Beauty & Grooming  Discussion Forum

Hi all:)
I want to lose weight overall. I havent joined any weight loss program as I am just 14. I just want to do it at home. I was wondering what kind of foods should I eat more. Can I eat meat? Can I eat potatoes? Is it ok to eat 6 chapaties (indian rotis) per day? And how long should I exercise? I just go for a run or I jog in one place. If there is something else thats important for weight loss, pls mention it. Is it normal for your legs to hurt after the day you exercise.
Your help will be greatly appreciated
B replied. You are still very young and your body is probably still going through some growth. But it is good that you are thinking about overall health. Here is what I found worked for me. Stay away from sugar, refined sugar that is. This is the stuff that we put in our coffee, in ice-cream etc. Cut back on carbs, food made of flour rice potatoes bread etc. When I say cut back, do it gradually. Since I am a rice lover, I had to start putting more curries and less rice. Remember that you have to have portion control. You are probably living with your parents and it may be difficult to determine what is being cooked. But be aware and make some wise choices during lunch/dinner time. Don' t skip breakfast. Eat more vegetables and fruits to fill you up. Drink lots of water. Although it has not been proven that drinking water reduces weight, it certainly will fill you up so that you are not eating too much. Losing weight is all science. If you burn more calories than you consume, you will start losing weight.
Coming to exercise, in order to burn calories, you will have to exercise. You will need to do cardio, these are exercises that increase the heartbeat, like jogging, aerobics. Mix it up with strentgh conditioning, doing squats lunges weights etc. This will help tone the body.
To answer some of your questions: You can eat meat. Stay away from potatoes if you can. But if no choice, eat in moderations. 6 chapaties seem a little too much. Cut down gradually (half or one chaptti a week) so that you are not feeling deprived. I would think 3 would be a good number for a day. How long to exercise - cardio 25-30 minutes is usually recommended daily with conditioning for another 20 minutes.
Skipping is a great exercise to do at home. If you have the opporunity to walk to school/library, then do so. Legs will be sore the day after you exercise. It is normal. Don' t over do and injure.

Keep in mind that losing weight takes time and persistence. Don' t give up if you eat ice-cream one day. Just keep at it and make small changes and eventually you will see changes. It is a life style change that comes with time and not an overnight miracle. Good luck.