Diets (ZOMG!)

[tylorva]

For various reasons that I won't go into here, I feel the urge to lose a load of weight before October.  So for the first time in my life I am contemplating some kind of diet.  However, I am clueless on such things

Comments

[w00hoo]

This isn't quite what you asked for, but being the internet that means it doesn't matter

[jester_uk]

I've no idea what 14 to 12 really equates to

Approx 2 inches in circumference (alternatively, pick a different clothing manufacturer or different style by the same manufacturer; women's clothing sizes are almost but not quite random numbers these days)

I agree with almost everything else you've got there, except I would always say ignore BMI because it's way too simplistic a calculation and ignores things like tissue density and fat percentage, but that's a whole other rant :-)

[tylorva]

It does, but I;m really looking for some kind of strcutured programme because I am MUCH better at sticking to something like that than when left to my own devices.

[phoenix_hawk]

If structured, I would suggest a diet like Weight Watcher's: My girlfriend is just starting, but I find myself impressed by the rigor of the system and the flexibility.

Myself, I would suggest the following admittedly self-designed (though with help from friends):

Couch Potato to 5 K program (for the exercise). THis is available online.

A physical regimen consisting of weights a minimum of 2-3 times a week (depending on how you cut it) For me, it was roughly 30-45 minutes on weights, and another half hour to an hour on an Elliptical or similar machine. There must be some good websites describing how to do this, but I relied on the advice of a friend who had been doing weights for longer.

I lost about 30 pounds in 5 months, but was a bit unfocused. I wouldn't hit it all at once, but build into it.

[q99]

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If structured, I would suggest a diet like Weight Watcher's: My girlfriend is just starting, but I find myself impressed by the rigor of the system and the flexibility.
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My mother's had good success with them.

[valerius1979]

For me just exercising made me lose loads of weight (although I was purely after fitness), in fact if you increase your muscle mass your metabolism seems to go up massively (from what happened to me anyway, not sure if that's normal or not as i am completely clueless when it comes to such things)!

Generally though, fruit and vegetables are your friend :D

[izzy_stradlin]

alas, the only diet i know is the 'be unemployed, have very little money for food, and be bored enough to excercise' one.
alternatively, eat lots of japanese style food. don't see many chubby japanese people.

[serpentstar]

Cut out grains, sugars, alcohol, and most starchy vegetables (potatoes, yams, legumes, etc