Ask Ally: Help with weight loss

Dear Ally,

I am desperately trying to lose weight before the holiday season starts. Everyone is giving me advice on how to lose weight, but it just doesn’t work for me. Can you help me find a successful plan that will help me drop this weight?

Sincerely,

20 pounds to go

Dear 20 pounds to go,

I have struggled with weight issues my whole life, and I completely understand wanting to drop the weight before the holidays start. Honestly, there is no ‘quick fix’ that will make all the weight just disappear but there are some things you could do to make progress.

Experts say that in order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume.  You do this by counting the calories you take in and subtracting the calories you burn off through exercise.  The average caloric intake for women between the ages of 19-30 is 2,000-2,500. Young men should take their weight and multiply by 15 to find their specific ideal calorie intake. Those numbers might seem high, but a Big Mac, small fries and a small coke at McDonald’s is 930 calories; and that’s if you don’t upgrade your meal!

Our portion sizes in America have become too large which makes it very difficult to lose weight. Try to avoid meals with this many calories. Choose chicken instead of beef. Say no on cheese. Use low-fat or fat-free spreads. Eat vegetables or fruits when you want a snack and drink a glass of water before and after each meal to get full quicker. Try to eat five times a day. If you eat three balanced meals and two snacks, your metabolism will speed up and work better.

Another issue I think keeps us from losing weight is putting ourselves on extremely limiting diets.  By doing this, you are depriving yourself of everything you like to eat. So when you get off your diet, you will most likely eat a large quantity of what you were missing. It’s all about moderation. Have that piece of chocolate, but make sure you don’t eat the whole bar. 

The first step in losing weight should be to cut down your calorie intake and don’t starve yourself. Skip the McDonalds meal and cook dinner at home.

 The next step in losing weight is to exercise by doing cardio and weights.  The SHSU Rec Center offers a state of the art gym as well as many group fitness classes ranging from Zumba to yoga.

The answer to your question is not a simple one. If this seems like too much at first, why not take the stairs instead of the elevator or park farther away from your classes and walk.  It doesn’t take much to make a difference.  You just need to figure out what you can fit into your schedule.  You have to be motivated to work out and count calories that you eat. Try bringing a journal with you or keep track of your calories in your phone.

I hope this helps you be successful in losing weight.

Sincerely,

Ally

*If you or someone you know is suffering from a problem, and would like some advice, you can email me anonymously at awiley@houstonianonline.comand you could see my response in the newspaper!*