<p>Pilates, from the limited amount of knowledge I know of it, builds lean muscle, develops the core and torso, improves flexibility, and conditions the body (decreases likelihood of injury). </p>
<p>So, to answer your questions…
- Pilates builds lean muscle. This is opposed to bulking, which requires high-intensity high weights and low reps (6-10). You can still lift weights if you want, just stick to 12-15 reps of lighter (but still difficult) weights.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Any sort of physical activity will cause you to lose weight, as long as you’re not consuming as many calories as you’re burning. However, pilates isn’t going to be as calorie-burning as, say, running or cross-country skiing.</p></li>
<li><p>As you burn calories and build lean muscle, your body should begin to look tighter and toner. Keep in mind that more than half the battle is at the kitchen, so make sure you’re eating healthily and gaining the required nutrition necessary to keep up with a fitness program.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you really want to see results, I’d combine Pilates with regular cardio and a weightlifting plan. Most people seem to think that just going to the gym will cause them to get huge, but it takes some serious effort to get that big. You won’t accidentally get ripped like that, and you can just tailor your program if you feel you’re working out too much, so no worries.</p>
<p>As for food, I personally don’t recommend immediately going vegetarian, especially if you’re going to start working out, as the nutrition you get can vary wildly if you don’t know which foods to actively pick out. Once you understand what you’re doing, going vegetarian can be very beneficial.</p>
<p>
Ugh, I almost got into one of those yesterday when my friend was like “You support CFOs by eating meat.” And I’m like “Considering that I 1)rarely eat meat and 2)know where its origin, I really don’t, while your indiscriminate consumption of animal products certainly means that you do.” Whatevs.</p>
<p>But when I’m veggie and/or vegan (but also without olive oil) for Lent, I don’t think I eat that much soy other than soy milk (which is fantastic on cereal because it’s so sweet that you don’t have to use sugar). But I do like tofu and veggie burgers and those Bolthouse Farms chai latte with soy milk drinkie things in general, so maybe I eat more soy than I think I do.</p>
<p>
Ugh, I almost got into one of those yesterday when my friend was like “You support CFOs by eating meat.” And I’m like “Considering that I 1)rarely eat meat and 2)know where its origin, I really don’t, while your indiscriminate consumption of animal products certainly means that you do.” Whatevs.</p>
<p>But when I’m veggie and/or vegan (but also without olive oil) for Lent, I don’t think I eat that much soy other than soy milk (which is fantastic on cereal because it’s so sweet that you don’t have to use sugar). But I do like tofu and veggie burgers and those Bolthouse Farms chai latte with soy milk drinkie things in general, so maybe I eat more soy than I think I do.</p>
<p>
Ugh, I almost got into one of those yesterday when my friend was like “You support CFOs by eating meat.” And I’m like “Considering that I 1)rarely eat meat and 2)know where its origin, I really don’t, while your indiscriminate consumption of animal products certainly means that you do.” Whatevs.</p>
<p>But when I’m veggie and/or vegan (but also without olive oil) for Lent, I don’t think I eat that much soy other than soy milk (which is fantastic on cereal because it’s so sweet that you don’t have to use sugar). But I do like tofu and veggie burgers and those Bolthouse Farms chai latte with soy milk drinkie things in general, so maybe I eat more soy than I think I do.</p>
<p>lol at eastafro’s comment about a white girl’s butt. 
Alas, most girls would die for a slightly less voluptuous butt. Anyway, about the water thing…carry around a lightweight cool-looking water bottle. It seems easy enough to drink more water, but sometimes it can be hard to do when you don’t feel like moving to get it.</p>
<p>Run more. I’ve found that, say, making your running buddy someone you can’t STAND beating you is a very effective method to keep yourself actually RUNNING. Like a sibling lol?</p>
<p>Psssh. And you don’t actually need to be veg to be healthy. Get yourself hooked on one or more healthy foods that you can eat forever and get nothing bad except a stomachache from. Like…BLUEBERRIES! :D</p>
<p>^ If that is a Chuck allusion, your awesome. If not, I pass no judgment.</p>