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Newbie looking for help!

katy21190
katy21190 Posts: 2
edited February 9 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi - just signed up here and excited to get started. I'm 23 years old, 5'8, about 155 pounds. I've been working out 20 min a day on my Just Dance WII - can't afford the gym - and just started doing yoga as a supplement. My main area to work on is my stomach/hips - used to be 130 pounds when I was 16 and am feeling very sad that I don't look as good anymore!

My question is whether I'm doing enough to lose weight - I don't own a scale, (I guess I should get one but I'm fearful) but I've definitely noticed, as has my boyfriend, that I've lost a couple pounds. With that said, I want to of course lose more, and faster, and so I want to make sure the momentum keeps going.

I've drastically reduced my caloric intake to around 1500 calories, often times much less when the mood strikes me - overall, just looking for some tips/advice as to how a newbie to working out like me (and a smoker at that) can manage to work out without wanting to kill myself.

Replies

  • WickedZoey
    WickedZoey Posts: 401 Member
    Everyone is different but you have to find what works for you. During my hardcore "getting in shape" phase, I tried not to pay attention to the scale - I would rather have muscle and weigh more than be a pile of bones and weigh less.
  • katy21190
    katy21190 Posts: 2
    Thanks for replying - you're right, everyone is different. I'm just trying to sift through all the theories/tips I've heard in the past to find something that SHOULD work. Part of me feels like 20 minutes a day is too little to make a big dent in my weight - but either way, I figure it's better than what I've been doing.

    I guess to narrow down what I'm asking is whether cardio is generally assumed to be the best fat burner - and how that compares to yoga, which I've heard has been less associated with weight loss? Has anyone had a lot of success toning down and losing weight with yoga?
  • newlife888
    newlife888 Posts: 83 Member
    I've done okay with weight loss when I was doing hatha yoga and taking a dance class on alternating days... but in general I think cardio is your best bet. I also know that strength and core will enable you to burn more calories during cardio... as you build more muscle, you can burn calories more effectively... so yoga will definitely help as a supplement.

    I know that you burn the most calories between 30-60 minutes into your workout. Also intervals are great for weight loss. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek ... I know this is a lot of info, but I have tried them all, and still trying lol :)
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