[ShotgunSally]

...Because I just can't let the rest of my life get away from me like this.

Hi everybody. I'm actually feeling a little sick posting this here, haha; like maybe I should just keep this to myself and hope that I actually follow through on my own. Or maybe like I should just open up a private blog and hope that what I'm doing is right.

At the same time, however, I know that this is what I need. I'm not strong yet; I need to give and receive support if I want to follow through with this and stop putting it off to next monday, next month, next year, whatever. I need encouragement and guidance, and maybe, this is the best place for me to get that?

I'm seventeen, 165 lbs, 5''8. I grew up and stopped growing when I was eleven years old as a twiggy, long-legged bean pole. With a burning metabolism that suddenly began to slow, my eating habits never quite developed with me and I jumped into my teens on a steady diet of Mr. Noodles and Coca Cola. I played on the computer all day. I didn't even think about exercising and as I put on weight, deluded myself into thinking that it wouldn't be a necessary part of being health. All I had to do was eat this soup, or this many calories, or that many carbs, or whatever, to lose weight. To look like the Victoria's Secret model I desperately wanted to be, to be a fitness model.

LOL. No.

Thankfully, I've come to the revelation that this is not a one-time thing. I can't eat cabbage soup for a week and look like a banging 10' the rest of my life. I can't have cheesecake for dinner anymore. (Sad, sad truth.) I do actually need to go outside once in a while and, you know, move around. Sweat a little. Get gross and human-like, with the sweating and all that. I need to socialize and make friend with the people who want what I want, rather than with people who want what I used to be. (While deluding themselves that they still really want what I want to.)

I'm not watching my weight as much as my inches and my endurance, though it's a bonus I suppose. I'm not watching my calories as much as my macros, though they tend to coincide. I'll post my training and diet program next, so I can hopefully get a decent critique from you more experienced members. =)

Motivation? Cosplay. As dorky as that sounds. XD And zombies, but that tends to fall a little on the back-burner as far as actual possibilities go.

TL;DR - Fat teenager is tired of being a fat teenager. Doesn't like the odds of this generation's survival rate. Is desperately planning to attempt lifting/cardio regimen to look decent for FanExpo 2013.

[ShotgunSally]

GOAL: Lose weight quickly (20-30 lbs of body fat) and bulk simultaneously. Increase running speed, flexibility, hours of sleep. Drink water like I'm actually supposed to. Increase overall health. Feel good!

EXERCISE:

DAY 1: Upper Body & Abs
DAY 2: Cardio
DAY 3: Arms & Abs
DAY 4: Cardio
DAY 5: Lower Body & Abs
DAY 6: Cardio*
DAY 7: Rest! (1hr gentle yoga)
*Additional swimming, weather permitting.

WARMUP & COOL DOWN
Stair raises: 2-3 minutes.
Jump Rope: 30 seconds
Jumping Jacks: 25 reps
Squats: 10 reps
Lunges: 5 reps
Wall Pushups: 5 reps

ARMS x2
Warmup
Pushups: 30 reps.
Pullups: 15-20 reps.
Dumbbell Press: 5 sets of 8-15 reps.
Dumbbell Rows: 5 sets of 8-10 reps.
Elevated Pushups: 30 reps.
Standing dumbbell curls: 5 sets of 8-10 reps.
Dumbbell concentration curls: 5 sets of 8-10 reps.
Cool down and stretch.

ABS x2
Plank: 1 minute.
Bicycle Crunches: 15 reps.
Side Plank: 30 seconds.
Bicycle Crunches: 15 reps.
Side Plank (Alternate): 30 seconds.
Big Donuts: 13 reps, each direction.
Hip-Ups: 15 reps.
V-Sit: 1 minute.

CARDIO
Warmup.
Physical activity: 30-45 minutes of real, genuine cardio! Dancing, swimming, running, etc.
Cool down and stretch.

LOWER BODY x2
Warm up
Squat: 20 reps
Lunges: 30 reps
Calf Raises: 40 reps
Wall Squat: 50 seconds
Jumping Jacks: 100 reps
Wall Squat: 50 seconds
Sumo Squats: 40 reps
Leg Raises: 30 reps
Squats: 20 reps
Cool down and stretch.

All I have to work with, for the time being, is a small dumbbell set (15 lbs) and a chin-up bar, so hopefully I can quickly expand my home gym and do some more interesting exercises. These are just the best ones I could find within my capabilities and equipment range, so. ^^ Any critiques? Good, or bad?

DIET:

•Eat roughly 1600 calories per day.
•Eat 165 grams of protein per day. (660 calories)
•Eat 66 grams of fats per day. (594 calories)
•Eat 100 grams of carbs per day. (400 calories)
•Plan and cook all meals for myself!
•Enjoy only 2 free/cheat meals per week, when desired.
•Have a protein shake/chocolate milk after each workout.

[Kscott]

At 17 years old you should be able to peel it off. I would suggest doing more cardio than weights at your age. 17 is a strong age and you should have no muscle atrophy. So cardio 4-5 times a week and maybe 1 to 2 times of body sculpting--(if you want?) If you're just starting--work up to the 4-5 times a week cardio so you don't burn out--but do at least 3 times a week--(45 minutes minimum cardio per session.)

If you watch how much you're eating (and I don't mean cabbage soup)--you'll be successful. For long term weight loss you need to incorporate everything--including chocolate cake--if you like it. IOW You can eat anything you want too--it's the amount of what you're eating that is the problem. So 1/2 size that piece of chocolate cake and other things you like. If you go to a restaurant for lunch--and they're giving you a portion of what would satisfy 2 people (which most restaurants do)--eat a little bit of it--take the rest home and eat it for dinner. Move to diet coke--you'll get used to it--and once you do--regular coke will taste weird to you. There's all kinds of things you can do--other than cabbage soup.

Where people run into problems is they're trying to diet like you are--fall off of this very restrictive--can't eat that type insanity diet--and then become yo-yo fanatics with their weight for decades. Learn to like your fruits--vegi's and protein.

As far as exercise make that your new good habit--and soon that turns into something you like to do. If you like sports--add a little of that too. Once you start a regular exercise routine--you can change it up-but NEVER stop exercising--because that's when you'll notice that those pounds are slowly coming back.

At your age, you have a metabolism--don't waste it! Make this your life-style change--and you won't have a problem with your weight for the rest of your life.