Will I Get Anywhere This Way?

If you are going to only eat 1200 calories per day, you need to also be eating your exercise calories back. If you don't, your calorie intake my end up being dangerously low. I also recommend lifting weights along with your other exercise because lifting helps reduce body fat percentage. Doing it right away will help you and I wish I had known that when I first started.

you should start hitting the weights now.

First off, congrats! You can do this!

Why not hit the weights now? Strength training is just as important(if not more) than Cardio. Adding Strength to your routine will rev up your metabolism, burn fat and keep those calories burning long after you worked out. The weights are were it's at!

Create a routine where instead of running for 30 minutes 5-6 days a week. Do Cardio 3-4 times a week, and then do a weight routine 2-3 times per week(with a cardio warm up if you like).

Weights were a part of my routine from day one, and I am so glad for it. I not only have a stronger, healthier body; But because I had so much weight to lose, loose skin was an issue, and thankfully one that I didn't have to deal with. And I think I owe all that too strength training!

Good luck!!

To beat the dead horse, start lifting now. If you are eating at a deficit, you will not be gaining muscle, persay, but maintaining the muscle you do have. That will be invaluable once you get closer to your goal with how you feel, and how you look.

Also, do some research on BMR and TDEE... 1200 calories will be most likely too low with your activity level. If you insist on 1200, eat ALL your exercise calories back.

Hit the weights now. Muscle burn more calories that fat. When I was at the heaviest I started weight training in addition to cardio. Really helped me a lot.

This !!!!! Cardio over rated Hit weights increase protien decrease carbs and tone

What does everyone recommend...free weights or a strength training class that is an hour long?

Compound barbell lifts.

free weights and machines. have a heavy day, then a day where you go for max reps. work each muscle group separate. I usually shoot for about an hour or 90min. don't over do it right off the bat. might need to set your goal loss to about 1 to 2lbs a week imo. good luck and it takes time, but you will start to see results in about 6 months. stay dedicated.

Don't be afraid of the barbell

Learn proper form...I watched endless youtubes from riptoe and read stronglifts and watched the recommended videos on form they had.

There are lots of beginner lifting programs out there. Do some research, find what works for you, your goals, and your schedule

Good luck OP

Hey There!

Happy new year! Your goals are eerily similar to mine and I'm here to tell you that it is not only entirely possible but further, it's doable and realistic. I have a daily calorie amount of 1220 and find it to be sufficient. I can eat what I want within reason and having to log my foods makes me more mindful and as a result, more satisfied. In terms I the exercise, I aim for at least 30 minutes of cardio a day, 5 days a week. I also try to do some strength training or barre work at least 3 times a week.

While I'm still on the path, I've found that staying the course really works. In the beginning, I wasn't doing any exercise and simply monitored my food/caloric intake and by doing that, I lost about 12-15 lbs initially. When my weight didn't continue to move downward, I realized I needed to get moving and so I started doing Jillian Michaels' DVDs and including some other interesting cardio activities (hula hoop aerobics once a week and the elliptical at least 2x a week). Since including exercise on top of food monitoring, I've managed to lose about 7 additional pounds in the last 3.5 months--and I have the metabolism from hades!

ALL of this is to say that your goals are spot-on for now and you can do this!

-Pam