Kittenplay Forum now at http://kittenplay.net

oooh... My very first topic... so excited!  *jumps around in circles*

I have noticed that there are a few of us on here that have been talking about getting ourselves in shape (this kitty being one of them).  I just thought I'd start a post with some really good tips to help us, and any other kitten out there, that may need some good advice.

First I want to say that this kitten is a former weight loss counselor with a background in nutrition & exercise.  Why former, you might ask?  Well, because this kitten is not very good at coddling people.  You have a goal, you work toward that goal, you make a mistake, fine and move on... but I could only take so many whiney women that would give me that bull@#%& about not having a choice (  I feel a little like Temko when it comes to that).  So with that being said...

Here are some Kitten Weight Loss Tips:

Limiting your carbs:
You need at least 2 servings of carbs a day (your body really does need that natural sugar).  The best carbs are complex carbohydrates: wholegrain breads, oats, muesli & brown rice.  Complex carbs are broken down into glucose more slowly than simple carbs (white bread, biscuits, crackers) and thus provide a gradual steady stream of energy throughout the day.  Whatever you do DO NOT CUT OUT CARBS ALL TOGETHER. Your body needs that natural glucose.  I don't care how long it's for, it's a BAD idea.  Yes, that "cut all carbs" diet may work, but it's not good for your body & brain.

Watching your meat intake:
Cutting down on your meat is fine, just make sure you're getting enough protein with other foods.  Fish is a great way to cut down on meats (even though technically it's still a meat) because it's usually lower in fat (unless you're eating salmon) and it's packed w/ Omega 3 fatty acids (essential vitamins you can't get other than from fish or flax seeds).
Other proteins that are good supplements for meats: Tofu (mmm), miso, nuts, eggs (no more than 6 yolks per week, too much cholesterol), cottage cheese, regular cheese (watch the cheese intake too, too much dairy can cause constipation ) and one of my favorites, peanut butter.  The only problem is that most of those supplemental proteins can be pretty high in fat (with the exception of tofu).  I certainly don't recommend eating peanut butter 3x a day, lol.
Best thing to do is to completely cut out red meat.  Chicken, turkey and fish are great proteins and pretty low in fat.  Save a steak for an extra treat here and there.  Reward yourself.  (mmmm... Rare please!! yummy)

Another really good trick is breakfast:
If you can eat a bit of protein in the morning within 45 mins. of waking up, then you will kick start your metabolism.  Just make sure to snack throughout the day (yogurt, fruit, veggies) because with your metabolism working like that it WILL make you hungrier, and by consistently putting a little more food in your belly, you'll keep your metabolism working all day instead of letting it slow down.  Why protein in the morning?  Well, protein is denser, therefore it's harder to break down and gets your metabolism going a lot stronger than if you were to just eat a piece of fruit.
Now, I AM NOT a breakfast person.  I just can't do it.  I don't like eating in the morning and I'm usually just not up to it.  My solution:  I grab a little handful of nuts and chomp 'em on my way out the door.  It doesn't bother me like "breakfast" does and I get that protein in the morning.  Come 10:00, I'm feeling pretty hungry.

One more tip: 
Make lunch your BIGGEST meal.  It is common for us Americans to want to sit down to a big dinner.  Problem is, after dinner comes rest time.  Now, you may not really be resting.  You may be moving about the house cleaning, or studying, or whatever, but because at night our mind begins to wind down and it causes your body to wind down as well.  You'll have a much better chance of burning those "big meal calories" during the day when you're mind and body are active then at night. 

FAT:
Say that dirty little word!!  As much as we're trying to get rid of it, it is a essential part of our diet.  Your body NEEDS fat.  If you deprive it, then it will just store what you have.  You don't need any more than ONE serving of GOOD FAT (is there really such a thing? lol) a day.  This can easily be accomplished with a pat of butter, a handful of nuts, a teaspoon of olive oil (in your food, not cooked with).  Just make sure you get it.

You MUST eat:
The way your body works: you need a certain number of calories per day to keep all of your organs running.  If your body finds that you are not giving it what it needs, then it will begin to hold on to everything.  You may not feel like you're starving, but your body doesn't agree with you. It needs these things, and if you won't give them to it, then it's going to take it any way it can.
Just like with pregnancy.  You're body needs a certain amount of stuff. Example: calcium.  That baby needs a certain amount, and if you won't ingest it, than your body will begin to take it from your bones in order to give it to the child.  Crazy, eh?  Just remember, if you don't eat enough calories every day, you're body will begin to store colories and hence, weight loss will become harder.

Food Intake:
2-3 servings of Fruit,
2-3 servings of veggies
2 servings of complex carbs
2 servings of protein
1 serving of fat
1-2 servings of dairy

Well, that's all I can think of for now.  Good luck to us all, and to any other kitten that starts this journey.  If you have any questions at all, I'll be happy to answer them here, or you can PM me.