Will i lose weight?

[chocolatecupcake]

Heyy guys, chocolatecupcake here ~~

 

So, i want to lose weight. How often do you here that anymore?

Im 5 ft 2 in, and i weight about 130 pounds. I would like to lose about 20 pounds by the end of this month Dont tell me that I dont need to lose weight or anything, just give me your honest advice. Ive began my one meal a day diet (atleast attempted it) by having a coffee in the morning with one spoonful of sugar and then a piece of apple pie with a small bowl of mac and cheese at exactly 4 pm. I ran 3 miles, burne exactly 200 calories and got really hungry in the evening, so I gave in an ate 6 carrots. Should I be cutting back to one meal a day for the rest of the month and continue to excersize daily in order to finally see some results here?? can i snack after excersizing for atleast 30 mins and still lose atleast a pound a week or 2 a week or do i have to go hardcore this time with extreme dieting, which is difficult for me being that i love food so much.. I would appreciate some input here. Im trying to do my best here.

[Avulare]

Losing weight is fine, but losing 20 pounds in a month isn't, especially at your size. Don't starve yourself, your body will go into emergency mode and start saving every single calorie you put into it... You'll lose weight for a short period, but then your metabolism will plummet and not only will you stop losing weight, but you'll feel fatigued, irritable, and generally crappy all the time as well.

 

You need to create a caloric deficit but still ensure you're eating enough to stay healthy. Ideally, you don't want to lose more than 1-2 pounds a week (that's a 3500-7000 calorie deficit, which is huge). This is a weight loss rate of 4-8 pounds per month and is considered healthy. There are online caloric needs calculators that can give you a rough estimate of how many calories you should be eating each day, like this one: Calorie Calculator - Daily Caloric Needs

[chocolatecupcake]

Wow! thanks for the web page! Can you give me some advice as to what I should be eating that will burn fat and keep me going throughout the day so I dont end up eating and eating crap foods at the place where i work which just so happens to be a candy store?? haha ~~

 

**oh and was what I ate today (everything in total) about enough calories or not enough??

[Hawaii50]

this is going to be so simple you're going to hate me.

 

 

-Pick a better goal, yours isn't very obtainable in a month.

-Don't eat if you're not hungry (and when you eat relatively healthy)

-Don't drink your calories

-Do something physical!!!!!! ANYTHING!!!

[CarrieT]

Ive began my one meal a day diet (atleast attempted it) by having a coffee in the morning with one spoonful of sugar and then a piece of apple pie with a small bowl of mac and cheese at exactly 4 pm. I ran 3 miles, burne exactly 200 calories and got really hungry in the evening, so I gave in an ate 6 carrots.

Here is the first problem. Most of what you are putting into your body is sugar and carbohydrates which your body will retain and turn back into sugar and fat. In this regard, the number of calories you are consuming is useless because you are eating the wrong types of foods.

 

You need to completely give up sugar and carbs. You can "trick" your body into losing weight by eating nothing but leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, Brussels sprouts) and other healthy vegetables with protein (lean chicken, eggs, fish).

 

Look at the South Beach Diet. I lost 80 pounds on that one, with a 20-pound weight loss in the first six weeks.

[Hawaii50]

It's your head cupcake.. the less you pay attention and just do the right thing.. which is not eating chocolate cupcakes and other retarded stuff when you're not hungry, nothing is going to change. it's not a day to day or hour to hour thing, it's the culminations of weeks and months...thinking on a mealy basis is akin to prison, imho.

[chocolatecupcake]

Tomorrow im changing my name to celerystick, ya losers.

[Avulare]

I would strongly advise against giving up carbs and sugars... These are the body's primary source of energy and are vital if someone plans to increase cardiovascular activity to lose weight. Carbs are also important if one plans to do strength training as well (strength training is good for people who want to lose weight, BTW, because it raises their metabolism). We all know that you need to eat protein after a workout to repair and increase muscle mass. But what gives your body the energy to break down the proteins into their constituent amino acids to use to build that muscle? That's right, it's carbs. That's why a meal consisting primarily of proteins and carbs is recommended after a workout.

 

You might be able to do away with some carbs (not all) if you're not doing on anything to increase your activity level, like losing weight by just cutting calories and not exercising more. But that's not the healthiest way to lose weight... It's better to be 130 pounds and able to hike up a mountain than 110 pounds and huffing and puffing up a few flights of stairs.

[Hawaii50]

lastly.. you can side-bends or sit-ups but please don't... yeah.

[chocolatecupcake]

I cant even do 1 sit-up.

 

Im that cool.

 

Avulare, Im going to continue to eat carbs but try my best to cut back on the amount of sugar i consume work like chocolate (i LOVE it too bad) that are just empty calories and also happen to be a real pain in the ass to work off during the evenings when i go for my daily runs.. Thanks for your advice!

[JamesM]

From all of my research, I can safely say that the diet plan you are considering is not healthy for you.

 

1. Choose a plan you can stick with. I advise going to your local health food store and choosing a meal replacement shake for at least one meal.

 

2. Instead of eating fewer times, eat more times in a day with less calories. Balance the proteins with carbs. Have a good breakfast, a healthy snack, then lunch and a snack and supper. Eat some Greek yogurt about two hours before bed.

 

3. Have more fruits and vegetables. Eat an apple a day.

 

4. Weigh yourself every morning and evening. It will be a good way to see the weight come off or to monitor how well you did for the day. Many people lose overnight.

 

5. Exercise. There is a book called Move a Little, Lose a Lot. It was very helpful for me. Building up your muscle will make you like your overall body image even if you don't lose 20#.

 

6. Look at the BMI chart and see what your weight range should be for your height and set that as your final goal. Don't set a certain amount of weight, but set a goal number. Your BMI is currently 24 which is not overweight but in the normal range. Losing 20# will put you at a BMI of 20. This is as low as you should probably go.

 

7. Remember, it is all about how many calories you eat versus how many calories you burn.

 

Even though you asked me not to say it, you are not fat.

[whichwayisup]

Ive began my one meal a day diet (atleast attempted it) by having a coffee in the morning with one spoonful of sugar and then a piece of apple pie with a small bowl of mac and cheese at exactly 4 pm. I ran 3 miles, burne exactly 200 calories and got really hungry in the evening, so I gave in an ate 6 carrots

 

This isn't the way to lose weight.

 

Cut down on the carbs, sugars and portion your food. You need to still eat 3 meals a day! People think by skipping meals it helps..It doesn't.

 

Go see your family Dr and they can help set you up with a good meal plan, in a healthy way.

[chocolatecupcake]

thanks James for not yelling at me like WTF ARE YOU DOING GIRL YOURE NOT FAT!! I like the way you handled that, very professional. Im going to set up a realistic plan for tomorrow, 1. drink my daily coffee in the morning, 2. REPLACE EMPTY CALORIE SWEETS WITH A SERVING OR 2 OF FRUIT like apples from home for a light, healthy lunch aaand of course have a "well balanced" dinner at home +30 minute runs. lets see what happens..

[chocolatecupcake]

I wasnt going to do the shakes, anyway. And I dont own a scale.

Edited October 3, 2012 by chocolatecupcake

[chocolatecupcake]

Can anyone provide me with further advice on how to avoid temptation at work with all those sugars and carbs around me 5 days a week?...

[Hawaii50]

nnnnnnnope. so what cha' getting ready for? or are you in aussieville, and summer's coming?

[chocolatecupcake]

I like that. I have just about no willpower, but it would make me feel better to have just 1 sweet thing a day and then walk away instead of completely depriving myself.

[JamesM]

1. b.s. shakes are bad for you. don't do it. just eat better.

 

No, they aren't. I am drinking two different ones. One is formulated by a medical clinic here in town and was designed for patients with sugar issues and weight gain problems. It contains all vitamins and minerals with a good amount of fiber and protein. After nine months, I feel much better.

 

However, it is very true that eating better is good for you. Include more fruits and vegetables. Add fiber (ie flax seed) to the diet. Stay away from candy and sugar. Eat more fish. Eat less beef and red meat.

 

I can say from experience that it is far from BS when I suggest that meal replacement shakes that include all of the necessary nutrients (as opposed to high protein shakes used by body builders) are good for you.

 

 

4. b.s. weight yourself weekly or biweekly. no more.

 

Again, from experience at least for me..it has been VERY helpful to weight myself so often. It gives me a goal to reach and I "grade" myself every day. I have learned which days are days that I gain more weight and I have learned which days are better for me. I can see when I overdid it for a day, and then I cut back the next day.

 

By weighing yourself less often as opposed to more, it is easier to forget the diet and lose focus. I have done it this way and had a hard time keeping the weight off.

 

After nine months and a loss of 35# with a couple of months of maintenance, I can say that all of the points I listed is what worked for me.

[JamesM]

shakes are a scheme to make companies money. whats even in them?

 

Picking one without knowing what is in it would not be what I would recommend. Personally, I chose two after I did my research.

 

Everything can be a scheme to make money.

 

for scales, weight varies from day to day and if you check too often it'll drive you absolutely insane. once a week, enough.

 

For me, the opposite is true. Knowing how much I lost and knowing what my weight is gave me either the "freedom" to grab that snack or the knowledge to get it another day.

 

I have never felt tied to the number, but it has kept me on track and helped me know when I could "cheat."

 

For you, erik, this could be different.

[chocolatecupcake]

you both give good points about the scale, but for me, especially being an anxious person who also strives for perfection when i feel as though i need to, would go absolutely insane if i was to own a scale in my home. it would consume me; id be weighing in all the freaking time and it would turn into a living nightmare. james, im glad it works for you. were all different, you me and erika, and everyone else here on this forum... but thats just my thought on the subject. it wouldnt be so pretty for me. Its really too bad because it can be a helpful tool when its not something that makes you obsess and drive you crazy.

[Hawaii50]

If you have no will power or discipline, nothing will help, cause you can't help yourself.. but you already know that..and everything else you need to do, now you just have to get off your butt and do it, Celerystick.

 

You CAN do it... but you have to hit that "switch" in your mind and DO IT.

 

Godspeed.

[chocolatecupcake]

Amen......

[MonsterMash]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this yet. Water, water and more water. 100oz per day is your goal. And with your small size, I would back it up with a small Gatorade just in case.

 

But water is the key to losing weight. Why? Excess fat is flushed out of your system when you pee. If you don't drink water then it doesn't interact with your body to flush the fat and toxins out.

 

Eat heavier earlier in the day, light at night. That late night, raid the fridge and sleep on a full stomach will pack on the pounds quick.

 

Oatmeal and fruit is good for breakfast. If you need to doctor the oatmeal up, throw a little cinnamon and a handful of raisins in it.

 

If you get crazy and want to weigh every day, it needs to be when you first wake up...and weigh naked. Thats the most accurate you will get....before you eat, put on clothes, water weight changes throughout the day, etc.

 

Thats enough for now. Hope you meet your goals.

[Hawaii50]

Amen......

 

IF! you ever figure that "switch" thing out.. let me know, i'm sort of in the same position but very happy as to where I currently am.. just can do better.

[LittleTiger]

chocolatecupcake, I don't often post in this section but when I read your post I was horrified!

 

Although you are not 'overweight', it will do you no harm to lose a few pounds if you would like to. What WILL harm you is your intended eating plan!

 

Please do NOT starve yourself by eating only one meal a day and definitely do NOT cut out carbs. In all honesty, you won't be able to anyway because fruit and vegetables are carbs, not just bread and potatoes. Anything you eat that contains or breaks down into sugar 'contains carbohydrate'.

 

A healthy food intake, whether it is for weight loss, maintenance or weight gain, should be balanced in nutrients. That means:

45 - 65 % carbohydrate (includes fruit, veg, pasta, potatoes)

10 - 35 % protein (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts, seeds)

20 - 35 % healthy fat (eg olive oil, nuts, seeds, fatty fish, avocado, olives)

 

For someone like yourself, an average woman of healthy weight, the recommended intakes are approx:

50% carbs

20% protein

30% fat (avoid saturated fat found in chocolate, biscuits, cakes etc)

 

There a million fad diets around that promise miraculous weight loss - and some of them work - but not necessarily healthily. Also, if you are too strict with yourself, not only will your body be missing out on essential nutrients, it will 'get used to' minimal calories and you will damage your metabolism.

 

Your best plan of attack is to eat 3 healthy portions a day, plus two or three healthy snacks. Cut out the 'rubbish' (which is basically everything you are currently eating), cut out refined sugar especially, and get plenty of exercise (3 or 4 times a week). If you want to count calories, dont drop below aound 1,200 a day on average - 1,500 if you are excersing hard. Also, drink at least 2 litres of water a day (the body needs water in order to break down fat). The weight will drop off you and you will still feel healthy and full of energy.

 

One more tip - if you get hungry eat more protein NOT fruit. Protein will keep you feeling full for longer and fruit contains a lot of sugar!