TOTALLY CONFUSED about the weight loss process. I don't know how to start or begin.

**Confused_T33N** · 02-03-2011 02:30 AM

Okay here's the story I am 17, 5'5, and I'm not exactly sure how much I weigh, but I know it's over 300 pounds. People have been telling me forever I need to lose weight and being obese is not good for me. I never listened and always told myself that I'm not that fat anyway. Over the past week I was just slapped in the face with a revelation. I AM FAT AND TIRED OF IT. I started thinking about my life like all the taunting and teasing I've suffered throughout the years, how everywhere I go I'm stared at and called fat, and how I've never had a boyfriend or shared a first kiss with anyone. So I've decided to make a change. The problem is I don't know how. For the past two days I eaten only three meals; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast I have had a turkey sausage on a whole-wheat biscuit for both days since that's just about the healthiest thing in my school cafeteria. For lunch I have had chef salad both days and for dinner I ate shrimp fired rice. I know the shrimp fried rice wasn't exactly healthy, but I ate ate a very small portion of it and ate it plain with no soy sauce or etc. added to it. Overall, I confused about what I should be eating, but more than anything I'm confused about the EXERCISE. I have no idea what type of exercises to do. My goal is to lose about 200 pounds gradually over the whole year. I don't want to lose like 12 pounds a week under some intense exercising. My reason being so is because I was told that losing weight slowly reduces the chance of skin sagging hopefully. Also, does any no how to prevent skin sagging from the arms. I've being hearing from people on the web that you can and then some people say you can't. If anyone can help me out it will be much appreciated.

**LanaBear** · 02-03-2011 10:36 AM

Regarding exercising, to start you should just start walking. Go for a 30 minute walk every day. As the weight comes off, exercising will become easier and you shouldn't put to much stress on your joints and heart at first. Just commit to walking for a good few months.

Regarding eating and what to eat. Maybe sign up for an account with The Daily Plate (Livestrong website) or some other tracking website and log EVERYTHING you eat, no matter what it is. Being honest with yourself goes a long long way. Measure and weigh your food and be consistent about it.

It's hard, but you can do it if you've got the drive and willpower. Only you can make it happen.

**Cyndie32** · 02-03-2011 11:48 AM

As for the sagging skin, start using vitimin e oil. It helps rejuvinate your skin. I use it on my stretch marks and over the past year, they have almost gone away.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 02-03-2011 06:07 PM

I use Lose It (just put a dot com after it.

) and LOVE it. I track my calories, but also my protein and fiber. You can add friends to your page for encouragement and track each others progress. I highly recommend. And if you do get on it and want to be my friend, I'll give u my info! A site like this or like the ones Lana mentioned are great because you can find almost ANY food in any supermarket or eating place and it will tell you exactly how many calories. Cutting calories is CRUCIAL, along with maintaining a low fat, high fiber, moderate to high protein diet. According to Lose It, if you weigh around 300 lbs, and want to weigh around 150 you need to lose around 2 lbs per week to hit your goal by July 2012. You also need no more than 2100 calories per day for right now, but as your weight goes down that will change. The great thing about Lose It is when you exercise you enter it in and it is considered in your calorie allowance for the day. I would STRONGLY encourage you if you have the resources (or if your parents are willing to help) to get a nutritionist to help you out for a while so you can become very informed on what to eat and what not to eat.

Lana's right, start walking. Walk as much as you possibly can. Try to make sure that even when you're not walking, you find ways to be moving throughout the day. I know you can't when you're sitting in class, but between classes walk a lap, after school hit it hard. Move move move move!!! That's your best bet for now.

You can totally do this. It's overwhelming at first, but when you get started and see the pounds shedding and see how much better you feel you'll be SO pumped!!!!

**Claret** · 02-04-2011 11:11 AM

You need to ensure that you are getting the quality calories and enough of them to satisfy you each day. Often times people with a great deal of weight to lose go on extremely low-cal diets thinking that they will lose weight faster. And, you will lose faster but you won't be able to sustain that way of eating for very long. 3500 calories = 1 pound. If you decrease your intake and increase your exercise you would be better off in the long run. I would suggest that you would probably lose weight on 1500 - 1600 calories of food a day. Make sure they are whole grains, no sugar, lower fat and you'll be on your way food-wise. If you walk at a brisk pace for 30 - 40 minutes each day you will probably burn 300 additional calories each day. This all equates to about an average of 2 lbs a week (more like 3 - 4 in the early weeks).

Drink lots of water.

Does your school have a school nurse or counsellor available? Use them as a source of information and as a way to keep on track. Don't go this alone. Have others in your family or a close friend join you in your walks. Tell them of your goals and ask for their assistance in planning your meals and in keeping you on track.

If you have a bad day -- don't dispare -- treat it as just that ONE bad day. The next day will be good and you'll be back on track.

**Confused_T33N** · 02-05-2011 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by Cyndie

As for the sagging skin, start using vitimin e oil. It helps rejuvinate your skin. I use it on my stretch marks and over the past year, they have almost gone away.

So do I start using the vitamin e oil before, during, or after I start losing weight?

**Confused_T33N** · 02-05-2011 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by Beautiful Disaster

I use Lose It (just put a dot com after it.

) and LOVE it. I track my calories, but also my protein and fiber. You can add friends to your page for encouragement and track each others progress. I highly recommend. And if you do get on it and want to be my friend, I'll give u my info! A site like this or like the ones Lana mentioned are great because you can find almost ANY food in any supermarket or eating place and it will tell you exactly how many calories. Cutting calories is CRUCIAL, along with maintaining a low fat, high fiber, moderate to high protein diet. According to Lose It, if you weigh around 300 lbs, and want to weigh around 150 you need to lose around 2 lbs per week to hit your goal by July 2012. You also need no more than 2100 calories per day for right now, but as your weight goes down that will change. The great thing about Lose It is when you exercise you enter it in and it is considered in your calorie allowance for the day. I would STRONGLY encourage you if you have the resources (or if your parents are willing to help) to get a nutritionist to help you out for a while so you can become very informed on what to eat and what not to eat.

Lana's right, start walking. Walk as much as you possibly can. Try to make sure that even when you're not walking, you find ways to be moving throughout the day. I know you can't when you're sitting in class, but between classes walk a lap, after school hit it hard. Move move move move!!! That's your best bet for now.

You can totally do this. It's overwhelming at first, but when you get started and see the pounds shedding and see how much better you feel you'll be SO pumped!!!!

Okay can you inbox me your info so I can find you on the site?

**Cyndie32** · 02-07-2011 01:17 PM

you can start using is as soon as you start loosing weight. put it in the places you think there will be sagging skin. it will help the skin regain elasticity.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 02-07-2011 01:30 PM

Confused - I left you a msg on your wall to send me your email address so I can find you on loseit. You have to have over 33 posts on here before you can send or receive private messages.