is it possible for ME to be fit and sexy?

okay look. all my life i have been over weight. and i'm sick of it!!! im 16 years old and i weigh 220 pounds. i'm 5' 7'' taller than most of my peeers. what really bothers me is i cant even hold a realationship because of my low self-esteem. my brother is20 and he is a personal trainer!!! fit as can be!!! but he lives in a diffrent state. two people just finally pissed me off about how i look by sayin "you're fine the way you are." we all know i'm not!! and i'm ready to start getting into shape. so i joined 24 hr fitness and i work out 4 days a week.. i really need help on healthy eathing though. i wasnt eatin enouph, and then i would eat to much!! please please help me!!! i want to be so sexy when im older to prove everybody that doubted me, wrong!! also i want to do this to boost my self connfidence. i want to lose 60 pounds in 8 months. is it physically possible??? please let me know. i really need to know. thanks for your support.

Yes. You can do it. You can get fit and, once you get a better self-esteem, you can be sexy. :)

Eat well, exercise, lift weights. It'll take time, but it is entirely possible to look better, feel better and get thinner. :) And do it all in a healthy manner to boot! :)

60 pounds in 8 months is a bit extreme but you've come to the right place. I lost 45 pounds in 11 months using the tools here. They're pretty good AND accurate. Find out what your calorie allowance is and try to hit that mark as best as you can every day! You should see results in no time.

Original Post by jonmin:

60 pounds in 8 months is a bit extreme but you've come to the right place. I lost 45 pounds in 11 months using the tools here. They're pretty good AND accurate. Find out what your calorie allowance is and try to hit that mark as best as you can every day! You should see results in no time.

An average of 1.875 pounds per week is extreme? Hmmm, I won't tell you I lost over 100 in 5 1/2 months.

Hi anonymous - You can do it!! Use the tools on this site and go for it. You're already well on your way if you are working out 4 times a week.

Are you a girl? The reason I ask is that I am 5'7" also, and I've been this tall since I was about 11 years old. I was taller than almost everyone I knew that was in my age range, until college. It can be a difficult time, I had a lot of self-esteem issues related to my height and feeling awkward and uncomfortable with my body. Hang in there and know this: now that I am 34 years old I LOVE MY HEIGHT! I think 5'7" is perfect for women :)

You can do this. Be positive. Use the tools here. And we're here to help you and support you, too.

xo,

Amy

Original Post by hkellick:

Yes. You can do it. You can get fit and, once you get a better self-esteem, you can be sexy. :)

Eat well, exercise, lift weights. It'll take time, but it is entirely possible to look better, feel better and get thinner. :) And do it all in a healthy manner to boot! :)

hk.. do you have to lift weights at like a gym or will just a few dumb bells for arm toning and squats with a lot of cardio work? I hate a gym. It's expensive and just yuk (small city.. only one gym.. ALL men) I have like dumb bells and an elliptical and ab lounge at my house with a LOT of work-out videos (Slimin 6, the firm, windsor pilates, tae-bo) Can I actually lose weight and be nice and tone without a gym.?

Absolutely you can do it. Stick with CC and anything is possible. I've lost almost 20 pounds in 2 and a half months. And I know it's cliche, but if I can do it, ANYBODY can!! You just have to DO it. As jonmin said, it may take a little longer than 8 months, but by then you should be very close to your goal. Just stick with it and come here for support. Good luck!

You can do it! it may take a little time, but you'll learn healthy habits that will benefit you for life. HOWEVER... Do NOT use the calculations from this site- since you are 16 they will be inaccurate and you could end up doing some permanent damage to your bones/muscles/heart by not eating enough while you're still developing. Find a TEEN calorie calculator- but definately come here for support and advice- the people are really knowledgeable and great about teen stuff too!! Good luck!

Original Post by stephaniebl:

Original Post by hkellick:

Yes. You can do it. You can get fit and, once you get a better self-esteem, you can be sexy. :)

Eat well, exercise, lift weights. It'll take time, but it is entirely possible to look better, feel better and get thinner. :) And do it all in a healthy manner to boot! :)

hk.. do you have to lift weights at like a gym or will just a few dumb bells for arm toning and squats with a lot of cardio work? I hate a gym. It's expensive and just yuk (small city.. only one gym.. ALL men) I have like dumb bells and an elliptical and ab lounge at my house with a LOT of work-out videos (Slimin 6, the firm, windsor pilates, tae-bo) Can I actually lose weight and be nice and tone without a gym.?

Uh...>.> <.< I WAS lifting weights through my gym (Washington Sports Center)

To answer your question, you can lose weight and tone without a gym. Can you afford barbells and dumbells? If not, what about exercise bands? Tae-Bo and all that can help, but to build muscle, you need resistance.

Mind you.. you can always exercise using the greatest tool you have.. your body. Crunches (and variations of that), Push-Ups, etc. 

good for you for starting so young!!!! thats GREAT news because that means you'll be able to get healthy and fit faster!!! this site is ALL ABOUT healthy eating!!!! everyone helps each other with alternatives, motivation, and ideas. its SO GREAT that you joined a gym and workout so much!! when i first started i did 4 days a week too! i think 60 pounds in 8 months is absolutely a safe and reasonable goal, since 2 lbs a week is the healthiest weight loss. did you know that the reason you overate all those times is because you were under eating before, and then your body was so starved for nutrients and that is why you over ate!

i dont know what your diet is like right now, but when i was overweight ans was ready to start my new lifestyle, i started simple. first, take out the worst stuff first:  soda, fried food, fast food, and chips. ALOT of people on here will tell you that after awhile, the cravings WILL subside (as long as you are good and dont give in!) once you get past giving those up, or if its easy for you, you can make your own modifications. alot of people will give up creamy salad dressing, white bread, white rice, pasta, anything high-calorie but low-nutrients.

lucky you to have access to a personal trainer without paying, lol! dont be afraid to ever call him and ask for advice! good luck starting out! i added you as a friend so message me any time for advice or just to talk!! :)

wow. it seems like we have so much in common! i feel exactly the same! im 17  5'5 and 250lbs. Ive been overweight my whole life. I just joined 24 hour fitness (well oz now) about 2 months ago. My brother also goes there and he is very fit and was into bodybuilding for a while. thats crazy. i want to get down to around 150lbs. Idk if it is possible? but maybe we could help keep each other motivated?
-Molly

Hi, quick answer...YES! It is possible! I wish you the best of luck. Just please do not get discouraged bc there will be times when you will hit a plateau, you will get through it. I am 5'7" as well. I want to lose 32 lbs in 6 months. If you want a buddy you can message me any time. I may have less I want to lose, but we can still buddy up

Of course you can! And you've definitely come to the right place. Whenever you feel like you need motivation, just come here. Good luck!!

Here's a post that was created back in March by two caring CC moms

Weight Management for Teens

I hope you find it useful! 

Yes, it’s definitely possible and you can do it.

There are all sorts of variables that come into losing weight, if this is the first time you have *seriously* taken on a diet and exercise regime then read loads, this is a great place, take everything with a pinch of salt (not literally, that won’t help your diet at all), and go with what feels good.  There will be good days and bad days, don’t beat yourself up over every little thing. 

Healthy eating is the way forward, good nutritious food, cut the crap so to speak!!  :o)  and joining the gym was a great step, try and find ways of keeping yourself motivated.  Don’t jump into it too quickly, people that have not exercised for a while and then embark on a strict programme are the ones most likely to fail, a little bit at a time, if you don’t feel like the gym on one day go for a walk in the park instead, it doesn’t matter. 

60lbs in 8 months is aggressive but not impossible, as I said, there are variables such as water weight, many people find that for the first few weeks weight just drops off, others (like me) don’t see anything for a month, perhaps longer, then the results come all at once.  Everyone’s body is different.  Don’t hate your body, a healthy diet is to improve it, not punish it. 

Your weight loss will come firstly from inside your head, a healthy mentality and of course you will be able to do it!!! 

Good luck. x

you could always think about joining a school sports team.  That's a really cheap way to get in shape, especially with the motivation of the rest of your teammates. 

Also?  Jogging is basically free, 'cept for the shoes.  Push ups, planks, those are free too.  And can be done in the privacy of your own home.  I started where you are, and lost over 55lbs so far.  You can totally do it.

I have BEEN THERE...trust me on that one. I am 5'5"...and at age 16, I weighed about 185 or so.

I am now 22 years old, and I am at 133. I dropped 50 pounds in a relatively short amount of time. My best advice to you is to stay motivated. 100 calorie packs, 40 calorie fudge bars...anything that's a treat with less calories will help you to not feel deprived and that you are still being treated to things....and the recipes on here are to die for!! :)

The workout that I have used and continue to use is something I found on an infomercial...Turbo Jam. It isn't the cheapest out there, but it truly DOES work.

Make sure that you alternate cardio with strength training. Strength training increases your lean muscle which in turn helps you to burn more fat.

Best of luck!!

So, use the tools at this site for healthy eating :) it worked for me.

And I don't want to piss people off, but really...the fact that you're asking if you'll be "sexy" is kind of a red flag for insecurity. Insecurity isn't sexy! Sexy is truly, in the eye of the beholder (or beerholder, haha) and it differs from person to person (dude, assuming that you're a straight female). Confidence is the key. And I believe when you lose weight you will get more confident because that's what happened when I joined and lost weight :) I'm back because I gained a little bit of it back, but I still have the confidence. Don't ask questions like "will I be sexy?" who knows. There are a lot of dudes who only find certain types of girls attractive. Scratch that, that's pretty much every dude. BUT most guys also find women of a healthy weight more attractive then overweight, to be honest.

So yes...umm eat right and congrats on going to the gym!

Something I told my cousin (who's your age and size) that I really hope she listens to is this:

FOCUS ON BEING A STRONG WOMAN! Get strong and fit, not just thin. Kick some ass and take some names. There's nothing sexier than confidence!

Now git on witcha bad self!

yes you can, if you keep it healthy weight loss.

I guess everyone else have spoken well;

my 2 cents:

• I agree with everyone that you are young and at a stage when your body is receptive to change, and should recover and respond well.
• Approach weight loss from a perspective of both image enhamcement as well as health improvement.
• Constantly reaffirm to yourself, the reason you are doing this, looking sexy is probably on the top of your list; but more importantly you are doing this coz your body and mind are not happy with the state you are in.
• Analyze your foods and eliminate excess salt and fat. Increase intake of natural foods.
• And remember that this is not something you can sprint through in 8 or 10 months; but a gradual marathon of lifestyle change that will initially seem uphill and frustrating but will slowly become a habit and a welcome presence in your improved, happier and healthier life.

I wish you good luck and remember that we are all working on it; some of us might not be overweight; but are dealing with other issues; like hypertension and/or cholesterol or diabetes, but the one thing we all have in common is that we are here working on a solution, facing the problem and formulating a solution

:)