn't lose weight
Then I was advised by this wonderful forum to eat at the mid to higher range and I couldn't believe the results - I started to lose weight
Since then I have lost over 20lbs and 2 months ago was diagnosed with an under active thyroid - so it really does work and it is a healthy way to lose weight
I went through all my kitchen cupboards / freezer etc and wrote down the calories per portion so I could grab food and cook and just check the sheet to add my calories - it was time consuming to start with but boy it was well worth the effort
So for example 3 hash browns are *** calories according to the packet - I wrote all these down and then started to use myfitmesspal to count the calories
Wishing you all the best on your journey
Welcome janem47
Good for you and you're probably right about the 1400 cals. It's only a generic number for women and like the others have already said, you need to find the level that's specfic for you.
All the best and stay in touch.
HI Tiggerr... I checked my BMI... 33.1... so my range is 1691 to 2097 per day... think I'll aim for somewhere around 1800 to be realistic.
Hi Jane, I'm in the same boat so let's keep in touch and encourage each other. I checked my bmi and found that I could have more than 1400 for my weight and height so might be worth checking. All the best
Hi BotB... my BMI was 33.1... quite horrifying.... so aiming to go for 1800 cals per day.... my problem is portion size mostly and too much sitting down .... still will dust off the treadmill tonight
I'm only repeating what you'll read in the NHS 12 week plan but one way of reducing portion size is to reduce the size of your plate, bowl etc... I spent the first 6 months only eating off side plates, even if it was the Sunday roast. It helps psychologically and you'll also find that even a small plate will generally hold more cals than you expect.
Other things to think about is writing the calories down before you start eating. I've ended up clearing things off my plate when I've realised how many calories were coming off my daily allowance.
Of course these are only ideas and you need to follow a path that works for you.
hi! welcome and good luck on your journey!
Hi MissGreen and welcome to you too.
In case you feel like you're missing out on an official welcome I'm tagging in an administrator YellowRose55
... and good luck on your journey.
Hi MissGreen and welcome to the weight loss forum.
You are invited to join our Newbie Club, where you can meet other new members who are just beginning their weigh loss journeys too. Here's the link for all the information you will need to find your way around the forum:
healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...
Write a brief note to introduce yourself to other newbies and I'm sure you'll be making friends, in no time.
Good luck with your first week.
thank you for this! i already posted at the Newbie club. Good luck to our journeys!
Hi Jane, have you checked out what calorie range you should be eating according to the BMI calculator? 1400 calories is not many and you need to be eating enough for your body to be able to lose weight.
I hope you enjoy the C25K, can't recommend it highly enough. I have become a regular runner through doing it and I so enjoy it.
I look forward to seeing you around the forum.
Welcome! You’ve certainly come to the right place for information, support and advice! Re the calories, it’s all about getting your head around portion control and counting! 1400 seems ok to me - my starting level was 1300 but I’m short and didn’t have much to lose but I could generally get a days food into that, with the odd treat! The big thing is not fooling yourself! A portion isn’t a portion and a bit! But slow and steady is the way to go. Good luck!
Hi there janem47. I'm a newbie too and this is my first time on health unlocked. I am 10st 8 and would like to lose at least a stone. How do I find out about the 12 week challenge
Newbie from Worcestershire
Hello - I'm a newbie
