Total newbie

[steveymoom]

Hi there

I'm an 18 year old girl from England.

I'm currently having a year off before I go back to college in September, so I thought I'd use this time to focus on myself, my health and fitness!

I've always been quite tall for my age, but I think I stopped growing at 5'9" (unless I have a growth spurt!)

I've also always been a bit overweight, since I was little - just in the 'overweight' category on a BMI calculator, but over the last couple of years I've had a tough time (with the loss off a family member and a friend) and turned to comfort eating.

I hadn't checked my weight in a while, and I hadn't noticed myself gaining weight at all... Until I weighed myself today.

I'm a whopping 14st 6lbs... And my BMI is 29.8... Oops.

So I figured instead of getting upset about it, I should turn my upset into determination to exercise more and eat less and more healthily!

I know it might take a while, but my goal weight is 9st 6lbs.

I'd just like to be healthy, happy in myself and to stop just being 'the chubby one.'

Anyway, thanks for reading this far, any support/wisdom/tips would be greatly appreciated

Lara x

[gingernut49]

Hi Lara

I lost the three stone I needed to on the 5:2 Diet after watching Michael Mosley's excellent Horizon programme in 2012, "Eat, Fast and Live Longer" tinyurl.com/qzgo7tq or tinyurl.com/a8ppjl7 and went from a size 16 to a size 10 by eating 500 calories two non-consecutive days a week. I've been maintaining my weight loss since April 2013 by just fasting one day a week - in the past I piled the weight back on as soon as I finished 'dieting'. I'd very much recommend you read Kate Harrison's book, "The 5:2 Diet" (tinyurl.com/qe6mz4u) - it really does work and it will save you a fortune (towards your smaller clothes!).

I'd also very much recommend a free app for your phone called MyFitnessPal. Counting calories is very important so you can see how much you're eating and therefore eat mindfully rather than mindlessly. There are excellent videos in the Help section on the app that show you how it works - there's even a barcode reader to scan in branded foods.

It's important you don't eat more than your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) on non-fasting days. You can work that out here thefastdiet.co.uk/how-many-.... If yours works out at more than 2000 then aim at 2000 on non-fasting days.

This little video explains more youtu.be/W9Aj6hRYg4A(Not working as expected?)

It really does work!

[wiganer66]

Hello and welcome

[Windswept1]

nhs.uk/livewell/loseweight/... I lost weight using the advice on thissite and plan in snacks so I don't get too hungry.

Good luck with your journey.

How about trying c25k? healthunlocked.com/couchto5k

[LUVLEEJU]

Hi laura

Like gingernut i too have lost 2 stone 7 lb on the 5-2 diet have a little more to go but highly recomend this way of life.

GOOD LUCK with the weight loss and fitness ☺

[Penel]

If you now able to stop the comfort eating, that may be enough to help you lose weight. If you eat McDs or drink soda, perhaps keep them just for the weekend. Try to keep what you eat as natural as possible and not out of a packet. Healthy eating may be a better idea for you than a 'diet'.

Find some exercise you enjoy. If you have a Leisure centre near you, perhaps have a look at what they offer.

Hope you enjoy your year before going to college. Will you be earning some money, or finding something interesting to do in your community?