<p>Don't know the full relationship, but yeah, your friends sound like jerks. They probably want to get you heavier so you don't steal away the hot guys like you probably did freshman year.</p>
<p>If I were in your position, not knowing much about dieting (and I don't know too much, because I've never had to diet, I'm trying to bulk up) - what would I do first? SEARCH FOR WEIGHT-LOSS DIET PLANS AND WEIGHT-LOSS WORKOUT REGIMES ON FRIGGIN' GOOGLE.</p>
<p>The only reason I say that in caps is because it's so obvious and simple, and it's clear you haven't done that. Magazines and 'personal trainers' are filled with idiotic advice; diet/excerise internet forums are useful because they are usually filled with 30 and 40 yr old veterans who've made the same body change you're trying to make. Hell, many internet articles are gold mines because unlike personal trainers, they're accuracy is held up to public scrutiny.</p>
<p>It's obvious you haven't spent 5 minutes researching a plan that will take up x hours per week for a year or more. Why? Because even I know that starving yourself is a terrible, terrible diet plan. Not even for its health effects (very negative), but simply because it DOESN'T WORK. You won't have the will power, obviously, your metabolism will plummet to zero as a self-defense mechanism, and when you do eat again, it'll probably be a huge, ravenous meal. It's the information age, people, get the right information please.</p>
<p>Here's some basic tips that I know that barely scratch the surface:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>your body requires X amount of calories a day to maintain its current weight. lower your caloric intake to below X and you will lose weight. This is very basic, please do research and not guesswork!</p></li>
<li><p>Some foods "fill you up" more but provide the same amount of calories as less hunger-satisfying foods. These foods are your friends. Mostly, they are healthier foods like leafy greens, rice, grains, etc. Fast food and shakes are the opposite of this.</p></li>
<li><p>Drink a TON of water throughout the day - this also curbs appetite.</p></li>
<li><p>HIIT cardio training is the optimal running style for losing weight, from my basic understanding. Research your own program, but maybe look into this.</p></li>
<li><p>Weight lifting will REALLY help you lose weight. And it will not bulk you up at all, especially since you are a woman. Some women fear weights but they burn MORE calories than cardio. DO BOTH. You will not get "muscular" really unless you are following a program and consciously trying to. Many fat guys/ skinny guys are <em>trying</em> to get muscular for years and don't 'cuz they're idiots. You will not 'accidentally' start looking like brad pitt. Start weight lifting and you'll be looking like a playboy bunny soon. Go for high reps and good form.</p></li>
<li><p>Alcohol is fun. Tough call to trade-off, but quite honestly, if I personally were a woman being thin would be my top priority. Dropping the alcohol would be very helpful in losing weight; it's a ton of empty calories.</p></li>
<li><p>Eliminate soda while you're at it. Liquid corn syrup? honestly lose it if you're serious (and you should be) about losing weight. As stated, water should be your new best friend.</p></li>
<li><p>Instead of three big meals a day, eat 5 or 6 smaller meals. This is genearally undisputed knowledge common throughout diet plans. Your metabolism remains high, your blood sugar levels don't drop so you don't stuff your face, you actually end up eating less. Might not be possible with a meal plan, but if it is possible, give it a go.</p></li>
<li><p>Once you've lost all the weight and look fantastic, flaunt the hordes of hot men after you in front of you'r jack@** friends and make them insanely jealous. Then when you're bored with that give me your phone number.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>conclusion:
A. research your workout and diet plan thoroughly
B. eat right
C. run your ass off
D. follow your weight lifting plan to the T</p>
<p>*** By the way, you shouldn't feel bad if the running is hard at first of if you run out of breath easily. OF COURSE that will happen! It doesn't really mean much except that you haven't been running for a while.</p>
<p>I used to be a skinny-as-hell CROSS COUNTRY runner, who ran 1000 miles in 5 months every year in high school. Not many can match the intensity or insanity of cross-country running, and I was a top performer. But --- since trying to bulk up in college, I haven't been running for two years. My endurance has gone COMPLETELY out the window. I feel like I'm going to die and start panting after 100 yards, and I don't have much body fat at all. It has nothing to do with bodyfat really - just cardiovascualar (heart/breathing) and muscular (legs) endurance. Which you can only gain from RUNNING. I'm embarassed because I used to be at the top - but at the same time I realize that it doesn't really define me as a person. I <em>will</em> probably be getting back into shape this summer, though, just because I like leading an active lifestyle and running around.</p>
<p>Remember that running is always toughest at the beginning. It gets exponentially easier. You just have to do the best you can consistantly, and please do RESEARCH - so you have a plan before hand, you'll know what to shoot for, instead of quitting when it's hard -- or going too fast, too often, and burning yourself out.</p>
<p>Wish you luck.</p>