Starting Over

phuonglethanhtran
phuonglethanhtran Posts: 2
in Introduce Yourself
Hey Pals. Let me begin by introducing myself.

My name is Thanh and I am 18 years old. I have just finished my last year of high school and on my way to university this coming September. I started my weight loss journey back in January 2013 by signing up with Goodlife. I was pretty good with working out daily in the first few months, but I'd go from working out every day to twice a week and sometimes not at all. I fell off the wagon sometime in the autumn of that year and didn't get back up.

Now I'm looking for some support from those on this same journey to help me start over. I'm hoping to lose 55 lbs by this time next year, and I could really use the push. For now, I am working a pretty active job but I know my lifestyle will go back to being relatively sedentary when I start school again. Does anyone have any tips on remaining active in an inactive environment? I'm cutting my diet to 1600 calories a day (since I started calorie counting again, I've realized I've been overeating - oops!) and walk/jog three times a week. Other than that, is there much else I can do?

Also, in addition to eating less and working out more, I am trying to eat healthier foods. But it's hard to cut the rice, pasta, and bread out of my diet completely as they're so filling! And though I have reverted to drinking only water and milk, as well as cutting the pop and junk food out of my diet (I didn't have much of a sweet tooth to begin with, so I have that going for me, which is nice), I'm finding if I'm eating just fruits and veggies one day, I'm hungry an hour after. Is there something else I can eat which is more sustaining but is also a healthier alternative to rice, pasta, and bread?

All in all, I'm feeling really good about these changes. And I will be checking on the boards for some more moral support!

Replies

  • GrammyPeachy
    GrammyPeachy Posts: 1,723 Member
    When I eat a lot of fruit and veggies,I like to add protein for energy and fullness.My favorites are boiled eggs,beans(especially garbanzo beans/chick peas), and fish,(I love those new flavored tuna packs dumped on a salad). Good luck with your goal.
  • orangesmarties
    orangesmarties Posts: 49 Member
    Hello! I'm starting over again too, after way too many failed attempts at losing weight :) I am 19 and on my way to university also - that is a big motivator for me as we'll be getting weighed and measured for nurses' uniforms and have all sorts of health tests done on us. I want to be proud of those results! I could also do with some support, so please feel free to add me.
    I found that I could stay pretty active even over my exams by getting up nice and early to go for a long run before everything kicks in - sounds like hell, but you will be so thankful you've done it, and I find that it sets a nice tone for the day. My family eat crazy amounts of carb, and I have found a couple of things helpful:
    - Let them know you're trying to lose weight, let them know your specific goals and what you want to do to get there
    - You could try halving a sensible portion of carbs, or aim to have just one carb free meal a day. I need some sort of carb because I'm a long distance runner, so it's not practical for me to go strictly no carbs, so I just watch them. It is hard though!
    - Maybe you could watch the type of carb you're eating, so make them complex ones (e.g. brown rice rather than white rice, wholemeal bread etc.) That way they fill you up more and for longer, plus lower GI and calories.
    - I've taken up a couple of classes at the gym since I've started work, (so I can sort of finance it). This is a great place to pick up some motivation and sweat in a new way.
    - Try making these a positive experience too: this week me and my friend met a hour before our spinning class and had a really good catch up. It was a real motivator, and a lovely experience. Plus you're out of the house and not wanting food!
    - I'm currently experimenting with Intermittent Fasting, and can let you know how I get on if you'd like?

    If you have any top tips, I'd love it if you could pass them along too??! :)
    Take care
    Izzi
  • phuonglethanhtran
    phuonglethanhtran Posts: 2
    I just did a quick search on intermittent fasting and it seems really difficult. What are your experiences with it so far? I might want to give it a try, but it seems a bit risky not to eating during the day as my work is a bit physical. Let me know how it is, please!

    As well, what is your exercise routine like? I wake up at 5 AM for work and don't get home until 4 PM, so I suppose I could go for a walk/jog after then, but it's been a long time since I've worked out regularly and I don't want to push too hard and hurt myself for the long run (no pun intended). What do you suggest I should do to begin?

    Thanks for your support!
  • Mrs_Bones
    Mrs_Bones Posts: 195 Member
    Hey! It doesn't matter that you stopped, what matters is that you've picked up where you left off and you keep going! Good for you for getting back at it!

    My biggest piece of advice is to avoid sugar! When I'm craving something sweet, I try to go for a piece of fruit. Also, when you do eat carbs (and I don't believe that all carbs are evil), make sure you're going for the most whole or least processed you can find. The idea between this advice all comes down to hormones! There's going to be a lot of people who are going to tell you that a calorie is just a calorie and that it doesn't matter where it comes from. Anyone with a little biological background can tell you that what type of calorie you're consuming and how many you are consuming plays a huge role in the hormone levels in your body. Insulin, hunger hormones, they're all affected by the types of food you eat. Sugar and white carbs trigger an insulin surge that causes your body to store extra calories as fat. Mostly belly fat, for that matter! Eating foods that take longer to digest (protein, healthy fats, whole carbs with lots of fiber) keep you feeling fuller longer (so it's easy to reduce your overall calories without killing anyone out of hunger) and help even out your hormones so that your body is working for you.

    Biggest piece of fitness advice: add some strength training and don't be afraid to lift big weights. Big weights do not make women bulky. Muscle is metabolically more active that fatty tissue. That means, that for every pound of muscle you build (and a pound of muscle takes up less space on your body than a pound of fat), you burn more calories at rest. It revs your metabolism and helps you burn fat even while you sleep.

    Also, keep a positive attitude! You will hit road bumps along the way. Just keep picking yourself back up and remember that the difference between a person who succeeds and the person who doesn't is consistency :)

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