I have bitten the bullet and and decided to do something about my weight and now I've gotten into my head that I'm actually not curvy I'm just a fat lump of lard and now is the time to do something about it. I currently eat roughly about 1500 calories a day and I want to take it down to 1000 or lower. I eat healthily and cook from fresh but weight loss is hard as I have pcos which causes weight gain (no excuse I know) and I walk a lot and use an exercise bike but I'm needing more tips on boosting weight loss and how to burn more fat and calories. While I'd love to be size 4 (UK) a size 10 or 8 would be a more achievable goal.
So any help, tips or advice would be appreciated
Thanks , I'll have a look on i-player and have a watch and hopefully pick up some tips
I do carry muscle on my legs and upper arms, I would like to tone up but to do that I need to lose the fat that covers the muscles I want to tone. I'm not in the obese category but I am bigger than I'd like and I want to be able to go out and be proud of how I look rather than feeling embarrassed of not being slim and "normal".
Slim and normal is such a pile of bullshit created to market products. Some people just aren't "slim and normal" and that doesn't make you any less sexy. I understand the desire to perhaps tone up and lose excess fat, but a level of reasonableness should always be maintained. If you are genetically thick with muscle, so be it. If you have curvy hips and an hourglass figure with some meat on your bones, AWESOME. Just because the fad of the last couple of decades has been waif models doesn't mean it's "right" or even what the average guy is looking for those aspects in a woman. Just my humble opinion...
My Mum is a doctor. Losing weight is simple. You need to do three things.
1. Exercise more
2. Reduce your portions
3. Drink loads of water
Tried to post earlier, but it obviously didn't get through!! Swimming is great overall exercise, without adding the bulky muscle that you're not too keen on. Also yoga and pilates are fab for stretching and toning for a sleeker silhouette. Even dropping a dress size is a great achievement so don't be too hard on yourself and don't feel the need to rush the weight loss process.
Look on Youtube. There are alot of videos posted on working out
If you are like me and like to change it up everyday. Youtube is a good start. Go get moving hugs
For me, it's the mindless eating of food to sooth my soul. I have a tendency to put on weight quite easily. I love everything about food from shopping, preparation to consumption. I eat when I'm sad, happy, stressed, angry, and of course to celebrate. I eat when I think I'm hungry and even when I'm not. I keep a journal and I write down all the things I'm thinking and feeling. I also write down the foods I've eaten and it's just sort of a reality check for me and it's helped me to make some changes. Maybe having a fitness buddy would be helpful. I know I'd rather walk or run with a partner than do it alone all the time.
I have PCOS too so I am soooo with you. The best thing I've found that helps is a lower carb diet. I tried like Weight Watchers and actually gained weight because I was eating more than normal when I used their points system. My doctor advised me to go on South Beach but I do prefer Atkins which he was fine with. I started back on low carb on Jan 1 (New Year's Resolution) and I'm down 16 lbs as of today (sorry I don't know how many stones that may be). I only started adding the walking back into my routine about a week ago so most of that was lost through diet alone. I walk 30 min a day on the treadmill and I try to drink green tea when I can. Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep and cut back on stress if you can. I had to quit my last job just to get away from the stress and that has helped. Good luck!
Good advice has already been posted in here.
Some easy tips:
* Get rid of juices, Snapples or any kind of sugar-heavy liquids. It's shocking how many empty calories one can drink when they could be enjoying them in food-form and feel much more satisfied. Drink lots of water. Buy a cute glass water bottle if it helps get you motived to drink more (eg. a BKR). Also - before meals, drink a glass of water to help you feel more full when you start eating. It takes a while for the body to kick in that it's actually full, so we often tend to overdo food portions unnecessarily.
* When you go out at night or are kicking back, substitute clean low-cal liquor for the margaritas or fruity martinis. Sipping on something like vodka on ice with water (or clear soda) and a big twist of lime is always preferable to cola-mixers. Water/soda is calorie free. Tonic looks clear and benign but actually contains quite a bit of sugar and is something like 80 cals.
* Drink black coffee or green tea (Matcha) to boost metabolism. Avoid Starbucks-fare or sugary lattes and 'dessert coffee'.
* Keep raw veggies cut up and ready to eat in your fridge when you want to snack or need something to crunch on. If they're ready and available, you're more likely to reach for them more often without having to do the cutting/cleaning bit.
* While on the veggie kick, it's worthwhile to have cooked veggies stocked in your fridge at all times. Years ago, I went through a health issue where I had to take a horrible medication (at a very high dose) for about 6 months that causes extreme weight gain. My hunger was off the charts and the way I got through it was keeping tons of cooked veggies, brussel sprouts, broccoli and spinach salad in the fridge. I also ruthlessly cut out sugar and salt and forced myself to stay active, even when I was feeling low and depressed. I found that this helped a lot.
* Eat before you grocery shop, even if it's a handful of unsalted almonds (which I actually tend to have on me at all times in my purse or gym bag). You're less likely to be tempted by unhealthy stuff if you're not hungry. I find that if you prevent yourself from ever getting to the point where you're *really* hungry, it's easier to portion-control at mealtime.
* Look up some interesting recipes from weight-loss books to get ideas about what to cook and how to cook it. There's lots of short-cuts you can learn from what kind of oils you cook with to how to cheat certain sauces and flavours. Think veggies and lean meats/fish and try to keep carbs to a minimum. I don't believe in cutting them out completely though - or any exclusionary diet because they can have a negative effect on the body in the long-term. Those diets are fine for quick short-term weight loss, but for the long run you just want to get used to eating differently but still having fun with it.
* If it's time for girl's night out dinners or going to a restaurant with your BF/hubby, try to hit a Sushi restaurant instead of Italian. You can have your splurge-nights so it's not the end of the world, but there are ways to learn how to order more 'cleanly' and avoid the hidden calories in many dishes.
* Work out/Cardio. It may be difficult to get motivated with this one, so maybe make a new playlist for your iPod or buy some cute new workout gear. Try something you've always wanted to - like yoga to start. If you don't want to go to a gym just yet, you can download tons of home workouts on Youtube or various sites. Anything to just get moving on a regular basis - even if that means extended cardio walks. If you're really motivated and ready to do this for the long-term with no excuses, think about getting a dog. It'll force you to make going out on walks several times a day part of your routine. If you're not sure yet, volunteer at your local animal shelter. They're always looking for help with dog walking.
* Set realistic goals. Take it all one step at a time. Slow but steady weight loss is typically easier to sustain over time than a sudden weight drop or yo-yo dieting. You want to slowly re-adjust your metabolism and eat enough that you're feeling satisfied so that you can do it over the long-term as a lifestyle change rather than just hitting that short-term goal.
What can I say. 2 years ago I decided to do something about my weight issues. Although 6'3 tall, and broad, I was in essence a bit of a porky ( although most people never said that). I went and joined our local slimming world, and have since lost 6 stone (85lbs). Now whilst it's not for everyone, it's worked for me quite easily. I've totally changed my eating habits, my drinking habits and have never felt so fucking good!! Excercise wise, brisk walks are the key. Time yourself on a little circuit, and you will better it every time. Walk a little further, but enjoy the walk too. Take in your surroundings and you'll never realised what was hiding just around the corner of your house. Keep an eye on your goal, don't be dismayed if you put a little on one week. Remember everyone of us is different, and it's finding what's right for you that will make it work.
You've already overcome a hurdle, that many don't, which is wanting to do something about it. I sincerely wish you all the luck with it, and if you want to find out what I eat, just get in touch with me on here x
I've helped a good few people get into shape in the past couple of years and there are a few things that really stick out for me:
View it as a lifestyle change rather than something you'll stop once you look how you want.
Diet is so, so, so important.
Enjoy the improvements in your general health, well being and fitness.
Enjoy working out/exercising - it really is so much easier if you can find something you have some enthusiasm for.
Don't beat yourself up over "slip ups" and don't use it as a reason to give up or throw the towel in.
what worked for me is a daily log that i wrote down through out the day what i ate/drank (hour,portion size,calories, fat grams) and a the end of the day add it all up.
you would be surprised how it can change your eating patterns.
exersise? when i stopped because of injury i actually lost weight....
also - you wrote "less than a 1,000 calories a day" isnt that a little low?
Last year, I said no more New Year's Resolutions to loose weight. Instead, I told myself, I was going to make healthier choices and practice portion control. I have lost two pant sizes and have kept it off. I feel so much more comfortable in my skin. A bonus, as I lost the weight slowly, it motivated me to do more. Where I walked, I would do a quick jog from one tree to the next. Now, I am jogging 3 miles and feeling great. I wish you much success and hope you find what works best for you.
I am not sure if this will encourage or frustrate people..I just turned 47, I am the mother 0f 4 kids. Approximately 18 months ago, I work a size 22 in Jeans and a 2X shirt. Today, I wear a size 4 (comfortable) ans a 2 (cant breathe) Jeans and a medium in a top I used to weigh about 240. Now I am 135. No, I don't do drugs( my dad was an alcoholic and drug addict too I will never be as he was which is why I am telling you about the not doing drugs to lose weight), am not on a starvation diet. I would love to give you a magic formula, but I don't have one. Simply, I eat when I am hungry,I eat slowly I stop eating when I am no longer hungry, not when I am full. If that is 3 bites into a meal, then that is all I eat. I did not set out to lose all the weight that I have, but I am not going to complain either.
I think that there is no specific magic formula, find what works for you and stick to that.
loneleygirl68
The most important thing is to be smart. There are a lot of myths that you need to avoid carbs and eat high protein diets. This is not true. The most important thing is moderation. Carbs should constitute most of your diet, the problem with them is that when you have a high carb diet and live a sedentary lifestyle, your body converts it to fat. What you need to do is find out how many calories you need to be eating a day, search up a calorie calculator on line, and stick close to that. As for exercising, the important thing is to not just do one, thing. Dont just run, or just lift weights, or just do yoga. You need a complete work out routine, otherwise you might benefit from one thing but not from the other. For example if you lift weights without doing yoga or some sort of stretching routine, you will block yourself up and get hurt.
We can get super technical with the calories but also you need to be concerned with the quality of food you put in. Cheap gas will wreak your engine but if you fuel up with quality thing such as organic grass fed dairy products, organic grass fed beef products, reducing sugar intake to minimal, eating quality fat and protein, and tons of veggies. Don't get hard on yourself. Skinny isn't always healthy! Being strong and control of your blood glucose is very important. See how eating a big carb loaded meal makes you feel... slow and sluggish, blood glucose crash. Eating a satisfying meal loaded with healthy fat, protein, and veggies will keep your blood glucose balanced and keep you from feeling tired and bloated. It's a lifestyle change, NOT A DIET! Diets don't work, they suck. Eat for strength and energy.
i've recently lost a drastic amount of weight. unfortunately, i didn't do it in the most healthiest of ways. stress caused me to lose my appetite. however, in the process i've picked up some good habits. WATER. i'm finding that i reach for it regularly. often when i think i'm hungry i find that i'm just thirsty. i've also discovered what 'true' hunger is and rarely snack. when i do, i want something high in protein to keep me full.
If any of you can tell me how to do the opposite, send it along. I am a diagnosed Type 1 Diabetic, but have never weighed 120 pounds in several decades. (Literally: Once weighed 119, & never saw higher.)
Over 4 Years I lost 6st 7 Pounds to what I am now which is 12st 1 pound .
I would not bother with any of the so called diets as I found and still see that peoples weight yo yo as a result of these. Any changes have to be a life style change . These need not be done all at once but phased in slowly. I did this by taking control of my own food shopping phasing in more fruit and vegetables . I phased out all takeaways as fast food tends to be laden with fats . Instead we went out more in restaraunts ,choosing those that advised you the calories that are in the food. I used to be a big pizza fan and had pizza with nearly everything. I havn't touched one now for nearly 3 years.
After around 3 years I introduced more exercise . I used the Wonder Core Smart Machine and weights which helped to get rid of the last remaining weight which was hanging around my tummy area. After a year I have now got visible Abs .
The other tip I can give is don't give up but keep at it. It could save your life as it did with me.
. Best of luck for a healthier you!
