Hey everyone,

I hope I can find some support or modifications to my brief plan. I weigh about 169 (I'm 5'4) and I am ready to start losing weight. I just need some motivation or words of wisdom to know that what I am doing will result in weightloss and that I am not wasting my time!

So prior to today all I did was study (I'm in school, finishing spring class in a week). My new plan consists of playing soccer sometimes 2x a week and adding in Jillian Michael's 30 DS maybe 2-3x a week. I also am trying to get outside and bike ride, walk my dogs quite a bit as well (that total a week would be 120 minutes at least).I will hopefully be getting a part-time job in a couple of weeks so that should keep me on my feet as well.

Meals-I have been eating less than I used to(healthy way of course). And cutting out needless snacks.


SO!! My question is--will adding all this help me out in the long run? My goal is to be down to at least 145ish by August. Would you suggest to add anything? (meal wise, exercise?)

Thanks for all your help.

Exercise is great, but food is going to be the critical thing. When you say that you will be eating 'less', what do you mean exactly? Do you have a diet plan?

Yes this. Ultimately weight loss comes overwhelmingly down to food intake. Exercise is important, but food is a much bigger part than most people realize.

DietVet-Thanks for your reply. I have consistently said I needed to lose weight and haven't committed because my mind always tells me that I won't be able to accomplish it, or that I won't lose any weight. I don't have any diet plans but below is the basic changes that I have made.
Anyway, I make sure I have breakfast in the morning either: oatmeal, scrambled eggs, or low fat yogurt with some fruits/almonds/little vector cereal..(it's all getting a little boring). Also, I've added in more vegetables. Before I could go a couple of days without realizing that I didn't eat a veggie yet. I've added in fruits and try to eat them during the day or afternoon. I've cut back on my meals, used to eat big meals. I do have a few setbacks with eating too much though. I've also cut back on eating bread. And, I switched from 1% to skim milk.

Anyway, in a nutshell, I don't count calories strictly as I find it makes me very paranoid and one time I cut back and counted everything and started to obsess with losing weight that I dropped it in an unhealthy way and gained it back quickly. So I'm just trying to be mindful of what I eat and how much.

My biggest issue is snacking, I love to snack...especially while studying. So sometimes I go overboard there but now i'll do a few almonds with a small handful of dried fruit, or some crispers or things like that.

Thank you Sontaikle for your reply.

Your changes in eating habits are an excellent way to start, and all the exercise you will be getting will help a lot too. But as other posters have said, your food intake will be the big part of your success. It's not enough to just eat healthy, though that is fantastic, but being mindful of how much you are eating will really be a key to weight loss. I tried to lose weight by just exercising and eating healthy, and didn't have much success until I actually started tracking my food. I realized all the snacks I was nibbling on during the day were adding up, and my portion sizes were out of whack.
Whether you want to formally track calories via an app or website, or you just casually note what and how much food you ate during the day in a notebook, a food diary of some sort will be so helpful, especially when you are just starting out. I think you are off to a terrific beginning, and think you will be really happy by August.

It's wonderful that you're eating healthier and being more active, that in itself is an accomplishment. But if you truly want to lose weight you need to be a bit more rigorous about your calorie intake. I don't like counting calories either, but it really helps you control how much you eat. After a while, you'll instinctively know how much each food is and you won't have to keep track of everything. A food diary is a great idea!

Thank you Gardend1va and Natasha22.

I am definitely being more active than I was a week ago. I hope that will help. I just need to watch my portions..I am adding wayy more vegetables which I am proud of (almost a salad a day..)

I thought I had lost a lb but I weighed myself 10 minutes ago and I am back where I was. I hope that is just because I weighed myself after eating a snack and drinking water! lol

Change your eating habits helps you to loss your weight. Eat only that time when you feel hungry and also eat simple food. Use only water and low sugar tea.

Haha, that IS because you had a snack and water. I recommend weighing yourself first thing in the morning (after pee and twosies if you'd like) to get your "true" weight. Also, keep in mind that sometimes eating sodium-laden food can cause you to be up in weight the next few days temporarily, so don't freak and just drink a bit more water whenever you're having a high sodium day.

It sounds like you're eating less and moving more, which is the big weight loss secret for like, 99% of the population. Echoing the others who said "weight loss is 85% diet 15% exercise" - though don't underestimate the power of getting fitter and stronger and more muscular!