Long road ahead

[ckt]

Hey everyone, I'm new here but I've known about this site for a little over a year. I'm FINALLY motivating myself enough to drop the weight (and a bunch of it). I've been playing DDR every night for the past week. It's hard sometimes because I work full time and I'm a full time student, so it ends up that the only time I can play is at night, and then I ended up not getting enough hours of sleep (I heard sleep helps weight loss).

I have a few questions. My main weight loss goal is 80 lbs, I'm at my biggest weight ever. I'd like to drop 30 lbs by the beginning of December.. that will give me a little over 2 months. Does that sound about right?

I'm also trying to figure out how many calories I should be burning in DDR to reach my goal for the week. I'd like to drop at least 4 lbs a week, but of course more is always good. This past week I haven't done as good as I hoped, but I guess I'm still trying to figure things out. I'm playing on Light mode (I'm almost ready for standard I think). Do you think I would reach my weekly goal if I burned 300-400 calories a night?

As far as my diet goes, it hasn't been going so well either. The first thing I did was I completely cut soda's out. I've been drinking water and milk (which I'm cutting majorly back on the milk now that I'm more use to water all the time). My eating habits are terrible right now. I work all the time, and I usually don't eat when I'm at work. I think I'm going to buy some fruit or other healty snacks to take with me to eat there. When I'm at home I really mess up more. We never have anything healthy to eat in my home, so I've been heading to Subway. I usually get the turkey sub with lettuce and cheese but I think I'm going to start cutting the cheese out. I don't know really, I've also considered trying the vegetarian life. Suggestions? I'm pretty much open to anything right now.

The main reason I'm doing all this is not only to look better, but I also want to feel better, not just mentally.. I want to be much more healthier, and I'm trying to get into the mind set that eating should be about nurishing my body, not stuffing my face

[ckt]

I just tried out standard in work out mode and wow, makes a huge difference. i can burn calories so much quicker, go figure lol. im such a newb. i now feel like 300-400 definately isn't enough for one night compared to how quick i just burned 250

[abrannan]

30lbs in 10 weeks is a very ambitious goal. Normally, for sustained, healthy weight loss, the recommendation is to not go over an average of 2 lbs/week. Of course, in the early stages of weight loss, those numbers may be higher for the first 4 weeks or so. But, really, are you going to be that upset if you've only lost 20 lbs by December? You'll still be 20 lbs closer to your goal.

Don't worry so much about the numbers on the scale or the DDR calorie counter. Just make sure you follow some simple rules. Play DDR at least 6 days a week, even if you're just getting on the pad for one set of 3 songs. If you can get 1/2 hour in, that great. Play at a level that gets your heart pumping, and works up a sweat in 3 or so songs. Cut out sugars and junk food, and cook for yourself as much as possible (Frozen dinners and ramen noodles don't count as cooking for yourself). Drink more water and eat more vegetables, the deeper the color, the better they are for you.

As you said, it's a long road. Plan on making it a journey, not sprinting till you fall over. And remember that every step is good progress.

[psisar]

You sound exactly like me when I first started DDRing (situation wise) I hear you on the working full time while going to school full time, it's tough. But, there's always time for DDR.

As abran said, DDR almost every day (at least six days a week) and work on your eating habbits. Personally I don't eat much dairy, there's a LOT of calories in most dairy products. Stay away from the pop, too. As your DDR skills improve it'll be easier and more fun to workout to dancing, and try and aim for at least a half hour a day to start off. As you progress you'll be wanting to do more time, which is great.

This is IMO, but ditch the scale. Or even weigh yourself now, start applying the changes to your every day routine then step back on in maybe a month or so. I find scales to be greatly discouraging. Go by how you look and how you feel, not by what stupid number tells you.

Good luck!

[ckt]

yeah, I think I'm going to give the scale a break for awhile... you both have good advice!

Here's another question.. what all should I be counting on my food? I usually just look at calories and fat.. what about carbs? What would be a good amount to be at?

[abrannan]

Honestly, I don't count anything. I use the numbers to help me make informed decidions about what to eat. On the fat side, polyunstaurated is good, monounsaturated is not so good, and saturated is bad. For carbs, fiber is good, sugar alcohols are semi-neutral (depending on your views of artificial sweeteners), and sugar is bad. So really I just use those numbers to pick between brands at the store. You can't really make a lifestyle change if you're constantly figuring out sum and ratios while looking at a menu.

[The Charming Canuck]

Well I know eating lots of fruits an veggies is going to be good for oyu, I am a vegetarian and it is not an easy getting to where I am now, I only eat dairy products, fruits, and veggies. You have to take it in steps. I eliminated all meat but fish from my diet then I started eatin less and less fish and then cut it out completely. I am not big on eggs so that wasn't hard to eliminate. Being a vegetarian doesn't mean eating chips and french fries, those will not help you lose wieght at all, but you prolly already knew that. A lot of people think that being a vegitarian means you are healthy no matter what you eat, this is simply not true. You have to blance yourself out, and make sure you get enough protien. If you really like milk then you could try rice milk it i slower in fat than milk and it doesn't taste bad, and that coming from me is a big thing cause I hate milk. When you go to subway try to eat a veggie sandwich and use spinach leaves instead of lettuce. Spinach has a lot of good thing in it for you where as lettuce doen't have much in the way of nutrition, not saying it doesn't have anything but spinach leaves are better than letuce when it comes to vitamins and stuff, and if you want to make a salad try it with the spinach leaves instead of lettuce, it is very yummy. As for counting, it should be inches not pounds, and don't count everyday it can be very frustrating. Try like once or twice a month if you have to check. I hope this has helped you a lil.
WINGS