Currently 260lbs.. Need some advice please!

[StarryNight23]

I'm a 23 y/o female, 5'4 and extremely overweight. Currently I am 260 (down from 298) I have been struggling with my weight for most of my life and have tried over and over again to get the weight off but I always fell off the wagon. Just thinking of the amount of weight I have to lose always discouraged me. I never thought it was possible or realistic for me to ever get down to a normal weight and I gave up on myself before I ever really got started. In the last few years I've taken bigger steps to lose weight. Mainly I make healthier food choices and have cut out all fast food. I hardly, if ever exercised which is why I think my weight loss stalled at 270-275. I've been getting stricter with my portions, have stopped eating at least 3 hours before bed and have been exercising everyday.  The last 3 weeks I've been exercising every day which is such an improvement considering I used to go months without doing any real exercise. In the last month and a half I've lost about 10 or so pounds.

My goal right now is to at least get down to 160lbs. I know I'm probably going to want to lose another 20 once that goal is met but right now I'm just aiming to lose 100lbs.Here are my biggest questions. If I exercise daily, around how many calories should I be consuming? Currently I think I'm at about 1200-1400. Should I cut it down more?  Also, what types of exercise are most effective for weight loss, and how much should I aim to do in a day? I own a rebounder which is really challenging for me but its awesome cardio and more fun than walking or jogging so I try to do that for at least a half hour every day. I also have some workout dvds and the one I have been doing every day is Slim in 6 which also is great cardio and has some toning and strengthening too. I also use free weights and do situps every day. Is there anything else I should add to my routine? Also, how much weight should I be aiming to lose every week?. I'm sure these are questions I should be asking my doctor, and I will next time I go in but in the meantime any advice or general guidelines I should be following would be MUCH appreciated. Thanks for reading :-)

[SpinFast]

Here's a website with some pretty good resources on diet and weight loss. http://www.quickmedical.com/health_information/weight_management/controlling_your_weight.html

I think it's great that you've realized the issue in the first place and are taking steps to lose weight...many people just give up because they think it's impossible. It's not easy but it's definitely NOT impossible. Just take it one day at a time.

[misscloey]

It sounds like you are doing very well. Hang in there and keep on going. You will make it. I am proud of you! I find that a fairly low carb diet speeds up weight loss and keeps my energy level higher than with carbs. I also exercise daily. I love my walk away the pounds videos. They are fun and the times passes quickly. Istarted with the 1 mile walk and now I do the 4 mile walk. What a afull body cardio and weight work out!  Also, I know this sounds really strange but if you eat a tablespoon of extra virgin  organic coconut oil twice to three times per day, the weight will start to melt off. I know, because it is happening to me as we speak.
Best of luck! and keep up the good work.

[MagenB]

Where can you find that extra virgin organic coconut oil?

Thanks

[nursegaby]

you should go see a bariatric specialist, they can really help you

[Kristin1]

Hi,
If you want to lose alot of weight safely and enjoy the process eating alot of your favorite foods
e-mail me.
I did every diet known to man and it wasn't until I discovered how to mix
certain food combinations to work in harmony with my body, that I dropped alot of weight fast.
They say it's not easy to lose weight but the menu's I put together Make it easy.
There is no portion control so thats a big plus.
Your never hungry and these foods you buy at your local grocery store and they are normal
foods like Pasta, chicken, Raspberry Milk shakes..........Yes good tasting foods.
Alot of my menu's have so many delicious foods you will never think your dieting.
Let me know if you want to try a Free sample menu.
E-mail me anytime and that goes for anyone that is having a problem dropping weight.
My menu's end all that fear of not being able to lose weight no matter what you do.......What have you got to lose it's Free.
Wishing you only the best,
Kristin

[StarryNight23]

Sorry to bring up such an old topic but I havent posted here in a very long time but a new medical issue brought me back to this website. I was reading through my old posts and when I came to this one, I just had to pop in for an update. I've lost almost 100 lbs since I started this post a little over a year ago! (130 in total) I'm 168lbs currently and want to lose another 28. I just joined this forum because it seems like there's a really great supportive community here. I look forward to posting here more often and getting to know you all a little better! :-)

[Red2008]

I think that you are making progress.
I know that you have an ultimate goal, but try to break it up by only going for like 3-5 lbs in like a month...this way you dont get dicouraged.
You already are loosing and that is wonderful.
Keep up the exercise. I like to mix it up a little because doing the same thing can get boring. Ill bike one day, tae bo, work out tape, treadmill. this way it gives me a choice of what I want to do today.
I am not a calorie queen so I do not feel comfortable with that question but here is my disclaimer....You need to have food from all of the food groups so that you get all of your daily vitamins and dont become vitamin deficient and fatigued. I am trying to lose and I am working on this theory because I had a malabsorbtion problem and had become Vitamin B, D, Iron defecient and felt as if I was hit by a gray hound bus, to ice the cake I was hypothyroid. ...moral of the story dont cheat yourself out of the "good food".
Stick with the community I find it very supportive, You will do awesome : )
Red

[Skailark]

Welcome back to the community! Your weight loss will inspire so many of us here!
Looking forrward to getting to know you as well...Cant wait to see you share your secrets of success with us!

And as always you will great support here..Just let us know if we can be of any help to you!

[TrudieC]

Wow!  You are such an inspiration.  You had a goal and you stuck to it!  I have found in my weight struggles that having your mind in the right place is almost the most important requirement to losing weight.  For me, intense stress increased the cortisol which killed my metabolism and increased my emotional eating and red wine drinking.  I required surgery for ovarian cysts back in June and having the 6 weeks off really helped me to destress and focus on me.  I started my journey while off and took advantage of my lower appetite.  I have lost 18 lbs. and know that this time it will stay off as I have changed my habits, not just gone on a diet.  

I look forward to getting to know you and celebrating your wins!

[losaki8]

Hi,
Yes, you are an inspiration to everyone! I am currently at 250, and it's like I have been this weight or 10 pounds less for almost a year now! So, I'm going back to journaling and walking. I have a back problem, bulging discs in my cervical and lumbar spine. I used to be able to ride a bike and run, but now I am reduced to walking. I'LL TAKE IT!!!!
But if you have any tips for eating...or NOT eating my favorite foods, like chocolate or sweets, please post!
Keep on losing!
losaki8

[melissajean]

OH MY GOSH GIRL!!! YOU LOOK SO GREAT!!! you are such an inspiration, i was my biggest at 168, so im not in the same boat as you have been, but we have the same goal of 140, right now im at 154 so ive only got a little more to go, and lately ive been feeling discouraged, but seeing your huge accomplishments inspires me to continue on, thank you!