Ways to lose pounds fast
I had been cutting calories to lose fat but...?
My weight didn't even budge. I realize that it is because I am so close to my natural weight (just wanted to trim a few pounds of fat). I am 5'3" and weigh 121.5. I read that to lose weight in a healthy way I would have to consume about 1300 calories a day as opposed to about 1800 calories a day to maintain my current weight. I eight healthy foods and I jog for a half hour 6 days a week and do a little bit of weight and resistance every other day. Could it be that I need to eat more to lose the fat? I know that if the body does not consume enough calories it's metabolic rate slows. I've been doing this for about 3 months now. I will admit I do slip up on the 1300 calories sometimes but not by much and not too often. I plan on gaining muscle once I reach my goal of losing about 5 pounds. I don't think I'm fat, there are just some things I would like to fix such as a flatter stomach and firmer rear end and inner thighs. Any tips or insight? don't think I can afford going to a nutritionist or getting a personal trainer...sorry...probably gotta rule those out :(
Public Comments
- You should up your calories to no less than 1500-1700 since you're working out so much. Don't wait to lose the last 5 pounds before you start adding muscle! Muscle can actually push the fat out. If you're 5'3" and 121, you may want to have your body fat percentage calculated before you try to lose any more weight to make sure your not losing weight because your percentage is to low! For you, I would recommend seeing a nutritionist who will go over all you eat on a daily basis and help you design a plan that's best for you.
- Alright, there are a few things you need to know about losing weight. 1- How are you getting the 1300 calories? Eating smaller portions more often throughout the day can help keep your metabolism up which helps burn fat. If you need to add a few extra calories to make the meals, do so. Five small meals a day works fine. 2- How are you measuring your progress? Muscle weighs more than fat, so if all you're using to keep track of your progress is a scale, of course you're not seeing results. To get an accurate idea of how it's going, try taking a tape measure and measuring your arms, thighs, waist, and hips. Compare the results to see if you've toned the muscles. Another good way to tell is by looking in the mirror; do you look different? Do your clothes fit better? 3- You need to SWITCH IT UP. This is something that most people don't know, but you need to switch up your workout at least every two weeks, so your body won't get bored. If you start out with half an hour of running for cardio, you need to either add more time (about 15 min.) or change altogether. Dancing is an excellent way to both burn calories and gain muscle. I highly recommend going to www.exercisetv.tv and checking out some of their routines. Bellydancing is a good way to build muscle in your legs and abs and get them sexy and tones. 4- I usually advise people to steer away from calorie counting and label watching. Instead, add more WHOLE foods to your diet. A big hint that it's whole: you can eat it raw. Anything that's ok for you to eat raw is good for you. Anything that doesn't have a nutrition facts label, is usually good for you. And by that, I mean meat, like fish, pork, and beef. Make sure the fat content is low, and you'll be just fine. This kind of diet is good for you, and helps take the stress off label-watching. You won't have to pull your hair out or spend an extra hour on the treadmill agonizing over that extra 300 calories that snuck in, or the 10 grams of carbohydrates you accidentally ate. 5- Stay hydrated. Having a glass of water before every meal can help keep you well hydrated and cut down your appetite. I hope this has helped you, but here's a link to a question I answered that may be a little more detailed: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjO7gThsez3W529VvBlFnmHty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071028234009AALx3Tz&show=7#profile-info-sTV8fK4Raa http://www.exercisetv.tv/ And that's to help with your workouts.
