Hi, I'm new to the forum, I've been working on losing weight since the beginning of May. I'm a 16 year old female, 5'2, and I started out at 170lb, hitting my highest. I didn't know my bf at the time.. still don't know it, but I know I've lost a little bit of fat. As of now, I am 156lbs, and my goal weight is about 120lbs, but I'm planning to gain a bit back in muscle.

I've been doing my research and I am trying to do this as healthy as possible. I started out doing a 1200 cal diet, which I now figure out, it's not the best way to go. So I try to stay on about 1600-1800 cals, and not going any lower. I try to add a lot of protien in my diet from chicken and seafood, and I'm not much of a red meat eater anyways. As carbohydrates, it's been hard to stay away from simple carbs, but I've been doing it. I'm only eating bread 2 times a week, and it's only 100% whole wheat. As for everything else, I eat oatmeal, rice, and cereals. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, and tired cottage cheese, but I just can't eat it alone.

As for exercising, I do 45 mins of cardio every morning before I eat. Sometimes I try to add in another 30 mins of jogging, biking, and other stuff during the day/evening. I do some resistance training (because I was told it should be done, even when trying to lose weight) every other day and Winsor Pilates on the other days.

So as of now, I've lost 14lbs. But It's been really slow. My goal is to get my body fat to normal, then then gain some really toned, but still femanine looking muscles. I'm trying to break 150 by the time school starts, and I'm needing a little help. I'm thinking about adding some kind of supplements like caffine, or xenadrine, but I'm not sure which ones I should take. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also, can anyone tell me about these supplements and how they would help me with my weight loss? Thank you!

ephera and caffiene will increase your heart rate thus burning more calories. I never tried it but i did have the old xenadrine which was insane, my heart was pounding and i had a bunch of energy. It might help you speed things up but i won't be trying the stuff anymore.

Don't waste your money on the "new" xenadrine. Get ephera and caffiene, 2 different products. Some also add apsirin.

ok.. should I take ephera and caffine together? or seperatly?

I use caffeine before lifting but not before cardio. Ephedra and cardio together can be a recipe for disaster. I would urge you to start integrating intensive intervals into your cardio along with your steady state. With your resistance training, try for a full body approach 3 times a week. Pick 4-6 movements in the 6-12 rep range and run it as a circuit. Once you have completed one circuit with only a 45 second break between each movement rest for 2 minutes and hit it again 2-3 more times.

You might spend some time at these two sites:
www.johnberardi.com (articles on nutrition)
www.bodyrecomposition.com

sooounds good. That's basically what I am doing with the resistance training. I'm thinking I should take on HIIT again. When I used to have a membership at the gym, I looked like a fool on the treadmill, because I had to manually adjust the speed over and over again.. But for now, my running takes place outside, and I wouldn't look like an idiot doing it.. hurray for good weather.

You would benefit more from lifting weights now, don't wait until you lose all the fat. Muscle burns fat. Weight train 3 days a week and do at least 3 days of cardio a week (HIIT or otherwise). Besides that everything else looks good, great job! I hope you drink at least a gallon of water a day and cut out soda, you didn't mention that. Best of luck.

lol. almost a gallon. I can't quite get the whole gallon a day, but I do about 3L. And I the only soda I drink is diet coke, which still isn't good, but I only drink in moderation. I would never let it be a daily thing.

well f your heart rate is up and that makes you burn more calories then u have to try this energy drink called redline. I just drank it for the first time monday and holy crap my heart felt like it was gonna jump out of my chest. It said you should only drink half the can but me being stupid I drank a little more cuz I failed to read the back of the can but anyhow its works really good I even worked out like twice as hard than i mormally do. You can get it at like health stores

goodluck