Came back from college for break and...

Sabre1232 · December 2016

i am 5'8. I was 162 at the start of college and have come back about two and a half months later. I am now apparently pushing 180 lbs. I took my measurements and a lot of it has gone to my stomach (42 inches around). i am sure my family has noticed but hasn't said anything. I have a month and am going to try to loose some. Any ideas are appreciated...

mila_lova · December 2016

Don't panic. Don't try to lose weight too fast through super restrictive dieting or overloading yourself with exercise.

You've got awareness, that's the first step.

Try making a list of reasons to lose weight. It's okay if they're shallow. You'll need to focus on what motivates you so you can get through the tough times.

Weight loss is about calories in vs. calories out. To lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you eat. Find ways to increase your activity level. Exercise on a regular basis. Maybe buy a step tracker (there's a cheap, low-tech one at target for $15) and try to get 10,000 steps a day.

Log all of your food on MFP. When I started MFP, it told me how many calories I need to eat to lose weight. I always fit treats into my daily calorie allowance, but I often choose lean proteins and produce because those calories will fill me up quicker than junk food calories. Follow the calorie guidelines MFP gives you.

Good luck! Let us know how is goes!

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

Have you been drinking? Partying? Eating pizza? Staying up late? Better just adjust your diet and lifestyle back to be more similar to what it was when you lived at home.

Looks like a beer belly situation to me? Time to cut down on the drinks and opt for low calorie ones when you do indulge.

If it isn't alcohol than it's probably fast food. You know it's just as quick to grab a pre-made salad from Trader Joe's (or any other grocery store or deli) as it is to grab a burger & fries from a fast food place

kgirlhart · December 2016

I second what @mila_lova said. And remember, it took you a semester (3 months?) to gain the weight. Don't expect to lose it all in one month. You should be able to lose about 4 pounds, which will be a good start and if you set up mfp and start eating at a calorie deficit you should be able to continue losing when you go back to school.

Cherimoose · December 2016

SharpSabreSword wrote: »

Any ideas are appreciated...

Sorry to be obtuse, but what specifically do you want ideas about? Meal planning? Exercise? Motivation? Something else?

SueSueDio · December 2016

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but is there any way you could be pregnant?

If not, then follow the good advice given above and don't expect to lose all the excess weight in a short space of time, especially not over the holidays.

isabellapanzica9387 · December 2016

How I lost Weight in College
1.) Eat the healthy food at the cafateria
2.) Eat a cup of cerial and a small snack for breakfast (I recommend cheerios)
3.) Have healthy low calorie snacks in your dorm
4.) Go to the gym
5.) Get a scale and measure yourself weekly
6.) Go to class early and walk the long way
7.) If you go home during the weekend prepare food for your dorm. If you have a fridge and a microwave you can make a meal or two. If you dont you can make homemade granola bars and wrap them up.
8.) Continue to log on MFP everyday and slowly lose over time.
9.) Watch out for overeating
10.) Dont rush things losing weight takes time. If you want you can find a friend who also gained weight and wants to lose.

Sabre1232 · December 2016

I have been having a lot of Fried food and pizza at late night. Do you guys think people will notice?

tracykreczmer · December 2016

Ok so u gained weight like we all did right. Veggie caferteria food eww lol but u got this.. Just log your weight..have pizza or a fried food only once a week. Go to the gym.. College has amazing gyms that are open all the time. Adding twenty of caudio and strength training along with walking to classes will keep off the weight. For now ask mom or dad to stock the house with good food.. Walk. go to a gym. If u can or start exercising with videos at home. Try for four to five days. It's OK. Now get to work.. U worked hard on your exams spend this next month being good to you!

tracykreczmer · December 2016

SharpSabreSword wrote: »

I have been having a lot of Fried food and pizza at late night. Do you guys think people will notice?

PS who cares... This is about how You feel.. U can wear asymmetrical tops..peplums and certain shirts hide the tummy if u are self conscious... Shorter top with a longer camisole underneath with spandex can hold u in.. But if u start right now with food and exercise in just a little but u can look and feel better!

mila_lova · December 2016

SharpSabreSword wrote: »

Do you guys think people will notice?

Don't worry about it too much. People might notice, but trust me, it's not the end of the world. It's none of their business. I know it's hard to not care what they think, but try not to. Weight doesn't have to be a hugely emotional and shameful thing. I try to look at it as a fact- I gained weight. It's just a fact, like gravity. I am choosing to be healthier and lose weight, but it's not a moral issue. It just is.

In my experience, only my boyfriend noticed when I gained 20 lbs over the course of the year and talked to me about my unhealthy behaviors. It was initially painful, but now I'm so much healthier and I started exercising.

kenyonhaff · December 2016

Well people might notice. You didn't invent the "Freshmen 15", however--this is not a altogether surprising thing.

But they also will be glad to see you and ask you how college has been. And what you're doing and stuff.

You do have some things going for you at college. One is typically a lot of access to workout facilities that cost little to nothing. If you have cafeterias, that also means you often have access to a lot of healthy food once you realize what you should not eat...salad bars, for instance.

Sabre1232 · December 2016

Also that picture is from when I was in the 160s...

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

SharpSabreSword wrote: »

I have been having a lot of Fried food and pizza at late night. Do you guys think people will notice?

What matters is what you think.
I would say that it looks like you're carrying a lot of weight in your stomach area even at your lighter weight...

SharpSabreSword wrote: »

Also that picture is from when I was in the 160s...

And that is cause for concern as far as health goes. Fat held in your mid section is the most dangerous kind of fat because it surrounds your organs. It statistically means higher chance of disease and health issues down the line. If I were you I would want to work on losing some body fat and gaining some muscle (increasing lean body mass is good for health and increases the metabolism & improves the physique). I would suggest cutting down on fried & fatty foods, eating more veggies & nutritious foods, staying within a proper calorie limit each day, and doing some exercise like weight lifting & cardio.

trigden1991 · December 2016

Calorie deficit is all you need.

ShammersPink · December 2016

Have you seen a doctor, just to check there's nothing else wrong?

It's just, that seems like an awfully high stomach measurement for a young woman of your height and weight, and a pretty rapid gain too.

Packerjohn · December 2016

ShammersPink wrote: »

Have you seen a doctor, just to check there's nothing else wrong?

It's just, that seems like an awfully high stomach measurement for a young woman of your height and weight, and a pretty rapid gain too.

That's what I was thinking. Does the OP ,know what here waist measurement was at the start of the semester. A waist size greater than 35 inches for females is a health risk.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi_dis.htm

deputy_randolph · December 2016

I gained the Freshman 10...not 15. By the time I graduated, I'd lost close to 40lbs. I was a little chubby going in.

I cut out soda and cut back on dessert (which are freely available all day, everyday)...I walked EVERYWHERE. Sophomore year, I lived in the dorm furthest from the main campus. Next 2 years, I lived off campus, parked about a mile from main campus and spent most days on campus, walking everywhere, and used my car only to get home.

Its very easy to gain weight due to the availability of all foods...but once I tweaked my behavior, weight loss was pretty smooth.

ShammersPink · December 2016

A a Brit, I'd never heard of the"Freshman 15"! It sounds fairly self-explanatory though.

goodasgoldilox165 · December 2016

Well done for spotting this and reacting in such a timely way.

If it took a few months to put on - expect it to take at least this long to disappear. From what I have seen on here, slow reduction tends to stay - fast losses just put you on the weight see-saw and can lead to a miserable time as you actually gain weight overall.

If you do as suggested above and add to your daily walking - cut additional calories - and do this in a way that doesn't leave you feeling deprived all the time, you will succeed and might even go lower than you expect.

Good luck!

amyr271 · December 2016

SueSueDio wrote: »

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but is there any way you could be pregnant?

/quote]

Has the OP addressed this yet?

savithny · December 2016

Back In The Day, I actually lost weight at college because there were no cars on campus and I walked everywhere all the time.

The dorm meals were also way more like real food, like I ate at home anyway. You walked through a line and they gave you a reasonable sized piece of rpotein and reasonable servings of side dishes.

From what I can tell, dorm food has changed to accommodate the idea that sutdents are "customers" rather than "residents," and its possible to eat like you're eating at Cheesecake Factory every night and have thousand-calorie lunches every day, and then still join in on the pizza orders and the beer drinking at night. I'm kind of surprised more college students don't gain 50 pounds ASAP.

OP: Your college may publish calorie counts. Look at them and then think about better choices you might make in the dining halls. Set a limit on how many times a week you will order pizza or participate in pizza. And look up the calorie counts on beer and other drinks and think about what they signify.

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

Yeah that's a pretty big waist measurement and very round...

I can't tell from photo if OP is male or female?

If female might want to take a pregnancy test just in case.

ShammersPink · December 2016

Profile says female, 19.

Males are more likely to put all of their weight on as a beachball. Females, not so much. And her maximum weight only puts her at a BMI of 27.4.

I'd only expect a mildly elevated waist size in a non-pregnant healthy young woman at that BMI.

Sabre1232 · December 2016

I have gone to a doctor and am not pregnant. I just have a genetic disposition for gaining weight in my stomach. I have been tested for other things like fibroids etc and all came back negative.

Sabre1232 · December 2016

At the start of the semester it was about 38 inches

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

Oh ok.

I actually am genetically predisposed to gaining fat in my belly region too - and also hips & thighs - have been mistaken for being pregnant a few times at my heaviest. I think my highest waist measurement was about 36". Now down to 32". It took both diet and exercise- I do weight training, body weight strength exercises, core exercises, hiit cardio, walking & hiking. I workout about 4 or 5 days per week. And use myfitnesspal to track calories and macros and am in a caloric deficit of about 300 less than maintenance and make sure to get 100 grams of protein a day and not go overboard on sugar or carbs (I feel like that's really important). Also cut out all gluten and alcohol because they make me bloated and disturb my digestion. You could probably see good results if you do the same! I'm not done yet but here is my stomach progress so far:

You can see my belly is significantly flatter- so it's possible to fight those genetics by losing body fat and building muscle, if that's something that you're interested in.

ShammersPink · December 2016

Ok, so since there's no underlying health issue, that's good news, and diet and preferably some exercise are all you need.

You'll need to think about what you will find sustainable within your student lifestyle next semester, because you will need more than a few weeks to get back in shape, although you can certainly make a start.

Think about what the trigger-points are that have made you over-eat in this past semester, and work out how you can control or eliminate them.

Can you join college sports clubs that will help you to get regular exercise?

Sabre1232 · December 2016

Nice job! My stomach and rest of body has grown bigger. I can't believe I didn't notice this happening. My stomach spills over my pants now and I can hardly bend my legs in my pants

.

I mean my school has a lot of walking uphill, so I assumed I could eat more food and not gain weight. Now that I look back on it, an average my breakfasts were not healthy. I plan to change this next term

courtneyfabulous · December 2016

That would be a great start.
Healthier breakfasts and less late night fast food.
I'd also check out your college's gym & use it a couple times a week.

Here's a good Instagram account I found recently for inspiration and she posts a lot of videos showing herself doing different exercises so you can get an idea of how to use the gym and see proper form: @faithlfit (Faith Leatherman)

And here's some great YouTube channels to check out for inspiration on healthy lifestyle, fitness & weight loss, etc:
Live Lean TV
Cookie Miller
Obese to Beast
Fat Meets Fire
Mike Matthews

I wish I had access to free info and motivation like this when I was your age, and I wish I'd used my college gym more often and done more than just the cardio machines!

And don't forget to use myfitnesspal to tack your food & calories!! Another thing I wish I'd been able to do sooner in life!

Sabre1232 · December 2016

The term was only eleven weeks and my parents visited on the third week and told me I had lost weight. I believe psychologically I thought I could eat more as a result. So, the gaining happened over seven weeks. That seems like a short time but for breakfast every morning I would have coffee, a mini donut, a muffin, eggs with bacon an sausage, and two bowls of cinnamon toast crunch. Lunch would always change but for dinner I would get the pasta dish and bread with ice cream and dessert. Some nights I would get Late Night (basically fried chicken and curly fries and soda at 11 PM). I guess no amount of exercise can combat my diet. I feel too young to have these issues.

Came back from college for break and...

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