Dieting: what should i aim for?

Question

I have been dieting for a month. i have lost 15 lbs, mostly from stopping my habit of drinking 3-5 cans of root beer a day, and i am now 192. i have started cutting calories too and it has been working. i was overweight. i am 5'9" and i do have big bones (no i'm not just saying that). What would be a good weight for me. BTW i am 18 and a girl if you can't tell that from the avatar.

Answer 1

Instead of focusing on a number right now focus on starting a healthy life style and getting active and eating a nutritious diet.  If you must think of a number, possibly set a goal of getting to 150 pounds in about 6 months.  

Keeping a food journal really does help.  It will give you a much better sense of how much you are eating, and when, and why.

Make a few additional small changes - walk everywhere, always use stairs instead of elevators, walk on escalators, get up and move around at least once an hour if your work or your life in general is sedentary, walk every day, use a pedometer. Walking 10,000 steps a day is a really good idea. Build up to a long brisk walk everyday, or most days.  Be more active and watch less TV and spend less time on the computer.   Buy one piece of exercise equipment to have at home and be strict with yourself about using it.   Sometimes you can find mini-steppers or exercise bikes at second hand stores and thrift stores for just a few dollars.

Start a weight lifting routine. It will help increase your metabolism and make you feel and look better in so many ways. Join a gym. Possibly you can find one that has someone who specializes in weight lifting programs for beginners. Weight lifting will increase your metabolism as well as improve posture and appearance overall.  Even if you can't get to the gym you can work out at home using things around the house.  A couple of the links I've included explain how.

In terms of diet, cut out or reduce things like junk food, pop, fat, fast food. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish.   Particularly if you choose a vegetarian lifestyle include natural peanut butter, hummus, dried fruit and nuts.  Pay close attention to getting the nutrients your body needs to be healthy.  

Make your portion sizes smaller.   Use a smaller plate - in our society we have become accustomed to thinking that we need a large plate of food at every meal, and we don't.  About quarter of your plate of food should be protein and at least half of it should be veggies.  

Learn to count calories.  At your current weight and activity level, you may need about 2000 calories or more to maintain your current weight. So you will lose weight at a reasonable and healthy rate if you cut back to about 1600 or 1700 calories a day.  

Eat small amounts frequently, rather than three large meals.  Never skip breakfast.  Include some protein in your breakfast.  It will help get you through the day.

Drink plenty of water, at least 8 big glasses of water a day, and more if it is very hot, if you sweat a lot, or if you are exercising intensely, and eliminate fruit juices.  Fruit juices have too many calories, so get your vitamins from fresh fruit, not the juice.  You will begin to see changes in your body.

Check out websites about nutrition, exercise, weight training, etc.  Here are a few helpful links.

http://www.nutrawatch.com/

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/

http://www.helpguide.org/life/healthy_ea...

http://www.wikihow.com/Lose-Weight-the-H...

http://weightloss.about.com/cs/fitness/a...

http://www.thepumpingstation.com/trainin...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/fe...

Answer 2

Well I have tried lots of diets and I can tell you I have found Weight Watchers is the best diet! You can find your local meetings and join that way or you can join on-line, however is more convenient for you! They have lots of wonderful recipes or if you don't like to cook you can buy the Weight Watchers TV Dinners. Most of them are really good and it conveniently tells you how many points are in the dinner. They also offer a wide variety of snacks as well! By the way Weight Watchers is a program where you are allowed so many points a day depending on your weight. They have a Points Tracker Calculator that you just type the calories, fats, and dietery fiber into it and it tells you how many points the food item is. It is easy to take to the grocery store or anywhere on the go! Also they have Restuarant Point Books that have all of the US major chain fast food and restuarants with the menus and point value of each entree or item! It is so simple and it really works! I lost almost 60 pounds in less than a year! It is a easy and healty way to lose the extra pounds! Hope this helps and good luck on the weight loss! Oh and by the way what you should weigh for your height and age according to Weight Watcher is 135 minimum and 155 maximum! Lots of luck!

Answer 3

i think 120 or 125 will be perfect 130 topss but if u want to go for 115 thats fine