Q: I've started working out a lot more but can't seem to lose my ""freshman 15."" What do I do?
A: There is reasoning behind the age-old saying that to lose weight one must diet and increase physical activity. Exercise alone cannot guarantee weight loss. It is important to alter eating habits as well. If you are trying to lose weight, you need to use up your daily calories as well as some of the calories stored in your body fat. A safe plan is to eat around 300 to 500 fewer calories a day in order to lose about one to two pounds a week.
A major cause of over-consumption of calories is portion sizes. If you are having trouble cutting back on portion sizes, try to incorpoate more fresh vegetables in your meals. They will fill you up as well as add fiber and nutrients to your diet.
—Questions and answers provided by the UW Dietetics and Nutrition Club
