Hey everyone

[littlehannah]

This is my first post, so I would like to say hello to you all.
I'm a 19 year old student and too much stress and chocolate has caused me to put on a stone since last summer. I'm hoping to get it back off with a good diet and exercise and maybe a little stress during my exams might help!

If anyone has any good advice or just wants to chat then please feel free
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[Korrie]

Hi an welcome to the forum!! glad to have you with us! let me know if you have any questions

 

[PLB]

I think you've already hit the nail on the head... less chocolate and less stress! If that's what got you to where you are now, then likely that would be a good start to try taking that weight off again. The chocolate part is pretty straightforward - you just need to cut down on how much you're eating. If you eat for emotional reasons, you need to find another outlet for those emotions.

Finding ways to reduce or relieve your stress might help in 2 ways:

1. reducing the amount of stress hormones such as cortisol circulating in your system to help your body store less fat

2. reducing the 'need' to eat chocolate or other foods that promote weight gain

Exercise is encouraged both for good health and for weight loss, so definitely try to get into a routine there. What types of exercise/activity do you enjoy?

 

[littlehannah]

Thank you both for your replies..!
I'm quite a chocolate fiend actually, but I gave it up for lent and managed it, so I figure the "need" for chocolate isn't that high because I didn't really experience too many cravings for it. Once I start losing weight I'm absolutely fine and I'm determined, it's just waiting for that first noticeable change which makes me lose faith if it's not quick enough (I'm very impatient when it comes to my looks haha!)

PLBFitness- I love exercising I have a gym membership at my university which I try to use as much as I can when I'm there and I also love yoga and running. Currently I'm running twice a week, with my last run being yesterday which was 5 miles. I'm hoping to run a half marathon in September so this weight loss will really help me out! Any advice?
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[PLB]

The key is consistency... if you stick to a (mostly) healthy diet, find ways to cope with or reduce your stress, and keep consistently active, then you should do fine. Have you run a half marathon before? There are lots of programs out there if you search "run/walk programs" or "couch to half marathon". You may not need to start right at the beginning of the program since you already are a runner, but it's a good way to learn how to progress gradually up to a half marathon.