Posts by maringrl

I think the biggest problem when you are in college is how busy you are and going from class to class...you get really hungry.  One of my really good friends and I went to school together and we would always have lunch in between classes...Unfortunately we always ate at the schools fastfood places.  We both gained weight.  I have started to bring tons of snacks with me every where I go.  I take it to school and to work and then I cook a "real" meal for dinner.  So, what I bring is prepackaged baby carrots, pre-cut and packaged apples, yoplait light and fat-free yogurt, string cheese, dried apricots, dill pickle slices, and measured 2 TBSP portions of peanut butter.  All of this food lasts me from the time I wake up until I have dinner.  The best part is that it all adds up to only 600 calories and I didn't have to prepare any of it.  I do not eat it all at once.  I generally have the yogurt for breakfast at about 8am, I go to class at 11am and have the apples, get out of class at 12:30 and have the carrots and peanut butter along with the apricots and cheese.  After my last class at 3:30 I might have the dill pickle slices.  Then I go home and make dinner...either pasta and salad, baked potato and veggies, veggie chili, veggie burritos, etc...By the way I am vegetarian.  However, you need to find the healthy foods that work for you.  A girl at my work thinks what I eat is gross and asked me, When do you eat "real" food?  I said, I am a vegetarian...this is real food.  The fact is if you want to lose weight and maintain, you either need to change your eating habits or start exercising more to combat the crappy food you might be eating...Just to be healthy, do a bit of both.  Good luck, and don't worry, everyone has this problem when they go off to college.

I am 5'5 and I am currently trying to lose the same amount as you...It sounds like your calories are a bit high for the sedentary lifestyle you have...In order to lose one pound/week you need to burn 3500 calories a week over what you consume.  That means everyday you need to burn 500 calories over what you consume.  If you consume 1700 calories a day, you need to burn 2200 calories a day to have a 500 calorie deficit.  You can either cut your calories down to about 1300-1500 or you can start exercising more.  My doctor told me to do exercises that keep your heart rate in the 120's and do them for a longer period of time and I would burn fat and not just glucose.  I have noticed that on the eliptical machine people are really pushing it, while this is good for your heat...it doesn't burn fat as well.  Slow and steady.  Lift weights.  Also, drink tons of water.  Eat throughout the day...small stuff, carrot sticks, apple slices, string cheese, yogurt, nuts.  Stay away from eating out at restaurants, candy, sodas, etc.  The nice thing about these small items is, you fill your need to eat, and they have very low calories.  It's not just important to lower your calories, but also the amount of fat you consume.  Good Luck.  Be Healthy.

I'd have to agree, sizes are tricky and vary so much.  I weighed 100 lbs and I am 5'5...I was wearing a size 5...I had a pair of size 3 pants and they were tight.  I have a small frame too.  I have a pair of 5 capris and fit in them when I weigh 135lbs.  I just buy whatever fits and looks good.  I try and not worry about sizes...just what I look like in the clothes...and out of them.

Traci- 31yrs- 5'5- Total Goal loss is 28lbs. Total lost so far is 5lbs.

Start weight: 144lbs
Goal loss for this challenge: 7lbs Total Goal Loss:24 lbs

Week 1: 144 lbs BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Week 2: 146 lbs...TTOM
Week 3 ?lbs
Week 4 ?lbs
Total loss: ?lbs

I just got back from a 2 hr walk, so I'm in...

Age: 31

SW: 148...as of 1/1

CW:146...as of 1/12

GW: 120

Valentine's Day Goal: 138