a healthy diet/exercise???

Question
I am a healthy 24 yr. old female. I'm having a real hell of a time trying to lose 5-10 lbs. I'm not overweight, in fact i'm in the weight range i'm suppose to be with for my height (5'9")/age (which is 150 lbs) or atleast i thought i was correct about that. I exercise fairly regularly but i go in spurts like i'll exercise for 2 weeks straight and get lazy and not exercise for a week and it's been like this for a while. I exercise (when i do), about 4 times a week and that includes about a mile each time running and then another mile on an eliptical machine and then about 200 situps per time. Is this good for losing weight, i'm about positive it's my eating habits. I'm stuck in limbo between all the diet crazes- i know one thing's for sure, i love sugar and i love carbs and i dont know what my limit is............ That's why i'm e mailing you.... Any suggestions on a weight loss plan and eating right? Any words of wisdom and words that will keep me doing it? Thx!

Answer
Healthy weight range for a female with the height of 5'9" is a quite large range... from 131.5-159.5, so you have plenty of room to work with. This figure is found by taking 5'=100lbs, and then add 5lbs for every inch taller you are, then your healthy range is +/- 10% of that. Carbs are probably what are killing you... but it's just the wrong kinds of carbs. Carbs are actually VERY good for you and your body NEEDS them to functions properly. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars, like glucose for instance, which is your body's main source of energy, especially the brain. All carbohydrates are eventually broken down into these simple carbohydrates, but some are broken down more slowly than other. This is very significant. Carbs that are broken down fast cause a spike in insulin production which causes excess sugar supply to go into fat stores, but those carbs that are broken down more slowly supply a more steady supply of glucose to the body and doesn't put excess in to fat stores. Those carbs that are slowly digested include complex carbohydrates such as whole grains and whole wheats (breads, pastas, etc.), brown rice,beans, etc. Anything that has white flour in it is something that you should avoid. I would also recommend that you keep your meat intake to a minimum... maybe 1 -2 servings a day (a servings is equivalent to 3 ounces). Eat lots of ruits and veggies and drink lots of water.

As far as exercise... try to make your runs a little longer... gradually increase the time... don't worry about the distance, just the time. Same with the elliptical. You might also try adding some weight lifting.

Good luck

Leigh-Anne

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