warning rant: weight freak out ahead. and exercise help

[Fran101]

Nothing like the look of "oh my god you are huge" on the face of all my relatives to send me into a stress frenzy.

I weighed 117 pounds before I got sent to connecticut. I need to get back there

maybe its because I look at myself everyday that I didnt notice that big of a change, but my oh my my family has noticed and I went to the doctors today and they measured my BMI (im 5'3) and I am BOREDERLINE HEALTHY/OVERWEIGHT! are you kidding me?!?! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN IN 5 FRIKIN MONTHS!!

I now weigh 143 pounds. I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate and dammit, freshman 15 or no, im ashamed of this. I can't believe I allowed this to happen. I studied hard and slept little and stuffed my face, of course it happened. its not like I dont see how or why but I AM FREAKING OUT

anyway, I have exactly one month in miami and I need the weight GONE. I dont care what I have to do at this point.

and now that I know the number and everything, i cant even look at myself. its like my mind is playing tricks on me or something but I feel like all of a sudden a veil has been lifted and now I look like a whale.

so i need to lose 26 pounds as fast as possible before I go nuts.

I already cut out the typical culprits.. bread, soda, fastfood, etc.. food im ok with, I know how to diet

but its the exercise that gets me..ive never really HAD to exercise and I dont really know how.. so what should I do as far as exercise? and how often?
I dont really have a gym near me but the weather is nice and im determined to get rid of this weight so stuff I could do at home or outside would be helpful.

I have some bad eating disorderish type tendencies that im really trying to avoid right now. but i am freaking out, to put it lightly. My mom keeps telling me that its not that big of a deal and that the weight will come off but that was only AFTER she saw me have a major meltdown. before she was all like "OH MY GOD FRANSHESKA!" with everybody else

I keep telling myself, its not that bad, it could be worse. but dammit, i cant believe I let this happen. its not like im really FAT, but im not happy with my body right now.. AT ALL!

Can we bring back the weight loss thread?? with the tickers?

so, the weather is really nice now. which is better, long walks or jogs or running? crunches? or should I stick to just cardio for now?

[bubbatd]

At least you are on top of it !!! Good luck !

[Romy]

Calm down. It took you 5 months to put it on, so give it 5 months (at least) to get it off. Don't go on any binge diets, they're really unhealthy.

And I'm sure you DON'T look like a whale, lol. All of my guy friends always told me boys like slightly chubby girls. And I know it wasn't because of my weight, because at 5'9" I was 115-120 lbs.

Just find some activities you enjoy that you think you can work into your schedule for physical activity. Is there a route around campus you can bike or jog once or twice a day? It needs to be something you like otherwise you'll burn yourself out and give up on it. Eat healthier foods, not box pizza, etc. You know all that stuff.

[ACooper]

DON'T try to take it all off in one month.......that is a very bad plan. Like Romy said, it took 5 months to put it on, so give yourself at LEAST a few months to take it off. If you do crash/fad you are likely to put it right back on PLUS more!

Just start cutting back, be sure to leave food on your plate (even if you would LIKE to finish it all, LOL) and get a little more exercise. It'll be gone before you know it

[Beanie]

Okay, first of all, that BMI stuff is crap. The BMI has absolutely no scientific data backing it as far as actual real health goes. The BMI scale was calculated by INSURANCE companies to figure out who had the biggest risk of DYING... not actually being healthy as far as weight and everything goes. So there's that one for you. Relax!


Next, find yourself a fun workout program. Try cardio for a minimum of 30 minutes a day. If you can do a full hour, do an hour, but depending on what all you are juggling you might not feel like you can squeeze an hour in.
ONLY do cardio every other day. The idea is to workout hard and work your muscles to exhaustion... which means you MUST let your body recover on the next day.
Weight training is good, I'm not talking about bulk-up-your-body kind of weight training, just weight training to tone your body. Do you have a health club or gym back at school that your college works with? The best thing to do when you're starting out is to work with a trainer who knows what they are talking about so you don't end up hurting yourself. Maybe once you get back to college you can find someone to work with.


Here's my current fave for workout music: Motion Traxx

Download these to your ipod or Zune or whatever mp3 player you have and work out to them. I currently have #8 - rev up results, interval mix on my Zune and work out to that. It's like 28 minutes of a "work out" but after all is said and done I'm usually on the elliptical for 30+ minutes. I see a WHOLE bunch of new ones I want to download and start using... I'm really used to the interval mix so I think it's not quite as fun these days because I anticipate all the changes in music and pace. I think I need to get some new stuff.
Anyway, the idea behind Motiontraxx is to let the music guide you and your pace when you workout. Music is SUCH a part of my life and who I am so it works for me. A 30 minute workout with those is WAY different than a 30 minute workout just watching TV or listening to a handful of tracks on my MP3 player. They're mixed together well so it flows nicely which is really helpful.

You don't have to run to them, you CAN walk to them. I use them on the elliptical because I don't have a treadmill and it's too darn icky to go outside and run these days... plus the elliptical is a far better workout than just walking. But the weather is far nicer where you are so I'd recommend going out to at least walk.

Also GET YOURSELF A NICE PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES... seriously. It's a well worth it investment. Best money I ever spent was on my ASICS. I bought them for agility but I use them whenever I work out now and they are so fantastic. I have falling arches, knee problems, and back problems, and those shoes are the only things that save me from serious pain after a run or workout.

Finally, I agree with Romy. Hoping to lose that much weight in a month is not only setting yourself up for failure, because it's not likely to happen, but if it DID happen it would be a really unhealthy way to drop pounds. If you are worried about eating disorder tendencies that is a BAD BAD BAD BAD plan.

[Giny]

I find you look amazing in your picture with Romeo.

Please be careful and loose the weight in a healthy way. You say you have some tendencies with eating disorders and you don't want to spiral down that path. Eat the correct amount of calories, in healthy foods, and do exercises you feel comfortable doing, whether it's running, walking. Long time goal is the key!

[Zoom]

Haven't you been working out with your figure skating coach? That routine is going to build muscle, which is going to make the scale look worse than it actually is. I also remember you saying that before you went to CT, you were thin but not really healthy. Now, you've got some actual meat on you...which trust me, you WANT during the winter!!

It'll come off when the weather warms up. Don't stress, that's usually the "anti-weight loss" way to go...

[GlassOnion]

Well first off 26 pounds in one month isn't realistic at all. It's generally about 2 pounds per week, so 8 pounds a month and thus 3 months at the least.

That said, humans also put on 'winter-weight' and also if you have been figure skating and what not, then you've put on muscle and If I recall correctly muscle weighs 1.6x more than fat.

[Renee750il]

Muscle does weigh significantly more than fat. How do your clothes fit? Check your measurements. That's the best way to keep tabs.

While you're home, take some long walks with Kenya.

[bubbatd]

I agree with Renee ! I know that most of my weight loss is muscle .Don't use it , you lose it !