Hello Hampicamayoc......I hope you have a nick name because that screen name is a long one to type.  I hear ya about the gym scene, I don't like them either, and (money wise) they can put a big dent in an already budgeted out budget.  So the only advise about exercise I can give you are: 1. Start a walking or jogging routine:  Walking is one of the best and cheapest  exercise there is, and the health bennies are endless. 2.  get a basic  floor exercise routine for each section of your body.....and work on each section every other day.  Upper body, Mid section, and lower body.  I'm sure you can go to the library and find some body shaping books there, and it won't cost you a cent.  3.  Since you are a student,  maybe you can network a small spice exchange with some of the other students....swap spices.  I too have been on a yo-yo with my weight, up and down, down and then up again.  Presently, I also want to lose 20 to 25 pounds.  There is no easy way to lose the weight and then keeping it off it just as differcult, but I never give up on myself!   I just started the "Slim Fast" diet on May 14th, and already lost 3 pounds as of today.  One point of view I have on losing weight is: everytime I lose a 1/2 pound or a pound or even more, I visualize sticks of butter.   One stick= 1/4 pound, Two sticks = a half pound, Three  sticks 3/4 of a pound, Four sticks = One pound.  This mind picture keeps me motivated throughout my weight loss program and "most of the time" keeps me from falling off my bandwagon.  I take one day at a time, think happy thoughts, and I keep reminding myself that " Rome Wasn't Built In A Day" either.  So I hope my advise to you will keep you motivated throughout your program too.    I hope we can motivate each other.   More about me and my pitfalls to follow........if you ask.  Bye for now.

I'm a university student.  I don't work.  I have about 25 pounds to lose, but I don't want to set foot in a gym.  I want to develop a routine that I can do at home or away from home-anywhere around the world, so that I never have "lack of resources" as an excuse not to eat right or too exercise.  Ummm, with times being tough and all, I don't have a lot of money either to devote to grocery shopping, so I don't want to follow any recipes that call for ingredients I don't normally buy.  I've already that budgeted out.  That really limits options, I know, but I think it will be more than worth it because I'll have the tools necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle anywhere I go.  I need to stick with it for runs of 30 days at a time back to back to back. 

I've lost weight before, but it's basically just been moving myself from overweight/obese to less overweight.  Last year I stepped into the healthy BMI range for the first time.  I saw so much improvement in my body.  It was great.  I felt super!  But....I'd been using a gym, and when I tried to change my routine, I lost steam.  Since I know what was my pitfall last time, I'd like to develop a strategy to avoid the same mistakes.  That involves 1) staying on track to lose the amount of weight i calculated, 2) maintaining that weight once i've reached my goal and 3) keeping motivated throughout the whole process.

Soooo, what'dya say?  Think we can do this together?  If so, don't lose any time but make sure you're ready to lose weight and hop on my bandwagon.  :)