If you could tell your 18 year old self something about body, health and fitness what would it be?

CassandraCantSwim

Hello,

My name is Cassandra and I am 18 years old.

I am so excited to begin my weight loss journey. For the past year and a half, I’ve been battling horrible eating habits which have caused me to put on approximately 10kgs. I have also fallen off my exercise regiment, causing me to feel extremely guilty and horrible being so lazy and sedentary.

However, it is a new year and this time, I’m determined to make it work. Do you have any advice which can help me with my journey?

I think it is also worth a mention that before I put on 10kgs, I lost 10kgs after a year or so of an extremely low calorie diet (800-1000kcals per day) and excessive exercise. Since then, I’ve always binged whenever I can, the reason being that I’ve finally stopped restricting my body of these sugary, fattening foods it thinks it has the freedom to consume without limitation.

But I am coming back to this journey much more well informed about my health and my weight loss methods. I really hope I keep on going with this journey, and not let anything stop me from continuing on! Any advice regarding motivation and perseverance?

Cheers to a new beginning!

Need2Exerc1se

Use common sense. Eat right and stay active. That's all it takes.

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld

That having a BMI of 16 is not a good look and will not make you happy.

Advice eat the amount of calories your body would need at goal weight, then you don't have to worry about maintenance.
Do not just have 1000 calories or less. Eat the foods you like in quantities that fit your calories.

pauliet7

As above. Little steps over time. No quick fix. Dont be influenced by social media and modern body image hype. Get a good feeling from looking after your body from fitness and diet and let that become an addiction.
Best wishes.

Healthydiner65

Get out and see the world while your young and don’t have kids

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sugaraddict4321

Don't be so hard on yourself. You're beautiful as you are and all those magazine shots are photoshopped anyway. Focus on being healthy, not skinny. The habits you form now will probably stick with you through college and beyond, so make them good ones.

JillianRumrill

"Don't eat an entire cheesecake just because you lost some weight!!" Yeah, I actually did that. Lost a bunch of weight from playing soccer, so naturally, why not eat an entire cheesecake in one sitting? Just. DON'T.

wilberforce24

Remember all the times you went to the gym in high school and didn't work as hard as the two guys who were competing? Yeah, better fix that. OH! Few more things. Good luck over the next two years, you want to be an accountant not an engineer, yes you will loose your hair, stay away from Andrea, move to your dad's house, and by the way... your wife will be in Ogden, not at institute. Enjoy

cyndiesstuff

Any movement is better than sitting on the couch. You don't have to start with 30 minutes. Do 10 minutes 3 times a day and work your way up. A 10 minute walk is better than no walk at all. Get up and get moving. If you don't use it you will lose it.

steveko89

I'd rather go back and educate my parents on nutrition/fitness when I was a child AND educate my younger self about fitness and nutrition (starting at about 12). I'd encourage middle-school me to join the track team to help keep me active and improve my baseline fitness, stick with it through high school, actually use the weight room at the rec in college and have 23 year old me invest in high quality gym equipment when we first bought our house, rather than waiting until 26.

malibu927

You're 200 pounds, do something about it now

mwalle09

You can't out-exercise a bad diet, don't get lazy.

sardelsa

This is advice for myself: Don't change a thing. Continue to go with your gut..even if it leads you astray. You will seemingly fail and make poor decisions but they will make you that much stronger. (for example, if I told myself "start strength training now" which is awesome advice.. I wouldn't have gone down the path I went down where I didn't.. lost too much weight and muscle.. and HAD to gain/bulk up. I probably NEVER would have done that if I hadn't "failed".... just wanted to clear that up)

I wouldn't give that same advice to others though. Since I don't know how things will turn out for you I would think about long term.. drop the low cal fad diets and "bad" food mentality, stop feeling guilty, love your body for what it is and what it can become. Start an exercise you love.. don't overdo anything .. be consistent over time.

wizzybeth

I would probably just keep my mouth shut and not waste my breath. Because when I was 18 I knew everything. Nobody could tell me anything. I'll bet you even my older future self would not convince me. But if there was some chance that I would listen I would say Enjoy exercise. Keep riding your bike. You will love it. Don't worry about what other people think. When I was 18 I was quite the hottie. When I look back at pictures of myself then it's all I can do to not weep

mwalle09

sardelsa wrote: »

This is advice for myself: Don't change a thing. Continue to go with your gut..even if it leads you astray. You will seemingly fail and make poor decisions but they will make you that much stronger. (for example, if I told myself "start strength training now" which is awesome advice.. I wouldn't have gone down the path I went down where I didn't.. lost too much weight and muscle.. and HAD to gain/bulk up. I probably NEVER would have done that if I hadn't "failed".... just wanted to clear that up)

I wouldn't give that same advice to others though. Since I don't know how things will turn out for you I would think about long term.. drop the low cal fad diets and "bad" food mentality, stop feeling guilty, love your body for what it is and what it can become. Start an exercise you love.. don't overdo anything .. be consistent over time.

I like this

corinasue1143

It's important.
It isn't rocket science.

Bry_Fitness70

Don't try to "power through" injuries. If you think you may be injured, just stop, and take some time off if necessary. Trying lift through and run through injuries will result in untold periods of time being unnecessarily sidelined throughout the years.

jesse_323

Stop smoking cigarettes and start lifting weights now!