A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I'm 17 and about 5ft. I've wrote on here about my weight and everything but I need some advice of diets and losing weight.When I was 14 I weighed just over 7 stone and then put a bit of weight on when I was 16 so I was nearly 8 stone. I didn't put this weight on on purpose as I am extremely self conscious. However over the past year I have gained almost 2 stone. This has really affected my confidence and I am always wearing big hoodies to cover up, despite the weather. I think one of the reasons is because when I got with my boyfriend I didn't feel like I had to impress him because I felt comfortable around him so I wasn't watching what I was eating. He's noticed and also a lot of my family and friends have. I'm not picky with my food and I like almost all fruit and veg (except bananas :P) I'm at college so these diets where they say to have grilled chicken or something are quite difficult to do.Also because of the weight gain I have stretch marks on my hips, breasts and legs so if anyone knows how to get rid of these or make them fade it would be much appreciated. Just need advice on how to lose the weight and tone up and also how to get rid of stretch marks. Thanks in advance x
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female
reader, angelDlite +, writes (29 January 2011):
 hi
the stretch marks will fade to a pale colour when your body and skin shrink back down to size. you are young so your skin should respond well (it has elasticity)
to lose weight - cut out all the obviously naughty foods (cake, cookies, crisps, sugary drinks, sweets)
beware of 'low fat' foods (such as yoghurt and low fat deserts because what they lack in fat they often make up for in sugar to make them still taste good)
never eat more than a matchbox sized amount of cheese in a meal. its very very fatty. go for medium/mature cheese rather than mild, so you still get the very cheesy taste but can use less of it.
never eat white bread! bread should be eaten only moderately it is a refined carbohydrate which messes about with your insulin levels which is your 'hunger hormone' so it gives you an appetite (potatoes and white rice are the same) good foods are sweet potato brown rice and wholemeal(brown) bread and pasta
never eat crisps. they contain no nutrition, they CANNOT fill you up when your hungry, you might as well be eating fresh air (except in the case of crisps it is fresh air that will make you fat!)
junk food just makes you crave more of the same, so its better to totally cut it out.
drink plenty of water. good for your skin. AND the brain sometimes is confused! it is not very good at telling the difference between hunger and thirst, you may be convinced you are hungry but in fact a drink is what you need.
chocolate! this is actually good for you, but if you are a chocoholic and you wish to kick the habit - totally cut it out for 21 days and you will lose the craving for it permanently.
exercise regularly, even walking briskly is a good form of exercise, do SOMETHING, ANYTHING every day for at least half an hour
the good news is that because you are young you should soon be able to lose the weight without a problem and then you can just maintain it by eating sensibly. if you feel it is difficult to do on your own, ask your GP to refer you to a dietician, it is free of charge (at the moment!) on NHS
keep a food diary, write everything you eat, it helps you keep an eye on what you are actually eating
get to know the calories of food you eat, when you learn that a a piece of fruit contains less calories than a biscuit but is packed with vitamins and goodness, won't make you crave more sugary food, will fill you up more, will keep your skin in better condition, will help your mood and keep you slim you will realise the fruit is the best option!
read labels, any food that contains over 4g of fat in 100g is best avoided or at least only eaten occasionally. don't be fooled by cereal bars, some of them are no healthier than a chocolate bar. always read the nutrition label.
so there are some tips, but don't forget: life should be FUN too, don't just make it all about your weight coz that makes life boring! and DO NOT LOSE weight TOO FAST - this is how some people get left with loose skin. 1 to 2 lbs a week is a sensible amount to lose. and DO NOT get too thin! 'too thin' can look worse than 'too fat' a bony, gaunt face and body is not a good look, its nice to have a bit of cuddliness.
fruit, veg and pulses are great foods to get into the habit of eating, they contain lots of goodness and lots of them even contain anti-cancer agents!
xx
A
female
reader, dmartin89 +, writes (29 January 2011):
 Contrary to Universe Man s advice, it DOES matter what you eat.
You could eat all calories at McDonald's and stay within 1200, lose weight but what would it do to your body? Mess it up.
Everyone knows that frozen veggies lose nutrients through thd processing but as long as you are getting what you'd body needs it hardly matters. Fibre is important to keep you feeling full and for food digestion.
The reason I cut out pasta is because I get sugar cravings before bed after eating it for dinner/lunch. It's not the same as cutting out a food group. Complex carbs are essential in energy storage and release.
Get to know what your body actually wants when you feel hungry. When u am peckish, I find a small strip of grilled chicken and a bottle of water does wonders.
Exercise is paramount to getting the shape you wants.
As a student you should be able to get a concession rate which is a lit cheaper. My gym charge £22/month for students.
I work ou 5/6 times a week. It goes something like this..
10 min cycle to gym
20 mins on cross trainer, hill interval. I burn approx 350 cals
30 mins resistance training, legs, arms, back
10 mins steps with dumbells
20 mins core strength and stretching on mats
10mins lunges and squats
10 mins cycle home
(I don't run or jog because I have a problem with my left knee)
Bare in mind I weigh 200lbs. If I can do this, you definitely can.
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A
female
reader, island_babe  +, writes (29 January 2011):
 Cocoa butter helps really good iv had 2 kids and have been using cocoa butter for a month and cn tell you that my stretch marks have gone down hehe
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A
male
reader, Universe Man  +, writes (28 January 2011):
I have two simple points to share with you, and each of them goes against the mainstream understanding of diet and exercise.
The best exercise is extremely intense, very brief, and fairly infrequent. For instance, one workout routine might have you run 6 or 8 100-meter sprints (that means running as fast as you possibly can). Another might have you perform 3 to 5 big-movement weighted exercises (such as a bench press or a leg press), one set of each, with each set lasting about a minute and ending with a total inability to move the weight any further. Either of these workouts should leave you feeling like you want to die, should be performed no more than once a week, and should take no more than 15 minutes. Does that sound do-able? Google "high intensity training" and "high intensity interval training."
As for dieting, pay no mind to diets that would have you eliminate certain foods or eat lots of certain foods. This is all bullshit. A health professor recently went public with his having lost a significant amount of weight while eating nothing but Twinkies. He did it by eating only a certain amount of calories. I don't recommend eating junk food, but the key is not WHAT you eat, it's how MUCH you eat. Google "calorie calculator" and find out how many calories your body needs to stay at your current weight. Now start just a few hundred calories below that number, count carefully every calorie you eat, and don't exceed your goal calorie number. Eat sensibly, but don't torture yourself by totally giving up whatever calorie-rich foods you enjoy.
Don't fall for gimmicks, and don't follow mainstream wisdom. Mainstream wisdom will have you jogging all over creation, destroying your knees and boring you to tears, while fooling you into believing that if you just eat this certain magical food, or give up that certain worthless food, you'll be thin. People who follow mainstream wisdom are fat and miserable. Good luck.
As for the stretch marks, try coconut oil. While you're at it, cook with it--it's good for you.
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A
female
reader, dmartin89 +, writes (28 January 2011):
Hi,
I've put on 5 stone in the past 3 years so I have some idea of how you are feeling.
I too have awful stretchmarks and it was tough dealing with it.
However, through eating healthily with a treat now and again and exercising every day I have lost 28lbs in 3 months, and it was actually pretty easy when you get over the first few days with less sugar. I dont eat pasta or much potatoes anymore becuase it is unneccessary.
I fill my diet with lots of green and orange veg and multgrain bread and lean meats like turkey and chicken.
I also make myself eat a large and healthy filling breakfast.
I will have 2 slices of toast and jam for breakfast with a banana and a yogurt.
Soup and bread for lunch. Or a ham/chicken sandwich and salad. With a piece of fruit or 100 calorie snack bar.
Then for dinner I will have chicken or fish with a large portion of the veg I fancy and some new poatoes or a small baked potato.
If you are serious about shedding the extra fat from your body then you need to make a commitment to change your lifestyle, not jsut go on a diet.
Thet means saying no to certian foods, like any kind of fast food (subway is an exception). So college food that is full of fat is a no-no. Get some tuppaware containers and make your own food to take to college.
Watch your portion sizes, e.g. you should still be able to see some of your plate when all your food is on it.
A trick for portion control is to start off eating your meals on smaller plates.
Also, I only started to lose weight when I became congruent with myself, i.e. I accepted who and what I was. Making changes is easier and more effective when you know what it is you need to change, and how you have gotten yourself into the position you are in now.
As for the stretchmarks, they will fade and become faint, but they will always be there.
Stretch marks are also common when growing and in puberty, not just when putting on weight.
Remember that you are human and you are beautiful, everyone makes mistakes, and a lot of people are trying to hide themselves too. You are not the only one out there.
Uncover yourself, accept yourself and live your life to the full.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (28 January 2011): First off! You are at a perfect weight, your bmi is 21.9 which is healthy and normal. But I know where you are coming from. I find it most difficult at college because there are so many options at the buffet. So I ignore what the options are and just go for a soup and salad and if Im still hungry, I'll get some tea/coffee/fruit. Of course, I dont get just a soup or salad all nights, indulgence isnt a crime.
However, in your case, I'd focus most on exercising. Try going for walks everyday or every other day and running once or twice a week to start. If you have a gym, go there once a week. Start out slow.
Also! Bio Oil works great for stretch marks.
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A
female
reader, confusedice  +, writes (28 January 2011):
 My best advice is: Start training martial arts or some fighting sports. MMA, Krav maga, Karate, Taekwondo, Ju Jitsju, Kick box, boxing, Kung fu, Muay thai.You could also try to find some fitness courses at the gym near your home. :)And if you live with your parents, talk to them about the food they're buying. Find the healthiest juices, bread and so on and ask them to buy that every time they go shopping food.I love to make shakes in blender. With banana, strawberry and low fat yogurt. But you can find a lot of recipes online and there is no need for protein powder or what ever it's called.I know this one is boring but if you run 1 kilometer everyday you might see some changes on your body! And 1 kilometer isn't that much. It takes 3-10 minutes to run 1 km.But what I would do in your situation would be NOT EAT UNHEALTHY even though you think you deserve it because you had been training so much. And train some fighting sports. It's good for outrage too, you will feel good about yourself and you will be stronger and your confidence will be so big!
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A
female
reader, Hopless Tash +, writes (28 January 2011):
Hi,I have been in the same position with you and to be honest am still in the same situation. I went to slimming world for around 2 years but quit eventually. I think though the best thing you can do is maybe take your own food to college? Like soup in a flask or a salad or something? Also if you want a flatter belly try tensing it whenever you do anything, so even when your just walking around tense your belly the whole time and the stomach muscles will be worked. I also like doing squeezes (i sit on the floor put my legs up so they an upside down v shape and then put a pillow between my thighs and try to touch my knees together) this tones up the inner thigh muscles quite well. Stretch marks I have heard can be gotten rid of by using Bio Oil, but I have never tried it, or in fact mosturising them every night. I hope this helps :). Good luck with the weight loss xx
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