How to get slim?

[Pilulu]

By slim, I mean the healthy type, not the unhealthy type. Right now, I'm mostly fat in the midsection and upper legs, but my arms and lower legs are pretty much average. Basically, an apple body shape. I do exercise frequently (running/walking) and I wear size XL and I want to be a small. I know that this isn't something that happens overnight, but I really feel awkward and unattractive as a larger girl.

(also, I hope this doesn't come off as desperate. I just have rock bottom self esteem)

[CristopherC]

It's science... and there's not all that much to it. Excess weight is comprised of calories. Everything we do in our lives expends calories... more calories for more work. If you eat less calories than you burn from your daily activity, you will lose weight.

Always talk to a doctor first, but I'd recommend downloading an app like LoseIt! or MyFitnessPal and start learning how to track calories. You can scan barcodes on food packages or manually search the foods you eat and, as long as you stay within your caloric budget (the app helps you calculate that), it is just a matter of time before you get to where you want to be. It really is not nearly as complicated as people make it out to be and you do not need any crazy fad diets. You just need to consume less calories than you burn.

Consuming less than your burn does likely mean a few changes to the way you eat, though. If you're overweight, that means you've been consistently consuming more than you burn, so you need to eliminate high calorie foods and replace them with lower calorie, healthier foods. Just Google "low calorie foods" to find good options and "high calorie foods" to find lists of things to avoid.