Seriously, how do you live a stressful and unhealthy life, and gain weight?
Stress affects us all differently.
I, for example, am just like
glocke12. I gain weight when I am stressed or feeling blue because I don't watch what I'm eating and have less motivation to exercise.
It's a cruel twist of fate, but when I'm happiest, I'm also the thinnest and most active. So the trick for many of us is to never get off that positive cycle.
but seriously, I just don't get you overweight people. I'm breaking the bank trying to eat enough to gain weight, and you act like it's nothing to consume all that calories you need to gain weight.
For some of us, it is nothing. Assuming I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary, my normal caloric needs for a day are only about 1500 calories. That's with a few days of working out in a given week and excluding the typical occasion where one would consume more calories (a party or night out for example). So on balance, I have to consume about 1450 calories a day to maintain my weight at 135 lbs. Any more, and I add pounds fast.
It all comes down to metabolism and body type. We're not all the same.
maybe you can lend me some tips on how I'd get fat without emptying my bank account.
Eat more protein, calcium, and calorie-rich foods.
And then, when you reach middle age, have fond memories of the problem you face today.
Ive started taking steps to get back to where I was two years ago (eating better, trying to get more exercise), but I think I have a long road ahead of me.
You're going to have to remember to drink more water than before. As you lose weight, your body is going to need the water in order to flush out the byproducts of fat degeneration.
Remember also to not think of it as a diet, or you could bounce back after losing the weight. Instead, focus on reducing your portions and making a point of working out on a regular basis.
Your best bet in the beginning is to count calories relentlessly. After a while, you'll be able to estimate the calories in many foods and you'll automatically get into the habit of eating smaller portions. But in the beginning, it will be difficult.
If you weigh 260 lbs right now, then your total metabolic rate should be around 2,760 calories per day. Since your target weight is 190 lbs, you need to slowly reduce your caloric intake to match about 2,000 calories/day. Don't do it all at once, because that might put your body into starvation shock. Instead, Start with 2,600 calories for the first week, then 2,400 the next, etc.
With moderate exercise and a daily calorie deficit of ~700 calories (in the beginning), you should be able to lose a reasonable amount of weight in the beginning. However, beware the tapering effect. After you've lost more than 50% of your target weight, the rate will slow incredibly. You have to keep at it.
