Hello. I'm new here - I'm 20 years old and weight 148 pounds. I have consistently been this weight (half a stone up or down) for about five years now. I've been working out for around 4 years, I do a mix of cardio and I do weights 3x a week (mainly on the machines.)
I have suffered from eating disorders constantly but this time I am determined to get to a healthy weight (goal weight is 122lbs) in a way that doesn't involve me harming body.
I really would appreciate some advice from someone that has a similar figure to me (I'm 5ft 7", and large boned) or has been through an eating disorder themselves.
21st Birthday is on the 14th March and I really want to lose about 14 lbs for then. Do others think this is realistic?
Currently I am aiming to eat 1,200 calories monday-Friday, 1,500 on Saturdays and Sundays. Workout 4x a week, burning 500 cals on cardio and doing various weights.
This is the first week and I know it's going to be SO HARD. I've tried and failed so many times to lose weight and I am so disheartened.
Please, just any encouragenment, tips and ways to curb a sweet tooth....
Lots of love.
Want to lose 26 pounds..please help..
Moderators: Boss Man, cassiegose
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Gillsflower
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I know it must be very, very hard to have been where you are, and had really powerful eating demons, but I would say we would like to know what and when you eat, and 1,200 a day is not ideal, but if you really feel you need to do that to start, then I certainly can't and won't push you to make a whole heap of changes from the getgo, unless you really feel ready for it 
.
No worries okay. You CAN do this, and you ARE worth it.
.No worries okay. You CAN do this, and you ARE worth it
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Gillsflower
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- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:57 am
Thanks for the reply!
Thanks for the positive messages. Firstly, no that is not me in the picture, it's Miranda Kerr who I think has the perfect body. I would put some pics up of myself but feeling too embarassed at the moment - maybe in half a stone's time! I am well toned on legs and arms but I have excess fat on stomach - too much sugar over the last few years has really taken it's toll and natural shape is to carry weight on stomach and chest rather than limbs.
Okay here are last few days meals:
MONDAY
Breakfast - Shredded wheat with skimmed milk, green tea.
Snack - 10g almonds
(half an hour later) a tangerine
Lunch - Nut cutlet, lettuce, tomato with balsamic vinegar.
Snack - Banana
Dinner - sauce made up of 1/2 can chopped tomatoes, 1/2 pepper, 1/2 onion, mushrooms and quorn mince, on top of boiled sweet potatoes and marrow.
Snack - tangerine
TUESDAY
Breakfast - shredded wheat
Snack - 1 apple
Lunch - x2 boiled eggs with 2 slices of Rye bread
sugar - free jelly, cup of tea with skimmed milk
Snack - almonds, and a banana half an hour later
Dinner - quorn grill with steamed brocolli, marrow with 2 teaspoons olive spread.
Small packet of raisins.
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast - 1 cup porridge
Snack - banana, then later an Eat Natural bar, cup of tea with skimmed milk
Lunch - Quorn grill, brocolli, brussel sprouts, 2 teaspoons olive spread.
Dinner - wholewheat pasta, pesto sauce, lettuce, tomato.
Peppermint tea.
As for workouts, because body has been used to eating more I am trying not to push myself too hard in the early phases. aim is to go four times a week,
at the moment I'm doing:
about 3 - 4 km on the treadmill on a slight incline, (about 20 minutes) normally takes me about 30 minutes to do 5 km if that helps you work out the speed.
About ten minutes on the cross trainer on a hill setting, another five on the bike, another 5 - 10 on the stepper and five on the rower.
As for weights I do leg extensions, leg presses and leg curls. I do shoulder presses and a few free weights for arms. I also do ab crunches.
Do you have any suggestions to improve workout? Is it better to focus more on weights or cardio to lose weight?
And do you have any help with the diet - like anything that would keep energy up or improve the nurients I'm getting - oh yes I take a Solgar multi vitamin too. I realise that I need to keep iron up as someone that hardly eats meat which is why I'm trying to eat brocolli, but are there any other ways I could get it in? Many thanks. xx
Okay here are last few days meals:
MONDAY
Breakfast - Shredded wheat with skimmed milk, green tea.
Snack - 10g almonds
(half an hour later) a tangerine
Lunch - Nut cutlet, lettuce, tomato with balsamic vinegar.
Snack - Banana
Dinner - sauce made up of 1/2 can chopped tomatoes, 1/2 pepper, 1/2 onion, mushrooms and quorn mince, on top of boiled sweet potatoes and marrow.
Snack - tangerine
TUESDAY
Breakfast - shredded wheat
Snack - 1 apple
Lunch - x2 boiled eggs with 2 slices of Rye bread
sugar - free jelly, cup of tea with skimmed milk
Snack - almonds, and a banana half an hour later
Dinner - quorn grill with steamed brocolli, marrow with 2 teaspoons olive spread.
Small packet of raisins.
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast - 1 cup porridge
Snack - banana, then later an Eat Natural bar, cup of tea with skimmed milk
Lunch - Quorn grill, brocolli, brussel sprouts, 2 teaspoons olive spread.
Dinner - wholewheat pasta, pesto sauce, lettuce, tomato.
Peppermint tea.
As for workouts, because body has been used to eating more I am trying not to push myself too hard in the early phases. aim is to go four times a week,
at the moment I'm doing:
about 3 - 4 km on the treadmill on a slight incline, (about 20 minutes) normally takes me about 30 minutes to do 5 km if that helps you work out the speed.
About ten minutes on the cross trainer on a hill setting, another five on the bike, another 5 - 10 on the stepper and five on the rower.
As for weights I do leg extensions, leg presses and leg curls. I do shoulder presses and a few free weights for arms. I also do ab crunches.
Do you have any suggestions to improve workout? Is it better to focus more on weights or cardio to lose weight?
And do you have any help with the diet - like anything that would keep energy up or improve the nurients I'm getting - oh yes I take a Solgar multi vitamin too. I realise that I need to keep iron up as someone that hardly eats meat which is why I'm trying to eat brocolli, but are there any other ways I could get it in? Many thanks. xx
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Gillsflower
- STARTING OUT
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:57 am
Re: Thanks for the reply!
I've made amendments to this one day only, as I think the methodology can be applied to other days as wellGillsflower wrote: MONDAY
Breakfast - Shredded wheat with skimmed milk, green tea.
(Need something like a bit of Turkey, Chicken, or Eggs perhaps, to boost your Protein content.)
Snack - 10g almonds
(half an hour later) a tangerine
(I'd have the Fruit first then the Almonds later, as the Fruit might get stuck in the Stomach with the Almonds and not digest properly.)
Lunch - Nut cutlet, lettuce, tomato with balsamic vinegar.
(You need more Protein here, and possibly your Carbs are a bit low.)
Snack - Banana
(I'd change this, as some of the Fructose could convert to Fat in the Liver, and you could have other sources of Carbs, like Beans, Lentils, Veggies, Cashews, Avocado, Peanuts, Low Fat Cheese, Flax, Tofu etc etc. With things like Lentils, Beans, Low Fat Cheese, Peanuts, Flax and Tofu, you get a good Amino acid intake as well, which would help with your Protein intake.)
Dinner - sauce made up of 1/2 can chopped tomatoes, 1/2 pepper, 1/2 onion, mushrooms and quorn mince, on top of boiled sweet potatoes and marrow.
(Good meal)
Snack - tangerine
(I'd change this for the reasons given earlier. You don't really need Fruit carbs in the Afternoon, and you have options as outlined above.)
.i personaly prefer your body shape to that of the woman in your avatar! im not into the stick thin look at all! but its your body after all, you have to live with it!Gillsflower wrote:P.s. I've put a picture of what I actually look like on profile, take a look if that helps you work out what work out I should be aiming for. xx
it's amazing how people don;t know where to start even when they know what the problem is...I am well toned on legs and arms but I have excess fat on stomach - too much sugar over the last few years has really taken it's toll and natural shape is to carry weight on stomach and chest rather than limbs.
anyway, is that you in the 2nd photo or not? even so, you (or she) looks fine...the littleest of tone ups and you'd be suprised
ptogram - search your body is a barbell by alwyn cosgrove and cut down the cardio, a lot...to like 2 x 10min intervak training sessions a wek (1min easy/1min hard x 5 cycles)
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cassiegose
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- Location: Prineville Oregon
Hi there,
I have been down the eating disorder road so I thought i would try to help here.
I don't think the 14 pound loss is unrealistic by your birthday if you really put 100% effort into it. The one problem that you might run into if you've had a history of disordered eating is a very confused and messed up metabolism. I struggled with an eating disorder for about 4 years and now have a VERY hard time losing weight. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I do want you to know that it is going to be a challenge to lose weight and it isn't going to happen over night.
I'm thinking that if you've been doing weights for 4 years and haven't seen results you seriously need to change up your routine. First of all... get off of those machines as they are crap. Shoot for body weight exercises and free weights. What are you doing for cardio? If youre just going in every day and hopping on the same machine, with the same resistance at the same pace this is not going to work. The body has an amazing ability to adapt to any exercise routine so in order to keep making progress you must consistantly change your routine.
For your sweet tooth... stay away from sweets and you should (for the most part) not crave them. It may take a week or two to get the cravings out of your system but if you stick it out and don't give in to any sweets you should find it easier to turn them down.
For calories... 1200 is not enough. If i were you I would shoot for more like 2000... sticking to whole grains, lean proteins and veggies. Probably one of the reasons that you've "tried and failed so many times" is because you were eating too few calories and your body simply can't live on only 1200 calories a day and be satisfied. Plus, only eating 1200 calories a day would completely shut down your metoblism. You want to feed your body, fuel your workouts, and get that metoblism revved. The only way to do this is by eating. I know the concept of eating more to lose weight is a completely strange and foreign idea (especially if you have a history of 's) but it truly does work.
I hope this helps. Good luck and please don't get discouraged. This is going to be a challenge, but remember.... Nothing worth fighting for comes easy!
Cassie :)
I have been down the eating disorder road so I thought i would try to help here.
I don't think the 14 pound loss is unrealistic by your birthday if you really put 100% effort into it. The one problem that you might run into if you've had a history of disordered eating is a very confused and messed up metabolism. I struggled with an eating disorder for about 4 years and now have a VERY hard time losing weight. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I do want you to know that it is going to be a challenge to lose weight and it isn't going to happen over night.
I'm thinking that if you've been doing weights for 4 years and haven't seen results you seriously need to change up your routine. First of all... get off of those machines as they are crap. Shoot for body weight exercises and free weights. What are you doing for cardio? If youre just going in every day and hopping on the same machine, with the same resistance at the same pace this is not going to work. The body has an amazing ability to adapt to any exercise routine so in order to keep making progress you must consistantly change your routine.
For your sweet tooth... stay away from sweets and you should (for the most part) not crave them. It may take a week or two to get the cravings out of your system but if you stick it out and don't give in to any sweets you should find it easier to turn them down.
For calories... 1200 is not enough. If i were you I would shoot for more like 2000... sticking to whole grains, lean proteins and veggies. Probably one of the reasons that you've "tried and failed so many times" is because you were eating too few calories and your body simply can't live on only 1200 calories a day and be satisfied. Plus, only eating 1200 calories a day would completely shut down your metoblism. You want to feed your body, fuel your workouts, and get that metoblism revved. The only way to do this is by eating. I know the concept of eating more to lose weight is a completely strange and foreign idea (especially if you have a history of 's) but it truly does work.
I hope this helps. Good luck and please don't get discouraged. This is going to be a challenge, but remember.... Nothing worth fighting for comes easy!
Cassie :)
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mastertrainer1
- STARTING OUT
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- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:17 am
Hi Gillian. You are half-way to your goal psychologically in that you have identified and acknowledged your problem. I can definitely help you. For half life I ate bad foods, gave in to impulse, and the only thing that kept me in some control was the fact that I developed the habit of training 3 to 4 times a week. Your problem is that of 'balance'. You obsess about your appearance and put too much stock in what others think. You wrote 'it's hard not to drink and eat fast food as a student'. It's hard because you try too hard to fit in. That's peer pressure, pure and simple. It sounds like you are educated enough about food and excercise, but need help on the emotional side. Becasue you have dealt with these destructive emotions for seven years, it may be hard to reverse without counseling.
Best of Luck,
Jim Cabeceiras
Best of Luck,
Jim Cabeceiras
Isnt Miranda Kerr a supermodel?? If so theres 2 things i would like to say.
1) these girls are born with that body type. You cannot change your body type and neither can I hunni.
2) she has an entourage of people keeping her looking like that and thats how she spends her time. Im sure, if you are anything like me, that you do not have the time, money etc to live the kind of lifestyle she does.
What you can do is work with what youve got and make the most of it. You have a nice figure and should embrace it. Sure work out and get fit and toned (im not saying that you arent ) but be realistic. You are what you are so dont waste your life wishing you were something else.
Im 27 now and was told recently by a colleague of mine in her late 30's that she wasted her 20's trying to change her body and has now wasted her thirties regretting not loving her body when she was in her 20's as, in hindsight, she was hot!!!!
Youre hot, so enjoy your bloody 20's.
1) these girls are born with that body type. You cannot change your body type and neither can I hunni.
2) she has an entourage of people keeping her looking like that and thats how she spends her time. Im sure, if you are anything like me, that you do not have the time, money etc to live the kind of lifestyle she does.
What you can do is work with what youve got and make the most of it. You have a nice figure and should embrace it. Sure work out and get fit and toned (im not saying that you arent
) but be realistic. You are what you are so dont waste your life wishing you were something else.Im 27 now and was told recently by a colleague of mine in her late 30's that she wasted her 20's trying to change her body and has now wasted her thirties regretting not loving her body when she was in her 20's as, in hindsight, she was hot!!!!
Youre hot, so enjoy your bloody 20's.
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Gillsflower
- STARTING OUT
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:57 am
Thanks
Hi everyone,
thanks so much for the tips and replies.
First off - I have only recently started using the machines again, previously I was using free weights and going to Body Pump classes. The reason I started using them again was because I struggle keeping arms aligned when using free weights/body weight resistance - when I try to do press ups for example I manage to get unbalanced and lose posistion!! As for stuff on legs - can anyone recommend me the best ones to do - lunges, squats etc. - and how to keep posture so they actually work!
As for comments on if I know what the problem is it shouldn't be hard to start - please understand that for me and people with EDs it is not anything like as simple - I know a heck of a lot about nutrition and what I SHOULD be eating and I can go through the day eating really well - then get totally engulfed in a depressive mood and eat an entire box of cereal, a packet of cookies, chocolate, ice cream and sit there crying and throwing it up. I just want to be in a position where I don't associate food with happiness and see it as you guys put it, like a fuel that helps body. I don't want to be like this anymore.
As for natural body shape, Clare I really am not sure what it is because of bizarre eating patterns. For the six years it has been a mixture of a low calorie intake one day and 6,000 the next. Neither of sisters have eating disorders, they both eat around 2,500 calories a day and are I would say around 10 pounds lighter than me. This is the only guess I can have at what shape would be like without all the damage I have done. And no you are totally right - I don't want to hate body in 20's, I want to be at a weight that is sustainable and healthy to maintain. I have hated body for long enough as it is and while I am fully aware a lot of the problems are in head I have to break this hideous pattern before I end up with no metabolism at all!
So, thanks everyone. I will keep you posted on progress. This week I have stuck to diet and workout exactly which for me IS progress (normally can't go without a binge for three days) - so things are looking up
Lots of love. xx
thanks so much for the tips and replies.
First off - I have only recently started using the machines again, previously I was using free weights and going to Body Pump classes. The reason I started using them again was because I struggle keeping arms aligned when using free weights/body weight resistance - when I try to do press ups for example I manage to get unbalanced and lose posistion!! As for stuff on legs - can anyone recommend me the best ones to do - lunges, squats etc. - and how to keep posture so they actually work!
As for comments on if I know what the problem is it shouldn't be hard to start - please understand that for me and people with EDs it is not anything like as simple - I know a heck of a lot about nutrition and what I SHOULD be eating and I can go through the day eating really well - then get totally engulfed in a depressive mood and eat an entire box of cereal, a packet of cookies, chocolate, ice cream and sit there crying and throwing it up. I just want to be in a position where I don't associate food with happiness and see it as you guys put it, like a fuel that helps body. I don't want to be like this anymore.
As for natural body shape, Clare I really am not sure what it is because of bizarre eating patterns. For the six years it has been a mixture of a low calorie intake one day and 6,000 the next. Neither of sisters have eating disorders, they both eat around 2,500 calories a day and are I would say around 10 pounds lighter than me. This is the only guess I can have at what shape would be like without all the damage I have done. And no you are totally right - I don't want to hate body in 20's, I want to be at a weight that is sustainable and healthy to maintain. I have hated body for long enough as it is and while I am fully aware a lot of the problems are in head I have to break this hideous pattern before I end up with no metabolism at all!
So, thanks everyone. I will keep you posted on progress. This week I have stuck to diet and workout exactly which for me IS progress (normally can't go without a binge for three days) - so things are looking up
Lots of love. xx
You sound like i did 5 years ago. Yes i have been in the binge/purge/starve cycle and have been 150lbs and 115lbs. Now im 127lbs and can comfortably maintain this. The best advice i have is to talk to a professional and eat a decent amount of calories. Id guess at your height 2000 is about right. Otherwise if you eat much less, like you said, your metabolism will be shot. So increase your calories slightly and for the time being allow some calories for the night time slump that i also know very well. Then gradually move those calories to earlier in the day and allow a small snack at night. It will become habit but will take time.
Anytime you need advice/a chat etc just post.
Anytime you need advice/a chat etc just post.