I need advice on the best ways to start losing weight

I don't know about the whole fat percentage thing, but I do know one thing that I have seen with my very own little eyes.   I've been at about the same weight (the dreaded plateau) for awhile now (awhile being quite awhile), up a little this winter (only up 5 pounds right now).  But I started going to the gym last August - and I'm an unfaithful gym goer even, lately - but I began to see muscles where there were none before - my arms, my thighs, plus a firmer tushie.  I was like - whoa!  That's amazing!  (I was pleased.)  Yet I hadn't lost any weight.  But those muscles came from somewhere & they are definitely leaner mass than fat, so...

I have been on a plateau for ages, too, but have felt an increase in fitness and muscle mass. So my mental strategy is not to care about the weight and be happy with my improved overall health and fitness.

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Ah thanks very much...I have been wanting to do somehting like this for years!!!

Same as you Mrs R.

I started going to the gym just over a year ago, lost almost 2 stone by November but apart from a few pounds thats been it since. The wierd one was in Jan though when I'd lost a couple of pounds, got tested at the gym and my fat % had gone up, the next assessment I was 2 pounds up but fat % had dropped below level prior to Jan!
It is disheartening though.

Then again - just had a week in London on a course, tried to eat healthy but had a little bit where I seccumbed, and having nothing to do it meant the pub every evening....but I did manage 3 sessions in the hotel gym. Got home and put just 2lb on....but seeing as i'm doing the fit club at work I need to get right back on track (he says with a pint of beer at the side of him!)

TykeMan, been there, done that, bought the T-shirt.

I walked 8 1/2 miles today in our lovely Yorkshire Dales...she says after 2 rum & cokes, and 2 glasses of red wine...

It's so hard!  And people always tend to say "I don't have time for walking/the gym/preparing healthy meals..."  I have no excuse, not being able to work or volunteer or anything...  I have started a gym routine and joined a roller derby team, so we'll see what happens...

Hey, is anyone interested in going on the Change One plan? I started it about a week ago.  It's not so much a diet as a means of fixing bad eating habits and establishing good ones.  Eg. exercise and portion control.  I'd definitely love to have some buddies on the wagon with me if anyone's interested.

I am envious of you, TykeMan. I went to Italy for a week and gained two pounds and I was thrilled! I consider it a victory when I don't put on more than four per week and when I go somewhere like Vegas, I have to bring my fat clothes with me cause nothing I normally wear fits! Seriously, the pair of jeans I'd wear on the flight there wouldn't even come close to zippering up on the way back.

Hey, is anyone interested in going on the Change One plan? I started it about a week ago.  It's not so much a diet as a means of fixing bad eating habits and establishing good ones.  Eg. exercise and portion control.  I'd definitely love to have some buddies on the wagon with me if anyone's interested.

I'd never heard of this one, but I just looked it up online. It sounds more or less like Weight Watchers - by that, I mean it's a good sensible plan of portion control and exercise. Best of luck to you! 

I walked 8 1/2 miles today in our lovely Yorkshire Dales...she says after 2 rum & cokes, and 2 glasses of red wine...

Ah, but those are the best conditions under which to exercise!   

Seriously, I have a skinny Australian friend who has a 250 ml glass of red wine (or more!) before going to the gym and she said it really helps, and she is as lean as a model.  I tried it last night after dinner and ended up doing a DIY workout at home (no gym required, thanks to borrowing DH's iPod!) - and I can attest that the wine workout does work!!!