Motivation, tips, etc...

[myjourney79]

      I am 21 and 5'3", 125 lbs. Here's my (short) story: I came to college about 123-128 lbs, gained some weight and was about 132-135. I got into nursing school and went from 132 lbs to my lowest 112. This was the smallest I can ever remember being in my life and did I feel healthy and energized? No. I was worn out from school, stressed, anxious and not eating because I was so badly stressing and battling panic attacks.

      Now I am almost finished with school and I'm back up to 125 but I don't feel good about my body. I want so badly to be that girl who has all lean muscle and knows what to eat and when to eat it, but every place I look says something different. I am a full time student and pay all my own bills--how do I afford it? It's easy to say "work out at home" and "meal plan" but I find these things hard to begin, keep up because I run out of ideas and variety.

      I feel alone in all this...any help would be cherished and so much appreciated!

Moderator edit: font

[HelenaFitbit]

Welcome to the Fitbit Family @myjourney79! I'm sure you'll find plenty of members who are on the same path as yours. 

There is a really helpful thread over at the "What's Cooking" boards, called "Healthy Eating on a Budget", be sure to check it out . 

As a personal recommendation, make a weekly food plan and follow it as a guide. Make sure you write down your meals as soon as you are about to get them; this will prevent the moment where you are holding your food log and remembering how much you ate and underestimating amounts. I have a tiny notebook where I write down the meals and their weight, so when I'm ready to write them down, they are accurate.

Get a food scale and measure everything. Increase your water intake and find different sources or variations for the meals you love that won't take a hit on your caloric budget.

Have a rest day! Enjoy your food and don't miss out on the opportunity to eat different.

Good luck! 

[James_R]

Hey there,

the journey towards greater fitness and the body of your dreams can be difficult, but with a little determination and support you will succeed. Ignore the mirror and the scales for the first couple of months and focus on maintaining the lifestlye. 

Eating little and often from nuritional sources will be one of the keys to your success, complex carbs, protein and some fats and sugars to keep you in balance. as a nursing student your likely already doing some serious cardio each day, but if you can keep the motivation up there's nothing to stop you resistance and cardio training at home if you're on a tight budget.

The cooking section on the forum is great for tips on cheap and healthy meals, things like a bit of greek yoghurt and granola to kick start your day, chicken breast, asparagus and spinach for an awesome lunch, there's all sorts to choose from.

I can promise you that the lean muscle will come with time. Building up your body is a journey, and you'll watch your weight and body fat percentage rise and fall as you progress, but never get disheartened beause the scales aren't the full story. Muscle gains will come with increased body fat (thats why bodybuilders bulk and cut), but stay the course and there's no reason why you can't achieve the trim figure and sculpted abs you want. 

Like everyone here, my journey is still ongoing. But if you ever want a bit more advice or just a little motivation, simply ask.