From Kris, Age 21 - 03/21/11 - IP#: 76.217.0.xxx Click here to reply Ht. 5'10", Start: 240 lb, Today: 236 lb (BMI: 34), Goal: 165 lb - So im just starting out on my weight loss journey and would love to hear how all of you guys got started. What are good workouts for at home and what are good meal ideas? Any info is greatly appreciated...I would like to be at my goal weight by the first week in August. Thank you :)
Reply from Marina, Age 23 - 04/17/11 - IP#: 70.54.150.xxx Hey Kris! When I started out, I was your current weight (& I'm shorter than you (5'7")! I'm currently 130 pounds....It was a long journey (and not always an easy one) but I made it! I was quite out of shape, so before I even started exercising I started watching my food intake. I started out by drinking only water & eliminating all juice & pop. I still drink coffee often enough, but with no sugar & only a little bit of unsweetened soy milk. I also started slowly by just choosing healthier options of what I was already eating..for example, if I ate a sub...I'd choose whole wheat bread instead of white, eat 6inches instead of 12, vegetarian instead of cold cuts & mustard instead of subsauce/mayo. There is almost ALWAYS a healthier option and that change makes a big difference. After working on my diet for a few weeks, I joined a gym. I started going every other day and only for about 45 minutes of cardio...eventually it got more intense & longer but you have to start somewhere! I also started cutting out desserts...I opted for fruit instead (I love berries! & they're insanely healthy!)...If you want to work out at home, I just suggest going for walks outside! Eventually it can be increased into a power walk or jog as your fitness improves! I also live close to an escarpment, where there are tons of STAIRS to climb to get to the top! Stairs can be challenging but a great workout. Even just a skipping rope is a great at home workout. Or if you have the space, why not consider some workout DVDs? There are some really good ones out there & they don't need to be expensive! :)
Reply from Ally13, Age 23 - 03/22/11 - IP#: 74.92.246.xxx Hi Kris! My main reason for starting to lose weight was my upcoming wedding. Nothing else before had really motivated me, but the threat of a white dress and tons of pictures did the trick, lol. I went from 204 to 166 during that period and after that, I just liked the feeling of losing weight/getting in shape so I kept it up and am currently at 123-125. I started my exercise regimen with Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It takes about 25 minutes from warm-up to cool down and it seemed like the easiest way to get my butt moving. I also would recommend jogging outside (I trained and ran in my first 5k a few months ago - awesome feeling of accomplishment!). Other than those, I don't have many recommendations because I haven't personally tried much else. I know sports are a good way to get in shape while having fun so maybe taking up tennis, swimming, etc. would be up your alley? For meals, I'm sure you know what's generally healthy and what's not, but I'll kind of reiterate here: chicken, fish, lean red meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, wheat/brown rices/breads and tons of water. The main thing is to keep everything in moderation. Say you want that cookie. Well fine, I don't believe in denying yourself every pleasure because it tends to backfire by over-indulging at a later point. Just make sure the majority of what you're eating has some nutritional value. If I could recommend something: I know the feeling of wanting to hit a 'goal' by a certain date/event, but honestly, when you do that, you tend to put pressure on yourself which can actually harm your weight loss progress. Instead, I would say it's more important to focus on how your body feels when you get active and eat those healthy foods vs. numbers on a scale. I know that's much easier said than done (and I'm guilty of setting goals based off of numbers), but really, if you want a healthier you for the long-term, you've got to be satisfied with your progress, no matter how fast or slow. Best of luck!!!
