Shaping up + Healthier Lifestyle

charlie792

Basically Im looking for a bit of advice on how to shape up and generally be healthier without it costing the earth.

As a bit of background info - Im currently 20 and in my final year of uni (so very little money) Im not a "typical student", I live with my partner who works full time so partying isn't really my scene - although I do enjoy a drink or few.

As I grew up I was never too concerned about my weight as everyone always said I looked healthy and have never really been a big size (in my opinion at least)
Things came to a head after I moved into halls for my first year of uni, after several months of snacking at all hours, I had managed to get to 13 stone. It wasn't so much the number but the fact all my tops were getting tight and I had to start buying size 14.

After I moved out of halls and into my own place my weight has significantly come down - In September I was 11 stone, and actually for the first time in a while considered as having an 'ideal' BMI.

As of yesterday I was 10.5 stone and was so surprised to be, especially after eating so much over christmas. For sure I thought I was going to be at least 11.5 because thats how I feel. My stomach seems to constantly be getting bigger - I reckon I could loose at least 4 inches if only I could shift the fat but this is where I am stuck.

I won't lie and say I eat super healthy because I don't but I am careful to a point with what I eat, but I do enjoy my food.
At least half my meals a week are cooked completely from scratch, and I avoid 'convinence food' at all costs (no microwave food etc). I always try to cut the fat off and drain the fat out of meat as much as possible. In the supermarket I always try and look for low fat options. If I do ever snack (which to be honest is rare these days) then it is only ever a pack of snack a jacks.
I will be the first the admit that I never get my '5 a day' purely because I really dislike fruit (I know its silly) - although I drink a lot of apple juice. I eat veg but maybe not as much as I should. I have lettuce and tomatos with some meals, or mixed veg a few times a week etc.

However I know food isn't everything and I do need to exercise - I have a Wii with the Wii Fit and I attribute this half stone weight loss to that because to be honest Im a bit lazy otherwise. I live in town so I never have to walk too far and the only places I need to go are Uni which I get the bus to as its 6 mile away - (and I cant afford a bike).

In all honesty Im not too concerned about loosing weight so to speak because for my height Im a pretty good weight but I do want to be generally fitter and to lose this horrible roll of fat on my stomach.

Any advice on foods I should eat or avoid or any particular exercises that are good for burning fat (on the Wii or otherwise) - or even any recipe ideas. Anything Really.

New Year - New Me

rachbc

I've just started running (literally just - first time today) once you have a pair of trainers and a bit of basic gear its free! I bought the couch to 10k i phone app for £1.79 so i have a plan to follow.

ellay864

Why don't you get on or off the bus a few stops early/late and briskly walk the difference? If ypu're at uni do you have free/cheap access to a gym or pool? Or to anything like zumba classes - really fun and great for getting fit

charlie792

Thanks for the replies

ellay864 wrote: »

Why don't you get on or off the bus a few stops early/late and briskly walk the difference? If ypu're at uni do you have free/cheap access to a gym or pool? Or to anything like zumba classes - really fun and great for getting fit

Unfortunatly the bus only runs from campus to campus so no stops in between otherwise I would.
Uni is a bit lame with its sports stuff, only has a tiny gym which costs a fortune and thats it.

I do actually go swimming at the council pool once a week, but the classes at the leisure centre are a bit pricey £5.10 a session + £8 joining fee.... Apparently they don't do student discount either....

Shall be checcking out some of the other boards later for some recipe ideas me thinks....

La-Cara

have a look on gumtree or on noticeboards at uni (there's probably one in the union) for people selling bikes or gym equipment cheaply I know you can't get off the bus a few stops early, but just trying to walk more in general will help; walk the long way round to get to the shop, take stairs instead of the lift, go for a leisurely wander round the park on a nice day etc etc.

I think the hula-hoop game on the wii fit is quite good at burning fat, I always seem to burn off lots of calories doing it and I would imagine it would be quite good for toning up your hip/waist area too.

alja

Morrisons/tescos have these £5 dvds with all different styles of workouts they're 10 min ones, so they're not bad for the money! I know what it's like being a student i'm just 21 myself, graduated last july! it's a shame they don't do student discount at the swimming pool you go to they do at these gyms near to me
i also enjoy the hula hoop game on the wii fit plus i have also been doing the jack knife thing on there too, thats worked wonders with my abs i'm aching as i type! lol!
running could be a good idea too, that's the next thing i want to try out

Wootball

charlie792 wrote: »

However I know food isn't everything and I do need to exercise - I have a Wii with the Wii Fit and I attribute this half stone weight loss to that because to be honest Im a bit lazy otherwise. I live in town so I never have to walk too far and the only places I need to go are Uni which I get the bus to as its 6 mile away - (and I cant afford a bike).

No, it IS all about food.

You could run a marathon every single day, but if you eat 10 Big Macs you will gain weight. Whereas you can lose weight without a single bead of sweat.

Weight/fat loss is extremely simple. Use up more calories than you consume, and you will lose weight. Check your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate, or how much you would use if you just lay in bed all day) and then factor in any exercise you might do. Use the following website: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

Once you know how many calories you would need per day in order to maintain your current weight, eat less than that. Try to eat around 300-500 calories less than your BMR every day of clean, healthy food.

Cut out fizzy drinks, high sugar products (including the apple juice) and keep alcohol to one night per week (being a student is no excuse). Cut out high, saturated fat products, get your fat from 2 teaspoons of natural peanut butter per day as well as fish and a little olive oil, or a handful of almonds when you're peckish. Fat is good for you if it's clean, so don't be afraid of it. Eat an equal amount of protein and carbs - so chicken/salmon with pasta/rice is ideal, and then add as much veg as you like. Get out of the silly mindset that all fruit is horrible, it's in your mind not your tastebuds.

To add some exercise, take the bus half way to your destination. 3 miles is a fairly short walk so try and do more than that if you can, but it's a good start. Doing situps/knives/crunches is pointless, you can't "spot reduce" fat. You lose it from everywhere or nowhere, and your body decides - not you. Yes you may work the muscle underneath, and muscle does burn calories, but calories do not equal fat. Your body will lose from where it wants to, it isn't going to target your stomach.

Remember this - if you want to lose fat/weight, just use more than you consume. Eat less, do more, it's the simplest thing in the world.

Gillyx

best way to burn fat is through HIIT.

I joined my local gym for £17 a month because I have a student membership and that's access to the gym, swimming and all the classes they run, even doing 2 classes a week would really help.

I've also discovered myfitnesspal.com and it's really good, it shocked me to actually see how much fat was in specific foods even if the calorie content wasn't high. Recommends how many calories/fat/sat fat/protein/carbs you should be eating a day

You can get it as an app for iphone/ipod too so easy to type in whatever you've eaten/exercise you've done, the catalogue of food they have is really good too.

charlie792

Wootball wrote: »

Cut out fizzy drinks, high sugar products (including the apple juice)

To add some exercise, take the bus half way to your destination. 3 miles is a fairly short walk so try and do more than that if you can, but it's a good start.

Don't drink anything fizzy - only apple juice and I can't really cut this out, have low blood sugar levels so need sugary products to maintain this.....

Also as mentioned earlier in the thread, getting off the bus earlier isn't an option. I live one end of the route and it goes to the other end 6+ miles away.

Gillyx wrote: »

best way to burn fat is through HIIT.

I joined my local gym for £17 a month because I have a student membership and that's access to the gym, swimming and all the classes they run, even doing 2 classes a week would really help.

You can get it as an app for iphone/ipod too so easy to type in whatever you've eaten/exercise you've done, the catalogue of food they have is really good too.

What is HIIT out of curiosity?

My gym is a ridiculous £30 a month! only get a reduction if your on benefits - for now I think Ill just have to stick to the swimming

Alas no Iphone either....Im coming to the conclusion Im the only one left with an old fashioned nokia haha

Gillyx

charlie792 wrote: »

Don't drink anything fizzy - only apple juice and I can't really cut this out, have low blood sugar levels so need sugary products to maintain this.....

Also as mentioned earlier in the thread, getting off the bus earlier isn't an option. I live one end of the route and it goes to the other end 6+ miles away.



What is HIIT out of curiosity?

My gym is a ridiculous £30 a month! only get a reduction if your on benefits - for now I think Ill just have to stick to the swimming

Alas no Iphone either....Im coming to the conclusion Im the only one left with an old fashioned nokia haha

High Intensity Interval Training, give it a google it's defo the best thing for losing fat, specially love handles etc, andd oooh the app I was talking about I forgot to mention you can use the normal website myfitnesspal.com Tracks all your calories/exercise and how much calories you can eat to lose half a pound/one pound/1 and a half etc a week, even tells you what to eat to maintain

Aswell as HIIT I'd recommend weights, it won't bulk you up aslong as you don't lift too heavy!