If someone could just please give me their knowledge/opinion, I'd appreciate it! - Weight Loss Message Board

SweetAmy87 · 12-13-2007, 07:51 PM

Ok, I am 20 years old, female, 5'1 1/2. I'm not sure how much exactly I weight right now, but I think its around 150 :-/ Anyways, I'd like to lose at least 20 lbs and get down to 130, theres no real deadline for it because I'd just doing it to be healthier and happier about my body. For the last 5 days I have had 1200-1300 calories a day. Is this a good amount to lose weight? I dont want to eat too little and my body hold on to fat. I've done pretty good with it so far by just drinking alot of water and eating small, low calorie meals/snacks throughout the day and not eating after 8pm. Does this sound like a good plan so far? I know some of you are much wiser about nutrition and weight loss, I'm pretty new to it, and just to hear if you have any pros/cons about my plan would be really wonderful. Also, say I'm able to stick to this for a couple months and lose the weight that I want off. How do I not overeat again but increase my calories to MAINTAIN weight. If you go a long time on low calories and then increase them, do you gain weight super fast? How should it be done, gradually? Please give me advice, I really want to be successful:-) Thanks!

tUrRrRa · 12-13-2007, 10:27 PM

Hi there! I think 1200-1300 is a good amount for you to be eating for losing weight. I am 5'4" 125 pounds and was told that 1200 calories would be good for me to lose weight. When you are done losing the weight, you can probably move up the calories to 1500 or so to maintain. It's kind of something you have to try and see what works for you! 1500 calories did not make me lose weight so I had to go lower and see what works.

My best advice for not overeating and keeping off the weight would be to stay positive! Keep healthy snacks around that you actually enjoy... don't force yourself to eat foods you hate just because they are healthy. Keep junk foods away or buy it in a very small portion so you can still enjoy it without feeling guilty. Also, some people do a cheat day once a week so they don't feel deprived. Once I start to feel more confident about myself, I don't want to mess it up with eating bad and not exercising and usually I keep it up for the most part. Sure, I have my times I mess up, but I just try to get back to it!

SweetAmy87 · 12-13-2007, 10:35 PM

Thanks so much for the reply. I heard that you are never supposed to eat less than 1200?? does anyone know if thats true? I dont know im just worried that im gonna eat too little and its going to cause me to lose weight slower:-(

Ding · 12-14-2007, 03:52 AM

I think for sustained, noticeable weightloss its exercise that makes more of a difference than just calorie cutting. Take up jogging/running 3 times a week for example, aim for a steady, slow pace for as long a you can manage, aim to keep going for as long as you can, at least 20 minutes.

As you build up your fitness, your body becomes more efficient at using the food you take in as fuel, rather than storing it as fat. You'll become stronger and healthier, with more energy and motivation than if of you just cut calories (which i've always found leaves me tired and grumpy

) and in my experience you'll find you're more inclined to choose healthy foods after exercise.

SweetAmy87 · 12-14-2007, 08:22 AM

i despise running and really dont even have a place to run, is there any other kind of exercise i could do?