help...

[zyx]

hey,
i'm a 16 year old guy, about 145 lbs, and about 5"7. Just in the last few months i've decided to start getting into better shape. When i was younger I played sports but than stopped for a few years and got pretty chubby with very little exercise and poor eating habits. For the last year or two i've been gradually getting more active and eating better and now i think it's time to get into better shape. I've developed a bit of a gut, but only on the lower abs/groin area...if that makes sense. My upper body and legs are in much better, but not great, shape. My sides could use some work too. I don't think i have way too much body fat but i would like to lose some and have a straighter more durable body. SO...here's the routine i'm planning. I'll do strength yoga for 20 minutes before i go to school at about 6-6:30. I'll eat breakfast after, some cereal (not unhealthy cereals) with fruit and juice or something. I eat lunch around noon, usually a salad, milk, and whatever they serve (pizza, chicken sandwich, spaghetti). When i get home around 2:30, i'll do some ab workouts (8 min. abs as seen on youtube) and some other exercises that i've found for about 20 more minutes. Than i usually do homework for at least an hour and other stuff, might start having a small snack after the workout. For dinner I just eat whatever my mom makes, which is never very unhealthy...i'm just going to start eating it in moderation. About two hours after i eat i'm going to start running 1 mile and try to work up to 3 in 30 minutes (i can do 1.5 in 15 minutes now). After the run i do yoga for flexibility for another 20 minutes than go to bed.
Do you think this will work to start slimming down??? I know that i'll have to start eating more natural foods but i don't really want to keep track of all the calories i take in all the time, but i can if i have to.
Any input would be appreciated

EDIT: If any of you know any good lower abdominal and side workouts, i could use em...thanks!

 

[Hoss]

Your eating regimen doesn't look good at all. In the morning try eating some egg whites with some oatmeal (no sugar), with water. Try to get a chicken salad at school with milk, majority of the time this is one of the best options when choosing between the lesser of the evils. Snack = ? And take some cottage cheese before going to bed.

IMO yoga will not help you lose weight. If you like it, then by all means continue. But if you're doing it solely to help you lose weight, I can advise some other ares where the effort would be better spent. By doing exercises for the stomach and obliques you won't lose weight there, it doesn't work like that. If you want to have a slimmer midsection, lowering your bf% is the key.

 

[CoachCrimson]

Wasnt long ago that i was in your shoes myself. i would like to offer one piece of advice. while you can read all over this forum and a thousand others about nutrition and exercise, having that knowledge wont do you much good if you dont have the people closest to you on your side. since you are in a position where you most likely do not do the grocery shopping, and make those sorts of decisions, and most likely do not have a consistant reliable source of transportation (read: your own car) to and from a gym/weightroom, it is of utmost importance that you get the people who make those decisions and provide those services working in the same frame of mind. sit down with your parent(s) and have a little chat. tell them about what you are trying to do, and why you are trying to do it. provide them with the benefits and such, and do it in a responsible adult manner. get them to respect your new intentions and they will work with you instead of against you, and at your age that can make all the difference.