How can i lose weight healthily?
Hi!, so as the question says can anyone recommend me stuff to lose weight properly. I see these really petite and small waisted girls on social media always and I was just wondering if I could possibly achieve that build by altering my diet and daily fitness?
Im 5'3 (~152.4)
I currently weigh ~118.4 lb (~53 kg)
I also don't grocery shop weekly and I'm in a very ingredient based household that I cannot really access (as I my mom would kill me if I tried making a whole meal). I would appreciate if you guys can recommend foods that are packaged or simply easy to cook with basic kitchen supplies.
Thank You! <3
Answers
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You really don't need to lose weight. If you look at your BMI, you are fine! (BMI 20).
When you see those 'small waisted' girls on social media, remember some of it might be photoshopped (or 'filters'). Also genetics play a huge role in the way you look. You can't change that. Instead, embrace your beautiful body with the curves you might have!
I would recommend you focus more on healthy living. Increase the vegetables in your diet. If you can't get fresh, look at frozen - just as good. A simple meal of a good carb (wild rice, sweet potato, quinoa) a good protein (chicken baked/broiled, fish, etc) and a good veg is easy and quick to make.
If you want to do some body reshaping (won't change genetics, but might help tone some areas), you can start a toning exercise routine. Resistance bands are pretty inexpensive and easy to use for this. You can use them for both upper and lower body toning. Look on Youtube for videos on these.
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Given your post, I'm inferring that you're probably a young woman, quite possible even younger than the rules around here would allow. (Users are supposed to be 18 and over.)
You're already at a healthy weight, and odds are that losing weight wouldn't improve that. It probably also wouldn't improve your appearance.
If you are young, weight loss in your circumstances will set you up for long-term health problems, as your body may still be growing (not just in height) and maturing. Don't short-change that process by turning to low calories.
As the post above says, the photos of influencers are very often manipulated: Professional photos, perfect lighting, carefully selected poses and angles, filters, photoshop, and more. Don't trust them. In the majority of cases, those influencers don't look exactly like that in real life either.
The very best appearance comes from our being the very best self we can be, with our body, our genetics: Healthy, vivacious, strong, accomplished, confident, vibrant, self-aware, accomplished. That's the good stuff. Chasing "I want to look like HER" won't get you there.
Realistically, some of us will never have a tiny waist. (That's not a fault.) I'm one of those women. My lowest rib is quite close to the top of my hip bone. There's no way to constrict that tiny vertical space to make it super-smaller horizontally. (I'm 1000% fine with that, BTW.)
The post above is correct: Healthy eating and a good exercise program are the way to go. While everyone should regularly do some activity that raises heart rate (i.e., cardiovascular exercise), the biggest payoff apperance for women comes from strength training . . . serious, challenging strength training. It won't make women "bulky", especially overnight. "Toned" is simply having the right amount of muscle for our personal tastes, and the right body fat level for that muscle to show in the way we personally find most pleasing.
Your body weight is already in a reasonable zone for that popular, attractive look I just described. Your best bet will be strength exercise. Lifting weights is ideal, if you have access to weights and a way to learn good form (to avoid injury risk, because you want to be lifting amounts you find quite heavy, close to the maximum you can handle at 10-15 reps with good form). If you can't do that, I'd consider a well-designed bodyweight routine to be the next best option. Those require minimal or no equipment.
This thread below has a list of strength programs that other MFP people have found helpful. Despite the title, it includes bodyweight programs.
This thread may also help get you going:
Please go this route instead of pursuing weight loss: Good overall nutrition, especially adequate protein; sticking around your current weight; a well-rounded program of cardiovascular and especially strength exercise. It will put you on a path to your best possible appearance, AND on a path to long term good health and functioning for decades to come, plus give you a sense of accomplishment and teach you how to achieve big goal with patient, persistent small routine steps. That's super-powerful.
If you do the strength exercise, you may also find that that it balances out your body shape in a way you like, since enhancing our shoulder/back muscles and glutes tends to make the waist look proportionally smaller.
Perhaps you'll feel that older women like me just don't understand. Trust me, we do. We were your age, felt those feelings, and I definitely remember. It was difficult. Most of us also did some things wrong, at that crossroads in life and beyond. We want you and others to avoid some of those pitfalls, very sincerely, if that is possible. Still speaking from experience, getting it right - or at least more nearly right! 😉 - is a powerful, powerful thing.
Please pick the path to your best possible full life. Don't pick the path to emulating others . . . at least not others who are posturing, posing, trying to be something even they aren't (usually just to sell you something or rent your eyeballs so they earn advertising revenue). Be your own woman, not the internet's lackey.
Best wishes for life-long thriving!
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Thank you guys so much for the help! 💕
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I couldn’t say it better than the previous two replies.
Ignore social media (I know easy for me to say).
Live a healthy lifestyle. You are already at a good weight.
Have a positive relationship with food. “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants” Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food.has great recommendation about food and eating mindfully.
I like this infographic from Precision Nutrition . It highlights that many of those tiny waist lines you are seeing are unhealthy.
I have no affiliation with Precision Nutrition. I just like their articles and infographics.0
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