I really need help! (long story, but pls read)

M

maverick494

0
I'm a 17 year old girl, currently weighing around 130 lbs at a height of 5'8/5'9

I had been dieting for quite a while, the stupid way, thinking: losing weight = less calories.

So I started reducing my calories and lost weight. Then hit a plateau, so reduced my calories even more and excersised a lot. Well you can see what I'm getting at. In the end I got obsessed with it, and yes I did lose weight: 27lbs and came down at a 118 pounds, but I was eating very, very little. (I believe sometimes around 400 kcal. Yes, now I know how wrong that is) I was cold all the time and tired all the time. You can understand that at one point I realised that this was really NOT going to get me where I wanted to be. I had noticed I had also lost muscle mass and I didn't like it. I was on the too-skinny side but 'soft' while I actually wanted to be slim and toned.

I decided to start eating normally again, bc at this time my parents had started worrying a lot as well (with good reason) which had resulted into me getting into a lot of fights with them. Eating normally again ofcourse had resulted in (as you can see from my current weight) weight gain. Fat gain.

So 5 months ago I decided to do some research on the net and see if I could custimise a diet that would get me the physique I wanted. So I went on a high protein diet, combined with a lot of excersize, including training with weights. It was starting to pay off, for some bits. I wasn't losing weight, but my arms started to tone up (trained by using free weights) though my abs (trained by doing crunches) were still nowhere to be seen.

Now I have another problem: I have been pretty sick for a couple of weeks now, getting results from blood testing coming wednesday. I sleep all day mostly and I have almost no energy to do even the lightest activity. I do have appetite though and I noticed that I've started to gain fat again. I feel ****ty bc of it, after all the hard work I put in to get more toned. But there's no way I can do any excersise now, so the best thing for me to do is wait until I've fully recovered, which might take a while.

Now my question is: after I'm better, what can I do to lower my bodyfat and get a slim and toned appearance? (along the lines of Jessica Alba, I don't want to be superthin again or become super-muscular if u get what I mean)

I just don't really know where to start again after this. And I have no idea how to elevate my metabolism after it has been battered by my previous diet.

PLEASE HELP ME! (and thanks to anyone who cared enough to read the entire blurb)
 
Maverick, don't worry, you can get where you wanna go, but you have to eat right.

First thing you need to do is to determine how many calories you need to eat per day in order to maintain your current weight. There are plenty of good calorie counting calculators out there to help you. Do a google search on them. Once you determine how many calories you need to maintain your weight, then you need to break down your caloric intake by macronutrients. Ideally, you want to eat about 40 percent of your calories in carbs, 40 percent in protein, and 20 percent in fats. Of course, go for the complex carbs and stay away from simples.

this and a solid exercise routine will get you where your going.
 
I wouldnt worry too much about the thought of being overly muscular - girls dont have enough testosterone to get big muscles like guys. If you want to get really toned up I would carry on the free weights. try mixing it up by doing a couple of weight sessions a week combined with some high intensity cardio. this way you can burn fat and keep toned at the same time. the main thing is to eat right and get enough sleep, and have patience! getting in great shape can take time, and in the begining its frustarting working hard and seeing small results - but if you have persistence and keep going, suddenly the results will come. great abs are made in the kitchen not in the gym ;)

cameron

Personal Trainer in Your Pocket
 
weight lost plan

Well beside the intake of proper calories and protien, you might want to check out Pilates (if you're not doing it already). It gives you a longer, leaner look. Mix it up with a good cardio routine.
 
thank you so much for replying! And for giving me information I can REALLY use.
Now I have another question that you people can maybe solve. Like I said earlier, training my arms with free weights is paying off, I can really see results and I'm not doing anything too heavy. I train my abs by doing 50 regular crunches every other day. But they haven't started to show even a tiny bit. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I've asked several people how to do a proper crunch and when I do one I have the feeling I'm doing it right. But maybe it's not an effective exersise?
 
Here's something to remember. Crunches and any ab work-outs are going to help to develope muscles, but those ab muscles sit behind a layer of fat, and no amount of crunches is going to bring those layers down if you don't work on what you're eating.

I can go into 2 or 3 pages of how to do that, but I suggest you pick up a copy of the Abs Diet book. IMO it's one of the best (and logical) ways to get those abs visible.
 
Thanks a lot for the tip, but I live in Holland and I don't think I can get that book in one of our bookstores. :( I've unsucessfully tried to find other books, that ppl reccommended to me. Mom and dad are kinda delerious when it comes to dieting, and they don't allow me to order anything from the internet. So I'm kinda stuck on that one. I've tried to win them over, but my parents simply won't budge, even when I tell them I just try to be healthy. :( It'll take some time till I have their trust back again after what I previously did to my body. Right now, they're practically stuffing me with food, wanting me to get stronger, now I'm ill (to my surprise it's actually helping a bit, but the pounds show too)

I guess your right about the layer of fat. I'm gaining weight again, now and I can see it especially around the midsection. I guess that's what's happens if you gain weight fast after losing so much *sigh* No amount of crunches will make my abs burst thru that I guess...

I know it sounds pathetic, but the only information I can get hold of right now is from the internet.

So please guscave, if you have the time, could you be so kind and please explain it to me? I know it's stupid of a strange girl to simply ask you this, but I thought I could atleast try and ask. You can pm me ofcourse. Or if you'd rather use e-mail, then you can have that too..

If you really don't want to..it's okay, I understand. But I would really appreciate it.

Everybody else, thank you so much for the info you gave me so far. I have the feeling that when I'm better and I've collected enough info I can finally reach my goal.
 
Abs

One of the main topics the abs diet discuss is how protein developes muscle, and muscle burns fat. A combination of a low fat, high protein diet with cardio and weight exercises will get those muscles burning fat.

Although the book was primarily written with men in mind, a lot of women that I know have implemented some of the ideas in the book. If weight lifting is not your bag, try Pilates. It gives you a more leaner muscular look without all the bulk.

Since your parents don't let you purchase online, I can only recommend to try looking in major bookstores near you. ;)
 
thank you very much guscave :) You gave me the info I need to know to get started again in a nutshell. I found a gym near me that offers pilates, so I'm gonna check that out when I'm better :)
 
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