Only DDR to lose weight?

[InvaderScythe]

Hi, I'm new here. My name's Julieanne and I'm 15 years old. Anyway, I have a few questions myself.

I've been playing DDR since I got it last June, so I've been playing for a little more than a year. I'm 5'1" and slightly overweight, but not too much. Currently, I'm around 120 lbs, but I'm not exactly sure since our scale is broken. For about 2 months December through Febuary of this year and last, I was on the low-carb diet and I lost about 15 lbs, but I've gained about 5 lbs back because I've been eating normally, which isn't good, I know . Anyway, I've checked my BMI and it says I'm not overweight and that I'm healthy, which I am not, so it's weird .
I was wondering what kind of diet would be best for me to lose more weight so I can be the average weight and look, feel, and be happy and healthy. Thanks!

P.S. I play DDR a lot and I'll play on all modes except for non-stop (I'm not that good yet ^^) and I generally play a few times week.

[abrannan]

InvaderScythe said:

Hi, I'm new here. My name's Julieanne and I'm 15 years old. Anyway, I have a few questions myself.

I've been playing DDR since I got it last June, so I've been playing for a little more than a year. I'm 5'1" and slightly overweight, but not too much. Currently, I'm around 120 lbs, but I'm not exactly sure since our scale is broken. For about 2 months December through Febuary of this year and last, I was on the low-carb diet and I lost about 15 lbs, but I've gained about 5 lbs back because I've been eating normally, which isn't good, I know . Anyway, I've checked my BMI and it says I'm not overweight and that I'm healthy, which I am not, so it's weird .
I was wondering what kind of diet would be best for me to lose more weight so I can be the average weight and look, feel, and be happy and healthy. Thanks!

P.S. I play DDR a lot and I'll play on all modes except for non-stop (I'm not that good yet ^^) and I generally play a few times week.

How many calories are you eating per day? You probably don't need to go on any sort of specific diet, just cut back a tad on your calories. 5'1" and 120lbs doesn't seem overweight to me. You may also want to firm up what you've got by doing some light weightlifting. Plus, at 15, you've still got some growing to do, so I wouldn't stress over your weight too much. ( I know, it's a lot easier for me to say that than for you to do it. After all, I'm well out of high school)

[InvaderScythe]

Actually, I have no idea. I don't count my calories at all. I'm pretty sure I'm way over the limit anyway.

I'll take your advice and try those things, thanks.

[Laura Moncur]

If your BMI says you are at a healthy weight, then you don't need to diet. You should eat healthy (i.e. five fruits and veggies a day, three servings of dairy, high fiber grains, etc.), but you don't need to cut back on your caloric intake.

Be very careful with your perceptions. If your BMI says you are not overweight, then you need to rework your perception of your body.

When I look at my pictures from high school, I am amazed that I thought I was fat back then. If only I had learned to enjoy myself, no matter how skinny my friends were. I would have never been able to be as petite as my Asian cheerleader friend. I needed to learn how to be happy with myself at MY healthy weight.

That's not to say that DDR isn't great for you! Exercising every day is a healthy habit and I encourage you to enjoy it as much as you want!

[abrannan]

InvaderScythe said:

Actually, I have no idea. I don't count my calories at all. I'm pretty sure I'm way over the limit anyway.

I'll take your advice and try those things, thanks.

Don't guess. Count your calories before you do any tweaking to your diet. There's a point below which your body won't burn any fat, as it thinks you're starving. Get a journal and write down everything you eat for a week, including amount. Then compare that daily total to your BMR to see how much above or below what your body uses you are, before you do any diet.

[orangina]

I agree with Abrannan that you dont need to go on a diet. Diets dont work because you cant stick to them. Lifestyle changes do.

Next look to the size you wear..(sizes vary ) but in general are you wearing a small to medium size. Are you having trouble buttoning slacks? Because you can weigh a lot and be a small size if you have alot of muscle.
Why be a victim of the scale. Go by fit and how you feel.

Also I agree on body image..my gosh gal..appreciate what you got.

Next after evaluating these things..if you still need to lose weight..just make some small adjustments and cut back on what you eat abit.

[InvaderScythe]

Ok, thanks all. I'll try taking your advice. I'm a 5 (Juniors) in pants size so I guess that's normal for a teenager my age.

[orangina]

Another thing..many women think because they have a small belly they are fat. But its NORMAL to have curves!

Flat ripped abs on a woman are a result of a very low body fat, and/or genetics. A curve at the tummy is very normal for a woman.

Stop worrying about what the scales says (and what you GUESS the scale says - since yours is broken) and go by fit and feel!

[InvaderScythe]

I just have some extra flab on my tummy I want to get rid of. It's not that I'm nescessarily really overweight or fat, I just need to shape my tummy. Should I do crunches?

[abrannan]

InvaderScythe said:

I just have some extra flab on my tummy I want to get rid of. It's not that I'm nescessarily really overweight or fat, I just need to shape my tummy. Should I do crunches?

Crunches can help, but understand that you cannot "spot reduce". what I mean is, working muscles will firm up those muscles, but will not reduce fat near those muscles any more or less than fat away from those muscles. So *any* exercises you do will help that tummy flab. You may perceive a change from doing the crunches, since the muscles under the fat are firmer and hold their shape better, but there will still be roughly the same amount of fat there. DDR will help tone your body, push-ups will help, crunches will help, it's all good.

[InvaderScythe]

Ah, sounds excellent.