Posts by hansenn

25 years old, 5'8", 210 lbs, US size 16, i guess i'm between hour glass and pear.

i agree with gi-jane on everything... i have the same problem and having a scale really, really helps... and it really doesn't take that much time. i just put the meat or cheese or whatever it is in a little tupperware (usually weighs one oz, then subtract that from the total).

there is a tool somewhere on the internet and i can't stinkin find it right now, but it shows you in real-size how big of portions for different kinds of food are using your hand. also, with eating out, i think it's generally safe to just eat half of the meal... unless of course you are at a place that specifically has low-cal meals and all the info is listed. also stay away from drinks of course, and the bread, chips, etc that come before the meal.

well you gain weight throughout the day because you are eating, drinking, etc!! you might try just weighing in the morning and then putting it away, or even consider only weighing once-twice a week. some people have a "weigh-in day" and that gives them something to look forward to. i like fridays (vs a mon or tues) because i normally do really well during the week and then sometimes have a free meal or two on the weekday.

ok thank you tattooed kitty, i'm glad someone else responded to that comment also!!!! i have personally weighed over 200 lbs since high school... i am a little over 5'8 and have a larger build so i don't look super fat, but it is NOT easy just because a person weighs over 200 lbs. i have been here counting calories for 3 years and i have lost, gained, lost, gained, and am currently working on that last 10 to get under 200. and not by "just having a little self control". it is full-on, constant, counting everything, weighing everything i put in my meals... walking, running, ellipticalizing, workout dvd-ing... and it is HARD. and not once have i lost 6 pounds in one week. that is ridiculous. and it's unhealthy (unless you are under constant supervision like the biggest loser or something). AND it's very unlikely that you will keep the weight off.

that's all :)

i do not currently have a personal trainer but sort of did in the past. i was able to get one free session per month through my gym, and even only once a month was VERY helpful for me. he switched up my routines for me and updated mins, weights, etc based on my process. i think the price varies by gym, but i think it is definitely worth looking into.

first of all, CONGRATS on all that loss!! that's awesome!

i apologize in advance- this might not help too much... BUT i really think you need to play around a bit to see what works for you. the tools here help a lot to see how much you generally burn on a given day. but everyone else has been right when they say you can't have too large of a deficit or you won't lose as fast (which i know doesn't make ANY sense. our bodies are so weird!!!). so if, besides your planned exercise, you have a pretty sedentary lifestyle (sit at desk, not a ton of movement, etc) set it to that, and log your exercise. that doesn't mean you have to eat ALL the calories back that you burn exercising, but that's where i think you should play around. maybe having an extra post-workout snack those days or something.

i think in general your idea for a 1600 intake with "lightly active" lifestyle sounds good. but then don't log your exercise, and keep this in mind on days you don't work out- maybe eat a little less on those days, 1300 ish.

i have been here for a LONG time (2+ years) and am still figuring things out myself. feel free to add me as a friend if you would like some support along the way! i know i need as much as i can get! :)

NOOO don't give up!! this happens to a lot of us, especially on the weekend. i wouldn't log it probably, but that's up to each individual personal preference. start fresh, log today, and focus on what you can control (which is from this point forward). and like others have said, you might be surprised at how little damage you did! i also agree to try not to think of it as a diet. there will always be weekends, parties, bars, etc... the whole point is to figure out how to live life while still being healthy!!! even if that means a treat here and there!

put all your info into the tools on this website and it will tell you how much you should eat. and like the others said, try to do some purposeful exercise every day that gets your heartbeat up. walking is good but if it is just to and from class, etc, it probably isn't getting you at your target heart rate for burning calories.

according to the height and weight you gave, your BMI is 23.4, which is within the healthy range for an adult. at the weight of 112, your BMI would be 17, which is considered to be underweight. i would say the lowest you would want to hit is 120-125, but i am definitely not a doctor. it really depends on your build also... and like i said before, it's not "healthy" for a 15-year-old to be dieting. you should focus on eating healthy, balanced meals and make sure you are getting enough exercise.

I'm pretty sure 112 is too light if you are 5'8... also, especially at your age, you should be focusing more on being healthy in general than going on a diet.

i also did the couch to 5k and i just finished the program! i'm registered for a 5k this weekend! when i first started i could barely complete the 90 second running intervals. it definitely worked for me!

Muscles get sore when lactic acid builds up in them. Lactic acid buildup and water retention are two different things though...

Muscle does weigh more than fat, so it is possible for your weight to go up as you are gaining muscle, and then start to fall once the fat is burned. here are a few articles that might help

http://www.myfit.ca/archives/viewanarticle.as p?table=fitness&ID=31&subject=Fat+Bur ning

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/health/nutr ition/16run.html