How can I lose weight fast ?

[TheShyGirlBeth]

i need to lose some weight before my spring prom, how can i do it fast, but not unhealthily ???
Beth xxx <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

[Smash]

Fast weightloss = unhealthy.
You really shouldn't lose more than 2lbs a week otherwise you risk losing muscle instead of fat.
The boring bit - you need to create a calorie deficit of around 3,500 calories to burn one pound of fat.
Basically, you need to burn more calories than you consume to lose weight.

You can either do this by reducing your calorie intake (in your teenage years you really shouldn't go lower than 1,500 a day) by increasing your activity level, or a combination of both (the best way).

You'll proabably lose more weight in the first week, which will be due to water weight.
Take it slow, don't become obsessed - enjoy your food.

Oh, and drinking tons of water is one of the best things you can do to look and feel better.

[katchika]

Hey Beth...I agree with Miss Quoted. It's dangerous to lose too much weight too fast. Just go on a sensible diet and exercise a lot. Good luck.

[Alistair]

The sports and fitness freak also agrees, fast weightlose is v bad. You need to look at what type of food you are eating, lower the amount of fat intake, lower your crabs (a little) and eat LOTS of fruit n veg and protein. Also drink lots of water.

And finally lots of exercise - mostly cardio stuff if you want to lose waeight, although strength work will help if you don't have much muscle, as if you put muscle on it also burns off energy.

[smoif]

I sincerely hope you meant Carbs there Alistair! <IMG SRC="eek.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

[Alistair]

LOL oops - I'll leave it there otherwise people won't have a clue what you're talking about <IMG SRC="tongue.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

[smoif]

Teehee, thanks <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

I suppose lowering your crabs, if you have them, is actually quite sound advice, so well done! <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

[buglove]

What sort of things are cardio workouts? Im doin tae bo at the minute - is it worth it/

[Alistair]

Originally posted by buglove:
<STRONG>What sort of things are cardio workouts? Im doin tae bo at the minute - is it worth it/</STRONG>

Cardio is short of Cardiovascular - i.e. you spend longer periods of time working at medium exertation, which raises your cardiac output. So the answer to your question is yes - Tae Bo is cardio exercise and it iss worth it.
I prefer other similair workouts, but that's another story....

[*MadinThenuT*]

Hey,

Hey there I am a fitness Instructor so maybe I can help.... Ok too lose weight you have to have self confidence in yourself and not worry about what other people think!! there the 2 most important things that you need to start of with.... To lose weight you have to go to the gym 2-3 times a week don't eat a bite after 7.00pm and try not to eat fatty foods like crisps chocolate etc, you should eat your normal dinner and dont cut down on dinners and eat your 3 meals a day!! the most important and you will be fit and lose weight I hope I helped!!!!!

[Alistair]

Yo, Madinthenut. What do you instruct? what sort of instructor are you? Do you have a specific qualifications? How much do you earn? Just asking as it rather rare to see a fitness instructor at the age of 17.

[Felicity]

Get depressed and stop eating... I lost half a stone in just under two weeks.

Seriously though, obviously this is a very bad idea.

For your prom, the best way to look good is to buy something that both fits and flatters you, whatever your size, rather than trying to sqeeze into something a size too small... a girl at my school tried this and looked like a sausage. rather strange.

Have fun!

[*MadinThenuT*]

Originally posted by Alistair:
<STRONG>Yo, Madinthenut. What do you instruct? what sort of instructor are you? Do you have a specific qualifications? How much do you earn? Just asking as it rather rare to see a fitness instructor at the age of 17.</STRONG>

Hey Alistair Yes its very odd to see a fitness instrutor at 17 but My mum and dad own the gym at where I work... I got qualifications through a tech. I left school at 16. I trained for one year and got a certificate that lasts so long till I do the real course. When I asked my dad about the work he said that I can instruct people through the certificate but I can't take them on the machines.. I can only tell them how to eat healthily etc, till I go to course which is run by tech and It lasts a year and a half which will get me my full certificate to train people... its quite good pay I get in around 250-300 pounds a week I would recommend anyone to try it out!! <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon"> I work from Monday to Friday... on Monday I work from 3 till 6 on Tues, Wed, Thurs and Friday I work from 8.00am till 4.00pm Its a superb job <IMG SRC="wink.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

[Tinkabee]

how did you go about applying madinthehut? or did you not need to. i'd love to be a fitness instructor... *fantasises of teaching nice young men how to use the equipment...*

ehem, no, i'd actually really enjoy that in the summer between college and going to uni. <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">

[Alistair]

A good way to start is to go and get you BWLA (british weight lifting association)weights instructor award. This qualifies you to instruct groups using weight machines and free weights. Before you do this is a good idea to get experience helping out at a health and fitness club (I currently advise people at my school). Another similair award is the YMCA fitness instructor's award which is pretty similair, although has more cardiovascular stuff. Both courses can be done in 1 week intensive training, with exams at a later date after practicing and studying. You do have to be 18 before you can apply to do them tho. During my gap year I will hopefully get both awards along with a couple of other sports related qualifications.

[kaz]

Hey madinthenut, where do you work? I see you're in NI, I was curious.

You earn more than me and I have a degree!!

*goes to find gym to join*