Hi everyone,
I'm joining this obviously because I want to lose weight. Your pictures and stories have been very helpful--and I think support and motivation is what I need. I know that its not dieting, its a life change. I hope you guys can help me out or just share your thoughts...heres my background.

I'm 20 years old and I feel like I'm just starting my awesome life--everything is awesome but my health and weight. I'm 5'3'' and 170lbs. I have no idea when this happened. In middle and high school i was on the basketball and volleyball team and I was fit. I had boyfriends and I was having a great time. Now, as you can see from the pic below, I've lost all my muscle and gained fat. My love life is negative. Half of me is upset, and the other half is angry! But Im going to take all that negative energy into my work outs. My problem is eating. I can work out like a fein with no problem, but when it comes to food I'm addicted. But, as my professor told me, the biggest failure is a quitter, Im going to try again to eat right. In september (when I go back to college) I am going to be studying abroad. I want to have the best time there, so I know I need to drop the weight--for that and for life. So this summer I am ready. I was hoping you guys could give me some advice or guidance. My plan is to eat 1200-1500 calories a day and walk every day for an hour, weight train 3x a week, and cardio 3x a week. Would that be a healthy lifestyle? And would I be able to drop the weight when summer ends? If not when? I was hoping to be in the 120-130 lb range.

Thank you for anyone who is reading this- I know its long, but Im almost at rock bottom and I need your powerful voices!

Emma

Hi Emma - I am new here too and have similar goals - have been motivated for four days now and I am 2lbs down already. You can do it! I am finding exercise is the answer to almost everything...think positive - you WILL succeed xx

I am so glad you are here. First of all, you have a body many women would die for. It's all relative! Secondly, I lost a ton of weight during study abroad. I really didn't have any to lose before going but when I got back my family and bodyfriend scarcely recognized me. If you are studying in Europe, you will be getting plenty of exercise.

Your plan sounds like a healthy one. Try to pack your nutrition with nutrient dense whole foods. You will stay satiated and healthy to boot if you plan carefully. Lastly, come here often. It's a true treasure trove of answers and support for your weightloss.

Look at that beautiful hourglass shape! I sure wish I could have looked that good in a two piece suit at 170!
You CAN do this!
Really!
And - 3FC is a GREAT resource on your journey

You GO girl in a bikini, I wish I looked that good! You'll find lots of support on this site. Here's to a healthier even more fabulous you!

Hi Emma
Welcome! There is alot of support here. I think its amazing that you are still young and recognizing now that you need to make a change. While many of us say we'd like to have your body, if you are not comfortable, then thats all that matters. Believe me, it may seem frustrating to you now. It is frustrating to me now, and I am 30 years older than you. I wish I had made that "lifestyle change" when I was your age.

I think you are right it is a lifestyle change. I have a young friend(23) who has gained 60 pounds. She would like to lose, but loves her Doritos and ranch dressing.

I am following South Beach diet. It would probably help you to do some reading. My problem is with bad carbs and sugar. I have found in 2 weeks without them that my cravings have gone away and I am losing weight.

What is great about these forums is that you can read alot of information and make a decision about what you want to do....and hopefully make some friends along the way.

Debbie R

Hi Emma!!! You can do it!!!

Welcome, Emma! I'm pretty sure I was exactly your weight when I was 20 (I'm 23 now - started at 156) and I basically yo-yoed all throughout college, losing weight over the summer and gaining it back in school. I had the same problem that you do: love exercise, but LOVE food and of course alcohol that comes with college life. I finally feel like I've turned my life around in the past 6 weeks and I couldn't be happier, but the main difference this time is that I'm fully committed to both exercise AND completely changing my food habits and even my attitude about food. I use thedailyplate to write down every single thing I eat and drink and am now pretty obsessed with cooking healthy food and making healthy snacks so I can still eat all the time and love food, but more for what it does for my body than how satisfying I think a cookie may be. I've lost about 10 pounds but I have a feeling it'll slow down and my journey to my goal weight will be a pretty long one, but that's ok because I hope to live the rest of my life like this, so what's another few months! Anyway, you have what it takes to succeed at this, so get started and come here often for great advice and info! Good luck!!

thank you all for your support! this is exactly what i needed...i think i will start this tommorow..im tired of waiting!

Hi and welcome!

There's no reason to wait. And any time you need a boost of confidence, you just come here and read.

Hello Emma, I am also new and have similar stats and goals!

I`m so glad that I have found this forum. I find it so difficult to do it on my own, w/a a support system, but just logging on and read peopels` posts a few minutes in the morning and a few minutes at night really helps!

So please do make sure to log on regularly to keep the memento going!

Stella

Hey Emma....I know it can be daunting to start something like this but just carry on with it, stay motivated - And remember that we're all here for you!!

Hello Emma

Your body looks good so try not to feel so bad about your self and low in confidence. I'm sure you could still find a boyfriend easily. It's good you've identified your issues and can now put those right. Be determined to put them right now. You can do it. Do something about it now so you can feel happier with yourself. I wish I hadn't given up so many times as I'd probably be thin by now if I hadn't even if it had taken me a long time to lose weight. Be determined and keep going and soon you will have a body you are happier with and more importantly you will be healthier and not have an addiction to food.

At your weight I'd guess you could expect to lose a pound per week. Normally 1-2lb is what most accept as ideal. While you're heaver you may lose more quickly and will slow down as you reach your goal weight so it's difficult to say how quickly you can lose weight. Weight that's lost slowly and sensibly is more likely to stay off. Also make sure you are eating enough - 1200 calories and so much exercise may be too little food. Check on the calories counters board to check if that's enough for you.

Hi Emma, welcome to the site!

Well done for taking the steps to getting advice and support - it's scary at first! You're body still looks great, so it's good that you have recognised that you're body is not happy with your lifestyle and are doing something about it before it gets too bad.

I would recommend learning about the effects of different food groups on your body and about how to eat a proper balanced diet, as it seems like your eating habits are the only thing to blame and can be easily righted to make you feel better about yourself.

Good luck with everything, see you around the forums!

Welcome Emma,
Walking an hour a day is great exercise, especially if you can do hill work then. Weights are great for toning and shaping once the fat is off. The cardio is up to you...I find that walking hills for an hour a day is plenty of cardio for me (but then I'm 47 now!). I lose about 2-3 lbs per week, eating 1200 calories a day and doing my walking.