I've always eaten badly, never even thinking about what I put in my mouth. Ready meals, cheap frozen sausages and burgers etc, loads of bread, drinking fizzy drinks etc. I have no idea how to put a healthy meal together so I just eat the first thing I pick out the freezer. It's a miracle I'm not a fat ass, I should be.

Anyway my bad diet seems to have caught up with me because just lately I've been felling so shitty, lethargic and bloated. I want to eat a more natural diet, does that make sense? Stuff that doesn't come in a cardboard box or wrapped in plastic but have no idea what to make. I want to feel better and lose weight with it. About 30 lbs i reckon. I'm 147 at the mo (or somewhere around there).

So exercise, again i have no idea. I have to do cardio first, right? No sit ups or curls will make a difference yet? How long should i do it for? And should I do it everyday?

Any help much appreciated, thanks

first of all you shouldn't be going on a diet. a diet implies temporary change for a temporary outcome. you should change your lifestyle.
for living in a culture that puts such an emphasis on food we sure do de-emphasize it quite a bit as well.
you've got the right idea by eating non processed foods. not only are they bad for weight, they're bad for your body all around. they're loaded with all kinds of chemicals, nitrates, and preservatives that will have a very harsh effect on your body in the long run.
the first thing you could do to start off a healthier lifestyle is to drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water everyday and do some sort of detox to clean out all of the poisons in your system.
you should also focus on eating more live foods. live fruits and vegetables. fruits and vegetables have lots of enzymes but when we cook them we kill most of the enzymes in them. and enzymes are important because they aid your digestive system. your body does not replace them on its own. so if you're not eating foods to replenish your enzymes it will start to take a toll on your overall well being after a while.
if you're going to eat meats eat lean meats. chicken and fish are best. the problem with red meat is that it is very harsh on your digestive system and once in your digestive system it produces an acid that starts to rot away your bones over time. this can lead to osteoporosis.
make sure you're getting enough calcium, potassium (very important for healthy heart function) iron, and all the essential vitamins. they all play a big role in how your body functions.
think of it this way. say you buy a lexus that only takes premium fuel. but you decide to put regular grade fuel in it instead because it is cheaper and therefor easier. what will happen over time is the motor will start to give out because you were not giving it what it needed to function properly. your body works in a very similar way. when you put crap in in it starts to feel like crap.
you should walk at least 2 miles a day. our bodies were designed for walking. that is our primal way of losing fat. take an mp3 player and go on a scenic walk every day to make it more enjoyable. it doesn't necessarily have to be a brisk walk, so long as you are moving and not sitting on your butt all throughout the day.
and one more thing, always ALWAYS be conscious of what you're eating. one of the worst things you can do is to eat without a thought in your head. it can lead to overeating and eating the very very wrong things.
i hope this helps you out a little.

strength training and cardio combined. i do five days of cardio and two days of strength (going to up it to three... some of my cardio and strength are on the same day)


when you strength train you gain muscle which uses more energy than fat does. so your resting metabolic rate gets higher. and cardio will burn fat as well as increase your cardiovascular health.

green smoothies are a great way to get in tons of fruits and veggies a day. if you have a blender.

as far as foods are concerned, peruse recipes and find something that uses lean meats (or no meats) and lots of veggies that sounds appealing to you. i dont know what you like so i cant find one for you, but i look at recipes alot and just make what i imagine tastes good.

make it in bulk and refrigerate/freeze portioned meals and then you dont have to think about it you just grab and reheat.

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see, this is what is wrong with our culture. we don't like to think about what we do to ourselves. you SHOULD have to think about it. you should always be conscious of everything you put into your body, whether it be healthy or unhealthy.
we really need to work on getting rid of that grab and reheat mentality.
though i agree with the rest of what you posted, i personally believe that keeping yourself unaware when it comes to food you consume is a lot of peoples biggest downfall.
it's sad to see that people are too busy with being constantly on the go that they never even think about taking time our to care for the most important tool we have. our bodies.

being rigid and judgemental is no way to go about helping someone change. baby steps.

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