Trying to lose some weight
 

Alright, I'd like to lose some weight, but I'm pretty busy at the moment and there's a few different things happening. I wake up at 6:30~ and leave for school at 7~, and I'm there until 2pm. Then, 3-4 days a week, I'll go to work from 4-8 on weekdays, or 12-8 on weekends. I'd like to start running, because it can be done most anywhere and doesn't require me to pay any kind of gym membership fees. If I were to just watch what I eat, take in less calories and more protein, and run each day, would this help me lose weight? I've been incorporating more tuna into my diet, and having a small cottage cheese snack before I go to bed.

I know it's better to have several small meals throughout the day, but this is hard with my schedule. Does anyone have any tips for me, or thoughts on my plan? I'm currently 6' and I think 230lbs, I have no idea how accurate that weight is though because the only scale my family owns was broken by myself. (Accidentally stepped on the corner of it one day and it flipped and landed wrong and fell apart.)

I've really been learning the last month just how much of a role a good diet plays in your body function, and subsequentially fitness and weight loss. The down to earth simple method is to eat the foods good for you i proportion, and get the cardio to boost your heart rate to burn calories.

I don't profess to have any extensive knowledge about what will work for YOU as I'm learning this road myself, but you might want to read some of the other threads in this forum that pertain to weight loss, exercise, and nutrition. You might find some more specific information that has already been given helpful.

What methods have you been using to help in the quest for weight loss? I was also wondering, would it be better for me to run for X minutes, or X distance? Or would it be better to just run X distance, and keep track of my time, and when it drops a decent amount, increase the distance and use the same process?

And I haven't been following a diet exactly, just trying to lower my intake of bad foods, such as soda, fast food, candy... and I've been drinking a lot more water. Hopefully once I get all of this going I will see some results. I might have to take up DDR and skateboarding again too. :crazy:

As for diet:

Try to limit simple carbohydrates, such as soda, candy, jam, etc. Drink a tonf of water. Yes, you'll be peeing all day, but 10-15% of our weight is water. Make sure you have a decent brekfast, because if you, don't you'll be hungry at all hours of the day.

Running:

I used running to lose my 80 pounds. I would go by time if you are just starting out. Try running for a few mins, and the walking. Keep that pattern going, and gradually increase it ever 2 weeks no more than 10%. After awhile, you will get curious how far you are actually running, and distance will play a stronger role.

Running is great for losing weight. This was my diet when I lost my 80 pounds:

Breakfast: Bowl of maple cinnamon oatmeal, banana, and glass of milk.

lunch: Egg white omlette, egg whites scarmbled, whole wheat sandwhich with turkey, tuna, fat free cheese, or chicken breast.

dinner: chicken, fish, and things like baked potatoes, broiled veggies, soup, salad.

I am a huge salad eater. I ate salad a lot during the day, and of course use low cal dressing, but try to find one that you like. I was fortunate to find this Italian brand that is great and healthy.

Try to eat 6 fruits per day.

If you are still hungry, hot drinks act as a good appetite supressant, such as herbal tea, decaf coffee. Reg coffee is fine, just drink more water, because coffee is a diuretic.

If you have a sweet tooth, or salt tooth, don't deny yourself, because it will build up, and you will end up binging. I have a salt tooth, so every Saturday I'd buy a medium bad of jalapeno popcorn. Occassionally (1 every 2 weeks) I would get fat free frozen yogurt.

The results are different for everyone, and you must keep at it. I have now come to love running, and am even running in races now. It's great to stay in shape, and fun.If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate.

Eat right.

Weight lift.

Cardio.

If you do all three of the above, you _will_ see some very good results. 2 of the 3, you'll probably see some results, but won't be real quick. 1 of the 3, you'll see limited results.

Losing Weight
 

You have to take the time. Your health is vital. There's no better way to lose weight than exercise. I loss 53 pounds riding a bike and playing tennis. I went from 238# to 185# in six months without dieting. How sweet it is. One hour of single tennis burns 400 Cals. Have a go! Good luck! :thumbsup:

Thank you all for your input. I have an internship this summer that will be a lot of outside work, walking around, hiking. So that should help. Until then, I think I might look into how cheap I could get a membership at the local rec center, and try to go there for an hour or so a few days a week between 2 and 4, and once it warms up for good here, I'd like to start running. Thanks again everyone. :)

If you're near a local high school track, feel free to use that as a play to do your walking/running - best part is, it's free!