17yrs old. 220lbs. want to be in the 160 area! needs support

You can do it! It sounds like you have a good plan. There is a lot of great support here. Add me if you'd like.

you can do it just keep a positive mental attitude about it, and when things get tough remember it's going to be worth it. one of the best things you can do is to gradually ease yourself into it. i'm an exercise science and health major and am also studying psychology, so things like behavior change are my focus. i would recommend not trying to cut something out entirely, especially if it's something you're used to having because your body will feel like it's going into withdraws and you'll crave it. let's say you have 7 sodas every week, i would try to cut it down by 1 soda every week so 6 weeks from now you'll only be having 1 or maybe even no soda at all through the week. like i said, this will make it easier on you, and you won't feel like you're giving up as much. also, try to substitute white meat for red meat whenever possible. i know turkey isn't the cheapest, and that's one of your biggest concerns, but i'm a college kid and i know what it's like to live on a budget. the ground turkey tastes almost the same as ground beef, but is so much healthier for you. tuna is a good investment that i have made, and that's really cheap. one can of tuna is good for a couple of sandwiches and cans only cost a dollar if not less. fresh fruits and vegetables and yogurt are good things to have around to snack on and you can make smoothies. anything with a high amount of protein is going to promote a lean body which will help increase your metabolism. also, don't be afraid if you hit a plateau sometime. just fight through it, and maybe switch up what you're doing in terms of a workout to promote muscle confusion.

I hope this helps! let me know if you need anything else

It is awesome that you are wanting to do something about this now. The longer you wait the harder it seems to be to lose it. I started dieting at age 9, but never stuck with it til now. This is a great place to start and lots of support on here. If you utilize the tools and add friends on here to support you, you will not be bogged down by being the only one in your house on this journey. You have to do this for you, not for anyone else.

Be sure to check out the recipe section on here. There are a lot of great ideas. Best wishes to you in your journey. Feel free to add me if you would like.

Hey sweetie, go ahead and add me as a friend. I have quite a few recipes that are low cost, low cal AND delicious.

Nachos - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/201660-low-cal-nachos?page=1#posts-2664230

Mini Pizzas - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/201647-mini-pizzas

Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/196303-spaghetti-and-ground-turkey-meatballs


Here's a hint - 1 serving of ground turkey is 4 oz. You can get 4 meals out of 1 lb of ground turkey.

Also, you can make a mozzerella bake using 1 serving of egg noodles, 1 serving of spaghetti sauce and 1 serving of non-fat mozzerella cheese. Cook the noodles first on the stove, preheat the oven to 425. Once the noodles are done, in a pie tin you mix the noodles and sauce then top with the cheese and you have a meal that is only 220 calories.

Hope this helps!

I don't know if this is the case for you, But when I was 17 I only ate twice a day, Supper and School lunch and I gained weight like nobody's business. The more often you eat the more your metabolism will raise so if you're noticing you tend to eat 1 or two large meals a day, try doing 2-3 regular meals with small snacks in between. And congrats on doing what's right for you. We all know it's not easy at all, but You'll always have support on here if you need it

Thats awesome I so cheer you on. Do you have a wii if so I can lend you some of my actives I have if not try going to the Library they have an amazing selection on getting fit. I have a really good recipe it for Chicken Parmesan (I lovvvvvvvvvvvve) All you do is take two chicken tenders, put them in a pan and with this amazing marina sauce you can make I will post tomorrow put alittle over it with mozzerella cheese and then use whole wheat pasta. It tastes Great!!!

Ground turkey is good and can be bought in bulk, just divide it into serving size portions and freeze. Also tuna is affordable and healthy (in water). If you have a sweet tooth, sugar free jello or pudding. Veggies, frozen veggies are cheaper.

Good luck to you, and feel free to add me as a friend!

i know how hard it is to lose weight when you don't have much money.

cheapest and best things to buy to keep healthy while you are on a low cal diet:

-beans (come cheap in a bag, are a great source of protein, and go with lots of other things)
-tuna (also cheap and a great source of protein. try having it with salsa instead of mayo)
-fruit and veggies (go for what is in season and you will save money. buy fresh when on sale and frozen when its not) you will find during your journey to a healthy weight that the real bum kickers are sodium and carbs--so frozen meals and other "fast" foods aren't worth the monetary savings.
-oatmeal (usually cheap, super filling, and you can sweeten it up with a little sugar and cinammon)

eating at home is always a cheaper, healthier option, and if you can buy dry or frozen of above in bulk then more power to you.

well done making the committment at such and early age! and if everyone in your house truly is also overweight, why not encourage everyone to participate? it always helps to have the people you live with support your journey, and buying together you can save a lot of money (and trade off cooking, too!)

good luck! i have friended you, so please feel free to ask for help or whatever you need.