I'm wondering what other peoples opinions are about my plan to lose weight and if i should change something. I'm 5'8 and 152 lbs. So for the past couple weeks I've been working out mon-fri, I usually work out for at least an hour to an hour and a half, I do hour long tae bo, or I run a few miles (usually 30 min) and go on the elliptical machine (30 mins also). I also do crunches and lift weights. oh and one thing is i'm not forcing myself to work out cause i like to work out.

I've also started eating healthier, I eat around 1500-2000 calories a day oh healthy foods, I make sure to get all of my food groups. I have to have atleast like 1 cookie or something everyday to stop me from pigging out at night though, is that ok? Is this a healthy way to lose weight, or will i lose weight doin this?

I'm not a genious, but I am pretty sure that the food pyramid isn't exactly the best way to be healthy. Try increasing your protein, and keeping your carbs as low as possible. At night, your body will to carbs into fat, so if you get them at all, have it in the morning.

I'll leave comments of crunches for others . . . I just walk the dog.

But it sounds good. One cookie is not going to break the bank by any means. I also tend towards low-carbing - favoring more veggies and fruits and minimizing grains (even whole grains) in favor of, say, legumes, if you want some heavier carbs.

People's bodies are different, so it is hard to say whether you will lose. It sounds good. See how it goes. If you need to tweek the program, maybe post a typical daily menu.

Good luck!

I personally think that telling someone who does up to an hour and a half of exercise a day that they should cut down their carbs is just irresponsible.

As for the biscuit, as long as it's counted in your calories I can't see a problem. If I have a few calories free in a day I use them for a treat as well.

Hello Lady Hawk, I think you're doing GREAT! You're weight loss should happen at a reasonable rate, which will be not too fast or too slow. I am assuming that you are also eating single servings and avoiding junk food...with the exception for the single cookie. (It's not like it's one of those huge ones, right?) The only thing that I would caution you about is the running. Be careful you don't over-do the exercise. Make sure you have the right running shoe and run in a safe area like a school track.

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Magpie