Finally... I am committed.

I need help fast too.  I am at the extreme.  I am 26 years old and I weigh 187 lbs.  I started working out at the RDV Sportsplex and eating right about over a week ago.  I was 191 lbs. when I started.  Here is my workout schedule:
Monday -- 1hr boot camp
Tuesday -- 1hr yoga and 1hr step
Wednesday -- 1hr spinning
Thursday -- 1hr dance cardio and 1hr boxing
Friday -- 1hr spinning and 1hr swimming
Saturday -- 1hr power pump

I am trying to lose weight.  I eat really healthy.  Here is my meal plan:
breakfast -- great measure cereal with nonfat milk or eggs and wheat toast
snack -- banana or yogurt
lunch -- veggie wrap or veggie hotdog with wheat bread or wrap
snack -- carrots or a big apple
dinner -- differs but usually under 600cals

I usually get about 1200-1300cals a day.  In the first 3 days, I went down to 185lbs, and since then I either maintain and increase.  I see alot of people talking about undereating and overexercising.  I feel I may fit that category.

Could you answer a few questions for me?
I am 26yrs old, 5'7, and 187lbs.  How many calories should I get a day?  Should I incorporate a protein shake into my diet because I am vegetarian?  If so, what do you recommend?  Should I take any supplements?  If so, which do you recommend?

What type of exercise program should I be in?  Should I get a personal trainer?  Most of my exercise is group because that is where I feel most motivated?

I want to schedule to meet with my doctor to have some test done?  Which should I ask for?

Thanks,

Orlando's Future Fitness Star.

[micaela27]

a few comments and observations:

1) you're exercising WAY too much.  that's a ridiculously overscheduled list of activities!  cut back to doing a class 4 or 5 times a week, not 9 hours in a week like you currently are.  going crazy all at once is not the way to make lasting and healthy changes to your body.

2) i can't tell you how many calories you need to eat (it entirely depends on your activity level, your basal metabolic rate, your body composition and the source of the calories), but i can tell you that 12-1300 calories daily is definitely not enough.  your body is entering starvation mode and you won't lose a pound if you keep this up - not to mention you'll be overextending your body and possibly doing damage at the same time.  use your hunger level as a gauge.  if you're weak and starving, eat more.  if you're not hungry, don't force yourself to eat an extra few hundred calories.  your body usually does a pretty good job of letting you know when it requires more food.

3) the protein shake is a great idea!  vegetarians usually struggle to meet their protein goals (i was veg for 2 years in college - i know!) and they are usually a good mid afternoon pick me up snack!

4) if you're going to take a supplement, a multivitamin with enough B12 is probably the only thing you need.  a fish oil supplement would be the only other item i'd suggest you look into.

why do you think you need to schedule tests with your doctor?  it's not that tests are bad, but are you expecting him to say "aha!  this is why you're not losing the weight!"??  i'm a huge proponent of getting regular bloodwork, but don't expect a magic answer to your weight loss woes to appear in the results.

if and when you do get bloodwork, have your thyroid hormones tested.  that's a very important aspect to understanding your current health status and women are much more susceptible to thyroid issues than men are, so have that one done for sure!

i also love group exercising.  it IS very motivating!  if that works for you too, stick with it!!

[presunn]

Thanks sooo much for your advice.  I really appreciate it.  I am going to get my thyroid checked for sure.  I also want to get some bloodwork done because I like being in the know.

Yeah -- you are right about exercising.  Since I posted I have slowed down alot.  I thought that may be the case.  I went to my spinning classes (m/f 1hr.) and just walked 30 mins on the treadmill the rest of the week.  I lost 3 lbs too so I was sooo excited :)  I didnt really change my eating style.

Thanks for the advice on the protein and supplements.  I actually found a forum on here about B12 and HCG and I actually have an appointment Nov 29th to get a consultation for HCG -- from the research I did -- it seems to work really really well with weightloss.  do you know anything about that?

[micaela27]

human chorionic gonadotropin?  you've got to be kidding me!  HCG is the hormone that women release (and is detected in home preg tests) when they first become pregnant.  i have no reason to expect it would have any effect on weight loss, but even if it does... what's the point?  you're going to go on a hormone supplement to help you lose weight????  really??

the whole point of my post was to suggest you SLOW DOWN - not take hormone supplements!  you sound absolutely desperate to lose this weight and i can guarantee you your body will hate you for being so relentless and reckless with your health.

please, honey...  slow down, take a deep breath, and go about your weight loss goals in a realistic, natural and permanent way.  skip the HCG and let your body lose the weight on its own schedule and with good old fashioned diet and exercise in moderate and healthy amounts - not on your hyper-accelerated time table using weight loss aids that may not even be safe.

i promise you, you can't cheat your body and get the results you're looking for.  it just doesn't work that way.