My one month slimdown

I have exactly one month to lose as much weight as possible, my ideal would be about 10 pounds, since I am going to a beach vacation with my entire family and I MUST look amazing in my bathing suit.

I plan on eating around 1300 calories a day, and will restrict my sweet tooth to only one sweet a day (it will probably be like a popsicle). I used to go nuts trying to eat 1000 calories and stuff but I realized that that's not helping me and in the end I end up eating twice that. I'll try to eat out as little as possible, but that's a tough feat. I love eating souvlaki, which is my greatest downfall.

I will excercise every day, and go to the gym at least 3 times a week. My new favorite machine is the StairClimber cause it's the most challenging, and I don't really like running in place much. I have soccer twice a week, so I'm sure that's enough excercise. At night I do 50 sit ups and 100 leg lifts for each leg.

If I keep this regime, will it be possible for me to lose those ten pounds?

I am 15 years old, 5'9, and weigh 143-ish pounds.

Everyone is probably going to tell you that 1300 calories is too little for a teen.  They say you should eat 1500+ calories.

However, if you have 10 pounds to lose and you're 15, I don't see why 1300 should be an issue.  I dieted when I was your age, and Jenny Craig had me on 1200 calories.  It's all about what you can stick to.

My best advice would be give yourself a range of calories.  I'd say between 1300-1500 each day.. that way you can allow yourself a little extra treat if your family goes out to dinner, or if your mom bakes fresh brownies, or cookies, whatever.  Or even just if you want an extra salad :)  I've been doing between 1300-1550 and having the allowance of the range doesn't even make me feel like I'm on a diet- it is really nice.

If you go to the gym, don't do the same thing on each time you're there.  I've noticed that gets super boring and I get unmotivated.  I love doing the exercise bike and the elliptical machine.  I've lost 17 pounds in about a month and I'm still going strong, though I have a lot more to lose than you.

Good luck!  I've noticed that this website is great support and 99% of people here are super nice.  I think a lot of my success has to do with all of the support and advice I've gotten on here.

Hold up baby doll.

CC's tools aren't made for teens. IE anyone under 21. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Us younginz use this handy dandy BMI chart to estimate our caloric intake: http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html

Rule of thumb: do not go under 1500 calories. Unhealthy because you need 1500 to support your body. If you're taller or younger and exercise, you're going to need muuuuch more then that to lose healthily. Don't want to lose healthily? Well, you can expect TONS of health risks, bone loss, and a slow metabolism that'll make you regain all that weight in zippity speeds. :D What's healthy? No more then a 1000 calorie deficit.. 500 keeps you losing 1-2 lbs a week, and keeps you from plateauing.

By losing 2 lbs max a week, you should be able to take off 4-8 pounds within a month. You're at a healthy weight, so don't be frustrated if you don't lose 8 pounds within a month. I wouldn't reccomend weighing yourself everyday and basing your progress off of that. Once or twice a week, naked after going to the potty in the morning is more accurate, and it'll keep you from getting obsessed.

So anywhosal, for your age, height, and weight, to maintain you need:

• 1990 calories on inactive days (meaning absolutely no walking at all. Think sitting on your buns like a couch potato all day.)
• 2350 calories for low activity (under 60 minutes)
• 2690 calories for moderate activity (60 minutes)
• 3270 calories for very active (over 60 minutes)

So, subtract 500. I'm willing to bet you're at low activity on days you don't go to the gym, and moderate on the days that you do. So, eat 1850 on no gym days, 2190 on gym days.

Some tips:

• Don't overdo yourself. Meaning, listen to your body. If you don't feel good that day, take the day off because you might be overtraining. You wont get fat in a day or two, I promise.
• Don't restrict yourself too much. Got a sweet tooth? Plan a day once a week that you'll ever more sweet foods, or if you're like me and can't go one day without something sweet and yummy, have a small portion of sweets on a daily basis. If you can't see yourself not eating sweet foods for life, then don't do it because it'll be damn hard to maintain your weight loss.
• In regards to strength training, don't do it everyday. Every other day is best, and make sure you rotate what muscles you're using. Since you're at a healthy weight, I'm willing to bet that you just need to tone up, so lift heavy with low reps, and build some muscle! (You wont look like a body builder, I promise. Think: Jessica Biel kind of sexy muscle.)
• If you do lift weights, do expect a rise in your weight. It's 1. Your muscles storing some water and/or 2. Gain in muscle. Which is heavier then fat. Don't fret. I would reccomend throwing the damn scale out and going by mirror or measurements, because the scale alone can be reeeeally inaccurate if that's the only thing you're using as a tool to judge your weight loss.
• Self-esteem goes a long way. If you don't make it to your goal within 30 days, please try to focus on the positives of your body. Trust me, I've been through hell with eating disorders and total dislike for my body when it's come to my realization that no one cares as much as you think they do.. If anything they think you're hotter then what you think. You just don't know it because you're with yourself all the time and you tend to be more judgemental. I highly reccomend self-esteem and women empowerment books.. Message me if you want some suggestions!!
• Try other forms of cardio. You don't have to go to the gym.. Like dancing? Dance. Like skipping rope? Go for it. I personally lurve workout DVDs. You can get a lot of ideas at the fitness forum.

Hope that was helpful, sweets. Let me know if there's anything I can help you with.

Keep it healthy, okie dokie?

Original Post by katesorad:

Everyone is probably going to tell you that 1300 calories is too little for a teen.  They say you should eat 1500+ calories.

However, if you have 10 pounds to lose and you're 15, I don't see why 1300 should be an issue.  I dieted when I was your age, and Jenny Craig had me on 1200 calories.  It's all about what you can stick to.

My best advice would be give yourself a range of calories.  I'd say between 1300-1500 each day

I digress, no insults to you, but I feel that sort of advice is a bit dangerous. Unless she is short (which, sorry francescas, you're quite tall!) and under doctor supervision, she should not be eating under 1500, and for her height and activity she needs a LOT more then 1500 on a daily basis.

It's okay if she goes under every now and then by accident, but it's not healthy to do.. Even if it's just 10 pounds. Those 10 pounds could take a lot longer then our estimates of a month or two, which means a slow in the metabolism and being at risk for many different diseases and health issues. 1500 is bare minimum because that's what a teen needs to support the body. It is not a good idea to go under 1500 calories consistently without doctor supervision. At all. Under any circumstances.

You did give great advice. A range is very important. I almost forgot that one. :O

Calorie Count does not approve of eating under 1500 calories a day if you're a teenage girl...and I agree with this, because eating under 1500 killed my metabolism. Don't do it!

http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/bodycomp/bmiz2.html

^ You burn 1990 calories sedentary, 2350 at a low activity level, 2690 at a moderate level and and 3270 at a high activity level. So eating 1500 and being at a moderate level (about an hour of exercise a day), you could lose 9.5 lbs in 4 weeks by the math. 

Good luck, and don't be too hard on yourself. : )

edit: haha, I didn't see your guys' posts .

Mods keep bringing up not going under 1,500 but my doctor told me 1,200 when I was in middle school...And then another doctor told me 1,200-1,400 is good to around high school (But that is for sedentary).

My advice is to not go overboard, you don't want to be too strict. You exercise so you are moderately active so in that case 1,500 calories or more is a must.

hey, just in case you don't really believe the whole "don't go under 1500 thing"... I started a diet last week and on one of the days I accidently  had about 1300 calories.  By the end of the day I kept getting these dizzy spells, and they continued the next morning until I ate a fairly high-calorie breakfast.  Don't torture yourself to lose weight, because it will be a lot harder to keep the weight off once you're done.

"I am 15 years old, 5'9, and weigh 143-ish pounds"

I am saddened that you feel you need to lose any weight at all - I am certain you already look awesome in a bathing suit!  Rememberthat your family (including cousins) LOVES YOU, and NOT for the way you look.  Don't worry about it!!

I don't think it's a big deal as long as she doesn't eat 1300-1500 calories a day for the rest of her life.  Many weight loss programs that work, even for teens, are 1300-1500 calories a day.  If she's doing this for a month, she's not going to hurt herself.  It's not a crash diet at all.  If she was eating 800 calories, you could get away with saying it was somewhat of a crash diet, but it's really not.

Honestly, you're not going to convince someone who is 15 and wanting to lose 10 pounds to eat a lot more calories than she was looking to, especially when what she's looking to eat isn't particularly horrible for for her.  I'd rather give her advice to make her diet even healthier than waste my energy and telling her she needs to eat a lot more than she wants.

Original Post by katesorad:

I don't think it's a big deal as long as she doesn't eat 1300-1500 calories a day for the rest of her life.  Many weight loss programs that work, even for teens, are 1300-1500 calories a day.  If she's doing this for a month, she's not going to hurt herself.  It's not a crash diet at all.  If she was eating 800 calories, you could get away with saying it was somewhat of a crash diet, but it's really not.

Honestly, you're not going to convince someone who is 15 and wanting to lose 10 pounds to eat a lot more calories than she was looking to, especially when what she's looking to eat isn't particularly horrible for for her.  I'd rather give her advice to make her diet even healthier than waste my energy and telling her she needs to eat a lot more than she wants.

Ok... She's FIFTEEN.  She's young, and at that age girls grow a lot.  She's tall, and the taller you are, the more calories you need, because you burn more calories.  She's active; she's going to exercise everyday, go to the gym, and play soccer.  So when she's exercising, let's say that's a moderate activity level.  She'll be burning 2690+ calories (according to bucketwithapurpose) and eating 1300.  That's a 1390 calorie deficit.  She will literally be burning more than twice as much as she's consuming.  How is that healthy?  I'm 5'3 (a half foot shorter than her) and I feel like I'm eating too little when I eat 1300 calories.

Francescas, please consider this, and please lose weight the healthy way.  If you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded, then please eat more.  Listen to your body.  By the way, you look like you already have a great body in your picture.

I've taken all that you guys have told me into account, but honestly, I don't even eat 1990 calories or more on normal days (unless I go to a restaurant and stuff myself). I will try to eat more, but I think I will focus more on not eating too much junk, since that's what I eat a lot of.

But here is one of my problems: Since it is the summer, I usually go the bed very late, and then wake up very late, say around 10-11. I'm not sure when to eat three balanced meals cause it usually ends up being me having a fruit for breakfast, then waiting a couple of hours for lunch, then snacking, then having supper.

Should I still eat a full breakfast even though it's that late in the morning?

I'm glad to hear you've reconsidered what you're going to eat.  Eating healthier foods sounds like a good way to reduce calories, rather than eating junk foods in smaller amounts.  

I usually wake up about that late too (usually between 9-10), and I have a bowl of cereal and possibly some fruit.  Having a good breakfast will help start your metabolism for the day, and you'll feel fuller.  You can always have lunch a little later (I've had it as late as 2 in the summer).

Even if you snack the rest of the day, you should definately have a full breakfast.  Studies have actually shown that people can lose weight just be adding a good breakfast to their day.  

By eating a balanced, healthy breakfast in the morning, you kick-start your metabolism and are less likely to crave sweets or junk food throughout the day. If I were you, I would have fruit and cereal (or toast or whatever you like) when you get up (say 10:30) a light but healthy snack (yogurt, apple, etc) around 12:00, lunch when you get hungry (maybe around 2:00) and then another healthy snack around 4:00 and dinner when you're hungry again (around 6:00)

Try not to snack in the evening as you won't get as much of a chance to work it off before you sleep.  That's when I drink water and/or tea.

Anway, that's my 2 cents ;)

Eating enough is definitely important, but if you don't feel good eating 1900 calories, then don't.  Don't eat too few for a long period of time, but if you want to take off a few pounds, it's really not an issue.  You aren't going to die.. just don't starve yourself.  I honestly, if I were you, would go with 1500-1600 calories a day.  But do what makes you feel good.  That's what I find works best on a diet.. if one day I don't feel good eating 1500 calories, I won't.  If the next day, I'm ravenous and will only feel good eating 1600-1700 calories, then I will.  Just don't overstress yourself and eat healthy!  I'm almost at 20 pounds now!

I would like to reiterate that the 1500 calorie recommendation is crucial for growing teenagers and promoting starvation diets is against forum guidelines and such posts will be deleted. 

Please take note of the following:

Calorie Count Plus's mission is to promote healthy and sustainable weight management.

I'm trying to count how many calories I ate to see if I ate enough (boy do I feel satisfied :) ) but do juices count when counting calories? Cause I had a big glass of orange juice at breakfast and I don't know where to add it in.

I want to make sure what I am eating is healthy so I'll post what I ate today:

Breakfast: big glass of orange juice, 1/4 grapefruit, peach, banana

Lunch: Average sized bowl of salad, and a small sandwich (small Ciabatta loaf of bread with two slices of mortadella, 2 slices of salami, 1 slice of capicollo. Sorry I only know the italian names)

Snack: ice cream popsicle (lime flavored) YUM

Supper: 2 chicken nuggets, 2 chicken fingures, barbeque sauce, more salad on the side

Snack: very small bowl of Special K cinnamon and pecan cereal. A bit of candy too.

I estimate that's about 1660, not counting juice. Counting juice I guess it's 1900-ish. Seriously I felt like I overdid it, and I feel kinda stuffed. And actually today I didn't go to the gym because my muscles were very sore and I needed a break. But I will do floor excercises later tonight.

Wow that number is freaking me out a little  bit.