Finally Ready to lose the weight...but not sure where to start

[Dr.90210]

I'm a 17 year old girl who has been slim and athletic for most of my life. Over the past year and a half, I gained about 30-40 pounds, which is extreme since I am only 5'0. I have tried starvation methods and extreme exercise in the past, but gave up because they were too hard. I now (finally!) feel ready to put in 100% effort into diet and exercise because I want to lose about 40 pounds eventually. I would really like to transform my body over the summer so that I will look and feel like a whole new person when I get to University in the fall.
The only problem is that I really have no idea where to start. I know all the basics of eating well etc, but what should I start doing immediatly to see results?

 

[Chewie Da Bacca]

I know all the basics of eating well etc

You've already said where you should start

Unlike these extreme methods you have tried healthy weight loss will take some time to see the results that you want. The upside to this however is that once you have reached that goal it if far easier to maintain opposed to say...not eating. Through the journey you will teach your body how it is going to perform.

It may help if you tell us how you plan to implement healthy eating / exercise into your life as well as give us some statistics about you in order to be able to help push you in the right direction.

Good luck and I'm sure your body will thank you for not using those extreme measures you were trying before.

Welcome to the site.

 

[amy1985]

I reckon the best place to start is right here. Most people on this forum approach weight loss in a sensible way (I think, anyway), and the stickies in particular are full of some incredibly useful information.

Might I tentatively suggest calorie counting? It's working very well for me (I've lost 7kg/ 15.4lb/ a bit over a stone in two months and I haven't had to give anything up really). (I'll spare you the spiel unless you want it)

 

[Dr.90210]

You've already said where you should start


It may help if you tell us how you plan to implement healthy eating / exercise into your life as well as give us some statistics about you in order to be able to help push you in the right direction.


Welcome to the site.

I am currently 148 pounds, and 5 feet tall.
BUST: 36
WAIST:29
HIPS: 37

In terms of excercise, I will be getting about 3 hours of fairly intense cardio each week from soccer, plus I walk my dog for an hour most days. Ive also started doing 15 minutes on the elliptical morning and night, and I'm going to try doing fun things that are also active (like the trampoline) when it gets a bit warmer. For me the exercise is easier, but eating is hard. I always tend to eat when I'm bored, which is often since I gained weight as I now dread leaving the house. I'm also confused as to how many calories I should be consuming each day. Ive had estimates as low as 1000 and as high as 2500. Is there an easy way to determine how many calories I should be consuming based on my height/weight?

 

[amy1985]

Try this site: Don't go below 1200 calories a day without medical advice, and 2500 is equally crazy (I'm nearly 5'6" and I'd put on weight eating that much). You want to aim to lose 1-2lb a week at most for healthy sustainable weight loss.

I eat a lot and you don't have to stop eating a lot when calorie counting- just make lower calorie choices.

(edit to add: I'm not endorsing the company- I'm sure it's fine, it's just the tool is very useful)

 

[Dr.90210]

Try this site: Don't go below 1200 calories a day without medical advice, and 2500 is equally crazy (I'm nearly 5'6" and I'd put on weight eating that much). You want to aim to lose 1-2lb a week at most for healthy sustainable weight loss.

I eat a lot and you don't have to stop eating a lot when calorie counting- just make lower calorie choices.

(edit to add: I'm not endorsing the company- I'm sure it's fine, it's just the tool is very useful)

Thanks for the link, it was very helpful!