I started playing basketball recently. I really like playing it. I go to the park mostly 6 times a week(I usually skip sundays but sometimes I go).
I play for about 2 hours to 3 hours. from around 6:30pm to 8:30pm or sometimes 9:30pm. I come home and I jump rope. I have been stuck at my weight for a while. Im currently at 160lbs. I want to drop down and be slimmer. I dont do weights because I do not want to be too big or anything. I'd go for a slim fit body. Since I play basketball I want to be thin so I can be quicker. I've also read that jumping rope is a great way to get quicker. Anyways, I've been drinking lots of water, sometimes up to a gallon! (how much am i supposed to drink?). I've read on these boards about how you shouldn't drink too much. I used to drink a gallon, but I found myself pouding the last few zips and felt very light headed and it tasted horrible after (so I dont do that anymore). When I play basketball I usually wear a sweater with sweats. I sweat a lot ! I come home and my shirt is soaked. But it seems like no matter how much I work out, I just dont go down at all. I also stretch out every day and do sit ups, push ups. I also try to work on my legs because I have big legs. I sometimes (havent recently gone) go jogg at a track for a little bit and do bleachers as well. Sometimes it seems like I do a lot but I do not lose a pound. I wouldnt say I'm fat but I know I need to lose some weight around my stomach and definately around me legs, well more like eveywhere too. Since I started a long time ago my goal was always 150lbs. I thought that would be fine. No matter what I do or how much I work out I DONT LOSE ANY! :d_frown: what am I doing wrong? I dont have a diet but I do not eat a lot and I have stopped eating lots of junk food, sugars and stopped eating at night because I heard that it's bad to eat before you sleep...is that true?

Can someone just help me, please...

thank you for your patience and any advice is welcomed

I started playing basketball recently. I really like playing it. I go to the park mostly 6 times a week(I usually skip sundays but sometimes I go).
I play for about 2 hours to 3 hours. from around 6:30pm to 8:30pm or sometimes 9:30pm. I come home and I jump rope. I have been stuck at my weight for a while. Im currently at 160lbs. I want to drop down and be slimmer. I dont do weights because I do not want to be too big or anything. I'd go for a slim fit body. Since I play basketball I want to be thin so I can be quicker. I've also read that jumping rope is a great way to get quicker. Anyways, I've been drinking lots of water, sometimes up to a gallon! (how much am i supposed to drink?). I've read on these boards about how you shouldn't drink too much. I used to drink a gallon, but I found myself pouding the last few zips and felt very light headed and it tasted horrible after (so I dont do that anymore). When I play basketball I usually wear a sweater with sweats. I sweat a lot ! I come home and my shirt is soaked. But it seems like no matter how much I work out, I just dont go down at all. I also stretch out every day and do sit ups, push ups. I also try to work on my legs because I have big legs. I sometimes (havent recently gone) go jogg at a track for a little bit and do bleachers as well. Sometimes it seems like I do a lot but I do not lose a pound. I wouldnt say I'm fat but I know I need to lose some weight around my stomach and definately around me legs, well more like eveywhere too. Since I started a long time ago my goal was always 150lbs. I thought that would be fine. No matter what I do or how much I work out I DONT LOSE ANY! :d_frown: what am I doing wrong? I dont have a diet but I do not eat a lot and I have stopped eating lots of junk food, sugars and stopped eating at night because I heard that it's bad to eat before you sleep...is that true?

Can someone just help me, please...

thank you for your patience and any advice is welcomed

How old are you??

How old are you??
I'm 21

Welcome to JSF!

Start by reading the "Sticky" threads at the top of various forum sections, particularly the Fat Loss section.

I will throw some short notes and tips in (below), but I suggest you begin reading those threads. It will provide you with some base knowledge about all of this.

I play for about 2 hours to 3 hours. from around 6:30pm to 8:30pm or sometimes 9:30pm. I come home and I jump rope.
After playing basketball for 2-3 hours, 6 days a week, the extra jump-roping may not be necessary. That's a good amount of activity there. Maybe it is, maybe not. Personally I wouldn't do that much.

I have been stuck at my weight for a while. Im currently at 160lbs. I want to drop down and be slimmer. I dont do weights because I do not want to be too big or anything. I'd go for a slim fit body.
Trust me, picking up a barbell a few times will not make you big. I wish it was that easy. It's not. In order to "get big" most people have to eat a great deal more than they're used to. Sure, some with proper genetics will add muscle mass more easily than others, but it's not always easy to get "really big." :)

Weightlifting will provide more benefits than just muscle gain. Did you know lifting weights can actually encourage fat loss? Again, start reading and researching through some of the threads here! :) One more thing: if I were forced to choose between either A)Weightlifting or B)Cardio, for losing fat, I would choose "A" every single time. In my opinion it is more important than cardio. You can always manipulate your diet to further increase fat loss, and you can also manipulate your lifting style (shorter rest periods for example) to provide some aerobic benefit (though I am not a fan of this style of weightlifting personally).

Since I play basketball I want to be thin so I can be quicker. I've also read that jumping rope is a great way to get quicker.
Do you just want to be thin? Or do you want to be thin with muscle definition, sculpted abdominal muscles, etc.? Merely "losing weight" is really quite simple. Most would conclude that a thin physique with defined muscles to be more aesthetically pleasing than a thin physique with no muscle to show (can you say "bird chest!?")

Anyways, I've been drinking lots of water, sometimes up to a gallon! (how much am i supposed to drink?). I've read on these boards about how you shouldn't drink too much. I used to drink a gallon, but I found myself pouding the last few zips and felt very light headed and it tasted horrible after (so I dont do that anymore).
Well, I drink over a gallon a day. I think most people here are not in any danger of overconsumption of water, but you never know. I have never had much problems. However I'll wait for other more experienced members to comment on this issue. I think 1 gallon is probably sufficient.

Here's a tip: SUGAR FREE Kool-Aid. When you get sick of all the water this can come in very handy! Crystal Lite is another favorite. I still drink lots of water, but I love that Sugar Free Kool Aid!!

When I play basketball I usually wear a sweater with sweats. I sweat a lot ! I come home and my shirt is soaked.
I would not recommend this personally. Do you want to just lose water weight? I have been in situations where a target WEIGHT was important, such as when I was a wrestler in high school. I remember wearing the heavy sweats and spitting all day to make weight. Not fun. Anyway I don't think this is the best idea. Losing water weight is not the best goal for you, losing FAT is a better goal! I have read no GOOD study showing that sweating more meant I was losing more fat. Again, what do I know, I could be way off but it never made much sense to me.

But it seems like no matter how much I work out, I just dont go down at all.
160lbs. does not sound that heavy to me. How tall are you? I would try to focus on other forms of measurement other than your scale. Look, the scale only says your WEIGHT. It cannot tell you how much fat or muscle you have. It cannot tell you how much smaller your gut is getting. It cannot tell you how much bigger your biceps have gotten. IMHO the scale is a horrible choice for measurement for the majority of trainees. After years and years of training and dieting I have learned how to use it properly, but for most I really find it more frustrating than helpful. Look in the mirror. See how your clothes fit. Get a tape measure and wrap it around your stomach. Have someone take your picture once per week. These are all much better options.

The scale does not tell you how much FAT you've lost. You could literally go UP in weight if you'd gained muscle, yet have lost inches around your stomach if you'd lost fat. So, I know it's hard, but try not to get too discouraged about the scale.

I also try to work on my legs because I have big legs.
What do you do for your legs?

I sometimes (havent recently gone) go jogg at a track for a little bit and do bleachers as well. Sometimes it seems like I do a lot but I do not lose a pound. I wouldnt say I'm fat but I know I need to lose some weight around my stomach and definately around me legs, well more like eveywhere too. Since I started a long time ago my goal was always 150lbs. I thought that would be fine. No matter what I do or how much I work out I DONT LOSE ANY! :d_frown: what am I doing wrong? I dont have a diet but I do not eat a lot and I have stopped eating lots of junk food, sugars and stopped eating at night because I heard that it's bad to eat before you sleep...is that true?
Again, stop stressing over the scale. :)

First, read/reasearch.

Next, get a weightlifting program in order.

Next, get a diet in order. You say you don't eat a lot, but I'd bet you're not eating enough. Maybe, maybe not. Why don't you post a sample day's diet up for everyone to look at? Provide us with more information so we can help you.

It's not bad at all to eat before you sleep. In fact I hate this "rule" (because I too have read it countless times). It's bad to fill your stomach with sugar before bed, sure. But a high protein and fat (that's good fat, not Burger King!) meal before bed is not only "not bad" but it is definitely GOOD.

wow thanks a lot 1FastGTX

I should start lifting a little more and yea maybe cut back on the rope. But yes I do want the shape of someone not so big but with muscle (like you described), not just skinny. Sorry I didnt explain that before. But your'e right about a lot of things. For my legs I do squats and some other ones where youre laying on the ground and you lift your leg. It works your outter thigh (I need to know on how to lose fat from there and make a little muscle). As far as a diet goes, I seriously dont know what I should do. I dont know much about diets :d_confuse ( I will have to look out for that and follow one). Oh by the way im 5'9 1/2. I will take everything you said into consideration and read/research.

Anyways, thanks alot for taking your own personal time on reading all that!(and for this long post too!) and actually giving me advice.

Thanks a lot ! :tu:

wow thanks a lot 1FastGTX
You're welcome, that's what this forum is for. :)

I should start lifting a little more and yea maybe cut back on the rope. But yes I do want the shape of someone not so big but with muscle (like you described), not just skinny. Sorry I didnt explain that before.
That's good! :D

But your'e right about a lot of things. For my legs I do squats and some other ones where youre laying on the ground and you lift your leg. It works your outter thigh (I need to know on how to lose fat from there and make a little muscle).
Well as you begin your researching you will quickly find out that you cannot "spot reduce" fat in one area. Basically what this means is that, if you have some fat on your stomach, all the crunches in the world are not going to get rid of it. Fat loss supposidly occurs throughout the entire body. Your diet and cardio and weightlifting will burn fat off, but not from a specific place.

But, I think you can give an APPEARANCE of "toning" by weightlifting. You can make muscles stronger and harder, therefore it might seem like it's not as fat.

Anyway, just keep reading. And as you lose more and more fat you'll see it coming off in all places (stomach, legs, arms, face, neck, etc.).

As far as a diet goes, I seriously dont know what I should do. I dont know much about diets :d_confuse ( I will have to look out for that and follow one).
I would just keep reading. There is a lot of info on here and on other websites around. Also, for someone really new you could always go to the library or buy a few books. I found this one - http://www.bodyforlife.com - to be VERY good for "newbies" like yourself. Now that I am more advanced I don't consider it the best thing around, but it did help me a lot a few years ago. Also check out the "Fat Loss" sticky in the Fat Loss section.

Oh by the way im 5'9 1/2. I will take everything you said into consideration and read/research.

Anyways, thanks alot for taking your own personal time on reading all that!(and for this long post too!) and actually giving me advice.

Thanks a lot ! :tu:
You're welcome friend!