Hello all:

I'm here because since starting medical school I've gained quite a bit of weight. I'm 25 and tired of disliking the way I look. I live in LA now, so I want to lose 15 pounds so I can feel better about myself, fit into all of my clothes (face it, I can't buy new ones on my budget!), and get out to the beach this summer.

Also- I'm working really hard to combat a number of old injuries I have. My main goal in working out is to incresae my functionality of my back (I can't sit through class), knees (can't run or bike), and shoulder (hurts to write, type).

Program:
my boyfriend's an athletic trainer, so I made him make me a program. I'm lifting and doing 30 min of cardio 3 times a week, and trying to add an extra day of cardio or Physical Thearpy per week.

As for food I've found that I need to eat < 1500 cal/day in oder to lose weight. I've started using FitDay again to track what I eat. I'm already over my total goal for today at 1564 calories. Whoops. I know my diet is really high-fat so I am going to try and get the % calories from Fat down to 30 from 40. Eating is the hardest thing for me. I LOVE working out and hate watching what I eat.

Supplements/ drugs etc: Since I've got injuries, I'm taking Ibuprofin high dose for two weeks (maybe 3), and glucosamine chondroitin for joins. I read a promising article about glucosamine so I'm pretty optimistic. the last goal is to ice my knees and shoulder once a day even if I didn't work out.

Plan for today:
-Did my workout already! ( burned 400 cal according to my heart rate monitor)
-Ice shoulders, knees
-Study at library
-Steamed green beans for dinner since I've already gone over my calorie budget

Tomorrow:
- 45min walk on treadmill before class +stretching
- balance bar for breakfast
- Lunch:
-Fruit from mexican fruit cart (if you haven't seen these things, they are the BEST-- a bag of fresh mango, pineapple, watermelon, jicima, etc with lime, chili and salt for $3. so tasty),
- 1 slice pizza from meeting (I know I have a lunch meeting tomorrow where they will serve free pizza).
-Dinner: healthy choice frozen meal so I don't need to go home before I go study.
Study Snack: trader joe's chicken nuggets, coffee

well, there's a novel for you all to read here. I look forward to meeting you!!!!
-RR

welcome to the forum you have a good plan and i am sure you will get the support you need here!