Re Diet and Exercise

You've already taken the right steps toward losing the weight by modifying your diet to include more healthful choices, reducing fat intake, and exercising more than usual.
Because you're not seriously overweight, losing weight is less noticeable at first, but since you've noticed a change in your clothes, then something is happening. Really, losing 5 pounds a month is safer for your body than trying to lose 20. It took you some time to put it on, therefore it will take some time to take it off. Good luck to you. It sounds as though you're on the right track.

Increase your water intake and dont eat after 7pm. It worked for me but since i been slacking i have gain 10 pounds back from what i lost. But i havent changed my eating habits, i dont eat a lot of junk anyway. Also eat more fruits and veggies.
Im 5'6 and my doctor wants me at 135, first of all at that weight i look like im on drugs. It depends on your structure, white women and blk women are built different so the weight chart doesnt apply to everyone. And i really wish doctors start to understand this and look at body structure, not what the universal chart say we should weight.

Oh my gosh!! I have just come to that same realization about age & weight. I'm starting to understand why women hate to turn 30. I am also 29, and it is suddenly so easy to gain weight & so hard to lose it. I have two kids, and I looked better after having both of them, than I do now (2 years after having my last child). I can't blame it on motherhood...so I'm leaning towards age as the culperate.

I started running back in May and saw a difference, but it was so hard to keep up with (and not so great for our joints, now that we're becoming old farts...hahaha). I think exercise is key, and definitely replacing most liquids with water. I think at this age we're just going to have to give in to full-blown weightloss regimines...exercise, drink lots of water, eat lots of fruits & veggies, and decrease fat and calories. In short...we have to become the godesses of nutrition!!!

I guess I don't have a lot of advice for you. I mostly just wanted to say "YOU'RE NOT ALONE!!" Good luck!!

C.

5'3" and 140? Yeah, you sound like a cow (!!). Your Dr. sounds like he likes skinny girls.. If he's using the BMI, you can let him know that is completely outdated and most in-shape people who have more muscle than fat would also be classified as fat or obese. That's ridiculous. I would maybe try to eat better for the cholesterol thing, but as for the weight, you're perfect!

I'm 5'2" and I weigh in at 158 lbs (and dropping). At one time, before 2 children, I weighed in at 105 lbs and wore a size 3 or 5 and was advised by my OB/GYN that I was very much underweight. I was able to lose all the weight after my first child within months, but I have struggled for the past 5 years with my weight since my second child. I've been advised at several annual employee health fairs by a certified dietician/nurse that 125-130 lbs would be a good weight for someone of my height and frame size. I don't have a high cholesterol problem, I actually have a low cholesterol problem!!!

If you're 5'3" and 140 lbs then you are looking great! Exercise at any weight is always beneficial for anyone. Personally I wouldn't worry about losing any more weight. Just concentrate on keeping your body toned. You may need to change your diet to one lower in cholesterol though and even then you may still have high cholesterol. Some people are just genetically susceptable to high cholesterol no matter what. Good Luck.

Jessica, You're doing the right thing. about 6 months ago, I started working out. I didn't start seeing results until 3-4 months afterward. Please keep at it, not for the weight, but for how it makes you feel and the energy you get. I promise the inches will fall off, and then the weight on it's own. I use Self magazines workouts to vary my workouts. It helps you to lose those extra pounds that won't budge. Make sure you watch your portions, and don't cut all of the yummy stuff out. You can eat cake! lol...But, I'm sure you look excellent already. Some doctors are just overanxious about our weight. I myself, am about your size right now. I run 1 mile and walk 1.25 miles every workout 3x a week. But I don't do a special diet. I just eat whatever...

I am barely 5'4" and when I weigh 140 I can wear size 8s and soemtimes 6s depending on the brand. I have always weighed more than my peers but being the same size as them, even in high school. So, you may have heavier bones or more muscle than some people. What I always read lately, is more about your BMI/waist being smaller than 35 which I am sure yours is. if your hip to waist ratio is ok then I wouldn't worry about it health-wise. I think your doctor is saying if you lose a little weight, even 10lbs, then that will lower your LDL (bad) and raise your HDL (good), or at least help. I wish I was back down to 140 again, but when I'm ready I'll get back there. Just educate yourself on what the concensus is for eating right/healthy for your heart.
Best wishes.

Hi Jessica,

Well, this just made me re-evaluate my weight reading this. I don't think that I would consider you over weight if I saw you in person either. I am 25 years old, weigh 131 and also am 5'3". I wear a size 7/8 and know that I am not as thin as I was prior to my pregnancy (have 1 six month old daughter). Now your cholesterol issues are not to be taken lightly. This can totally have some negative effects on your life. I am glad to hear that you are taking the necessary measures to correct this mishap.

If you feel that you are happier at the weight that you are at presently, maybe you can ask your doctor if as long as you maintain a healthy diet and exercise daily, you may stay at your current weight. Since I am not a doctor and not a health nutritionist I don't have the accurate answers that you need. I think that if you are happier at the weight that you are presently and if it is possible to stay there and be healthy, why not?! I prefer to be at the weight that I am at now rather than before my pregnancy at 116 lbs. I feel healthier and also appreciate how my clothes fit me. I could use some toning up though :)

Props to you for taking the correct measures to getting your cholesterol back on track, that is pretty hard I imagine. Good luck!

HI Jessica...

Weight has been a battle for me my entire life. I've finally come to accept that I'll never be a size 2 or an 8 for that matter! haha. My entire family is large. HOwever, I have decided that I don't have to eat terribly fattening artery clogging foods either. I keep nothing but healthy foods in my home and currently my exercise regime consists of remodeling my house! haha.... Once the house is remodeled (we just bought it a month ago) I'll start working out in the shed with my boyfriend we have a bowflex and are going to invest in a new elliptical glider.

The MOST important thing you can do for weight loss next to eating healthily, is drink water and LOTS of it! I drink nothing but water all day long, its great I stay hydrated, my skin looks great, I feel healthier, the appetite is curbed...

It is alot harder to lose the weight when you get older... When I was in my 20's I could drop 70+ in 6 months time... but now it takes a little more work.... I started eating healthy just before hurricane Katrina. and I went in a years time, from 309 to 260.... I'm still working on it, and I lost my husband in April and jumped back up to 290... SOOOO like I said its a constant battle for me. But if you want it bad enough don't give up, your health is worth it! Keep it up!

I'm only 4'11" SO you can imagine the tax and strain its put on my health, but I seem to feel so much better with every pound lost.. AND when I do induldge in healthy food I can feel my body saying WHAT ARE YOU DOING, this stuff is NASTY! So I tend to leave it all alone most of the time now! Something I heard on a comercial when I was a kid stuck with me all these years, and it helpts too... "A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!" lol

Take care,

K.

My best advice is the sooner you get the weight of the better off you'll be. When you hit your 30's (I am pushing 40) your metabelism slows down. That is why your not seeing the results your looking for right away. Don't get discouraged get educated. Find the right foods to eat and continue to exercise. You also have to remember that the weight didn't happen over night so taking it off isn't going to happen over night either. Taking good vitamins is important too-

Hope this helps, C.

try drinking more water and cutting calories. alternate your workouts w/ different things, sometimes you body gets in a slump cause of the style of exercise you do only targets certain parts of the body. swimming is a great overall body workout.

HI JESSICA D

When I changed my eating habits before I had my 3rd child my weight dropped, 35-40lbs, a long with my cholestrol too and I felt great and that was with very little exercise. I joined a weight loss program, and the key thing was to eat fresh fruits and veggies, small amounts of red meat, fish and skinless chicken, and wheat products watch the portion size and to eat every 2-3 hours, stuff like a few carrots or an apple for a snack helps, little to no butter, no salt, 8 plus glasses of 8oz water daily. Stay away from junk food, if it is not fresh or fresh frozen, it's a no-no. Steam the veggies, use Mrs Dash for flavor... After having my baby 3 months ago, I need to lose the weight again. Hope this helps with the Cholesterol it did for me, keep in mind I never had a problem with it I just made it lower. Good Luck...

Jessica,

I was moderately overweight from the time I was six years old and was diagnosed with high cholesterol at age 18. I saw a cardiologist who said to lower my fat intake and increase my exercise. I worked hard, lost 30 lbs and went back to my cardiologist at 103 lbs sure my cholesterol would be better - it was WORSE. I was put on different medications, the last being Lipitor and saw some improvement. I gave up thinking that heredity was more than I could conquer.

At age 30 after 2 kids I did the Dr. Phil Ultimate Weight Loss solution to drop 25 lbs. Not only did I do that in 3 months, I dropped my cholesterol below 200 for the first time in over a decade and lost my "borderline diabetic" status. I have had 2 pregnancies since then and successfully lost the baby weight quickly. I would highly recommend you pick up the Dr. Phil Weight Loss book (any bookstore, WalMart or Amazon.com.)

Best wishes,
S.

Hey Jessica,
5'3" and 140 sounds perfect to me!! I wish I was that thin! Our society makes us feel like we have to be anorexic! If your Cholesterol is high you should probably just eat more vegetables and fruits and less red meat, more poultry and fish, and exercising every morning is great! Don't stress about i. It sounds like you are doing good. I'd double check on that Cholesterol in a month or so and check the numbers maybe it's only a tiny bit high.
Godd luck, S.

Jessica, you are describing what happened to me and I was having blood pressure problems and holding fluid but I had gained fat also and it really shows when you are petite like me. I bought Dr. Phil's Weightloss Solution Cookbook and lost over 30 pounds and I feel so much better. I had to learn the right combination of foods to eat that makes you lose weight and I had to start drinking unsweetened (sweetened with Splenda) drinks. I also asked God to help me control my appetite and help me to be healthier for myself and my family. God bless you!

It isn't just a weight issue maybe you need to look at your diet/menu change what you eat and also it is genetic check with your parents/grand parents, do they have the same problem?
To burn fat aerobics is good and cardio is also important I just started Billy Blanks Tae Bo " boot camp " it's fun I also use my ab lounge at least 3 x's a week. I am NOT a Phd or a specialist just some advise my mom had the same problem.

That tip about not eating after 7pm is a good one. I've also lost a few lbs that way. But be sure not to starve or deprive yourself, b/c you'll end up with fierce cravings. Listen to your body, eat less of the fattening stuff (esp sugary things, fatty meats, and dairy products), and exercise. I belong to the YMCA, and most of them have pools. Swimming is a fantastic burn, and it's not hard on your body, like running or other impact exercises. Weight-building exercises are also incredibly important for us women to convert the fat to muscle, and strengthen our bones for the oncoming brittle years. I'm mostly a vegetarian (I do eat fish), and soy products are getting better and better. You can find soy burgers, crumbly soy burger (you can put in almost any dish that requires ground beef), corn dogs, soy hot dogs, soy bacon (Morning Star brand is the best!), etc. I also love the soy milk. (Silk brand comes in an "Enhanced" version with Omega 3 and antioxidants.) I haven't found a good soy cheese yet, and the good hot dogs are hard to come by, but there's a good start. Keeping enough protein in your body, while trying to cut back on the fatty meats, is a great way to lose weight - and be healthier.

There's my 2 cents. :) Good for you! And what a great example to our kids when we live a healthy lifestyle. Good luck and God bless!

M. B

Hey Jessica - I actually started working out with a trainer just recently. So far it is going great - the working out is definitely helping me lose inches and body fat. The diet is probably the most important part though. Not sure where you work out at, but if it happens to be 24 hour fitness - I would get a trainer to asses your body fat percentage and give you a diet plan as well as an exercise plan. I think the program is called solutions. It will tell you how many calories you will need to take in every day to maintain your body weight or lose body weight. I'm sure they would have good suggestions on the cholesterol part of it too. It's amazing how many calories there are in everyday stuff. When you actually start counting your calories - you will see exactly what you are putting in your body. At first it was hard to cut back, but now I'm finding it hard to just reach what I need everyday. By the way I'm 29 and 5'3 too!! Well good luck - hope this helps!