Need to fix my diet

LuckyStar

Hi,

First things first, I am a 22 year old, size 12 girl.
I am 5'9" and weigh 11.5 stone.

From the ages of 14 to 19 I was always 10 stone, never changed. In my 2nd year of college I went up to 10.5 stone, it all went to my chest so I was quite pleased! In college I would be getting about an hour of fast walking a day and I was going out clubbing loads so loads of dancing.

Over this summer I went up to 11 stone, it wasn't really noticeable but I did notice my arms getting a bit flabbier. At this stage from working in a supermarket I would only be getting home at 12 at night most days so dinner would be a pizza. My only other meal would be a chicken/stuffing/mayo readymade sandwich. Exercise here would be an hour of fast walking a day and I would be on my feet walking around for 8 hours while I was working.

Then I was out of work for 2 months and spent most of my time lying in bed eating junk but I would dance for an hour or so every night. I would have a large McDonald's meal twice a week.

Now in the past month I have got a new job in an office, I am sitting down all day. Already I am up to 11.5 stone! The only exercise I get is half an hour's walking and about an hour standing on the train (which doesn't really count!). Soon I will be driving to work so my daily exercise will be 0.
I had a medical for the job and the doctor said that if I don't start slimming down now, I will only do it when I have to and by then I will have the saggy skin, stretchmarks from putting on weight. Plus I will be big and miserable by then. So I want to get back down to 10.5 stone, maybe down to 10 stone. My trousers are getting harder to do up and I have measured my hips- they are 2 or 3 inches bigger than they were a few months ago.

Before Sunday, my diet would be:

Breakfast: If I had time, a big bowl of Frosted Wheats with full fat milk (LOVE this).

If I didn't have time, a bag of crisps and a can of Fanta from the vending machine in work.

Lunch: White bread sandwiches- fillings usually a combination of light mayo, chicken, lettuce, cheese.

Dinner- Sometimes chicken/mash/peas, sometimes chicken/chips, sometimes beef/potatoes/peas.

Going out- I drink vodka with a dash of Mi Wadi or vodka and Diet Coke.

I also love junk food, bacon fries from pubs, Monster Munch, Tayto Waffles, chocolate, peanut M & M's, chips with loads of vinegar, I love them all.

I am trying to turn over a new leaf, yesterday I had an apple for breakfast, chicken and cheese sandwich for lunch, and a salad for dinner (chicken/cucumber/apple/iceberg lettuce) and a can of Diet Coke. I also went walking for 2 hours. Is this OK? The salad gave me great energy last night.

Is Diet Coke OK to drink? I know it only has 2 calories but is there a catch? What about Fanta Zero?

Thanks in advance

mack1

Congrats on turning over a new leaf - a step in the right direction is better than no step at all!

Read the stickies in the fitness section, they are loaded with great advice - 5/6 meals, eat wholefoods etc

I would add the following:
- Never, ever, ever, ever, ever skip breakfast - the absolute worst thing you can do, it's call "the most important meal of the day" for a reason!
- An apple is not breakfast, get up 10 mins earlier if you have to, but have a proper breakfast - porridge is the king, or some wholewheat toast and eggs. Basically, it's ok for breakfast to be big, you will be using it for the rest of the day (does it really make sense to have an apple first thing in the morning and then dinner at 7 in the evening when you only need it for a few hrs?)
- watch the carbs, there is no need to eat white bread etc. You dont have to go on Atkins or anything, but keep them to a minimum!
- Drink water - lots and lots of it! This is important!
- Cut out all the junk now! - you knew this one though really, didn't you? It really is a killer, huge amount of calories with no nutritional value, cut them out completely for a month, after that you can allow yourself a treat once a week or so.

best of luck!

padser

LuckyStar wrote: »

Is Diet Coke OK to drink? I know it only has 2 calories but is there a catch? What about Fanta Zero?

Is there any clear evidence that the sweetners are carcenogenic? (horrible spelling )

rubadub

You are planning on turning over a new leaf, yet have already planned ahead to cut your exercise down by getting the car!

You have to set aside time for your 2 hour walk. Why not cycle or walk to work? kill 2 birds with the one stone. I have no car and cycle so I cannot just give it a miss. I HAVE to exercise everyday, rain wind or snow. I do have access to a car sometimes but never take it- I would have to leave ~50mins to drive to take into account traffic. Cycling takes 30mins max in rain & wind, so I end up with MORE free time.

Aim for 6 equally sized, equally spaced meals per day, breakfast can be bigger.

Is there any clear evidence that the sweetners are carcenogenic?

It is hard to find anything that isnt rumoured to give you cancer these days.

LuckyStar

rubadub wrote: »

You are planning on turning over a new leaf, yet have already planned ahead to cut your exercise down by getting the car!

You have to set aside time for your 2 hour walk. Why not cycle or walk to work? kill 2 birds with the one stone. I have no car and cycle so I cannot just give it a miss. I HAVE to exercise everyday, rain wind or snow. I do have access to a car sometimes but never take it- I would have to leave ~50mins to drive to take into account traffic. Cycling takes 30mins max in rain & wind, so I end up with MORE free time.

I would be looking at an hour/hour and twenty minutes drive. I don't know how to cycle and am not too keen on learning after spending €2830 on the car, insurance, sat nav and lessons!

We do have a treadmill at home which I will use now that I won't be walking as much.

LuckyStar

I have lost half a stone so far...

uniquechic

congrats!

rubadub

LuckyStar wrote: »

. I don't know how to cycle and am not too keen on learning after spending €2830 on the car, insurance, sat nav and lessons!

That is a problem, I know lads who feel the same way, that it would go to waste. And I agree, it is part of the reason the roads are clogged up, people should be taxed, insured etc in accordance with road use, not per year, there is no incentive to leave the car at home, and more incentive to use it to get your "annual fees worth".

LuckyStar wrote: »

We do have a treadmill at home which I will use now that I won't be walking as much.

Resistance/weight training is highly recommended for fat loss. You could start out with pushups, against a wall if you cant manage normal ones. Or get a weights set or chinning bar. And dont worry about becoming "too muscly", it wont happen, if it was that easy every lad you see would have massive arms.