New to fitness and weight loss...help please?

[LaurenElle]

So, I have been trying to lose a few lbs and I have been failing terribly. I'm a beginner to this so I need lots of help. I am 5ft1 and I weigh around 120-130 lbs and I'd love to lose about 10 pounds and slim down, so I'd like to ask a few questions.

First, what would be good things to eat for breakfast,lunch,and dinner. What would be good carbs and bad carbs? We never cook around here and eat out so I need something quick and easy to make a home for all of my meals.

Next, how may minutes a day should I workout to lose weight? How long for cardio and how long for weights? What kind of weights would be ideal to slim down and tone up? I plan on working out at home since I don't have a way to get to the gym. I really like the youtube workout videos so if anyone knows of any that would be great. I eat 1,500 calories a day but it isn't really good things I put into my body.

I'm sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum and my post is all over the place. I'm just in need of help =/

 

[PLB_old]

It would take hours to give you all of the information that you want. That being said, I'll try to give you some resources to help, but you will have to do some homework and planning.

I just posted a few things on this thread that could be useful to you:

http://training.fitness.com/nutrition/good-balanced-diet-53400.html

Here are a couple of sites that you can sign up for (for free) that will give you meal plans based on your preferences: (you can use google and find many more!)

Free Personalized Meal Plans, Easy Recipes & Local Groceries | SOS Cuisine
Free Weekly Meal Plans

As for exercise, it's so different for everyone and depends on many factors. As a very general rule, the minimum guideline for maintaining your current health status the ACSM recommends at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week and 2-3 whole body resistance training workouts per week. So to lose weight, you would generally have to do more than this. Your week might look something like this:

M: Full body workout video and 30 mins of cardio
T: 60 mins of cardio (walk, hike, or bike)
W: Full body workout video and 30 mins of cardio
Th: 60 mins of cardio (walk, hike, or bike)
F: Full body workout video and 30 mins of cardio
Sat or Sun: Hiking, walking, or biking with the family (1-2 hrs)

Hope that helps to get you started!