[edge123]

Hello everyone,

I have a problem right now, I'm 18, currently 5'10" and weigh 250 lbs.

I need help. My goal is to get to my ideal weight which if I was told correctly was 160-180 lbs (so my goal is to lose 80 pounds. Can anyone recommend any kind of exercises I could do?

I personally think that the best thing to do would be to simply run a lot (I'm not sure how much, it's the reason I'm asking people here) and to eat healthier. My house is full of a lot of healthy & unhealthy stuff (mostly due to my brothers).

What could I eat as alternatives? My parents are all for buying me things for a healthier alternative but I'm not sure what. And like I asked before, how much should I run and how often? I essentially wanted to know what I should expect since I'm really inactive...for now...

Any ideas? I appreciate it

[lorree26]

I would start off slowly and then build it up. If you arent a runner or have trouble doing that just try a brisk walk in the morning or whenever you have time. I think a half hour walk everyday is good. Then you can build that up over time. If you want to run just do what your body can handle... dont overdo it especially at first. You already have the first step done of this and that is making a desision to lose weight. You seem determinded to do it and that will really help. When I am dieting I stick to a pretty strict diet of slimfast shakes, chicken (alot of chicken) salads, turkey, egg whites. Also there are alot of good snack bars on the market these days they are all low in calories and give you the satisfaction of having something sweet without blowing your diet.
Another good thing to have is a great support system ... its great that your mother wants to help you. You will find this website wonderfully incouraging and incredibly helpful.
Best of luck to you and keep us posted on how it is going for you!

[susanpesek]

Hi, Edge! While at home and with your parents' support, start counting your calories and split them up into 6 mini-meals a day, 225 calories at a time. Eat some form of protein EACH time you eat. (fat free cottage cheese with a few packets of Equal, no-fat yogurt with a tsp of sliced almonds, glass of skim milk, golf ball size handful of nuts, beans, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, tuna, fat-free weenie(mine have 40 cal. each) dipped in mustard...yum.
Eat only whole grains and complex carbs. Kashi Go Lean Crunch is my favorite for breakfast-7 whole grains-delicious! Eat breakfast every day as soon as you can because it jumpstarts your engine to burn calories.
Don't even think of wasting 1 calorie on soft drinks, white rice, white braed, sweets, cakes, cookies, fries, white poatatoes...
Eat big salads made with Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, chopped up 1/4capple, sweet bell peppers, broccoli slaw and keep it ready at all times to eat with fat-free salad dressing. A neat trick is to dip your fork in the dressing first then take a bite of salad. You can really stretch it out that way and consume far fewer calories.
Drink water with a dash of lemon..ALL DAY LONG and a full cup before any minimeal. I would power walk 5 minutes at the top of every even hour which will probably wind up with nearly an hour's worth by the end of the day! As you get along, maybe after a week, your body will want to push farther and you can change your routine then.
Here are a few suggestions others on this board have made:Keep a food diary and record your daily intake for at least one week. Watch what you drink and count that, too. Water is almost always your best choice, but most no-calorie drinks can help. Lay off the sauces as they are usually high in calories. Try using lemon juice, soy sauce or salsa instead.
Don't reduce your intake too far or your body will respond by lowering your metabolism and slowing your weight loss. Eat at least 1,000 calories a day! Be patient with yourself and it will pay off in terms of more consistent weight loss, more energy and fewer cravings.
Make sure that your meals contain a healthy mix of nutrients. Fats and protein are much slower to digest than carbs. Carbs digest in about two hours, protein takes four hours to digest and fat takes up to six hours, which explains why people on low-carb diets experience less hunger than those on low-fat diets. People on balanced-nutrient plans (like the Zone Diet) also have better hunger control.
Work to develop healthy habits. Avoid mindless eating while combining it with TV or the movies. Make eating separate and you’ll eat less.There is nothing wrong with enjoying eating but do not to use food as a stress reliever. Work on stress by exercising, listening to music or drinking 8 ounces of water before eating.


No more fast foods. Find time to prepare and eat your meals slowly and without any hurry.
When dieting it's very easy to fall back into your old eating habits. A food diary is a great way to help. Write down everything that you eat and drink during the day. Keep it with you and make your entries often; it forces you to give conscious thought to what you eat and helps develop better eating habits. It can be a tremendous asset to remind yourself what to eat. COUNT YOUR CALORIES!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Berries: Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries have few calories and they pack a powerful punch on your health. Citrus Fruit: Rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber, citrus fruits not only taste great but they are essential for normal growth and development.
Sugar free Jell-O with non-fat, no calorie dairy with topping: A dieters dream come true. It's easy to make, delicious and virtually calorie-free.. Egg whites prepared with non stick spray: Egg whites are very low in calories, have no fat, no cholesterol, and are loaded with protein.
Crunchy Veggies: Feel free to indulge in all the crunchy veggies you wish. Dieticians give crunchy veggies a perfect ten in nutrition. When it comes to weight loss they are simply hard to beat.Try fresh snap beans, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts,etc.
MOST OF ALL: REPORT TO US EVERY DAY!

[edge123]

Thank you both so much for your help, it really means a lot to me. I'm definitely taking your opinions into consideration and I've already taken out all fatty foods out of my daily intake and replaced them with fruits, etc.

Oh, and I promise, no more soda!

[sara013188]

Lots of good info!!

edge, I know how you feel..I'm 19 and have struggled most of my life with obesity. Most of the time it was complete lazyness (lack of motivation to exercise or give up great food) but mid-way through my 18th year, after high school I said to myself "it's finally time". It's been wow almost 6 months (-30lbs) and I'm still working on losing weight. This is the longest I've ever been consumed in losing weight. Here's what I have found the most helpful to me being a female and being 19:
Eat protein in the morning-I use to eat frosted flakes every morning (2 servings worth!) and was hungry about an hour later. Now, I eat 1-2 eggs, two thin slices of bacon and wheat toast every morning and I'm full for 4 hours or more. What a difference that makes!
Don't deprive. I eat basically whatever I want-in moderation. If I want chocolate, I look at the serving size and eat that. If I want pizza, I eat it. Want mcdonalds? Sure, but be smart. Today I had a classic crispy sandwich, but got it without mayo..little things like that go a long way. Overall, I always try to get between 1200-1400 calories each day.
Exercise is very important. I hate it. Loathe it actually. But, I went out and actually paid $90 to buy a used PS2 and bought myself Dance Dance Revolution. Not only does it keep my mind off of exercising, but you can burn a lot of calories in just 30 minutes. Also, I have incorperated my treadmil back into my routine because I've plateaued and need to mix it up a bit. Changing routines tells your body that it's not allowed to slow down.
Drink water. I grew up drinking Diet Coke-litterally. There was a point in time when I drank 5-6 sodas a day and no water. As soon as I took soda out of my diet and drank water the weight started to come off. Now I have the occasional DC because I still like it, and want it, but I know that it's detrimental to my weight loss.

Don't go overboard. There were too many times when I didn't eat enough, or didn't eat anything from a food group, and obviously it didn't work. Don't overexercise and think in small steps. Take them one at a time. You can do this dear, just be patient (I had to learn that the hard way-like 10 years of hard ways) and it will come off. good luck

[rainbow_tears]

Protein is fab, it fills you up and is interesting and not boring 'diet food' that you get sick of and get tempted to stray, variety is the key then you wont get bored, water and lots of it, drink water as if you are a fish, I set a oven timer every hour and drink a glass of water, keeps everything functioning and flushes toxins out your system with ease, keeps your skin and hair healthy as well, enjoy eating the RIGHT foods, I have posted lists of protein for idea's but experiement find what you enjoy but don't eat more than 2x a max of 3x a week of you will get bored and want to cheat. Small cheats are ok, but when they take over more than 1x a week, STOP adn readress things and if you have a bad week, then look at what was positive in it and work from their the next week,. You CAN and WILL loose weight, think positive and the world is yours.

Lea
xxx
ps pm me if you need (I am only 24 so not mcuh older than you)