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Trying to Lose Weight - 21/F
i am a junior college student, and i am not able to cook real foods because the lack of a kitchen. from the time i graduated high school until now, i can DEFINITELY say, that i have gain A LOT of weight. when i was 16, i was 5'2 and 168lbs, i wasn't fat, i just had a stomach, but now i'm 21 and i'm 5'3 or 5'4 and i weight 250 (size 17-18 sometimes a 20). because of my weight, i get A LITTLE and i mean very little depressed because clothes don't fit me right, and that makes me not want to go shopping, i would like to get down to a size 10 or 12 (which for me, is 135). i've tried diets, but i always end up cheating because they're so nasty and when it comes to exercising i dont have the energy for it. i have already stopped drinking pop and i don't eat alot of burgers and chips. another reason i need to lose the weight is because dietbetes run in my family and they are always saying something about my weight, but its not easy to lose if you don't have the energy for excerising. so are there any suggestion. thanks...i would greatly appreciate it!!!
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Maybe give some free advice about: Fitness?
It's definitely harder to eat right when you can't cook your own food. However, it is possible. Research nutritional information at the restaurants you eat at, and try to plan what you'll eat before you go out. That way, you won't impulsively order something extremely high in calories and fat. Try to cut out your snacking. One method that helps your eating habits is keeping a long. For a few days, write down everything you eat and drink, and record how much also. After a few days have passed, take a look at this. It can be surprising just how much those late-night snacks can add up to.
Exercising is the other component in becoming healthier. Start with something realistic. If you dive into an extremely vigorous program, chances are you'll grow frustrated with it. Instead, start by taking 30-minute walks in your free time. If you want to eventually be able to run (which is excellent for weight loss), add in a minute of light jogging to the middle of your walk. Of course, as this becomes easier, increase the length of the run to 2 minutes, then 3, and then so on. A plus to this is it won't take up all your energy, since you're wading into it.
Of course, losing weight is always easiest with a support system. Ask a friend to join you. When someone's counting on you, it's so much harder to back out of plans!
Best of luck with your journey.
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Cutting out soda alone will make a difference for you if you drink it everyday, good job! Make sure that any bread you eat is 100% whole wheat and same with pasta. If you cannot give up junk food there are healthier options you can find at your local natural foods store. Fruit will take care of that sweet tooth, i promise. if you are not used to eating it and don't have much of a taste for it, I guarantee you will after eating it for over a week. Try frozen grapes, nectarines (really sweet) or spread peanut butter or cheese on your apple. Slowly incorporate healthy foods into your diet and you will eventually choose them over junk naturally beacause that it what your body really wants.
as for exercise, you could try going on short walks everday. Walking doesn't take much energy and it does help weightloss a lot. You can also make it fun, go for a walk in a park, on a trail, or in a nice interesting neighborhood near you and look around. Start slow and eventually you will want to go on long walks or maybe jogs. If you like dogs, maybe you should think of getting one. that way you can have a real reason to get outside and have a companion in the process. I found it helped me to diet and exercise with a close friend, we kept eachother on it! If that's not possible you can find a journal or online body on the internet. I lost 70 pounds after my baby and it was all from small changes that I kept up over the year and into the present. Good luck and think positive!
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You sound a lot like myself.
I am 21 and currently weigh 266lbs. I stand 5'11" though so I'm a bit taller than you are.
Anyway, I've struggled with weight-loss my entire life. It really is hard to do, I know. The highest I've weighed was probably around 315lbs or so, maybe even more because there was a long period in which I refused to weigh myself. I know how it feels to not be able to fit into some stylish clothes.
Diets don't work. They just don't. If you are constantly denying yourself of everything you absolutely love to eat then you're constantly being tempted. You have to alter what you eat into something healthier, smaller proportions, or learn to find what is similar and satisfies your wants but is healthier. This takes devotion on counting calories and journaling your food intake so you know what exactly you're putting into your body.
So, don't diet--change your entire lifestyle.
Next, you need to get moving! Many people have excess weight because they do not exercise as much as they need to. I just recently began incorporating exercise into my lifestyle and I'll tell you it really makes me feel good after a good workout.
My suggestion is to find out if you have a Curves (for Women) in your area:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Curves is for women only and is directed mainly to the older and/or overweight. We're not older but we are both quite overweight, as you well know. Actually, according to the chart at Curves, I am considered obese and that's no good.
In addition to the work-out, Curves also has healthy-eating lifestyle changes. The book you get when signing up has the whole method, week by week, on how to change your entire way of eating. It has recipes and teaches you how to eat what you want without gaining the weight you don't want. I haven't done the dieting (this is my second week at Curves and they recommend you wait at least one month to decide if you need to change your eating habits or not).
Curves is pretty nice. Yes, they weighed and measured me the first time I went but it really wasn't as embarrassing as it sounded. What you see in the mirror? Everyone else sees that. Everyone knows you're overweight, it's no secret. The thin trainer didn't remark negatively about me after measuring/weighing. When I asked if my weight-loss goal was doable she said, "DEFINITELY! You can SO do this! This is not impossible." It's so positive and friendly there it really makes me feel comfortable.
This is how it works:
There are a set-up of a certain number of machines. Some curves have one or two more than others, depending on how long they have been opened. Anyway, you spend about 30 SECONDS on each machine. It really isn't hard to do--this coming from a girl that has never exercised in her entire life!
You spend 30 seconds on a machine and then you walk on this nifty little pad for 30 seconds to "rest" basically. The trainer teaches you how to do each machine properly and how to check your pulse rate, which you will check every 8 to 10 minutes. The trainer will always be there for you too so you don't have to worry about forgetting how to work a machine properly.
If you feel like you're too worked up or your pulse is racing then you take a 10 to 15 second break before continuing to let yourself calm down. There are a nice, upbeat music playing at all times and an overhead voice lets you know when it's time to move to the next machine or pad.
The total work-out lasts 30 MINUTES. Yes, that's all...half an hour for each workout session! In addition to that, there is no set times to have to show up. When your local Curves opens, you can show up whenever--even if it's 9:22am. You just show up and go right to working out so you never have to make a special time to show up or anything.
So, that's three times a week for half an hour each time. One hour and thirty minutes a week for good health, improved mentality, and a better body.
Pricing? Well, I think that varies from which Curves you join but mine was not very expensive for a fitness place. My sweetheart of a boyfriend paid $74 for me to sign-up (first 30 days free) and $34 a month after then. I know you don't have much money since you're a college student, but surely you can put back some cash so you can improve your health. It is much cheaper than other gyms and is specifically designed for women so I think it's worth the money.
You also can join Curves forums to help you out on progress and see how you are doing compared to other Curvers. There is:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
and
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
I really, really like Curves and totally recommend it to you. If you simply cannot do it, you need to find some way of exercising regularly. That's the only way you're going to lose weight, keep it off, and remain healthy--learning to eat right without denying yourself and exercising regularly.
If you end up joining Curves, I wouldn't mind keeping in contact with you about progress. It always helps to have a person supporting you :)
As a note, Curves has given me MORE energy. Right after a work out I feel like I'm on top of the world and it doesn't drag me out either. I don't end up going to be crazy early that night or anything but I have noticed how much better I feel after going.
I hope you do well on figuring out how to lose weight and keep it off! Please feel free to ask me any questions on this subject :) I would happy to help you out if I can!
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