Losing Weight?

[purplerainbow96]

OK well first is that I've gained a few pounds over the summer and I need to lose them before school starts back. I'm not sure what to do though. what is the best way to lose weight girls? no gimmicks and I'm on a tight budget.

[Rose2210]

I know how you feel budget-wise. The best way is to stop just shopping cheap, and start shopping smarter. Buy more veggies, cut out prepared foods entirely. They have enormous amounts of sodium which causes your body to retain water and make you look more padded than you'd like to. Stop driving everywhere you go, and invest in a bike, or just walk everywhere. Not only will this help you drop weight fast, it will tone you up and make you look better than before. The best meal plan I've found by trial and error is this:

1. Never, EVER, skip breakfast. It jumpstarts your metabolism for the day and basically sets up how you will feel. You can never go wrong with a good bowl of cereal, like rice krispies or cheerios, but you'll want to balance it out with some eggs or another form of protein. After this is the best time to work out. If you can, hit the gym for a 40-minute workout. Nothing too serious, but any activity that raises your heartrate and makes you sweat is beneficial. Sex could be included in this.

2. Bring some small but nutritious snacks to eat between meals, like a bag of pretzels or nuts. These will not only fill you up, but also help you make smarter food choices for your larger meals, as you will be thinking with your brain instead of your hungry stomach.

3. Lunch should be smaller than your breakfast, and very nutritious. What works best for me is some kind of salad with either grilled chicken or some tasty cheese cut up on top.

4. Again, get a snack for between lunch and dinner. I like a light yogurt with low sugar and low fat with some granola or grape nuts mixed in.

5. Dinner should fill you up for the rest of the night. You should include a good portion of meat, complemented by a half a cup of cooked veggies (easy on the butter & salt) and rice.

A good rule of thumb for portion control is no bigger than the size of both of your fists. Meat should be about 4-6 oz. and veggies should equal that, which is roughly the size of your fist. You don't need nearly as much meat as you think you do, and the best kind to go for is either chicken or fish, as it is low fat and high in protein. Eat regularly and pay attention to your body, and pretty soon you'll watch the extra fat simply fall off. If you don't feel like snacking you can simply make up a protein smoothie or shake for in-between meals. Each one should not be much more than 8 or 10 oz. You want to constantly keep your body fueled, but not overfueled.

I hope this helps!

[wildfire5288]

eat right and exercise, it's worked for thousands of years

[MrScTi]

1. Decrease calorie intake. Increase cardiovascular activities such as jogging and walking.

2. Never skip breakfast. A good hearty breakfast includes a bowl of cereal with 2% Milk or two eggs fried without grease and a small serving of meat or poultry on the side. Compliment each meal with fruit.

3. Do not drink anything besides water. Saving liquid calories is important if you want to lose weight fast. Exceptions include meal replacements such as shakes or smoothies.

4. Decrease meal quantity, Increase meal frequency. Eat smaller meals more often. Snacking keeps the metabolism at bay and keeps you satisfied throughout the day.

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I did this for 1 month and lost 14 pounds (I was hefty so that's nothing) but I also did consistent cardio workouts at night before I went to bed, such as riding a bike for 5 miles or jogging.