Desperate for Help.

ningggsm
ningggsm Posts: 202
edited November 9 in Introduce Yourself
Well, I've been using this ap for almost a week now, and I can't seem to get a routine down. I'm 21 and overweight. My calorie goal is 1420. Lately, I've been doing a pretty good job at staying under the given number, although I may have cheated and gone over at least once or twice since I've started. I weigh 224lbs. I am desperate and will try anything I can to drop major weight before June of this year. I have this huge collaboration party that I have to show up to, and would love it if I could just surprise everyone that night. I want to do this of course to better myself, and to show everyone that I CAN DO THIS. I am not a member of a gym. All I have is a punching bag that I never use, and my neighborhood. I do walk/jog when I feel like it; and I also try to get myself up to work out with ShawnT's, Hip Hop Abs. To be honest though, I don't know what I'm doing. I want to be at least under 200lbs by the end of May, and I want people, especially myself to see and notice it. I need help. What could I eat daily to not make me hungry every so often? What should I eat to help drop the pounds? Does walking an hour every night even help with weight loss? Should I use the punching bag and will that help with anything? What should my workout routine look like and should it change everyday? Again, I'm desperate. I'm turning 22 this year, and I want to finally say that I'm actually bettering myself. I'm ready for a change. I want to be, feel and look healthy. Anyone?

Replies

  • kp1439
    kp1439 Posts: 343 Member
    Dont give up ... you can do it .. if i can do it you can do better ... i am 34 ... took me this long to realize that i need to be healthy ... you are 21 ... amazing time you are taking care of your self ... good job .. hang in there it will work out ..
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    Send me a friend request then PM me this info:

    Age
    height
    weight
    body fat% http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ use the Military body fat tool
    Waist measured below navel
    How often you work out.

    If you need to diet then lets do this right!
    ~Dan
  • DaniellePF
    DaniellePF Posts: 308 Member
    You will have to find something that works for you, your routine and your body type. Just because you don't belong to a gym doesn't mean you can't consult with a trainer, a nutritionist or a doctor that can point you in the right direction and get your forward momentum going.

    You sound like you really want this, so yes, take the walks, punch the bag, do whatever it takes to incorporate exercise into your life. What works for me personally is working out hard almost every day, chugging water and trying to eat the healthiest way possible. I think about each food decision I make before it goes into my mouth. Some days I am stronger than others.

    I don't know if I have been helpful, but I really think you need to find what works the best for YOU, then find people (here on MFP or in your life) that will encourage you.

    Best of luck, you got this! :flowerforyou:
  • tjwichman
    tjwichman Posts: 19 Member
    The first part of advice I can give you is freaking and stressing out is going to make it harder to lose weight. Instead of looking at it as a diet, look at is as a change in lifestyle. You have to be able to discipline yourself. Most of all, take things one day at a time. Set a goal for each week like that you will walk for 30 minutes every night that week. I promise if you do just half an hour at a decent pace, you will see some sort of result. The results that last don't happen overnight. Do you try and keep healthy snacks with you? I actually eat all day long, but choose snacks more like fruits and vegetables. If I have a day where I am going to go over my calories, I will do an extra 30 minutes of a workout to make up for it. You can do it!! I know you can!
  • TanyaCurtis
    TanyaCurtis Posts: 630
    Walking an hour a day would do wonders! and also ur punching bag!!! But working out is only 20% of the outcome, the other 80% is ur diet!! I have a binge eating problem, and staying away from sugar and bread as much as I can helps my appetite tremendously!!! Also I have incorporated lots veggies into my diet, I make sure to have at least 1 huge salad everyday! If u start eating healthy and become aware of everything and anything u are putting into ur mouth, then everything else will fall into place! U will do great! Also I am on a program called "prism" look that up and order the books and DVD's and u will become everything u dreamed of becoming and more:) I've witnessed 2 people lose over 100 lbs. each because of it, and are doing wonderful still today. I signed up and started because I wanted to get a grip on things before it got WAY out of hand. I feel better, eat better, and look alot better since I've started!! I highly recommend doing this!!!
  • pernodpourmoi
    pernodpourmoi Posts: 5
    Do stick with your plan to lose weight.
    * Draw up a weight graph, marking your current and goal weights, and the target line between them in one colour; plot your actual weight, week by week, in another colour, and try to focus on week-by-week progress. Small goals are easier to manage than big, seemingly huge, goals.
    * Try to establish a simple daily routine of healthy eating at regular times.
    * Alcohol is bad news - lots of empty calories. Don't buy it
    * Avoid any kind of processed food; the closer you are to raw or unprocessed food, the better.
    * Keep your serving sizes small; use smaller plates or bowls.
    * Don't eat while watching TV; set the table, make it look nice, and *enjoy* your meal; take your time with it.
    * List a few different types of exercise that you like - eg walking, bike riding, dancing around to some of your favourite music, swimming, aqua-aerobics. Do something different each day to avoid getting bored.
    * Try to get a friend to join you with at least some of your exercises, and ask him/her to help keep you committed to meeting up when you agreed to.
    Even if you don't quite reach your absolute target weight, I'm sure that if you stick with it, you will lose quite a lot of weight, and anything's better than nothing!
    My best wishes to you.
    Kerry
  • mommichic
    mommichic Posts: 2 Member
    I have a couple tips...
    Try fresh veggies and fruits, probiotics and protiens rather than carbs to fill you up...I am trying this 17 Day Diet which is kind of like a diet and a cleanse and it claims to help your body re-program your metabolism...now whether or not this is true, I am not sure, however the foods that is focus's on and the way the diet is set up, seems to have merit in helping the person achieve a more healthy lifestyle, making better food choices and feeling soooo much better...I am on day twelve and have lost about 7 pounds(although I am fluctuating a bit up and down due to period:(0....) I feel great!! I would definitely check it out as an option....I like it because it has lists of foods that are reccomended for each cycle and tons of recipes on the web....Also, although its really hard to knock out the carbs at first, after day 5...it is not so bad....Also...I dont actually count calories...and I do go over occasionally...but I know when and why because I am tracking my food!! I love that the protiens and vegggies are somewhat unlimited!! and I am not starving every night!!

    Also...my friends SWEAR by The 30 Day Shred, so I am trying it...its like 10 bucks!!!
    Let me know if you have any questions!!
  • My2kidsmama
    My2kidsmama Posts: 2
    All I can offer is for you to read my story. It's over on the Fit2Fat2Fit site under the name of "Susie" (Under "Progress Pictures" forum "Transformation by Walking...".) My weight loss journey started last July. I measure myself once a month because it gives me a much better picture of what I'm losing. I've yet to step on a scale (It's just a #!) I share this so you know I've had results w/ no fancy gym membership, etc. All my results have been in my own neighborhood or in my own home.

    As background I heard about this guy (Drew Manning) last November who lives in UT, 31, works full-time, married w/ 2 kids, and a part-time personal trainer. He was totally buff (has before picture and after picture) and INTENTIONALLY gained over 70 lbs because some of his clients said he could never relate to their struggles to lose weight. So from May to November of last year, he gained the weight, even taking on food challenges that were suggested and didn't exercise at all. From November of last year to May, 2012, he's showing how to lose the weight. His workouts are only 45-minutes/1 hour/day.

    He has videos on YouTube that show you what he and his wife eat and he does exercises in the gym, and she (Lynn) does them at home. He even offers a weekly grocery list explaining what foods they buy. I don't follow all his food choices, but am totally inspired by him. His entire story will be featured on ABC's 20/20 on or around June 1st. It's when I started doing the core exercises, and focusing MORE on my diet in November, that my results really took off.

    As for me, I started out just walking last July, and did it nearly every day. The first day I got through a mile, and by being consistent can now do 3, 4, 5 miles or more a day. Yes, there were days I didn't want to exercise, but I told myself if I did it the day before, I could do it today. W/ that mindset, it became easier. Walking is one of the best exercises because it's a complete exercise for your entire body. In November--when I first heard about Drew-- I began his core exercises 2X a day. They were tough at the beginning but I kept trying and day by day I did better. I now have no problem with pushups, planks, pelvic thrusts, wall sits, etc. In the last 11 days, I've added Kettlebell workouts (51 minutes) to gain strength and burn more calories. I also discovered fast-burning exercises called, "You Have 4 Minutes" on You Tube that I just started.There are so many free resources! My goal is a family wedding in mid-May. That's what got me started on the journey, but I realized (after 2 weeks) I just wanted to get fit for me.

    You can start with walking and build from there. Walk briskly! Don't give up! Baby steps work. Focus on one day at a time; don't think of yesterday or tomorrow, just today. Focus on whole, nutritious foods (and no junk) and drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.Those are the simple rules but they will help you begin your own journey to a new you. (I gave up red meat, milk, orange juice, ice cream, etc and focus on carbs from veggies). You have to find what works for you. I'd guess I've lost 50-60 pounds and so far have lost 50" from my body (arms, bust, waist, stomach, hips, thighs, calves). I will finally weigh myself in mid-May. And guess what happened today? I saw someone who I hadn't seen since last June (before my weight loss journey began). The first words out of his mouth? "I don't even recognize you! You look like a completely different person!"

    You can do this. Start slowly, because 1 day become 3, then a week, a month, 3 months, 5 months, etc. I only joined MFP last night, and think it's a great tool to track my exercise and food. I wish I had found it sooner (Others mentioned it on the Fit2Fat2Fit--that's how I heard about it).

    I apologize for such a long reply. I just wanted you to know that success is possible. Your journey may be totally different than mine, but I hope if I shared mine, it could help you. I'm much older than you--and I did it. Take the first steps to a new life. Yes, it takes hard work and eating well, but aren't you worth it? I know you are! Good luck!
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    You're just starting out, don't look to make this complicated or you will never do it.

    My best suggestions:
    - plan your meals before you eat them if you can - this makes it easy to see how much you are eating and stops the end of day panic "help, I'm over or under calories".
    - don't stress too much over what kind of food to eat. Make sure you are getting some fresh (or frozen) fruit and veggies in there every day and stay under your calorie allowance.
    - exercise 5 or 6 days a week, 30 mins a day if you can. One or two rest days are important to help your body heal up from the exercise days. Or, if you want to do something every day, make one or two days lighter exercise - go for a walk or a swim, not too strenuous.
    - when you exercise, you can eat back some or all of those calories and you will still lose weight.
    - don't obsess over "will I lose x pounds by x date". That is a waste of energy that you could be using to exercise or plan your meals.

    Just start eating well and exercise, be consistent and you will see a BIG difference in 5 months time.
  • DKBelle
    DKBelle Posts: 585
    Here is some useful site:
    www.myomytv.com
    www.bodyrock.tv

    This is my site where I share daily what I eat( I already lost 25lbs this way)
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooking-ideasHomemade-Healthy-Foods/179121125503371
  • happylittleclam
    happylittleclam Posts: 27
    I added you. Good luck.

    All the advice the PPers gave you are good.
  • tweedledee16
    tweedledee16 Posts: 58 Member
    What really struck a chord with me was my nutritionist telling me to schedule exercise like it was an appointment. If you have a smart phone, schedule it in. It makes you accountable, and gets you into a schedule. After a while you're going to look forward to it...the challenge of pushing yourself....well at least I do! :)

    As for the nutrition side of weight loss, what I was told was for lunch and dinner to limit carbs to 1 cup (or two slices of bread) per meal. Portion control and TONS of veggies keeps me feeling like I'm not denied and I'm still full at the end of a meal.

    Best of luck to you, you can do it...This community has a lot of resources! :)
  • lfcdan
    lfcdan Posts: 8
    don't look at it as a diet look at it as eating healthy. Try Leslie Sansone Walk at Home DVDs. I've lost over 15kg in six months I walk with her every day. Keep going you can do it.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,022 Member
    Hell yeah use that punching bag!!! Boxing (and if you can kickbox) is one of the best cardio exercising you can do since it also involves strength for the striking. I know since I'm an instructor.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ningggsm
    ningggsm Posts: 202
    Thank you ALL so much for replying. I didn't expect so many people to be so comforting and understanding about all of this. Just reading your stories and advice gives me 100x the boost to start eating healthy and start losing all this weight. I AM going to try my very hardest and give it my all. Thank you :)
  • TanyaCurtis
    TanyaCurtis Posts: 630
    <3Yay:)
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