Hello All! I am new to this site, and I am finding it to be fabulous.

Let me introduce myself, my name is Lauren and I am a 20 year-old Journalism student from Missouri. College has not been kind to my body, and the unhealthy lifestyle is getting old. I have recently discovered that a severe restrictive diet is not the way to go, and in the long run a lifestyle change rather than a fad/starvation diet might be more reasonable. This has been a huge turning point for me, though it may seem obvious to others. I have dealt with disordered eating since high school and I don't think I can take another yo-yo in my weight, and I don't think my heart would appreciate it either. Right now I am at about 250 lbs at 5'11". It's a hard place to be...but everyone must start somewhere. I have gained and lost up to 75 pounds and I am at an all time high!! I know I have to start caring about ME rather than punishing myself and blaming myself. I would like to stick to a reasonable caloric intake of about 1200-1400 calories/day. I have been working out about 3 times/week and I am challenging myself to workout 5-6 times/week. Oh and I need to drink LOTS of water and cut down on my diet coke intake...eeeek!

For me this journal will my place to vent and boast and anything else I feel the need to do. It won't be an easy road, but I intend to see it through.

Weight: 244
Goal 1: 219 (January 17)
Goal 2: 210 (March 4)
Goal 3: 199 (April 4-My 21st Bday)
Ultimate Goal: 144 (By my 22nd Bday)

oooo I just weighed myself and I am at 244 now, not 250!

Hey Lauren!

My name is Lindsey. I'm 23 and a graduate student. I keep a journal around here too and it really helps me. I know you will find a lot of support here.

My stats are very similar to yours. I'm about 5'11"/6' and weigh about 20 lbs. more than you. My current goal is just to make it to 190. I can't even remember the last time I was under 200! And if I'm not happy at that point, I will just take it from there. Anyway, it is a hard place to be, but there is nothing we can do now but start from here, right?

You sound like you have an awesome exercise plan. Athletea posted a calorie formula in my journal (I will have to go find it) and I think it may be helpful to start out with a higher calorie level so that you can keep reducing it as the weight comes off to avoid plateaus. But Athletea would probably be a better one to talk to about this than me because she has actually lost a lot of weight doing that. But, whatever works for you!

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello! :wave: You can do this and I look forward to hearing about your journey!

-Lindsey

Ok...found that formula Athletea gave me in case you were interested... :)

Here's the Harris Benedict Equation to estimate calorie needs ... First find your BMR (basal metabolic rate):

BMR =(655) + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) - (4.7 x age in years)

Add for exercise: If you exercise three to five days a week multiply the BMR by 1.55. If you exercise 6-7 days a week multiply by 1.725. These multipliers don't work for me. I multiplied the BMR by 1.25 to arrive at the calorie count for my streak, which gave me a five pound loss last month

-Lindsey

Hiiii Lauren! Yayyy... more college kids. I'm Bekah, I'm 19, and I go to Florida State University (GO SEMINOLES)!! And I am so excited you joined, you will totally begin to LOVE diet talk. The people here are amazing. Your goals are very realistic and you can accomplish them!!!! I just started a journal myself called "Confessions of a Diet~holic (in a good way!)" and I know there are a couple other college students with journals too, so if ya look around, you will be able to understand our troubles and vice~versa. Good luck in all of your journeys, I will definitely be checking your journal out. You goooo girl! :D

I think that you have a great plan worked out and a great attitude. I too, am at an all time high, and have messed up some things with the yo yo thing. I go to the doc next week because my blood work came back funky...thyroid and other things...so am looking forward to getting some thing back into whack.
I am off the rollercoaster and doing no more diets...I, too can't afford another YO...so am learning to be content and not diet anymore. I do walk on the treadmill about 20 minutes a day and I also walk with my kids...but will not do the exercise like a banchee thing...anymore, cuz that will cause another YO...when I give up...My body will lose the muscle and fatten up. I know I won't stick to a strenuous exercise routine for the rest of my life...so would just as soon do stuff I know I will be doing for the long haul. That is why I chose walking.
I really think you will do well. Have a great day and I look forward to getting to know you.
Jessi

Hi, Lauren! :wave: Glad you are here and sharing about your journey to a healthy lifestyle. I see you are a journalism student and as a long-time (way long) practitioner of that profession, I'm glad to see someone just starting out embracing good health habits ... assuming that you do intend to go into journalism, of course ... it can be a career that's hard on the mind and body if we fall into bad habits (I've fallen into them all) or lose perspective on what's important! Have a great rest of Sunday!!!

Hi, I agree with the low cal fast diets. This is really a live change. So glad to see you aboard. I know college life makes eating rough at times. Hope you have a good week.

Today is going to be a great day!

Yesterday was awesome, I got a great workout in and stayed at about 1200 calories without getting hungry.

Here is my Plan for Today:

Workout:
35 Min Elliptical
20 Min Calisthenics

Food:
Breakfast:English Muffin, and Kashi with Soy Milk
Lunch: Lean Pocket
Dinner: Turkey Sandwich on Wheat
Snack: String Cheese, Fruits & Veggies

My calorie goal is between 1200-1400.

Welcome to DT!

I gotta hand it to you.. I would never be able to eat that few calories. Heh, but then again, I don't count calories, so maybe I am? :shrug: (I highly doubt it)

Yay you on the exercise and eating healthy! :)

Corinna

Hello Friends,

Yesterday was a pretty good day for me:

Calories: 1640

I would like to try to keep my cals under 1400, but 1640 isn't too shabby. I didn't workout yesterday, so I am calling that my rest day for this week. Today I am going to hit the gym at 5:15 after my classes, and do the Elliptical for at least 35 min. I'm PUMPED this morning!

I weighed myself this morning, and oddly enough the scale said 240.5, which is 3.5 pounds in two days...I'm certain it is just water weight but it is still great. :D

Here is my Plan for today:
B: Kashi & Soy Milk (220)
Toast w/spread (85)

L: Bowl Appetite (360)

D: Turkey on Toast Sandwich (350)
Salad w/ Fat Free Italian (35)
Snack: Fruit cups OR Yogurt OR Fruit, and Carrots

Workout:
35 Min Elliptical
20 Min Calisthenics

Hey Lauren!

Looks like you are doing great! :flower:

-Lindsey

Hi Lauren, welcome to DT, and its great to hear somone so upbeat. Please feel free to post your calories in our calorie counter forum as well. I am happy with my weight loss so far, but I know how hard it can be to stay motivated. Keep up the great work.

Lauren,

Good for you, doing this while in school! It took me graduating from college to get my head cleared enough to stay committed to my lifestyle changes...even then, life sometimes gets in the way.

Keep yourself healthy, girl - and don't cut calories too drastically, it will do nothing beyond slowing down your metabolism even further and make you cranky / destroy motivation.

Nice to meet you ;)

Walk in bliss,

morgayne

Good Morning World:)

It's really pleasant this morning in my part of the world. Almost 60 degrees out!

Yesterday was awesome:
Calories:1200
Workout:35 Min Elliptical. 15 min Calisthenics :ribbon:

I have found that I am much braver at the gym when my workout buddy is with me, I was a bit intimidated at first because of all the tiny skinny girls and big buff guys there, but I have found that there are many people just like me :)

Ok here is my plan for today

Breakfast: Kashi w/soy milk & English Muffin(350)
Lunch: Bowl Appetite(360)
Dinner: Blimpie's sub (400)
Snacks: Fruit & veggies, and a string cheese (200-400)

WORKOUT: Elliptical:35, Stretching & Calisthenics:30
Also: Thankyou to everyone who has posted encouraging comments and tips on my journal, its very helpul and motivational to me. Keep em comin :D

Yesterday was a decent day, but I didn't get my workout in :(

I had about 2000 calories, which is more than I would have liked, but decent considering the Mexican meal my sister and I split for dinner.

Today I am going to aim for about 1400. I am preparing for my workout so I will be sure to fit it in tonight.

Hey Lauren! It's okay to NOT workout sometimes :D Sometimes I just don't have time at all, college is very demanding! Also, I like the fact that even though you did go over what your goal of calories were, that you didn't let it drag you down, and today you are just going to keep it at a minimum. Good job!!!! Keep up the good work! And I noticed you do the Elliptical, I just love it!! That is definitely one of my favorite cardio workouts ever!

:cheer:

Hello!

I apologize for not writing lately but I am away from school, therefore I am super budy:) I have not weighed myself for a week, and I am going to weigh myself next Sunday when I get back to school. I am having a great holiday week, and trying to keep my cals at about 1600, but last weekend was a bit of a flop. I attended my sorority pledge skip and we ate tons of food, and I didn't even really keep track. But its all good, I'm over. Plus I have been working out consistently so I am feeling great, and my energy is way up. Wish me luck with Thanksgiving :D

Hey There Lauren!

Have a Great Thanksgiving and enjoy your break from school!

-Lindsey

Hi Lauren

I know I'm a tad bit late, but I wanted to welcome you anyways. :) Sounds like you have a very sensible plan for losing the weight.

I can really relate to what you said about the severe restriction diets. I lost 30lbs in a month and a half by starving myself. I might have looked good, but I sure didn't feel good, and you know I'm right back to where I started again anyways. Your absolutely right that it just isn't worth it. If you do the slow and steady aproach your much more like to keep it off once and for good.

MMMM...time to get my mind off the "it's the Holiday season and I can eat whatever the hell I want" mode. Eeek. I just arrived back at school, with all my healthy food waiting for me in the kitchen. I think that I associate being at home with eating, which is not such a great thing. These last three weeks of the semester are going to be challenging, because I have a lot of stressful stuff going on with finals and all. I need to focus my stressful energy into my workouts rather than into food. Overall I will feel much better, and hopefully will be prepared to brave the holiday season a few pounds lighter.

I am weighing myself tommorow bright and early. I am not really expecting a loss. :tomato:

oooooo...not good. I weighed myself this morning :(

Oh well, its only a couple pounds and a can get some great workouts in this week and NO fast food!!!

For Today:
Breakfast: English Muffin w/spread 150
Nutrigrain Bar : 140

Lunch: Mexi Soup 140
Toast 85
Salad 35

Dinner: Lean Cuisine 250

Snack: String Cheese & Gogurt (250)

Workout: 40 min Elliptical
25 min calisthenics

Today is a much better day all-around!
I am in a better mood, and I got a stressful presentation taken care of.

Diet wise: 1400 cals (so far)

Workout: 35 min Elliptical
20 min Calisthenics
10 min Stretches

The scales unfortunately do go up sometimes, its part of life, just not the part we like. One thing I found that made a big difference in my weightloss is food, we arent just talking calories, but things like sugar, and salt. I love nutrigrain bars, but there is so much sugar I cant eat them (or white products such as bread, crackers, rice etc) because that causes me to crave other sugar, plus its not filling so I am hungry an hour later. I have found some good low carb, high protein cereal bars that are great, and the protein is necessary when working out, and it helps keep you feeling full. Also a big one is the hidden salt in all processed foods. I know it is so easy to buy food that goes in the microwave, but its so not good for us. I know its a pain to cook healthy food, so I found doing it in bulk then eating it over the next couple of days made a big difference. It may seem silly but when I was very strict on that stuff I was losign 3 1/2 pounds a week, which is much much more then now. Either way, I am sure the weight will start falling off again, and you will do great. Just some info from someone who has been there and sone it. You have already lost almost 20 pounds and for that you should be extremely proud.