Time to start fixing my health

smashfaced

Hi! I'm Monica, I joined around a week ago and I have to lose 60 lbs, or at the least 50.
I am so happy i found this site. I actually came across this looking for fitness apps on my Iphone over the last weekend.
I have always been the sort of medium / slightly chunky girl...the "Average girl" all my life. I know I could stand to lose some because my weight would fluctuate every now and again depending on how active I was and my diet behaviors.
Unfortunately I usually stayed in the "chunky-ish...medium" area. My mom joined weight watchers from 2004 to 2005 and lost a ton of weight on that and I ended up following along with her diets during that time. At the end of 2005 I was at my utmost best weight and size of all time (a size 6), which is still considered "medium-build" and I'm fine with that. I gained the weight back in under a year unfortunately because I dropped off the wagon, but then I lost some of it when I went to the university of my dreams from 2006 - 2008. Unfortunately while I was there I think I shot my metabolism because I wouldn't eat all day and then I'd eat junk in the middle of the night, and chug soda like there was no tomorrow. By mid 2009 my diet has changed and I would put in an occasional work out, but I noticed over that time period till now I have still been gaining and gaining.
My plan is to really monitor my consumption and work out on an almost daily basis. My calorie intake wasn't that far off from what I'm eating now (1200) but my metabolism is bad because of my bad health behaviors in Uni. So now I am going to really make an effort to lose this weight by implementing almost daily exercise (maybe a fitness class) and also see if I can get in some occasional walks separate from the work outs.
Does anyone know how to kickstart a metabolism or am I just going to have to workout every day for the rest of my life?

tpittsley77

I too have been a yo-yoer. I have about 50 lbs to lose total. This time around, I have completely committed to changing my lifestyle to maintain the weightloss. I was introduced to the Eat Clean diet plan. It's all about eating clean healthy foods. Not diet foods. Natural delicious foods, and to how to eat properly to boost your metabolism. (Think 6 small meals a day, combining complex carbs with lean proteins at each of those six meals). Just in the two weeks I have been following this plan, combined with working out, I have lost 5 pounds, but feel amazing! My energy level is so much higher already. I am not just trying to lose weight, but improve my overall health to be a good influence on my daughters. Good luck with acheiving your goals!

rower75

I think we all need to resign ourselves to the fact this is a lifestyle - not a way to lose a bunch of weight and then fall off the wagon. When you become dedicated to losing weight, think of it as a lifestyle. I have battled weight all my life and now have around 10 pounds to go. But this time I know I cannot stop working out, cannot stop watching what I eat, everything must be in moderation. And, I dont think you need to work out an hour per day either. I have a desk job and walk 2 miles at lunch every day. But I don't consider that my exercise - that is simply catching me up for having such a sedatary job. Then, I work out about 20 minutes per day. Or even skip a day if I don't feel like it.

I too have had some health issues - breast cancer, allergies, chronic cough (i.e., I cough several times per day uncontrollably and have done so for 7+ years). This is about getting healthy.

LeanMeanFitnessMachine

Although not a proven fact, there are strong correlations between eating 6 small meals a day versus 3 large meals and high metabolism (thats eating about every two hours). Personally, I think this is a great system to follow - since there's always something in my stomach being digested, I never have "hunger pains" which helps not to over-eat at the major meals (breafast, lunch, dinner).

Here's an example of what a typical school day will look like for me (I pack my lunch):
Breakfast - Oatmeal made w/ soy or 1% milk.
Mid-Morning snack - 1 cup blueberries & 4 large strawberries
Lunch - Tuna Fish Sandwich on Wheat w/ 1 large apple
Mid-Afternoon snack - 1) (3pm) 3 extra large grade A eggs, scrambled 2) (4:30pm) 1 medium pear
Dinner - Plain baked chicken breast, 2 cups steamed broccoli, & peanut butter on wheat bread
Evening snack - Fat free yogurt OR handful of almonds OR protien shake

This might be a little high carb for some people, but I need that extra energy! The most important thing to remember when choosing a healthy lifestyle is 1) Consistency is key, and 2) Everything in moderation. I love talking health, fitness, and nutrition so check out my profile & add me if you wanna talk more! I love helping people :flowerforyou: