New and ambivalent

Two weeks ago on a whim I decided to sign up for a trainer, and I signed a year-long contract.  No backing out now.  Still, I could only afford once a week, so I'm worried that that wont be enough to keep me on track.

I'm 24, 162 lbs, looking to lost around 30 lbs, and would really like to have the experience of looking hot in a bikini while I still am in my 20s. 

Yet... I'm ambivalent about really committing.  I love eating out, and eating well.  I think I have some issues with food- if I know it's there, I obsess about it until I eat it.  I know my portions are too large.  I try to go to the gym after work on weekdays, but I usually only make 3 out of 5 and then beat myself up for it.

My new trainer told me I should be counting calories.  The idea sounded like torture, but then I found CC.  It seems to be working for you guys.. maybe it can help me commit?

Advice and encouragement appreciated!

Hiya and welcome to the site! 3/5 days at the gym is really good, they do say that you should give your muscles a day off every other day to strengthen and rest! i've been counting calories for 6 months now and have lost 27lbs! I have several pieces of advice for you!!

1. keep a notebook to log your calories, that way if you cant get on a pc to get on here you can still write down what you're eating, keeping a notebook is actually far quicker and hence you're more likely to stick with it if it's quick and easy!

2. use as many forums on here as you can for support and build up a network of friends. motivating others helps me stay motivated myself and if i feel like i'm in need of some encouragement, i come on here to talk about it with people who understand exactly what i'm feeling. forums are incredible for support, they're key to weightloss.

3. Have a "cheat day" once every couple of weeks, where you go over your calorie limit by a predetermined amount. this allows you to eat some foods which you miss, hence taking away the feeling of deprivation and also, having a cheat day every few weeks caan help you avoid hitting a plateau where your weighloss stalls. By allowing your body extra calories every now and then, you are telling it that it isnt being starved and that it's ok to lose the extra weight rather than holding onto it because you're not getting enough calories.

4. Eat enough calories! if you dont your body will go into starvation mode and will hold on to the extra weight!

5. Build up your exercise slowly, do what you feel you can do but dont push youself so far that you do yourself an injury- you could end up setting yourself back!

6. Take photos every week of yourself, just for you to see. That way even if the scale is going down, but you cant notice differences with your body you can look at the photos and SEE the difference!

7. Weigh all your food, look at the suggested serving size and stick to it! it's there for a reason and will help you learn about correct portion sizes.

Last of all: Good luck! believe in yourself, believe you are worth doing this for and think about how proud you will feel when you start noticing postive changes

xx

Wow.  Thank you so much for that!  It definitely made me feel better, and congrats on the 27 lbs!

xoxox