How do I lose fat?

[curlygurl]

Hey

I'm a 17 year old female and I'm 5'3 and 135 lbs. I've been living an unhealthy lifestyle for about 4 years, I left school very early and, since then, I’ve been eating poorly... I was alternating between not eating enough, to eating lots of junk. I didn't do any exercise at all, just sat on the computer all the time.

I'm not very “fat” (even if my BMI says I am) but I do have areas which have accumulated excess fat, more than they used to have, that I'd like to get rid of. I'm usually an hourglass type shape, I have breasts and go out at the hips and have rounded thighs. The problem is, I've become less curvy, because of gaining fat in all the wrong areas, due to my lifestyle... and it’s getting worse and worse.

The last couple of weeks, I've been eating better. 2 meals a day (I used to only eat 1 meal a day) and I've been eating a variety of good food, and I've cut down a little on bread and pasta, because that's all I ate every day. I've also been riding my bike for 30 - 40 minutes, and where I live is very hilly, so it's good exercise.

I really need to tone up my waist. I can't really do sit-ups. I can do a couple if someone holds my feet, but I don't feel that they work my muscles, I feel that I'm just using other parts of my body to kind of jolt myself up. I've tried crunches... sometimes I can feel them working, sometimes I can't. I've tried reverse sit-ups, lying down and lifting my legs up, but I can't really do them. It burns in my thighs instead of my gut, and my knees feel like they're going to snap as if they're not flexible enough or something.

My other main problem is my upper arms. They're bigger than they used to be, and I basically want to make them smaller, as small as possible.

Another thing is my butt... from not exercising and sitting on it all day, it seems to have changed a bit. I want to make it higher and rounder so that it appears bigger. I'm sure some people are wondering why on earth I'd want a bigger butt... heh

I also want to make my legs slightly more muscular or "toned". I want to keep the thickness of my legs, like I don't want them to become smaller or bigger, but I want them to be more shapely and leaner.

On the other hand, I'm afraid of losing anything off my chest. I always worry, when I exercise, that my breasts will become smaller. I want to become even curvier... so I really don't want to lose anything off my chest or hips.

I have absolutely no equipment at home, but I'm willing to buy what I need, so long as it's not a huge home gym, there's no way I have room for that in my house. All I have right now is my bike... so that's all I'm doing for exercise. If anyone has any knowledge about how I can achieve what I want, or if it's even possible, I'd GREATLY appreciate it. I just have no idea what I need to do, I don't even know if I CAN make certain parts of my body smaller without making everything else smaller. I'm willing to work out almost every day... I'm going to keep riding my bike... I just don't know where to start with weight training and whatever else I'd need to do.

Thanks for reading.

 

[bred2k4]

Unfortunately you cannot spot reduce fat, it will go away everywhere but it does tend to leave the stomach area and the bottom last. Its good that you have made some effort to change your poor diet, make sure you are eating a balanced diet. Glad to hear you're getting good exercise cycling, keep it up! I strongly recommend squats for improving your glutes - but make sure you do them with strict form because you don't want an injury to your back or knees.

 

[curlygurl]

I know you can make certain areas bigger... like guys lift weights to make their muscles in their upper arms big... if I make the muscles in my arms bigger, will that reduce the amount of fat on my arms, making them actually smaller? isn't there anything I can do for my arms?

I'd have to get down to like 100 lbs for my arms to look how I want them, I can't lose that much weight. I always felt okay about my body because I thought that I could reduce fat in certain areas like my arms, but now that I can't, I don't see the point in doing anything, because I can't drop enough weight to have my arms look how I want them to. I guess I'll hate my body forever.

 

[freddy1]

I know you can make certain areas bigger... like guys lift weights to make their muscles in their upper arms big... if I make the muscles in my arms bigger, will that reduce the amount of fat on my arms, making them actually smaller? isn't there anything I can do for my arms?

well, yes and no. as it was said you cannot sopt reduce, even if you put on muscle in certain areas. you can reduce overall bodyfat, which will in turn reduce fat there. as it was said, keep up the cardio. i think a lot of people think there is some "secret" to weight loss, when it reality, it's just conventional wisdom: eat right and exercise.

I'd have to get down to like 100 lbs for my arms to look how I want them, I can't lose that much weight. I always felt okay about my body because I thought that I could reduce fat in certain areas like my arms, but now that I can't, I don't see the point in doing anything, because I can't drop enough weight to have my arms look how I want them to. I guess I'll hate my body forever.

fat distribution is genetic, and unfortunately, you cant change genetics. however, dont get discouraged that easily. first of all, confidence is very important to any fitness endeavor. you have to take what you are given by nature, and work with it. secondly, i dont think you would have to lose that much weight to see the desired results. a 35 pound drop in weight is a whole lot. 35 pounds is about a quarter of your current weight. Just start exercising and eating right and you will see positive results. Dont worry about getting to the "perfect" body.