Help me!!!!

Ok here's the deal.......I'm 25 5'3"( on a good day ) and I weigh about 175-180lbs. I need to lose so weight. I have always been a bit heavy at 160-165 and a size 10-12 but now i'm up to a size 14 and NOT loving it. I am an hourglass so it's not that bad, but I need to get healthier. I don't run/jog, work oout at all. I watch tv and cuddle with the animals. I know I need to start working out but everywhere I turn for advice is just depressing. I KNOW I need to move, but what should I do? I have NEVER exercized so this is all new to me. I love fruits and veggies, but I get killed at work with the take-out. This is your mission if you choose to accept it....


Help me make a realistic workout plan. I think something mild at first and that can increase as my fitness increases. Help me plan my meals. I work nights so my eating sched is soooooooo odd. I eat 1xa night at work and snack like mad, but when I'm at home I eat all the time. I just cut out caffine and have switched to Sprite and 7-Up. I know I should drink more water but again baby steps. PLEASE ladies I need help!!!! TIA I know if anybody can help you guys can!

Message edited 2/13/2008 5:33:22 AM.

Re: Help me!!!!

You have FM

Re: Help me!!!!

I agree that taking baby steps is the best way to go. My advice start off small and slowly increase what you are doing. For the first week, go to the gym 3-4 times. Your goal each day should be a minimum of 30-45 minutes of cardio. I am partial to running since it helped me lose about 10-15 lbs a few years ago, while the elliptical did not push me hard enough and I did not see any results. At first, walk the whole 30 minutes (unless you like runinng). The next day alternate walking and running and continue this trend. Eventually your endurance will increase and you should be able to run for the whole 30 minutes. Understand this is not a competition, so you do not have to be the fastest person on the treadmill. I am a true believer that running can/will transform your body.

Re: Help me!!!!

My approach has been to cut out or add something new every week.

For example-
Next week: cut out the soda but add a walk around the block

Then cut out processed snack foods (chips, twinkies etc) but add 3 bottles of water to your day


I find that breaking it up into smaller obtainiable goals is easier and you feel like you are accomplishing something

Re: Help me!!!!

Re: Help me!!!!

Thanks guys! I cut out fast food for lent so that seems to help. My question is what is a good balanced meal plan? I need easy breakfast foods I can eat on my way to work or that only take 5min in the morning/evening? What is a good luch that can be taken/made at work? What is a good dinner that can be taken/ate at work? I work 7p-7a so I need portable functional meals that are not always frozen. We have exersice equipment at work but I'm afraid to workout in front of people I know it's stupid but it's the truth. Should I look into a treadmil for home? I could run while I watch tv so that wouln't be to bad. Thanks for the advice and keep it coming!!!!!!

Re: Help me!!!!

I keep packages of instant oatmeal in my desk, cups of unsweetened applesauce, fiber one bars and ocassionally dried fruit/nuts (but rarely b/c I can eat dried pineapple like potato chips which kind of defeats the purpose )

For lunch I usually eat PB&J on whole wheat bread. - You just have to pay attention to how much PB&J you're using though !! - I don't have a microwave at work b/c we have a huge full service cafeteria in tbe building - so it's a PITA sometimes.
I loathe turkey and am not a huge cold cut person at all .........and I skeeve the salad bar b/c everything is always limp and room temp
I eat a lot of fruit, we do hae a small fridge on my floor so I bring lowfat cottage cheese and mix it with some cut up pineapple from the cafe's salad bar (I'm the weirdo that likes room temp fruit) ........

None of it is convenient, which is how/why I got here to begin with - I'm a lazy eater !!

But you can do it !!!

Re: Help me!!!!

You sound like me...I'm just a few inches taller but I also have a large frame.

I just joined a gym in Bayshore- if you're in the area we could be gym buddies

Re: Help me!!!!

It can be very overwleming to think about how much weight you want to lose overall. I agree with everyone about starting with small steps. A good first goal might be to lose 10% of your body weight. Even that small amount will make you healthier!

You should never be ashamed about exercising. A home treadmill is a great idea if you can afford it and will really use it. Sometimes it's more difficult to get motivated when the couch is calling you. I belong to a gym with people of all fitness levels. There are a few others out there too, depending on where you live. I belong to Planet Fitness and I've heard Curves is great too. Once you get into a routine and feel better and healthier, it will get easier.

For meals, you should make an effort to bring your lunch and dinner as much as possible. Eating out healthy can be really tough. I cook as much at home as possible and eat my dinner leftovers for lunch. There are some great recipes here and online that are healthy and easy to make. Good luck!

Re: Help me!!!!

i feel your pain with the take out at work! i get breakfast every day, but a low fat filling breakfast that you can order if everyone else is: egg whites, turkey and tomato on a whole wheat wrap (i like it with hot sauce). also the fruit and yogart parfaits from mcdonald's are low in fat. if you go to wendy's, get chili and a plain baked potato or side salad with fat free dressing. i am big into making salads lately with lite dressing and i'm also big into 6 inch heros from subway with no cheese or mayo and a bag of baked lays. ummm... green giant has frozen steam ready veggies that are quick and easy to make, i make that with plain chicken grilled on the george foreman with some bbq sauce for myself. i also make plain pasta with sauce, because i am watching my fat intake not my carbs so much. oh and soup is my saving grace - any broth based soup is low in fat. and surprisingly enough, pierogues - mrs t.'s brand in the frozen food section - the potato and cheddar kind are very low in fat. i make 7 up at night, and then reheat them the next day for lunch and it fills me.

i used to go to a gym but also was very self concious about working out in front of others... also, i can't afford a gym membership anymore but my husband and i did get an elliptical and when we had it in front of the tv, i did it about 5 times a week for half an hour and it definitely made a difference.

Message edited 2/15/2008 6:33:27 PM.

Re: Help me!!!!

Thanks ladies! At work we have a microwave, small fridge, stove and oven, but the stove/oven are out of my area and I only get 3 10-15min breaks so that's kinda out of the question. What are some good foods to take???? TIA!! I'll try not to be this needy all the time! And to answer a question..I live in MI