Re: Weight, loss tips.
I have never had to lose a significant amount of weight (being that I am a four-sport athlete, 17 years old...) but when I had to cut for wrestling (about 10 pounds) I followed a few simple rules: eat less and excersise.
Eat less: start with eating healthier. Cut out all processed sugars, minimize saturated fat intake, and eat more fruits and vegis than you have previously. Also, get used to drinking lots of water. This keeps your bowels moving and works to clean out the system. At least two 32 oz nalgene bottles a day, plus a big glass in the morning to wake you up. Also, only drink water after 2-3 hours before you go to bed. This is because your body will store food (fat) when you sleep, but during the day won't have time, it just goes straight into your metabolic system.
After a couple weeks when your body is used to the different menu, stat cutting portion sizes. There is no magic number, but just eat until you feel mostly satisfied, and don't get seconds! When I was dropping weight I kept a log of everything I ate to keep track of my self (5 handfuls of M&Ms doesn't look good on there...). Eventually you can keep making the portion sizes smaller, and the results will be retained muscle weight and a lower fat percentage. Try and cut only 2-3 pounds per week. If you are starting out as a heavier person I would suggest watching the (bad) carbs and instead jacking up the fiber and healthy protein and fats. However, if you are already in semi-athletic shape your body needs the healthy carbs as well as the protein and fiber to keep your muscles energized. Avoid overeating on proteins, as excess will be stored away (penut butter kills!!).
I was around 145 when I started cutting and an already low body fat % (probably around 7-8), but I cut to a 5-6%, 136 when it was time to check hydration levels and body fat. I kept the weight off as long as I was participating, but a recurring shoulder injury kept me from doing too much wrestling. Instead I went for runs on my own and came back to the wrestling room for my own workouts and therapy. I still kept the weight off ( I made the 138 class just for S&Gs at a couple meets) and am currently 152, but after a summer full of lifting I am not surprised. I actually was around 156 after track but cross country training over the summer (just made 300 miles!) helped bring body fat down.
Now, for excersising: Start by going for walks/jogs for a period of time you feel comfortable with. Usually around 20 minutes is a good start. This jacks up your caloric burn and is fairly low stress compared to heavy lifting. Keep in mind, running one mile burns around 100 calories, but walking the same mile at a fast pace is only around 75-80 calories. Also, start doing pushups before bed. When my shoulder underwent surgery I started doing pushups every night as soon as I could. Yes, EVERY night. I started with 80-100, minimum, and sustained it until I felt I could be doing more. I have kept a minimum of 150 for the past year or so, often going up to 250, 300, 350 a night total. Don't try and do it in one shot, start by doing sets of 10, 20, 30, whatever you feel comfortable with. I did a 100 set last night, and that is very close to my max. Also, change it up every night. Do sets going up (10, 20, 30, 40, 50), going down (vice versa), all the same (5x30, 3x50), or so you hit a total number each set (40+10, 30+20, and 20+30) with a short break between mini-sets. Change up hand positions (wide, close) and tempo (fast, slow). Also mix it in with other workouts, like pull-ups or sit-ups.The key is to vary the workouts. Make sure you are pushing yourself, but for goodness sake don't hurt yourself.
After you are used to push-ups you can start going for longer runs or walks, as well as mix in weights 3-5 times a week. Again, vary the workouts. Dumbbells, kettlebells, dead weights, try all of them. It is important to keep your body guessing to avoid the plataue. Mix in rope climbs, jump rope, boxing, agility ladders. Stay entertained by trying new things, but kick your butt by using classic, proven workouts.
The main thing is, everyone is different. The above worked for me because I made it up based on what was working. I stayed with 3 main meals a day, with a light snack, usually a piece of fruit, before practice. I knew I would overestimate on how much to eat for five to six smaller meals, so I stuck to larger meals where I knew I wouldn't go overboard. Try different methods, but the overall plan for every one of them is the same: eat less and excersise!