So I started to read more about dieting and weight loss/management. Most sources told me that you’re supposed to only eat enough so that you’re satisfied, but not until you’re full (as in always having a little room for something more). I added fruits and vegetables to my diet, as well as other healthy foods, and now I’m at the same weight that I was before.

Here’s my question: I’m going to be staying with my aunt, uncle, and cousins for an entire week sometime this month. They buy nothing but junk food (twinkies, frozen pizza, cookies, chips, cocoa puffs for breakfast, etc.). Is it possible, if I follow the "stop eating when you’re no longer hungry" rule, that I can still maintain my weight?

No, you need to limit your fat intake which if eating pizza, cookies, chips etc is way to high and you might gain weight. those food are not entirely healthy. You should go for high protein, low fat foods while there.

Good luck!

My diet, now, only includes raw foods i.e. being fresh, unprocessed, whole foods (fruits, vegetables, grains etc). Across the week, I incorporate lean meat, fish, chicken, eggs. Across the day, I increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in meals (esp. to snack on!), alongside yogurts, nuts, museli, grains and such. I mainly drink water, otherwise oranges I squeeze (when I’m not lazy, otherwise water it is) and chrysanthemum tea - only because I like the taste, and it warms me up in the morning.

I have recently joined a gym, and have been going 4 out of 7 days a week for the past month. Every session, I work out for roughly an hour, most of the time with an extra 15minutes or so. My workout routine consists of both cardio and weight training - in intervals… So I begin with 20mins of cardio (usually 10kms on bike, but sometimes, just a brisk walk on treadmill @ 5.5-6 speed), then I stretch, use the fitness ball, and use machine weights. Then, I go back for 5-10mins of cardio (usually elliptical or treadmill). Afterward, I would train with some free weights - doing reps and such and some medicine ball twists, crunches and a few stretches. Then I go back for one last 10 - 15min cardio on bike. And stretch to end… That’s pretty much all I can fit in with my schedule.. school and homework calls. Oh, and I work out straight after school…

Any tips or advice? I’ll admit that I am quite overweight, but have a goal weight in mind, and hope to achieve it. I keep a ‘diary’ and record my food intake, and how many calories I burn from exercise along. Just counting the cardio, I burn a total of 700 calories per session, so with weight training… that’s a little on-top.

I believe that to burn fat, weight training is necessary as muscles do the actual ‘burning’ right? So, with that in mind, do you think what I’m doing now (the weights and cardio) is balanced? I gain weight proportionally, so I guess I will lose weight the same way? So will this type of ‘combined’ workout achieve this? I don’t want flab in one area.. and be toned in another.

Wow.. that’s quite a lot. If you’ve read it this far, kudos to you!

Thank-you in advance for any answers
You are on the right road to losing weight because you have combined dieting together with exercising. Keep up and be consistent on your plan.

I’ve never heard of one, but my church has a "biggest loser" competition every year. I’m guessing you could call around your local churches and ask if they have some kind of program for weight loss.

my best advice to you if you can’t find a church that has that is to do a short bible study beforehand. something uplifting that focuses on how much God loves you, and then start your workout.

The important thing to remember is that God loves you no matter how fat you are (and his opinion is the one that should matter most) so you shouldn’t lose weight just for the sake of losing weight. You should do what you said earlier, keep your body healthy, because the bible says it is a temple.

oh, you might be able to find a devotional book that focuses on what you want.