Posts by da1gal

A caloric deficit means you have to eat less than your recommended calories per day.. Since your goal is to lose weight, then you definitely will need to eat less than your recommended 2600calories a day. Normally it is not wise to have a really big deficit, because then your body feels deprived and you could end up not losing weight at all.. If you eat around 1800cals a day then you will have an 800 calorie deficit and in about 4 days you should lose one pound (3500 calories).

Exercise is important because cardio helps you burn fat, and weights help you build muscle which in turn boosts your basal metabolic rate. More muscle means you burn more calories per day, which is good for you. Fat burns less calories a day.. So this literally means that if you have more muscle, then even while not doing any physical activity you will be burning more calories. So exercise is extremely important!

And besides, without exercise your weight loss will be very slow, and that might discourage you. That's why I find it necessary for me to exercise and I also eat often especially proteins so I don't lose muscle mass.

You are recommended to eat a little bit more when you exercise, but not to the point you exceed what you have worked out. Say you burn 700calories at the gym, don't eat all 700calories! Some people just increase their calorie intake by half of what they have burned at the gym, so literally that means they eat an extra 350 calories a day, which still leaves them with a deficit at the end of the day..

I hope this helps!

I'm around 5'1 too, and I'm at 136 to 137 pounds now (from 165!).. I definitely think judging by how you look, you should try and hit for 110.. I initially wanted to get to 120pounds, but I think I might want to reach for 110 too.. Good luck! 

And I agree, cardio + weight training will definitely help give your body more definition and help to change your body shape...I'm big, but I have an okay figure (smaller waist compared to bust and hips) so I'm hoping to just be a smaller version of what I am now :)

But exercise that wont make us feel pain, then it kinda defeats the purpose... Not to say I'm FOR exercise that causes me pain, but I always try and push myself, and beat my own personal best... I know I can just as well follow a low-calorie diet plus do very very mild exercise but then the results will be really slow, way too slow, and I will feel discouraged then.And I actually eat better when I exercise anyway..

So I have to push myself, and also watch what I eat... But you're not really supposed to feel exhausted and fatigued.. If you do that might mean you're cutting too many calories, and your body isn't getting enough nutrition... You can actually binge a little, but with healthier options!

I usually try to snack on fruits at night, but I end up wanting something more substantial like carbs..or something really sweet *sigh*

I do wish I had time to do something else between 3-8pm, but lately it's just sitting at home and studying and I constantly must snack when I study or I feel sleepy so that's where the problem lies..

But a walk sounds good. And I'm going to try and get a jog in the mornings, so hopefully that'll make me feel like I've exercised for the day, therefore putting me in the right frame of mind to eat healthy for the whole day, though I always feel like a jog doesn't give me a good enough workout compared to on the treadmill where I can set the incline and also the weights I lift (I don't have a set of weights at home to work on).. But I'm willing to try anything just so I don't get back into my old habits!

The last thing you want to do is sabotage your own diet. Just throw them away and don`t buy a new 'stash'.

I might try and keep that in mind and get rid of all the junk in the house. Here's hoping by the end of my finals I don't end up with too much weight gained!

Thanks again everybody :)

My initial goal weight was 120 pounds from an all time high of 165.. Currently I'm only 12 pounds away from my goal weight, but like you I am also in a dilemma. I doubt that 12 pounds will be sufficient since I still have a pretty big belly and I think I won't look as good as I want to be at 120 pounds!

So I adjusted my goal weight to be 110 (I'm only 5"1') and I'm hoping to get there in a few months.. But haha 11 pounds, a very very large baby! So hm yeah 11 pounds can be a lot, eh :) I sometimes know that the numbers don't really mean much, it's how I feel and look that should be more important but sometmes it's so easy to just rely on the numbers... Oh well, one step at a time then :)

crazyperson01,

I understand where you're coming from. I am losing weight too, but seems like the stomach just bulges out a lot doesn't it! Well I'd like to think that overall I'm losing weight, and the thing is that sometimes we just don't really perceive it visually (since the weight loss is so slow so the changes aren't exactly visible) unless you measure yourself.

But if your pants are looser, then you're probably losing inches overall from around the belly area, it's just that it may not necessarily come from the front stomach part (do you get me?)

Also, I usually end up with a big belly/stomach when I've had a lot to eat for the day, especially with lots of fibre and water in me. But the next day it usually goes down.. I say don't give up, the body is a very mysterious thing, you can't really pinpoint where you want your weight loss to be from, but eventually, as long as you persevere, it will happen.

I'm 23 and I've lost 30+ pounds, and I initially started with a C cup, now I'm filling a B. They're noticeably smaller, but they don't sag (I was initially 165 pounds) and I think the smaller size looks quite alright on my current body... But yes, unfortunately, losing weight = losing some tit mass :(

But it all depends on how your body loses weight. Not everyone loses weight from the same parts of their body. And no one wants saggy tits, but the benefits of being healthy goes above and beyond saggy tits, no? :)

My trainer did mention though, that chest exercises, using either machines or free weights, will help prevent saggy tits, so maybe you can find out more about those. Good luck!

astahissa

yeah i know! FINALLY i've been waiting and dreaming for so long i knew it was going to happen but when it did it felt so good.

You can get there and you will get there. just concentrate on eating well and living well and then you'll see results!

Tattooed_kitty,

isn't it the best when you can fit into something and you feel like a million dollars in it, because you know that what you are now is 100% your effort and your effort only. Makes you feel like you can conquer the world! Hahaha..

This morning when i looked in the mirror i saw that for once my tits were sticking out more than my tummy! It was always the other way around! And I wasn't even sucking my tummy in! Now i can't really keep my hands off myself, i just keep wanting to touch my smaller tummy, and my arms, and to touch my shoulder bones and hips that are actually apparent and more obvious now (less layer of fat covering it haha)

Did you change your diet in anyway? Eat salty foods etc? If not, then it might be water weight. Though I doubt a few pounds would make a very drastic difference in how you look.

When I measure, I just stand straight and neither bloat my stomach nor flex. Just like normal does it for me.

But if you always bloat out when you measure, then continue measuring that way (and same for the flexing bit) It doesn't really matter what the number is, it's the DIFFERENCE that you should be concerned with.

I sometimes wake up in the morning 2 pounds lighter and that always surprises me. But I know that usually by the end of the day I'd gain back maybe 1pound or half a pound, depending. But it's weird. The scales aren't always 100% correct :) So don't stress, just continue doing what you're doing you should be fine.

I'm studying pharmacy and we learn a lot about heart diseases, cancers, diabetes etc and the risks of being overweight or having high blood pressure or high cholesterol... what scared me was thinking that if I continued the way I was, I would face a lot of problems in the future. And I did not want that at all. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life being overweight and obese.

So I made a pact to be healthier. I wasnt really thinking about losing the weight, I just wanted to eat healthier and be more active. Everytime I think about falling off the wagon I will remind myself why I started this journey, and all the good things that have happened to me once I began.

I've missed out on a lot because I was overweight my whole life, now I want to experience all that and never look back.

Hi Missy, Hi sam! Yes, it's great to have you join our little group. I have friends who also eat junk all day and still are thin, but I know that they're not nourishing their bodies properly, and in the long run we'll be healthier... I've switched to eating a lot of good proper nutritious food and my skin has cleared up and I feel energetic all day!

Missy, I started at 160 pounds and I was pretty big.. Looking at old photos make me gasp, but I used to have really low self esteem, and not speak up or talk because I felt a bit embarassed by the way I look. But don't fret, if you set your mind to it you can get there... You say that your stomach hurts, is it because you have hunger pangs? I would suggest you listen to your body, and if you feel hunger pangs and they hurt, eat a little. Maybe a small fruit or some high fibre cereals, but don't ignore it. Just choose healthy foods. Whenever I have hunger pangs, I will eat a fruit or some vegetables, or even a cup of milk. But then I also try and eat something every three hours, so my blood sugar won't go too low.. But Good to hear about you wanting to join the gym!

Samantha, if you don't mind I'd like to share what I do at the gym :) I usually start with a brisk walk on the treadmill for 2 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of pretty fast jogging.. I consider that my warm-up. I then move to weights (I use the machines) and work on my thighs, shoulders, back, arms and finally some ab crunches. I then hit the treadmill again for another 30 minutes, but brisk walking.. It has worked for me and I usually end up sweating a lot. That routine usually takes me 1hr 30mins to 1hr 45mins.. I also watch what I eat and I can usually expect a 1-2 pound loss every week.. But probably won't be going too much to the gym for the next 2,3 weeks cos of finals.

If you aren't seeing any results it's time to increase either your duration, or the intensity. Constantly push yourself, but do it gradually.. Oh and if you do squats and sit ups, you do need to do a few sets. I usually try and go 25reps, 3 squats. You can maybe use weights during your squats too, to make it a bit harder..

Unfortunately, there's nothing much you can do to focus on this area. I used to have a double chin too, but as I lost weight it gradually diminished by itself.. I didn't really notice it, until a friend pointed out that I didn't have a double chin anymore.

So I guess the only advice for you is to just keep at it, and eventually it'll go away. Because it is pretty much impossible to spot reduce the face! At least for the arms etc you can do some workouts..

Sorry..

This week hasn't been a very good one for me. Instead of going down or maintaining, I actually gained! Up 2 pounds so I'm hovering at 135pounds now. *sigh* I really let myself go a little this week. So much for discipline. I'm a bit worried about having to juggle gym and studies, cos my finals are in about 2 weeks.

Allibee, 8 pounds in 2 weeks is wonderful! I wish I had your determination to go on the P90X workout.. I guess struggling with cravings is a normal thing, but at least you'll work out twice to make up for your bad day! I agree, when the pounds come off it's easier. At least you know it's working, and that it's not all futile haha.

Anyway, I hope the rest are doing okay. I gotta get back into the right frame of mind, darn it... That or at least watch what I eat :( Another week, then eh! Never too late to make a change...

Congratulations getthin99! Glad you feel the same about this forum :) And I'm so happy to hear how much weight you've lost! And only in one week :D Yay!

Mandypants, don't be too discouraged.. As long as you're exercising and eating right, you'll see results.. And besides, 0.5inches off your bust! We're here for you, if you need to talk or anything, yeah? *hugs*

I agree! I always used to think that you had to eat less to lose weight. But eventually I told myself that I HAD to eat, to LOSE WEIGHT.. Can be a bit hard to fathom lol, but it does work! And congratulations! It's always nice to see hard work pay off :)