Yeah I went to the beach today, really good for the legs! And my hair looks pretty.

regular exercise + healthy *diet* + motivation= a start to getting the way you want to be

I heard somewhere that doing sit-ups is actually BAD for you? Is this true? I used to do them regularly but lately, I get horrible cramps in the abdominal section for days and stopped doing them. I'm also trying to get rid of unnecessary fat in the facial area (makes me look too "soft" I think). I don't suppose there's a face workout? I've browsed around for some information and it seems like you just need to do cardio and stuff and eventually the fat will burn away (apparently it goes through 'stages' and different areas of the body lose fat at different rates, but you have to lose fat in a certain area before you can start losing it in another). But that's going to take so long >.< I've been part of a gym for just over a year now, but afterschool I always feel so groggy and... ugh. I have to convince my parents to get a dog.

Oh and I know what good foods are, but what would be considered bad, besides obvious junk foods? All things that are oily, fried...?

You can't really target the reduction of fat in a particular area, it is just a general thing. As you lose weight you will lose some in the face too. Well, you should, under the shin and on the cheeks and stuff.

I've never heard of situps being bad for your abs. Your back, yeah, not the greatest thing, but not the abs. You probably strained it that's all.

As for foods, avoid fried foods, avoid simple carbs and things high in sugar, avoid...hmm I think the best way to do it is just try eat as naturally as possible. If it comes in a packet, sachet or some kind of wrapping and is filled with chemicals you can't pronounce and more numbers than your street address, avoid it.

Sit ups cause horrible back strain. Which is why crunches, both reverse and regular are recommended by back doctors now. They minimise the movement that causes back strain.

Quidgy, is right on the foods. Although don't take it to mean that you can't grab your favourite burger or pizza now and then. It really depends on what you are focusing on for what you want to eat.

Overall things like tuna, eggs, vegetables, lean meats count in the eat right section. Dieticians will give you all sorts of "eat this, don't eat that" rules, but the basic thing to remember is. Don't force yourself to eat things you dislike just because you want to lose weight. You can lose weight while enjoying what you eat.

Another decent ab workout is V-sits. For those of you who might not know what these are, it's just how they sound. Lie on your back, and raise your legs just about 2" above the ground, and do the same with your shoulders. Your head's unimportant, just make sure it's not supporting your torso... heh, heads are unimportant. I'm too lazy to rephrase that (but not so lazy that I won't write this excessive statement of something obvious afterwards.) Anyway. At this point, you'll be shaped as an obtuse V. Try to hold the position for about 100 seconds, and don't repeat afterwards. But don't do this on a hard surface unless you like having a sore tailbone.

With ab workouts you have to be sure it is your abs you are using and not your lower back, by the way.

As simple as it sounds, this simple statement is probably the single best advice I've read in this thread.

My BS is in Exercise Physiology and while it doesn't make the foremost expert on exercise, I have learned quite a bit in the last four years about it. A major area of the field addresses people who are sedentary. I'd like to share a few key points:

- Starting off, the single most effective change is going to be diet. This is very much supported by research, which shows that most people who are successful in a weight loss program first find a way to modify their current diet into a more healthy form. If you are used to eating three meals a day, eat three meals a day. If you want to eat six smaller meals a day, do that. The idea is to find something comfortable and healthy that is tailored to YOU. While there are certain foods that you may want to avoid (simple carbohydrates such as those in bleached flour, etc), weight loss occurs when your caloric expenditure exceeds caloric intake. Cutting back on calories overall is going to be important not just replacing them with something "better for you."

- Find a mode of exercise that is enjoyable. Some people despise walking yet love to swim or cycle. While down the road you may want to mix it up, the initial change of going from sedentary to actively exercising is difficult. Make it as enjoyable as you can.

- Decide upon some goals. Now, this gets tricky because while others have mentioned this in the thread, I haven't seen anyone address differences in goals. For example, if you goal is to lose weight and slim down, anaerobic exercise (resistance training/weight lifting) is not going to be your best bet starting out. While you may wish to incorporate some resistance training, it should not be your focus if weight loss is your concern (which it is for most people who claim to be fat).

OMG Now I discovered each time I find a new bf I tend to lose weigth. Sport, not having cravings for chocolate and no time to eat.

Feeling much better, I was considering it to be an after effect of my brain seeing everything pink.