Im 34 in the UK and looking for some friends for motivation and support

Well, you're already in a healthy weight range for your height, so don't expect weight loss to be quick, unless you have a really bad diet now and do no exercise. I'd set MFP up to lose either 0.5 or 1lb a week so you don't eat too few calories.

I lost 42lbs for my wedding back in 2008 by going to the gym 5 or 6 times a week and not eating enough basically! I'm a teacher so my job is demanding, but I used to go to the gym straight after work before coming home, and sometimes do aerobics classes in the evening.

I got pregnant straight after my wedding lol and gained a lot back, lost the majority of it, got pregnant again (with my daughter in my profile pic) and gained loads, lost 66lbs to be the thinnest I'd been in years, then got pregnant again, and now she's 7 months and I'm losing weight again. Sigh.

I do a lot of exercise, and make sure to do strength training, and I aim for 1550 calories a day, and occasionally eat a few of my exercise calories, and I usually lose 1-1.5lbs a week.

For you I'd probably say eat around 1500 a day and make sure you start doing strength training.

I think it depends what exercise you do rather than how much. You could spend 2 hours slowly cycling on the exercise bike, or you could do 45 mins of HIIT which would be far more effective.

You don't have to exercise 7 days a week, 4-5 times is plenty. I tend to do 5 or 6 and I do loads of walking, but I'm still on maternity leave, and gym time is my 'me' time. Plus I'm currently overweight. I'm sure once I go back to work I will have no choice but to cut back on exercise, but I will hopefully be back to my healthy weight by then.

You do have to work out how important it is to you though. Losing weight, and more importantly getting super fit, is important to me so I will go to the gym on 3 hours broken sleep. I was at the gym 5 times a week when my baby was 6.5 weeks old. I was exercising until 38 weeks pregnant, and I worked until 35 weeks as well as looking after my 2 and 4 year olds and my husband does shift work. You sometimes have to make sacrifices for things you want.

Some people will tell you that you don't need to exercise for weight loss, and I guess you don't if you have a calorie deficit, but it depends if you want to be fit or not.

7lbs on a stag do. Wow lol. I only put on 1lb on my 2 weeks all inclusive honeymoon

Calorie balance is the key for weight loss. Exercise for health, fitness and to look good when you get to goal weight.
Your weight loss goal is entirely possible so don't rush at it like a maniac!

There is a third part in addition to diet and exercise that can be very easy to fit into a busy life - activity. Substituting walking or cycling for a few car journeys, always using lifts not stairs, stand don't sit.

Can you build something into your daily routine? I must walk about 30 flights of stairs and cycle or walk to the station every working day - those small but frequently repeated activities add up and don't require finding dedicated time.

spanner200 wrote: »

Sijomial I think you do have a point, I definitely don't walk enough and could cycle into work to help just increase my day to day activity levels.

I have also started running and completed my first half marathon in September but I have to say, that despite all the hard work and hours put in, I still haven't reached that eureka moment when running has become enjoyable and not something I simply have to grit my teeth and endure. Perhaps running is like Marmite!

Respect for pushing yourself to the half marathon when you don't enjoy running! Just think what you can do when you find something you do enjoy. You aren't alone by the way, I will sprint or chase a ball but distance running (anything over 400m is my definition of distance running!) bores me to death. Cycling is my thing, much kinder on my elderly joints too.