Best way to lose weight and tone your body

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xbrooke_taylorx
xbrooke_taylorx Posts: 1 Member
edited October 2015 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone. I'm Brooke. I am new to this and not sure how this all works. I'm 5ft tall and I'm 129lbs. I wanted to know if anyone has good ideas on how to lose weight and tone your body. I have no idea on what route to go on to lose 20lbs.
Does anyone know any good foods to eat that are healthy and filling?
What kind of exercises will decrease the fat content in your stomach?
What kind of exercises will tone and tighten the rest of your body?

Can anyone help me?

Replies

  • neldabg
    neldabg Posts: 1,452 Member
    edited October 2015
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    Google and old threads on MFP are your best friend. I highly recommend taking a look here to get started:
    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10260499/i-like-old-posts-and-i-cannot-lie#latest

    My biggest advice is to stay informed and hold yourself accountable. Make friends on MFP, Facebook, Instagram. etc. and in real life who'll check up on you. Yes, weight loss is ultimately up to you, but the greater the support behind you, the more likely you are to succeed.
  • tomhurst
    tomhurst Posts: 47 Member
    edited October 2015
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    For filling yourself up, eat really really slowly, chew lots. Seriously this is the best way to get full up on less.
    You can't lose weight just from the stomach, you just have to lose it all round. Do cardio for that. Walking, jogging, and if you can running. At the gym I run, then when I can't breathe I walk for a few mins, then run again, then walk etc.
    And to tone, do weights, or the machines at the gym. They usually have pictures on them showing what machine tones what area. Do weights that are fairly heavy, but not too heavy.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited October 2015
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    tomhurst wrote: »
    For filling yourself up, eat really really slowly, chew lots. Seriously this is the best way to get full up on less.
    You can't lose weight just from the stomach, you just have to lose it all round. Do cardio for that. Walking, jogging, and if you can running. At the gym I run, then when I can't breathe I walk for a few mins, then run again, then walk etc.
    And to tone, do weights, or the machines at the gym. They usually have pictures on them showing what machine tones what area. Do weights that are fairly heavy, but not too heavy.

    I'm sorry but this advice is not brilliant

    Eating slowly can help your mind catch up with your body...perhaps eat consciously is better. Don't eat at your desk at work or in front of a TV or laptop. Enjoy your food.

    It it true that you can't choose where weight comes off absolutely true ...but cardio is not the answer ..cardio (steady state) is great for cardio vascular health and to give you more calories to eat

    For best musculature ...to give you tight and toned look you seem to want you need a progressive, heavy lifting programme ...this doesn't make women bulky (unless you think I look bulky in my av of course)

    Read this: http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/10/26/how-to-not-suck-at-working-out/

    Get a programme
    Books
    Strong Curves
    New Rules of Lifting for Women

    Structured online programmes
    http://stronglifts.com/5x5/
    https://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/jason-blaha-ice-cream-fitness-5x5-novice-workout
    http://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-routines/4-week-guide-starting-strength


    Why?
    wxy1lxqvbhdn.jpg

    NB there are years between these shots...it doesn't happen quickly but with commitment it does happen (look how her weight goes up as her musculature increases but her overall look is much smaller and shapelier

    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

    If you can't bring yourself to do free weights yet then do a decent bodyweight programme
    http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

    But it all comes down to calorie intake for fat loss so don't forget your calorie counting
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
  • shepame
    shepame Posts: 2 Member
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    Cardio and weights at the gym is always a plus. Weights will help you tone and cardio will keep your heart healthy. Most weight loss is from making better food choices and eating less calories. Keeping the food log helps me eat the right foods. Stay away from soda and junk food. My weakness is chips so I try to keep them out of my house.
  • michelle7673
    michelle7673 Posts: 370 Member
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    Hi Brooke -- I would definitely look at the sticky links above. Learn how to log your food, and you will figure out for yourself what foods are the most satisfying for the calories -- I think in a sense it's different for everyone. Learning how to log and understanding what you're eating is #1. Track EVERYTHING -- it's the only way you can really understand where you are.
    I don't know what fitness level you're starting from? But there are many great plans out there and I definitely recommend using a progressive strength training regime. I have just started Strong Curves, but have done numerous others at various points in my life. Cardio is good too, for different reasons, but as you can see from rabbitjb's pics above, the strength training is the key to really changing your shape.
    MFP has a built-in system that will help you figure out how much to eat if you want to lose a pound a week, or a pound and a half a week -- whatever you pick. It's designed so that, if you log in exercise, your calorie allowance for that day is higher.
    The important thing is to get started -- ask lots of questions and make friends to help you stay accountable and to help you figure things out. I lost 40 pounds this way, and when I stopped I put a bunch back on. It works :)
    Welcome!!! :)
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,626 Member
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    Fruits and veggies are very filling, low-cal, full of vitamins and minerals you need and fiber that you can use. So, they're helpful for weight loss and good for you, too! Work lots of them into your diet.

    The single best piece of advice I ever received on this board was to make my own bread. I was complaining about the difficulty of eating whole grains because I don't like the taste and was asking for GOOD-tasting breads. Someone said that they'd had the same problem and it ended when they made their own bread. Hello, yummy and healthy breads! I wish I could thank that person but have no idea who it was. So, I pass that along. Try making your own breads. :)

    Fiber is very filling. It hangs out longest in the stomach, so gives you the idea that you're full for longer. Meat is very filling. I eat more than 75-80g of meat and I begin to feel sluggish. It just sits in there like a rock. Some people find they feel fullest eating a lot of fat. Everyone is different, so try things out and see what works for you.

    You really cannot make fat disappear by working any one area. You can tone up by using weights and doing body exercises, but the fat comes off wherever it jolly well feels like coming off and it only comes off when you lose weight.

    Cardio is very good for your health. It got it's "cardio" nickname because it's so good for your cardiovascular system. It will also help burn calories. Weight-lifting or bodyweight stuff doesn't burn the calories quite as well, but will help you tone up and is good for you in many other ways, like making your bones strong. Many people focus on one or the other, but if you want to be your healthiest, you'll do both.

    Eat right and exercise, lol. It's old-fashioned and boring, but it works. :)

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