Hey,

I'm an 18 year old from Australia. I think I'm around 5'3" (really need to measure myself) and 121lbs (really need to weigh myself).

6 months ago, I moved 10 hours away from home for University and got into bad eating habits (including eating because of stress/need for comfort).

Now my entire body has gone "squishy". I used to be fairly toned, or at least not like this! Now it's like I have a layer of fat everywhere, particularly the sides of my lower back.

Now, in about a week, I am moving back home (various reasons, starting back at university March 2008) and I want to get back into shape! It'd be good to look good in a bikini. I was never really confident with my body, so now is the time to fix that.

So I think my goal weight is 110lbs (to be achieved by November, fingers crossed - not sure if this is realistic??), but more importantly I want to look and feel good. I haven't really decided how I am going to attack this goal just yet. But I've been doing basic stretches, crunches, etc. as well as pushing myself to the limit with Wii Sports for the past few days. Once I get back home, I'm going to hit the gym.

Any advice??


Anyway, I look forward to posting around here!

More cardio!

My stats:

age:20
height: 5'3"
current weight: 124
goal 1: 120
goal 2: 117

I don't know if you need to go so low in your goal weight... if you're big boned and somewhat muscled like me, I don't think it's necessary to lose THAT much!

Set a first goal of 115 and see how you look and feel, see if you need to lose more to be healthy and look and feel good.

geez, I'm starting to doubt my final goal.. maybe it should be even lower :S

Hey Jess

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure if my goal was realistic or not. But if I'm happy before I reach 110, then that's great!

What kind of cardio can I do without equipment and without going outside? (live in a bit of a bad area.. not comfortable with running outside alone)

Up and down the stairs would work well....

Okay. If only I had stairs.

hahaha.. looks like I'll have to wait until I get back home.

Thanks anyway

if your ceilings are high enough you could jump rope. its equipment, but its cheap.

later

run around the house naked?

Jumping Jacks?

Walk at the mall?

Is being naked helpful somehow, Nate?

I'd go with the jump rope, probably not naked.

Seriously Rebecca, you probably aren't terribly out of shape. Now's the time to get back on track. How about workout DVDs? There are lots of fun ones with toning exercieses and aerobic stuff. Billy Blank's Tae Bo is ok. I kind of want to try that "Yoga Booty Ballet". And of obviously healthy meals/snacks-plan things ahead of time. I'm sure you'll find lots of good tips here. Good luck. Someday I want to see Australia!!

I guess it all depends.

She is in lockup so it really does not matter.

what's that thing called, where you run in place really fast, then drop to the ground and pop back up (maybe do a couple pushups while you're down there)???

movies always show football players doing it during practice. whatever it's called, it's a good exercise if you don't have anyone living below you. jump rope is a fantastic exercise as well, but it can be frustrating to beginners. it also takes a lot of control to keep going even when your body really really wants you to stop. then again, i guess every exercise is like that, except for walking.

why not try some calisthenics? pushups, crunches, deadlifts, squats. even without any weights, those exercises are better than nothing. doing high-knees while running in place is pretty exhausting. karate is a good workout, if you're looking for a dvd. using slow controlled movements and flexing your muscles will really work up a sweat. i was surprised when i took it in college (please, no laughs).

Hey guys, thanks for all your advice.

I think I'll look into some DVDs as well as continuing with my crunches, push ups, stretches etc.

I'll give some other things a go today - those running and dropping exercises look fun (and painful).

I think I'll do it all while clothed ;) Thanks again guys

LOL

however Nate, we women happen to have 2 lumps of fat that would make running around naked.. hurt :S

oh and Rebecca, for DVD, I suggest Turbo Jam or Hip Hop abs. in 40 minutes of pretty intense exercise, I'll only burn about 350 calories, but still good!

lol I was trying to be funny.

I have to spice things about around here once in a while.

Glad to see you got the needed help Rebecca!

You rang?

Rebecca, my sister lives in the bronx and doesn't like to run outside much. Nothing gets you in shape better than avoiding criminals. Or you could buy a gun?

So am I right in that you just need something to occupy yourself with for a week until you have full access to a gym? You could always do my favorite, the "I'm on travel and this crap hotel doesnt have a damn gym" workout.

1) 50 pushups
2) 50 slow crunch
3) 50 Leg lifts
4) 30 or so jumpies
5) 12 front raises with the hotel room chair, each arm

Takes about 6-7 minutes. Repeat 3-5 times. You can add lots of stuff, various ab exercises or other hellish variants of the squat thrust.

Hell of a calisthenic workout.

If you have stairs thats a plus!
I do that if I get home to late I run up and down the stairs for 30 minutes. Wear sneakers. I slipped in my socks the other day and swore I broke my butt bone!

I also do the wii but I have ankle and wrist weights I use. It makes boxing a little harder.

You were slacking so someone had to do something.

I don't know if that was a serious comment, but no freakin way. Gun ownership isn't the same here in Aus like it is over there. I have used guns on a farm, but I would never ever own one or consider having one in my house. Any Aussie here will understand..



Thank you for that workout outline! I will definitely give it a go today... pretty sure I'll be exhausted at the end of it Thanks