No clue where to start

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2004
No clue where to start
2
Thu, 08-11-2005 - 5:41pm

Hi all. I'm 17 years old and I want to lose some weight. I weigh about 165ish and I want to be about 130ish. I'm 5'1. I will be starting school in a bout a week and I need some advice on what I can do to try to lose weight, most of it by April or May of 2006.

At school we have a "salad bar" and fruit to eat, so I have that option for lunch. I also was wondering if anybody here has had good experience with using green tea as a weight loss tool.

I also need advice on low-intensity workouts I can do. I have mild scoliosis and neck problems so I need things that are low on lifting.

Please, please help me if you can.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Thu, 08-11-2005 - 10:44pm

Well, first off, don't feel like you're alone in this! I know exactly how you feel! 130 is also my goal, but I have a lot farther to go than you do, so don't get discouraged. Oh, and I'm also hoping to reach my goal by May 1, 2006. :)

I think that having a positive attitude has helped me a lot and is key to losing weight and keeping it off. What is your diet currently like? One thing that has really been helping me in the past couple of weeks has been tracking my progress. I've got a spreasheet that where I type in my weight and measurements and it generates a chart and calculates my BMI so I can track my progress. I think it really helps me to stay motivated to see things written down.

As for working out, I've become a big fan of walking. I wear a pedometer (I got it for $20) and I track the steps I take each day. My goal is a minimum of 10,000 steps and so far I've stuck to it. It's relatively easy, fits into my schedule, and I really believe that it will work (I'll have to keep you posted on that one though since I just started). If you're like I was, you're probably thinking that walking is lame and you could do something a lot harder. That's how I used to think, anyway, but I found that if my workouts were too intense and painful I really dreaded them and would avoid working out at all costs. I actually enjoy walking, and I can get a lot of things done while I'm working out (like shopping!).

Last thing I've been doing is reading that Dr. Phil book, the Ultimate Weight Loss Solution. I didn't think it would really be something I would like, but someone recommended it to me so I figured I'd give it a go. I got it for only $5 on ebay and actually, I think it's probably the best weight loss book I've had. It really cuts into your emotional and habitiual patterns with food, something none of the other books I've read have done.

Anyway, that's all I've got! I hope it helps you out a little and sure other posters will have some more advise.

-Nikki

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sun, 08-14-2005 - 10:32am

Hi and Welcome,


Sorry for posting late.

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