[Lemongrab]

I'm 26, approximately 165cm and I weigh 67kgs. This is the heaviest I have ever been. I generally sit around 65kgs, when I am looking good I'm around 60-63kg.

My sister had anorexia and bulimia when I was a teenager and as a result I had an aggressive "don't-care" attitude about my weight as her illness affected me very badly. However I am now looking at myself and realising that I actually am getting plump and it's bothering me. I'd never starve myself or vomit like my sister, I am not like that. But I have no motivation to exercise and I cannot afford gym right now. I also have issues with portion control, and tend to eat way more than I need to. I get low blood sugar, get hungry really quickly and then binge.

I want to lose weight but I don't know where to start. I'm no good at cooking so anything that requires elaborate recipes is out for me. Help?

[Perna]

Fruit and vegetables. Make friends with apples, bananas, celery sticks with peanut butter (the apples and peanut butter are good too and peanut butter and bananas sandwiches for breakfast are great!). Make sure what you eat is nutritiously packed so it will help you stay full, longer -- start with fresh food; not packaged, fast food or snack foods. Go to a large grocery store and walk every aisle; mine done with my pedometer was half a mile! Make a game of it, everywhere you can. If you have to wait for someone at an appointment or something and you are in the car, do incline pushups against the car, play balancing games on the curb, use the curb for a "step", etc.

Find a site you like (I love The World's Healthiest Foods) and see what you can learn about nutrition and simple cooking, etc.

[MoxieDoxie]

Maybe something I wrote in my blog might help you. IDK....I just hope it is not triggering. Take a look and pass it on to anyone you think it might be helpful to. I struggle with Bulimia so I understand.

Coach's Mind Eye

[doyoutrustme]

Myfitnesspal is a very helpful app

[kiwi33]

Hi Lemongrab

Based on BMI calculations, your weight is well within the healthy range.

Bear in mind that it is totally normal for weight to vary on a daily/weekly basis by ± 1 kg or so, depending on fluid intake, visits to the toilet, why you may be in your menstrual cycle, etc.

I don't know what the labels are in South Africa, but talking with a registered/professional dietitian might be a good idea.

Dietitians are health professionals who can offer their clients advice about healthy eating.

[Lemongrab]

Thank you everybody for your input. I have started by cutting out fast food and fizzy drinks and cutting down my portion sizes. If the motivation to exercise strikes me I will engage it and take it from there.

[Karl$]

Below is what has helped me to lose weight.

• No sugar. (I use honey or fructose to sweeten things)
• Drink pure chimp super tea. I can’t stand green tea so this stuff has been great for me.
• Swap white for brown (bread, rice, pasta etc).
• Exercise at least 3 times a week

I feel great and have a lot more energy following this regime.

[counter15]

Getting started on a diet is a very elaborate process that you would have to follow in order to get to your weight goal. There are lot of great websites on the internet that can provide you with proper nutrition that you can implement. You may not be able to afford the gym cost, but there other exercises that you can do such as walking, jogging, and so forth.