Summer weight loss challenge.. Looking for advice and support :-)

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bri3sunny

New member
This is my first post on this forum and I am doing so because I am hoping other people's input will help me in my weight loss journey. I'm a college student who wants to lose 25 lbs before I will feel comfortable with my body. I'm tired of feeling self conscious about my body and envying others for theirs. Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.

A couple key problems I have noticed are..
I don't know where to begin with losing weight.
I'm also having trouble believing in what I'm doing without seeing immediate results.
I want to be sure I keep myself motivated on a day to day basis and wonder what works for everyone else.
And lastly I live with my family during the summer and they have terrible eating habits so I'm constantly surrounded by junk food - What can I do!? It's one thing for me to change my habits but I can't force them to change theirs so how can I overcome this issue?

I think my poor eating habits are the main reason for my weight gain over the past couple years. And I love getting outdoors so if anyone has suggestions for ways to exercise this summer without spending a lot of money on different equipment I'd really appreciate your suggestions. I do plan to eventually post pictures. My current weight is about 142 and I'm shooting for 120 or so.
 
dear bri3sunny,

i am so glad i read your post, because i am in exactly the same situation as you!! i'm a university student, who is desperately wanting to lose 20/25lbs over the summer, ready for the start of sophomore year so that i can enjoy a bikini body, for ONCE, while it's hot. i've dieted in the past and shifted most of the weight for a few weeks, but i've never been able to keep it off. it's so hard being surrounded by loads of girls who are already skinny, and who don't even have to worry about how they look before stripping off in the sun.

i haven't weighed myself since i came back to uni, but i'd estimate i'm about 150lbs at the max, and my end goal is also 120. i don't know about you but in the past, i've been able to get down to 130 but those last 10lbs are SO stubborn, and that is where the biggest challenge lies with me.

in terms of what helps me the most, this is my advice:

  • if your family are unhealthy eaters, then ask if you can go grocery shopping with your mum next time she goes. chuck a few key ingredients into the trolley, e.g. wholemeal bread, low-fat sandwich fillers, loose salad, lots of fruit and veg, low-fat yoghurts etc. make sure you choose food that looks appetising, not food that looks healthy but does not appeal to you. remember, healthy food has to be enjoyable to eat, or a diet will not work!! you can mix and match foods depending on your mood. next time your family eat a stodgy meal, you can opt for the healthy, yet equally as yummy, option.
    (i completely identify with this struggle by the way, having a stick thin brother who lives off mcdonalds, doughnuts and cookies.)
  • find inspiration for times when it's difficult. i know it's tricky when you look at girls around you, e.g. your friends, who already have figures that they are happy with, and who can eat whatever they want. but when you feel like giving up, remind yourself of why you're doing this. picture an end goal, or remember how amazing and happy you felt last time you exercised/chose the healthier option on the menu.
  • don't worry about not getting immediate results. when you first start a diet, the results come much quicker than you would think. you will most likely notice a big difference within the first week, especially when there is not a lot of weight to shift, as in your case. you will start to feel physically lighter, and will probably be a bit more toned (although toning will mostly come at the end). even if you don't think you look that different, you will feel different. the benefits of a healthy lifestyle go beyond what you look like. it increases your energy, helps your brain to focus on work, and things like exercise make you feel instantly happier because of the endorphins they produce. try to enjoy this side of losing weight, and the results in the mirror will follow!
  • and lastly. if you don't know where to begin, then try taking things slowly. make small changes at first, and then build up. don't launch into a 2-hour a day workout plan, as your body will tire out quickly. maybe start by doing 30 minutes a day for 4 days a week, and then gradually increase this until you can do 60 minutes for 6 days a week. in terms of eating, if your diet is generally unhealthy at the moment, don't immediately cut out all bad food. you won't last long, and will be craving bad foods again within days. instead, maybe cut out that afternoon chocolate bar or extra portion of chips at dinner. making gradual changes will make your diet seem easier to adapt to.


these are the tips that have worked best for me in the past!! maybe this time, we'll both have success, and be able to stick to them! i hope this helps :) and best wishes! x
 
OH and also, as for the easy exercise tips...

i personally find it best to use the local gym, and this tends to be my main exercise. i would recommend a gym membership at a gym with good facilities if possible. however, i definitely appreciate that cost is a factor, and if you can't balance the budget of a membership (crazy, annoying credit crunch!) then these are the best alternative methods that i've tried:

1) try investing in a highly recommended workout DVD, i have one myself and it's really, really helpful. you might think it's stupid at first dancing around in your living room in front of the TV, but it's actually a lot of fun and usually the intensity gives you a great workout! i'm a fan of the ministry of sound exercise DVD's in england. they have a great energy, and you can really feel the burn.

2) it's an oldie, but going for a run is the cheapest and one of the most effective methods of exercise. try finding a quiet, peaceful route near where you live, and start running every other night. you can build up the length of time as you get used to it, as you will find that you can run further as you get more practice. 60 minutes of running tops should be more than enough, especially if the route involves hills.

3) also consider bike rides, which are great for exercising the legs, and swimming, which is usually pretty cheap and is generally a great all-round workout for the body, as well as being more relaxing than most sports!
 
Thanks for writing back! You had several good points. I have tried an exercise dvd in the past and I definitely felt the burn, and the aching the next two days! I find it somewhat hard to do the same routine over and over so I might try getting a couple more to vary it up. I would love to bike but I gave mine away a while ago so that's not an option. And I've gone to the grocery store to get food for myself that's a healthier alternative to what we have at my house. The problem is more of the junk food lying around tempting me all day! I might try moving it somewhere I can't see it unless I deliberately go looking. Good luck with your exercise plans this summer I hope you can reach your goal! I know exactly what you mean about going to the beach and envying the girls who can run around and enjoy the sun without feeling like everyones staring and judging (negatively). I have always been slightly self conscious but I even find myself wishing I had the body I did two years ago. Part of it I'm sure is the fault of college partying, but that's why now is the perfect time to change some things in my life - it's summer and it's beautiful and by the time it's wrapping up I hope to have accomplished something physically that I can be proud of!
 
Hey guys!
I'm really happy to have found this thread also, since I have similar stats (currently 142, aiming for 125ish). Hopefully we can all support each and keep each other motivated to reach our goals!

In terms of my weight loss plan, I'm hoping to modify my diet first and foremost. I remember reading somewhere that 70% of the weight you lose is a result of your diet. I do plan to start walking more and being more active in general, but I just find that if I work out really hard, I just get super hungry and end up consuming more calories than I worked off.

Anyways, good luck to both of you guys! I'm sure we'll all be super fit by the end of the summer :)
 
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