Rena and Zane have good ideas.

I would like to add that while you may want to avoid centering your diet around processed carbohydrates (white bread, rice, pasta, etc), complex, whole grain carbs are actually good for your body - they cause it to work harder to burn what you put into it. Carbs are sugars that you need. They're to your body what gas is to a car. (You can function without carbs, but not well. I tried the South Beach/Atkins type diets. I did lose weight, but I had constant nightmares and was extremely irritable.)

I want to also warn you that as you lose weight and get closer to your "ideal," you may plateau - that is, you may get stuck. The best way to get through this is to just keep on truckin', and change up your gym routine a little bit.

The best diet is a lifestyle change, which is what I did. Anyway, once you get to working out and building muscle, remember that even lean muscle is heavier than fat, so you may appear to gain weight at first, if you look at the scale. Judge by the way your clothes fit, instead. :)

I can't give you a restrictive diet because the best diet doesn't actually forbid any certain foods, or groups of foods. Your diet should include bits of everything, but healthy portions. You're young enough so that you can still speed up your metabolism. You want to aim to eat six small meals - or three meals and two snacks per day. Doing this will teach your body to burn what you put into it more quickly.
If you're working out consistently (at least four times a week), make sure you have a lot of lean protein in your diet (poultry, fish, even lean red meat and pork).
Most importantly, be patient, and love your body. Those two things will get you where you want to be. :)

Siren

thank you so so much!

I'm a laid-back 26 year old with a Psychology BA, starting my MA program, and working my way into the field as quickly as I can. It took me an extra Bachelor's degree (in vocal performance and creative writing) to figure it out, but I was put on this Earth to help, to heal, and to love.

I have made the decision to dedicate my life and career to helping others. I am here to do just that.

I've been a member since 2004, and since I signed up, I've gone through quite a lot and learned quite a lot from it. I'm here to give guidance where I had none; no one should have to go through the difficulties I went through alone.

Feel free to visit my website/blog, if you want to read my experience with domestic violence and my thoughts on it.

***While I do tend to answer mental health and other health-related or medicine-related questions, I am by NO MEANS a licensed physician or practitioner of any sort. Any and all advice I give for these questions is from my own experience or studies.***

If you need to get a hold of me quickly, my screen name on AIM is SirenCytherea. Just let me know you found me here.

I'm a strong believer in the idea that there are no stupid questions except the ones left unasked, so, please, keep an open mind, heart, and mouth.

Siren

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