a big motivation for me - and this may or may not help ya - is how much money i save by eating healthier. i figured out how much i was spending on going out to eat (which typically = eating crappy food for me) and it was pretty shocking... now i go out far less, and i save lots of $$, so i use some of that money to do something nice for myself (besides going out to eat).

also, since i've graduated, i go out far less (so i rarely drink) and that helps a lot too with keeping a healthy weight/lifestyle.

i do know one girl who's tried Weight Watchers and she seemed to really like it.

[Edited on December 28, 2005 at 1:40 PM. Reason : zz]

12/28/2005 1:40:32 PM

thank you for all of the good advice! I'm going to the grocery store when I get back to Raleigh to start buying healthier foods to keep to snack on. I started a calorie journal and even in 2 days I'm seeing how calories add up so easily. Did you know there are 440 calories in a medium fry from Wendy's? I'd much rather eat a bunch of grapes or something. I'm not trying to be drastic with my eating habits, but I am choosing healthier alternatives to the snacks I used to eat. I haven't started a work out plan since I'm still at home, but my parents are going out of town tomorrow so with the extra time I can get started. I also haven't smoked but 3 times since I got here (on Friday) so that's good- maybe I can quit or at least cut back when I get back to Raleigh.

My apartment is on Lake Lynn- we have the trail around the lake and a gym on site. If anyone is interested in working out together let me know... the only thing can't do is run the trail- at least not yet. Let me know, and thanks again for the advice, all.

12/28/2005 8:51:19 PM

I would say that two big things to cut out of your diet would be french fries ans non-diet soft drinks. I lost a lot of weight switching from regular to diet Coke early soph year.

I should also mention that it's difficult to eat cheaply and healthy at fast food restaurants. It's ridiculously cheap to get a massive burger, fries and a drink. But try to get a chicken sandwich w/o mayo, Fruit salad and a diet coke from McDonalds and you'll break the bank.

12/28/2005 9:46:08 PM

it's actually cheaper to cut out fast food altogether

12/28/2005 10:00:45 PM

Yes, I know.

But for those of us in the work force, sometimes it's unavoidable.

[Edited on December 28, 2005 at 10:41 PM. Reason : .]

12/28/2005 10:39:44 PM

QUETI summed it all up very well. I did the same thing: cut back my caloric intake, wrote down what I ate (I mean everything, including condiments and drinks) for 2 weeks, and started exercising at the campus gym 3-4 times a week. I lost 80 pounds.

But more needs to be said.

Let's understand what happens in the body: calories measure the energy value of food. If you don't burn the food you eat for energy, it converts to body fat and is stored as a future energy source. Remember the law of conservation of energy here - energy never just disappears. So if you eat less food than your body needs, your body burns stored body fat as an energy source to keep going. 1 pound of body fat = 3,500 calories.

You also need to know that calories are found in carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Try to cut back on the fat you eat, since that turns into body fat easily if you don't burn it through activity, but I don't think eliminating it entirely is healthy or practical. Beware the higher sugar content of low-fat products. Eat carbs in the form of whole grains, fruit, and vegetables, which require more calories to digest than refined grains and sugars, and are better for your body. Low-carb diets are bullshit and you'll quickly get discouraged with them, so don't bother with them. Eat enough protein at all 3 meals, especially if you're strength training; it builds muscle and it keeps you feeling full since it digests slowly, and also doesn't spike your blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugar at a steady low level keeps you from feeling desperately hungry, which can lead to overeating. Get protein from lean meats and fish; nuts and peanuts have too much fat. Fish is excellent - very high protein and very low fat. Balance is the key, with a focus on restricting unhealthy stuff.

The 2000 calorie number may not be right for everyone. I recommend estimating your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which, if you're an average female, might be in the neighborhood of 1800 calories. This is the amount of calories your body needs just to stay alive for 24 hours, not including activity. So for a female I'd say maybe try to limit yourself to 1800 calories a day.

Exercise is very important for quicker results, but I strongly suggest strength-training (weights) in addition to the girly aerobic stuff. Why? Because muscle tissue burns calories at rest. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns.

You can, in theory, eat whatever you want as long as it's in small enough quantities, but I suggest eating healthy most of the time. That means minimizing refined, processed foods like white bread, white rice, white sugar, pasta made from white flour, and sweeteners like corn syrup. Be careful white potatoes, since they can spike your blood sugar and make you feel hungry suddenly. Trust me, you generally feel better when you eat healthy. Treat yourself to a very small sinful something (a cookie, a spoonful of ice cream) a few times a week to take the edge off, so you don't binge all of a sudden.

This all requires a great degree of self-control and discipline, which only you can supply, but if you stick to it it'll pay off. I lost 80 pounds in 10 months, starting at 280 and ending at 200 (I'm a 6' 2" male though). I wish you the best with your endeavor.

[Edited on December 28, 2005 at 10:55 PM. Reason : ::]

12/28/2005 10:50:29 PM

One more thing: I was concerned that you were talking about snacks. If you're going for weight loss, I recommend cutting down to 1 small snack a day, maybe between lunch and dinner, and only if you're hungry and can't make it to your next meal. 3 snacks in a day can add up to maybe 500 calories, which equals a pound of body fat after 7 days. Watch it with the snacking.

12/28/2005 10:57:42 PM

I wouldn't stop smoking if I were you. You'll be an irritable bitch AND gain weight. And nobody wants that.

12/28/2005 11:01:49 PM

^^snacking is NOT bad depending on what it is...5-6 small meals throughout the day is the best (which would equate to 2 or 3 snacks)

string cheese, fruit/veggies, and nuts are all healthy and easy snack ideas

12/28/2005 11:29:23 PM

Judging by the pictures, you do not need to lose weight.

Those calculators online are just estimates. Pay attention to yourself instead of those.

Now, that aside, it's great to take care of yourself by watching your eating habits and exercising, as discussed here--everyone can benefit from that. But for you to pay for a diet program would be ridiculous.

(On a side note, Weight Watchers is one of the few programs that has been clinically established to work.)

12/28/2005 11:43:31 PM

Quote :

"This all requires a great degree of self-control and discipline, which only you can supply, but if you stick to it it'll pay off. I lost 80 pounds in 10 months, starting at 280 and ending at 200 (I'm a 6' 2" male though). I wish you the best with your endeavor."

Jesus Christ people. This girl barely weighs more than the weight you lost (slight exagerration).

She doesn't need to keep a journal of every food she eats and how many calories she consumes unless she thinks she needs to do that to keep her honest. She just needs to exercise and eat better....find some enjoyable athletic activities and quit eating crap...bottom line. She doesn't need dietician type advice. Goodness.

12/28/2005 11:46:35 PM

ha....its about as hard to go from 140 to 110 then it is to go from 280 to 200.

a guy can probably eat 4k cals and still lose weight at 280. not to diminish your accomplishment, its still not easy, but the bigger you are, the less difficult it is to lose.

12/29/2005 2:48:32 AM

as far as your diet goes

if you dont already have this in it might as well pretty much know you should add peanut butter

great source of protein and the fats that come in it are the healthy fats(the kind for joints and shit)

12/29/2005 2:55:09 AM

i tell ya what BrookeRuff, i recently found out i've gained 15 pounds since june and thats gotta be like all the fast food french fries i eat, idk if its a 3am type thing or what but this thread at 3am just inspired me to put out my cigarette half way and dump out my soda for water

i bet if me and you started some challenge type thing to see who would get healthier quicker and better and who'd stick with it longer we'd both do better in the long run

12/29/2005 3:01:51 AM

12/29/2005 12:16:19 PM

and there would be more casual sex for all

12/29/2005 12:46:52 PM

Quote :

"if you dont already have this in it might as well pretty much know you should add peanut butter great source of protein and the fats that come in it are the healthy fats(the kind for joints and shit)"

add natural peanutbutter, or the no transfat kind.

most peanutbutter has trans fat in it.

My fav breakfast is a banana, 2 tblspns peanutbutter, and a small dallop of honey(and maybe some cinnamon). It really sticks with you.

12/29/2005 1:29:37 PM

Anybody wanna do National Body Challenge?

I'm gonna sign up for it

8wk pass to Bally Fitness!

http://www.health.discovery.com

12/29/2005 1:38:54 PM

also watch out for anything with HFCS or partially hydrogenated oils in it

12/29/2005 3:26:12 PM

i also extend my offer to liusclues cause that dude knows all about fitness and shit too

12/29/2005 4:11:16 PM

i don't need your challenge to stay in shape.

12/29/2005 8:47:43 PM

Quote :

"id assume not smoking anymore would be the first logical choice"

12/29/2005 9:35:50 PM