Want to lose 30 lbs, help!

RebeccaJane1995
RebeccaJane1995 Posts: 1
in Getting Started
Hello, I'm 18 years old, almost 19 and I want to lose 30 lbs. I don't care how long it takes, but is like to do it within 3/4 months or so! I'm 150 lbs right now (the heaviest I've ever been! I'm only 5'2" as well!) and I'd like to get down to 120 before my sophomore year (I'm a freshman now). I'm in college and it's really hard to eat healthy here because there are so few options. I have been going to the gym at least 3 or 4 times a week and will probably start going 6 or 7. Any advice on lifestyle change/diet, etc?

Replies

  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Set MFP to "lose 1 lb per week" and then hit that calorie goal consistently. Eat back 1/2-3/4 of your exercise calories. Do some resistance training to protect your muscle while you lose weight. Eat lots of protein (think of MFP's setting as the minimum). Then be patient.

    Are you going to be eating in the dining hall? If so that can pose a challenge to calorie counting, since you can't weigh out your food there and won't know the exact ingredients. So learn how to eyeball as closely as possible. Half a cup is the size of a tennis ball. 4 oz of meat is the size of a deck of cards, etc.

    If you're not eating in the dining hall then get a food scale and weigh all of your food. The serving listed on the package should have a volume measurement and a weight measurement in grams. The volume measurement is rarely accurate. You're better off using the grams measurement, especially for calorie dense foods like peanut butter.

    For exercise pick something you enjoy and love to do. Make sure you're doing some kind of progressive loading strength training. That could be body weight (as long as you're progressing) or free weights. Check out Starting Strength, Stronglifts, or New Rules of Lifting for Women. If you don't want to lift weights then maybe try You Are Your Own Gym, which is a body weight routine.

    It's okay to have some of the "college" foods, just limit your portions and fit them into your goal. Good luck!
  • convergex
    convergex Posts: 1
    I am also in college and I understand how hard it is to lose weight when you get here. Conveniently, I wish to lose about 30 pounds as well, and if you'd like an acquaintance to motivate each other in this endeavor message me! It is so much easier to be disciplined when you're doing it with someone. Am I right?
  • cevalid
    cevalid Posts: 59
    Previous poster gave a really comprehensive answer, so I just wanted to comment on the workout routine.

    If you are already going to the gym 3-4 times a week, I'm not convinced that you really need to step that up to lose weight (if you are actually going for weight loss rather than fitness).

    While the gym is great for getting you a few extra calories to eat back, the key to losing weight is eating less than your body 'consumes' throughout the day. Cutting down portions might fit in better with life, which tends to be busy, and will help you avoid work out burn out.

    I've just moved from an exercise regime of walking home from work five days a week (60 min slow pace walk) to doing more intense sessions in the gym 3 or 4 days a week, on top of making sure I get 10,000 steps every day. As my workouts have become more intense, I've noticed a spike in hunger and cravings for hearty foods. This makes it more of a challenge to keep within my calorie budget.
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    Be realistic about your goals. You contradicted yourself when you said you didn't care how long it took but wanted it in 3-4 months. At your size, you are not going to lose ten pounds a month. I'm 5'1" and it took me 7 months to lose 30 pounds. And I never went over my calories in that time. So just take some steps to make a good plan and then relax into it. It takes as long as it takes. Enjoy the journey.
  • target_XX0
    target_XX0 Posts: 28 Member
    I don't have access to your food diary but if you are doing sports AND a low carb diet at the same time you must be careful of your fat intake...

    As in increase it so that you get 1 or 2 calories from fat for each calory younger for carbs...
    For me it radically stopped the hunger pangs, and olive oil and peanut butter give me a load of good oils...and I mark them, even that one in the vinaigrette 8)
  • Niiilly
    Niiilly Posts: 5 Member
    Hello!

    You seem to be in the same situation as me C:

    I'm 19, 5ft 1 and weight around 155lbs. My goal weight is 125lbs.

    I'm currently at the heaviest weight I've ever been D: My lowest weight being around 120lbs a few years ago.

    I really need some motivation to start to lose weight, but I've tried so many times and i end up getting really moody! ahaha.

    Hope your weight loss goes well! ( at least better than mine's going!)


    Niiilly x

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