I need help getting my body into shape!

Stats:

34 yr. young female
5'4"
147 lbs. Not much of a weight watcher, but I'd like to get back into my size 6's!
Thighs - 23"
Upper Arm - 12.5"
Hips - 38"
Butt - 41"
Waist - 33"
Bust - 37"

I've been doing the exercises with Fit TV morning lineup Mon - Fri, 3 - 5 shows each day. Everything from Gilad to Caribbean workout to Cathe Freidrich. Don't have hardly any equipment though. Just have 3.3 lbs. dumbells, just bought stretch bands (not used yet - got today), and that's it.

Diet is crap - I'll admit it.... Love my carbs! Breads, rice, crackers, chips, potatoes, pasta, and love my sodas. But I do drink water and fruit drinks too...

I eat constantly throughout the day - small portions though. Adding salads, fruits and 2% milk, low fat vinagarette dressing and slim fast drinks to my diet though. I'm trying...

My goals are to lose this annoying and gross fat layer I've suddenly developed around my abs, back and hips. I want to cut my abs, arms (they're big for some reason) and back for more definition. I've lost 2" in my thighs and 1" around my bust in the last month. Nowhere else...

Can you guys help me target these areas and tell me how to reach my goals? What do I need to do?

Thanks!
Shel

If you want to get rid of the fat, you'll have to clean up your diet. Cut the soda (or switch to diet), you don't have to cut your carbs - but watch the frequency, type, and portions. You can check out this food list for a general idea of what you should be eating (this ones for your abear): http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/stella9.htm

I don't know anything about the shows on fit tv, but doing something is better than doing nothing. If it's getting your heart rate up - it's probobly good.

As far as loosing the fat goes, you need to know that your cannot "target" specific areas. Your body fat increases or decreases as a whole. If you decrease your body fat it will come off of different areas (everyone is different as to where).

you targeted your own enemy right there!

indeed she did

A note - women's metabolisms naturally slow with age (fairly significantly), so you're going to really have to focus on exercising and eating well to lose the fat. This is a process that will continue throughout life, so remember that when attempting at weight loss

***sigh***

I was afraid of that...

So do I need to start eating lowfat stuff? Or, can I just start grocery shopping in the health food section and eating wheat breads, brown rice, brown pastas, cut out the popcorn and crackers?

I really don't know much about eating healthy - but I'll read the food sections around here and educate myself. I've never eaten "low fat" foods or drank "diet" drinks before so this is new territory for me.

Are those Quaker rice cakes and stuff okay to eat so I can satisfy my salty cravings?

Thank you all soooo much for taking time to help me.

Blessings!
Shel

i am older than you and my dr tested my blood, since i couldn't get the weight off...i ended up having a thyroid problem. you may want to go the medical route as well.

but let me tell you, no matter what it is, the diet is key. exercise is secondary. it's a very important 2nd, but as we age, we can't just eat whatever we want anymore.

No need for low-fat or diet foods - they're usually loaded with extra things like preservatives, partially-hydrogenated oils, etc. that will only hinder progress.

Here is a list of foods you should base your meals upon: complex carbs - brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, baked/steamed white or sweet potatoes, oatmeal (NOT from the packets - they're loaded with sugars), cream of wheat cereal, other high-fibre cereals like Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat, Kashi GoLean Crunch, FF plain joghurt (only plain - flavoured joghurts are also loaded with sugars and excess calories - sweeten it yourself with some fresh fruits), fresh fruits and veggies
lean protein sources - skinless chicken or turkey breast, extra-extra lean ground beef, top round, eggs and egg whites, low-fat or FF cottage cheese, canned tuna in water, lean fish like cod, orange roughy, etc.
healthy fats - salmon, olive oil, canola oil, natural PB (only buy natural - the regular and low-fat kinds have trans fats and sugars), raw nuts like almonds, walnuts, and pecans, flax meal, fish oil

You can have popcorn if you air-pop it yourself. All of the buttered kinds and flavoured kinds are full of trans fats and unnecessary calories. Crackers usually have trans fats. Quaker rice and popcorn cakes are okay. Those SlimFast foods are no good - they're full of sugars and other things. You're much better off eating real food.

Avoid juice and sodas, unless it's Diet soda. Try to drink A LOT of water. If you don't like it enough to drink 8 glasses per day, add some Crystal Lite or a squeeze of lemon.

Just make healthy choices - the majority of your diet should come from the afore-listed foods. A snack every-now-and-then, in moderation, is not a problem. Don't deprive yourself - don't make any foods "forbidden" - it will only lead to cravings. And watch portion sizes

Thank you guys sooo much!

I went and read a lot of the posts in the nutrition areas and learned a whole lot there.

I am now the proud grocery shopper and humbled owner of everything from cottage cheese (shudder) to fresh fruit and whole wheat bread. I'm getting there.

I've been unable to exercise since last Friday due to a strained muscle, but I think I'll be able to do some good stretches and warmup exercises starting tomorrow.

I'm going to add more cardio to my routines too!!

You guys are great! Blessings!
Shel