Hi everyone

L

Lynnah

New member
Hi everyone, I'm 19 years old, about 5ft 11, and looking to lose a bit of weight (obviously!). I was always pretty skinny growing up, but over the past couple of years have been putting on weight, and I'd really like to be healthier and feel generally better about myself. I go for a brisk walk every morning to lectures and back while I'm at university (about 15 mins away), and I'm quite a keen swimmer, but I'm nowhere near as fit as I'd like to be.
Just found this forum and thought it might give me the proper kickstart I've been needing for a while! I've never really tried to lose weight before, so any tips would be very welcome...
 
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Hi and welcome! :)

The first thing I'd suggest is registering for a free account on FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, Food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate and starting to log your food. This will let you see how many calories you're eating and how your nutrition levels are breaking down. Once you know that, you'll be able to see more clearly where you can make adjustments, cut back, change your nutrition, etc.

The next thing I'd suggest is checking out the various sticky posts in the exercise area of the forum (Weight Loss Through Exercise - Weight Loss Forum). There are some very good posts on exercise, both cardio/aerobic and on incorporating weight lifting into your exercise plans.

I'd also suggest starting a diary in the weight loss diary area (Weight Loss Diary - Weight Loss Forum) as well as reading and participating in other diaries. This is a good way to make updates to your progress and to get support from others. It helps to find the diaries of people who have successfully lost weight (or are losing weight) and reading through them as well. Following the diaries of those who have been successful is both inspiring and informative.

Finally, I'd say you should read as much as you can of the posts on the board, especially anything that's marked "sticky". There is a ton of good information around here and a lot of times questions that new folks have has already been answered very thoroughly - so do take the time to look around and read. :)

Hope that helps you to get started.
 
Thanks for all the great links.

Any tips that don't involve much money would be great too - I'd love to join a gym or something, but it's near impossible to find one that would let me join just for a term and it seems pointless to pay for something that I could only use for half the year while I'm at uni.

I guess I could take up running, but I'm really not a fan of it, and it's so cold here at the moment!
 
depending on your university, the might have gym or two around for free to students, or for a nominal student activity fee. If they're only for dorm residents, go make a friend from the dorms.

Its cold here too, so when I go walking, I just bundle up a bit more.

Also can google 'improvised gym equipment', and if you have someone handy around, you can have some workable equipment for 30-40 bucks
 
Walking up and down stairs is pretty good cardio exercise. You can do calisthenics - push-ups, crunches, body weight squats, etc. For more resistance, fill your backpack up with books and do your exercises with that.
 
Thanks for the ideas! There is a gym that we can use for free but it's only 7:30pm-9:30pm on a monday, wednesday and friday - I did want to go last week but 2 birthday meals and a black tie dinner meant I didn't get round to it!

Think I shall make the effort this monday :).
 
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