I need to lose about 20 lbs in less than 5 months. I don't eat unhealthy foods and I'm starting to do 30 minutes of aerobics and 25 minutes of fast pace walking (1.5 miles in distance).
i wouldnt look at it as losing 20 pounds, b/c muscle weighs more than fat - i'd look at it as fitting into your clothes and sculpting your body more so and losing inches...
Believe it or not, muscle and fat weigh the same! I never realized that "myth" wasn't true until I got my personal trainer's license! However, building muscle mass is a great idea, because the more muscle you have, the more efficiently your body burns calories. It's not a bad idea to add in some weights after you do your cardio for a few days a week. Also, I have been doing Weight Watchers to get my eating habits under control; they really advocate for a balanced diet-6 glasses of water, 5 servings of fruit and veggies, 1-2 servings of lean protein, 1-2 of dairy and essential oils. I pay $39.95 a month and can either go to meetings or track online (or both). I love it because it has forced me to look at what I eat a bit more honestly. Since I am eating better foods, I also feel tons better! I have lost 10 lbs in 5 weeks, which is a healthy pace. If you're up for a lifestyle change, I would recommend it!
Definitely try Weight Watchers. I ate healthy foods before and did okay with the exercise but it turns out I just needed a little help with portion control. I've lost 17 pounds in a little under 4 months and feel so much better. Your goal is totally do-able. Good luck!
"Weigh more" is an odd, non-specific term. Muscle is more dense, so if you have the same measurements, but you've grown muscle and lost fat, you would "weigh more".
I would definitly suggest adding 3 days of strength training into your workouts. I know it looks scarey to some people but if you hire a trainer for a few sessions (or more if you can afford it) to show you some exercises and make sure you are doing them properly your weight loss will be so much quicker and easier.
Cardio is great - aim for 30 minutes 3 days a week. You can alternate one weight day and then one cardio day, and take one day of rest!
I would also recommend yoga if you have the time (or interest) it's a great supplement to a weight training program as lifting weights often makes you lose flexibility.
I know some girls are afraid to lift weights because they will look "manly" but I have been lifting the heaviest weights I possible can for years and I don't think I will ever look like a man!
Let me know if you have any more questions - I'm obsessed with fitness and nutrition!
I agree that you should get a personal trainer (I had a great one at the local YMCA, a college gym, and an at home trainer who was just starting out). I've always done cardio (run with a friend 3x a week) but my body started seeing quick results once I got a trainer and started doing squats and lifting weights. My body felt incredible and as your muscles repair/build in the days following a workout, they burn a lot of calories!
My FI started Alli (the over-the-counter weight loss pill) in January and has lost 13 pounds in 3 months. He is also running at least 3 times a week, and we are now bringing healthy lunches to work (saves money and calories).
Finally, you say that you are eating healthy - but a lot of people think they are eating healthy, but really aren't. Track all the foods that you eat and use an online tool to calculate your daily calories to make sure you aren't getting too many or too few.
Muscle is more dense than fat, so you might not lose pounds but still shrink inches.
I started serious weight lifting with my fiance about 3 months ago. He had tried to get me to for a long time, but I was really worried about bulking up. Well, he sent me a bunch of links on the subject and now I love it! I am super toned and feel really strong. I also mix in pilates and cardio. Don't feel afraid of weight - you can do a lot more than you think. But you do need to make sure you learn proper technique whether that be from a trainer or someone else who really knows what they are doing.
We eat small portions several time a day to regulate blood sugar and keep the metabolism going. It seems to be working!
Get a STEPCOUNTER I live by mine- you have to get 10,000 steps a day to be healthy and it works- I have walked off the pouds literally- 15 lbs gone-
also I buy fruits and veggies on the weekend and I tupperware them- like a take grapes off the stock and wash them and box them, I cut the strawberries so they are ready to eat, I cut cucumber slices intead of leaving the whole thing in the fridge etc. It takes about an hour but when you open the fridge you see a colorful array of healthy foods
also i recommend yogurt and banana and granola a small bowl for breakfast- it is filling and healthy.
If you're looking for a great online tool to track what you eat, check out myfooddiary.com! They also have lots of message boards with a few Brides to Be groups.
Weight Watchers has really taught me about portion control, getting the right amount of fruits, veggies, calcium, fiber, etc. in my diet, and eating well rounded meals. Adding up the points makes things really easy and you quickly learn which foods give you the "most bang for your buck" as far as low points without feeling starving. I have lost about 7 pounds.... Mr. Cupcake has lost over 20 in 2.5 months!
I use fitday.com for calorie maintenance... it allows you to track what you eat along with tracking your calorie burning with excercise and day to day lifestyle. Also I am a big fan of global healing centers Oxy-Powder www.ghchealth.com to really give your body a fresh start!!! Good Luck!
I lost 20 pounds in 8 months with Sparkpeople.com. It is similar to WeightWatchers in that it teaches a healthy lifestyle, not just a "diet". Many people lose the weight faster than I did, but you shouldn't be losing more than 1-2 pounds a week. They have great Brides-to-be groups, and you can challenge yourself as much as you want. Good luck!
You can safely lose about a pound a week by cutting minimal calories daily and upping your exercise. If you're overweight or just getting started in fitness, you may find that you can lose weight more quickly but you will plateu fairly fast.
Be aware that as you exercise you will be gaining muscle mass as you lose fat. So it might not look like you are dropping lbs but you will see it in how your clothes fit.
A good way to track your progress is to get a hydrostatic (i.e. 'dunk tank') body fat test when you start on your fitness program. It will tell you how much body fat versus lean mass that you have. It will also tell you how many calories you burn in a day and what you should do in order to effectively lose fat (NOT LEAN MASS).
A lot of people don't realize that when they start seriously cutting calories, they also lose muscle in addition to fat, particularly if they are sedentary.
here's another link that is free for food and exercise logging towards your weight goal. http://www.myfitnesspal.com. it also has a support group there for questions and answers.
I need to lose about 20 lbs in less than 5 months. I don't eat unhealthy foods and I'm starting to do 30 minutes of aerobics and 25 minutes of fast pace walking (1.5 miles in distance).
Suggestions please?
posted by MayGrad 34 posts 7 months agoIf you have the money, a personal trainer is well worth the cost.
posted by caliocteach 720 posts 7 months agoi wouldnt look at it as losing 20 pounds, b/c muscle weighs more than fat - i'd look at it as fitting into your clothes and sculpting your body more so and losing inches...
good luck!!
posted by Anti-Zilla 385 posts 7 months agoBelieve it or not, muscle and fat weigh the same! I never realized that "myth" wasn't true until I got my personal trainer's license! However, building muscle mass is a great idea, because the more muscle you have, the more efficiently your body burns calories. It's not a bad idea to add in some weights after you do your cardio for a few days a week. Also, I have been doing Weight Watchers to get my eating habits under control; they really advocate for a balanced diet-6 glasses of water, 5 servings of fruit and veggies, 1-2 servings of lean protein, 1-2 of dairy and essential oils. I pay $39.95 a month and can either go to meetings or track online (or both). I love it because it has forced me to look at what I eat a bit more honestly. Since I am eating better foods, I also feel tons better! I have lost 10 lbs in 5 weeks, which is a healthy pace. If you're up for a lifestyle change, I would recommend it!
posted by ErinMarieMack 265 posts 7 months agoI Would take up pilates to get a leaner look if you tend to bulk up. Weights are good at burning calories fast since it targets certain muscles.
posted by mamamiya 140 posts 7 months agoWeight Watchers...you will find your goal quite reasonable to accomplish on their plan. Worked for me!
posted by snmcdowell 467 posts 7 months agoDefinitely try Weight Watchers. I ate healthy foods before and did okay with the exercise but it turns out I just needed a little help with portion control. I've lost 17 pounds in a little under 4 months and feel so much better. Your goal is totally do-able. Good luck!
posted by DaisyGirl 15 posts 7 months ago"Weigh more" is an odd, non-specific term. Muscle is more dense, so if you have the same measurements, but you've grown muscle and lost fat, you would "weigh more".
posted by facinatingbaubl 5 posts 7 months agoI would definitly suggest adding 3 days of strength training into your workouts. I know it looks scarey to some people but if you hire a trainer for a few sessions (or more if you can afford it) to show you some exercises and make sure you are doing them properly your weight loss will be so much quicker and easier.
Cardio is great - aim for 30 minutes 3 days a week. You can alternate one weight day and then one cardio day, and take one day of rest!
I would also recommend yoga if you have the time (or interest) it's a great supplement to a weight training program as lifting weights often makes you lose flexibility.
I know some girls are afraid to lift weights because they will look "manly" but I have been lifting the heaviest weights I possible can for years and I don't think I will ever look like a man!
Let me know if you have any more questions - I'm obsessed with fitness and nutrition!
posted by MsB 212 posts 7 months agoI agree that you should get a personal trainer (I had a great one at the local YMCA, a college gym, and an at home trainer who was just starting out). I've always done cardio (run with a friend 3x a week) but my body started seeing quick results once I got a trainer and started doing squats and lifting weights. My body felt incredible and as your muscles repair/build in the days following a workout, they burn a lot of calories!
My FI started Alli (the over-the-counter weight loss pill) in January and has lost 13 pounds in 3 months. He is also running at least 3 times a week, and we are now bringing healthy lunches to work (saves money and calories).
Finally, you say that you are eating healthy - but a lot of people think they are eating healthy, but really aren't. Track all the foods that you eat and use an online tool to calculate your daily calories to make sure you aren't getting too many or too few.
Good luck!
posted by enmoore66 217 posts 7 months agoMuscle is more dense than fat, so you might not lose pounds but still shrink inches.
I started serious weight lifting with my fiance about 3 months ago. He had tried to get me to for a long time, but I was really worried about bulking up. Well, he sent me a bunch of links on the subject and now I love it! I am super toned and feel really strong. I also mix in pilates and cardio. Don't feel afraid of weight - you can do a lot more than you think. But you do need to make sure you learn proper technique whether that be from a trainer or someone else who really knows what they are doing.
We eat small portions several time a day to regulate blood sugar and keep the metabolism going. It seems to be working!
posted by Janna19 343 posts 7 months agoGet a STEPCOUNTER I live by mine- you have to get 10,000 steps a day to be healthy and it works- I have walked off the pouds literally- 15 lbs gone-
also I buy fruits and veggies on the weekend and I tupperware them- like a take grapes off the stock and wash them and box them, I cut the strawberries so they are ready to eat, I cut cucumber slices intead of leaving the whole thing in the fridge etc. It takes about an hour but when you open the fridge you see a colorful array of healthy foods
also i recommend yogurt and banana and granola a small bowl for breakfast- it is filling and healthy.
posted by IndianBride 179 posts 7 months agoIf you're looking for a great online tool to track what you eat, check out myfooddiary.com! They also have lots of message boards with a few Brides to Be groups.
posted by proBM2008 50 posts 7 months agoWeight Watchers has really taught me about portion control, getting the right amount of fruits, veggies, calcium, fiber, etc. in my diet, and eating well rounded meals. Adding up the points makes things really easy and you quickly learn which foods give you the "most bang for your buck" as far as low points without feeling starving. I have lost about 7 pounds.... Mr. Cupcake has lost over 20 in 2.5 months!
posted by cupcake 274 posts 7 months agoI use fitday.com for calorie maintenance... it allows you to track what you eat along with tracking your calorie burning with excercise and day to day lifestyle. Also I am a big fan of global healing centers Oxy-Powder www.ghchealth.com to really give your body a fresh start!!! Good Luck!
posted by karianne 25 posts 7 months agoI lost 20 pounds in 8 months with Sparkpeople.com. It is similar to WeightWatchers in that it teaches a healthy lifestyle, not just a "diet". Many people lose the weight faster than I did, but you shouldn't be losing more than 1-2 pounds a week. They have great Brides-to-be groups, and you can challenge yourself as much as you want. Good luck!
posted by kleverkira 139 posts 7 months agoYou can safely lose about a pound a week by cutting minimal calories daily and upping your exercise. If you're overweight or just getting started in fitness, you may find that you can lose weight more quickly but you will plateu fairly fast.
Be aware that as you exercise you will be gaining muscle mass as you lose fat. So it might not look like you are dropping lbs but you will see it in how your clothes fit.
A good way to track your progress is to get a hydrostatic (i.e. 'dunk tank') body fat test when you start on your fitness program. It will tell you how much body fat versus lean mass that you have. It will also tell you how many calories you burn in a day and what you should do in order to effectively lose fat (NOT LEAN MASS).
A lot of people don't realize that when they start seriously cutting calories, they also lose muscle in addition to fat, particularly if they are sedentary.
Anyway, good luck to you!
posted by cherrypie 73 posts 7 months agoHate to say it...calorie counting! Aim for less than 2000 daily. Watch what you eat too...less sugar, low fat. Drink lots of water.
www.trainwithmeonline.com if you can't afford/don't want a trainer.
Make sure to have weight training and cardio in your exercise routine!
posted by reesey 68 posts 7 months agoI also recommend weight watchers!
posted by TallBride 581 posts 7 months agohere's another link that is free for food and exercise logging towards your weight goal. http://www.myfitnesspal.com. it also has a support group there for questions and answers.
posted by melbride 95 posts 7 months ago