I don't claim to know a lot about body types and how food affects different people - I can only share from experience. 4 years ago I weighed, at 5'10, 256 pounds. By changing my eating habits a little and exercising a lot (joining high school football), I dropped to 235 pounds. In August of 2009, 2 friends and I decided to each get on a very strict diet and exercise plan, because we could motivate each other and we all had the will power. I now weigh about 190 pounds (still 5'10), but most of it is muscle weight, since I like lifting weights. Though I would still be healthy if I were to lose another 10 pounds of fat, I'm very healthy and fairly slim.
One of the main things that I think you should do is to start exercising. Whatever you like and works best for you and your body is the most preferable form of exercise for you to do at this point. "Cardio" is the way to go for you - cardio consistently. Brisk walking and jogging are very easy to do since they require no equipment, though things like jumping rope and biking are also really cool
. If your body isn't as spry as it once was, try low-impact exercises: biking, swimming, etc.
The low-carb thing works for a while (I secretly like using it to cut fat hehehe)... The problem with the low carb diets is that once you get off them, the weight comes back. Permanently losing weight comes along with permanent lifestyle changes. If you really need to lose weight, and I'm no doctor so take this with a grain of salt and a bit of research for yourself, the low-carb thing can temporarily cut fat, but a real, sustainable lifestyle change is needed.
As for food, cut out a lot of that salt. Cheese and salami are really tasty, but salt-wise they're not so good for ya
. What I'd suggest for you to permanently change to is something that fits your tastes, desires, body and its needs, spirituality, etc. Personally, I always eat at least 5 vegetables a day and 3 fruits per day as my basic necessities and voluntary requirements of myself. I'm not personally against eating meat, so that's an option for you too - I love meat .
A basic diet I'd say for you to try out for cutting would be something medium to high in protein, low to medium in carbs, high in vegetables, medium in fruits, and low to medium in dairy (preferably low). Though this is of course something that would work for me, since these fit my taste preferences and body needs.
One way I sort of cheated the system, so to speak, was to eat large quantities of low-calorie foods as fillers. For example, I used to eat 1 - 1.5 cups of cottage cheese with nuts and blueberries mixed into it as a sort of meal, and it only provided me with 300-400ish calories, but definitely filled me up
.
Things to remember: Drink more water. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Nuts are a good snack as the fat fills you for a while. Drink more water!! Leaner and whiter meats, such as fish, turkey, pheasant, and chicken are much better for you than red meats. Drink more water. Eat 4 to 6 reduced-from-what-you-normally-eat-per-meal (lol) meals per day. Cut out all high fructose corn syrup. Drink more water
PLUR
One of the main things that I think you should do is to start exercising. Whatever you like and works best for you and your body is the most preferable form of exercise for you to do at this point. "Cardio" is the way to go for you - cardio consistently. Brisk walking and jogging are very easy to do since they require no equipment, though things like jumping rope and biking are also really cool
. If your body isn't as spry as it once was, try low-impact exercises: biking, swimming, etc.The low-carb thing works for a while (I secretly like using it to cut fat hehehe)... The problem with the low carb diets is that once you get off them, the weight comes back. Permanently losing weight comes along with permanent lifestyle changes. If you really need to lose weight, and I'm no doctor so take this with a grain of salt and a bit of research for yourself, the low-carb thing can temporarily cut fat, but a real, sustainable lifestyle change is needed.
As for food, cut out a lot of that salt. Cheese and salami are really tasty, but salt-wise they're not so good for ya
. What I'd suggest for you to permanently change to is something that fits your tastes, desires, body and its needs, spirituality, etc. Personally, I always eat at least 5 vegetables a day and 3 fruits per day as my basic necessities and voluntary requirements of myself. I'm not personally against eating meat, so that's an option for you too - I love meat .A basic diet I'd say for you to try out for cutting would be something medium to high in protein, low to medium in carbs, high in vegetables, medium in fruits, and low to medium in dairy (preferably low). Though this is of course something that would work for me, since these fit my taste preferences and body needs.
One way I sort of cheated the system, so to speak, was to eat large quantities of low-calorie foods as fillers. For example, I used to eat 1 - 1.5 cups of cottage cheese with nuts and blueberries mixed into it as a sort of meal, and it only provided me with 300-400ish calories, but definitely filled me up
.Things to remember: Drink more water. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Nuts are a good snack as the fat fills you for a while. Drink more water!! Leaner and whiter meats, such as fish, turkey, pheasant, and chicken are much better for you than red meats. Drink more water. Eat 4 to 6 reduced-from-what-you-normally-eat-per-meal (lol) meals per day. Cut out all high fructose corn syrup. Drink more water
PLUR