I need advice

I'm not really concerned with losing large amounts of weight. I would like to lose about 15-20 pounds, which is alot, but I'm more concerned with being a lot healthier. I'm a little short of 5'2", 136 pounds, and 15 years old. I walk about a mile and a half every weekday (home from school), and run a mile to get in some intense exercise.

I used to run on the treadmill 4X a week on about 4.5-5.0 until it got boring, and I think it's more of a challenge to push myself on a track or outside. Basically, I'm focusing on exercise, not so much food, but i'm eating 1800 calorie MAX. I'm drinking a ton of water (72 ounces).

My friend (who is completely fit) told me to run about a mile at a good pace 2X a day 5X a week. I lost 4 pounds a few weeks after I started exercising on a treadmill at the gym and I lost 5 pounds about a year or two ago.

I'm kind of embarrased to be counting calories. My family is one big italian family, and if I don't eat "enough" people get mad. Also, I don't really get much of a choise in what I eat. My family eats pretty good, but we all have HUGE portions, which I've been controlling.

Is there anything else i could do? I have access to the gym every night. I don't really know how to change it up, and I can't run outside much longer, as it's becomiong cold out... or maybe I could run outside? I guess you could say I just want to gain more muscle. And just be healthier in general.

Find a sport or other activity you like. If you enjoy something you'll stick to it.

Hey! I'm 5'2!!

Does your gym have a weights room? Or resistance? You could try going to the gym doing cardio one day, and then weights the next? I'm not sure if there are any rules though, because you are only 15, so you might need to ask one of the fitness trainers there.

Weights have helped me so much!

Don't worry so much about the calorie thing, it looks like you're pretty sussed about what's good for you and what's not! And when you're exercising you need to have more cals anyway. So 1800 sounds great!

Use the tools on here to make sure that you are eating enough.

That's all I can suggest!!

Alice x

OH! ps. you might try looking for fun ideas to work out on the fitness forum!!

I'm allowed to use anything at the gym. It's a YMCA so it has a lot. I could get a walkthorugh of the weights, possibly. Thanks though, I was hoping that adding weights would make a difference!

I've tried looking throught the fitness forum and I don't understand what they're talking about. I'm that slow =P I just understand the word "cardio" is like stuff like running and junk that gets your heart moving. other than that I don't know anything, like what's resistance?

I'm on here trying to separate the stuff that would apply to me =/

You mentioned you got bored on the treadmill. I find it to be extremely boring myself ... unless I can read something, so that's what I do -- or you could watch TV, but I prefer to read. That's how I get most of my studying done. I take my textbook to the gym and prop it up there. It takes a minute to get used to, but after that you're homefree. A lot of people comment on me reading though -- they say they don't know how I can do it, but it's easy for me.

That's too bad people get mad when you don't eat enough -- I've known others who have been in the same situation. I think it's very unfair of them. I guess it's an old fashioned value passed down from generation to generation ...

For some people, especially the older generations (of which i am a part of now, I guess), but even more especially for my parent's ages (60's) food is love.  Giving food is showing love.  And when you eat the food that was given to you, you are returning that love.  What you need to do is to have a gentle talk with those who are hassling you about the quantities you are eating and tell them that by not eating as much you are not in any way devaluing their love for you or your love for them.  You are just trying to be smart about your health so you can live an active, fulfilling life. 

When I was your age I was around your height/weight and it did feel a little heavy on me.  I wish I had had the foresight to change my habits then, because If I had I wouldn't be in the boat that I am in now.  It is soooo much easier to control your weight when you are young & if you develop good habits now, they will go with you the rest of your life.  So keep on doing what you are doing.

Oh, and load up on the salads, and try to get your family to use healthy pastas - it will be good for them too, and then you won't feel so bad eating it.

Thank you so much. I will. I was talking to my mom (whos also on here but never on the forums) about it and she told me to look through the programs at the YMCA. They have some programs that fitness trainers teach. It's about how to use the equipment and reach goals. Since I can't seem to go down more than 136, I think that sounds good.

I also talked to them about buying better foods, which is good. Thank you so much, you helped me alot!