Questions about my diet/exercise plan and how to make it more effective.

Question
About 2 months ago I started trying to slim down and get healthier, but I'm not seeing any results.
About myself- I'm 25 (with a 3yo son), 5'2" and I fluctuate between 117 and 120 lbs. My goal is around 108-110lbs, but it's not so much what I weigh, as the shape of my body in general that I'm unhappy with. I'm very petite but carry extra weight in my upper arms, lower stomach, bottom and upper thighs.

For my diet I maintain an 800 calorie/day limit (net total, using an weight loss application and tracking intake minus calories spent through exercise) since I'm only lightly active.  I've cut out soda and the majority of sweets and junk foods, and started trying to eat small meals once every 3 or 4 hours (since this method helped me lose a lot of my post baby weight 3 years ago.) I've also tried to minimize my intake of highly fatty foods. The problem I have here is that I'm always hungry, and the meals I fix myself (for example; a salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, or turkey on wheat bread, almonds or carrot sticks and salsa as a snack) leave me very unsatisfied. My family is also on a tight budget and "healthier" foods are often too expensive, and dinners tend  to be something like pasta (high in carbs) which I then eat too much of because I feel starved throughout the day. What are your thoughts on this, and should I modify anything?

My other question is about exercise. Along with the diet modifications, I also started following along with aerobics/pilates/mixed cardio programs on cable tv, with light weights, an hour a day, two or three days a week, and using a treadmill, half an hour to an hour a day, two or three days a week. My concern here is that I almost seem to be "bulking up" instead of "slimming down." I already have very muscular upper arms and legs (under the pudge) and I'm afraid that my routine will cause me to gain mass instead of simply lose fat. What do you suggest in terms of appropriate exercise for my desired goal (fat loss only, with toned but lean musculature?)

Thank you in advance for any advice and suggestions you may have. At this point, I'm becoming very disheartened and any input is appreciated!  

Answer
Hi Cheri,

It looks like you understand the right way but you have a beleif that healthy is more expensive..it is actually way more value!

Without knowing more data it is difficult to say what your exact requirements are but it sounds like you are eating too few energy calories for your body to create a fat burning system. It is a bit of a conundrum, in that you need to meet your energy needs with the amount of food you eat in order to lose fat. the bigger the gap between what your body is asking for and what you give it, the stronger it will try to hold onto fat.

Keep going with small meals every 3 hours but make sure they contain lean protein as this builds energy and keeps you full. Lower the amount of pasta/bread/potatoes as you have indicated as these produce an energy drain, as does dairy products.

Have a look on my site where you can get an accurate readout of your stats and protein requirements.

Also, I would be interested to know what your grocery budget is, as I'm sure the healthier approach will be less.

As for exercise, keep going, as long as you incorporate the advice above. You won't bulk up but you will have leaner muscle and THEN your fat will go down.

Lastly, make sure you are having 8 glasses of plain water a day- any other drinks detract from this amount needed.

Hope this helps and let me know if you go to my site.  

1. Prev:diet and weight lifting
2. Next:weight gain with decreased intake