Hi all -- I am very busy 25-year-old professional who really packed on the pounds during college and grad school. I finally got fed up this week when my size 12 jeans starting feeling snug. I'm guessing that a lot of women today are in my situation, and I'm hoping that you all will provide any tips you might have (e.g. should I concentrate on calorie reduction, cardio, and/or weight lifting? How do you make time for these things? How do you resist the urge to "reward" yourself with food after a really hard workweek? How do you deal with a spouse who isn't committed to making the same changes? Etc.) My pictures are below; sorry for the blurring but I'm in a profession where pictures in bathing suits on the internet would not be taken very well! (I'm 5'6, by the way, with a BMI of 25.2).
Everyone's stories and pictures here have been a huge inspiration to get me to the point of wanting to make a change, and I'm incredibly grateful to be able to post in a community like this. I look forward to showing you all some positive developments in the coming months!
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I had all of those questions when i started a month ago.
The biggest advice i can give you is you have to find inside your self the will and determination to maintain a life style change. Once you find that certain thing, and it drives you every day you will never look back
For myself, I have been eating around 50%-60% under my BMR (read the stickies under the nutrition thread to understand what that is). My BMR was around 3500 calories a day, and I have stuck with 1000-1500 calories a day for an entire month. The food i eat has changed well Lean proteins, whole grains, and organic foods. No dairy, fried foods, etc. I drink only water, and rarely have juice. As for cheating. eat what ever you want once a week. Keep under your caloric intake for the day, and drink lots of water with it. Your body won't notice a difference. Well i shouldn't say that. i've been eating so much good food lately, that i had a Cornbeef ruben last week, and it made me sick to my stomach because of how rich it was.
I go to the gym 5 to 7 times a week. It takes me 10 minutes to get there. I run for 30 minutes exactly, then weight lift for 20-30 minutes exactly. I never stay more then an hour. But while i am there i push my self, and make every minute count.
I've been doing this for 1 month and 2 days, and i've lost 17 pounds. Now don't think you will see the same results. Your figure is considerably smaller then mine. But you will see a change.
Put good food in you. Get your body moving. Drink lots of water. So much more then your figure will change. You will just feel better. Coming from a fat guy, the changes i've seen in a months time have been noticible. My pants are falling off my waist. My skin feels different, and not as oily. I don't get hot as fast, or sweat as much. My range of movement has improved, i walk a lot faster then i did. AND I'm looking better in the mirror.
About the spouse situation. I tried for along time to get my girl of a year and a half to do this stuff with me. Well she left me last month, and instead of getting down and defeated, I'm getting healthy. So i cannot offer you any advice there.
Anyway I have written you a novel.
I know you will stick with it and get to where you want to be.
You are the master of yourself. Don't waste any time.
Daniel
