ok i don't really understand what will make me lose weight. am i aiming for low fat or low calories??
becuase every diet advert i see only really talks about the grams or fat, can someone please explain the science behind it or at least what i should do??
cheers x

From what I've read, when losing weight you should keep your calories between 1200-1600 calories per day. And in general, I would say that those calories should be obtained mostly through eating lean protein, vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

It all depends on what your eating program is, too. I'm doing South Beach Diet, which emphasises getting carbs/fiber through fruits and vegetables instead of through breads and pastas... but not all programs work for everyone.

I'm no doctor or nutritionist by any stretch of the imagination--so don't take my word for it. In general, I would ask your doctor about it. I don't know how tall you are, but unless you're rather short (around 5'2 or so...) I don't know if 110 would be considered a "healthy" weight for you.

--Azure

The most abstract way I think about it is that you're burning more energy than you are consuming. This can be accomplished a number of ways:

1) You can up your exercise quotient. If you build muscle, that will burn more energy than fat to maintain all the time. If you work your body aerobically, that will burn energy immediately.

2) You can find some way to decrease the energy you are taking in. These are calories but people have various ways of decreasing them. Some people do this by counting calories strictly. Others by eating healthier foods (where the tendency is to eat less because they are more filling or decrease cravings.) Weight Watchers and other Exchanges programs seem to blend the two.

Different ways of accomplishing this seem to jive with every individual.

To more directly answer your question at all the advertising about "low fat" content - be careful, lowering fat doesn't necessarily make something healthy or low calorie. While sometimes it may be a better choice, read the nutrition labels and ask the servers to get the real 'skinny' on what you're putting inyour body.

ok thankyou very much guys, advice dully noted and i think i'll prompt for the healthier foods, running every mornng option.
azure i'm 5'2 and my BMI says 110lb is 19 so i'm aiming for that, also i'm 16. do u think it's reasonable??

ok i don't really understand what will make me lose weight. am i aiming for low fat or low calories??
becuase every diet advert i see only really talks about the grams or fat, can someone please explain the science behind it or at least what i should do??
cheers xDel,

Advertising is not needed when there is demand and reasonableness for an approach. So, take any and all advertising you read, with a big 'grain of salt'.

You should replace fatty and rich foods with high fiber natural foods, so far as practical in your diet, as they are intrinsically healthier and contain more nutrients that are subtle and that your body needs to operate at it's optimum ability.

You do need to watch portion control and total daily calories (we eat and drink far more than we realize -- keep a food journal), as any calories we consume beyond what we burn off, are prone to being converted into body fat -- and, it does not matter much at all, if those excess calories come from protein, food fats, or carbohydrates.

rD

It all Comes down to Calories.....Every diet out there works on the exact same principle....EATING LESS.