I need some help shedding the lbs, my wonderful partner asked me to marry him one week ago now so it's time for me to shed to weight!! Since then I've cut down on trashy foods and have lost 6lbs so far. Our wedding date is set for Oct 30th 08 and I want to lose as much weight as possible to look amazing on my big day!!

Please help! I want to average out at about 3lbs per week, I know you're not supposed to lose more than 1-2lbs per week with a healthy diet and exercise and I also know that you start to gain weight if you don't stick with the life change - but I'm not looking to starve myself, I want to be sensible!

I know there are experts here so this is why I'm asking (or begging!!) so please help me devise a plan. I'm ready to put any work into this plan, this wedding is a dream come true and I want to look beautiful in the pictures.

Oh yeah, I own a treadmill - should I do high impact cardio and cut my calorie intake or what? I have to do this, I just need to go ahead with this plan or else I won't fit into my wedding dress. No girl wants to look bad on her big day!

HELP!

Firstly congrats on your engagement! I was in your shoes a few years back (well only minus the wedding) it's tough but it's worth it in the end especially when you're working towards something.

I have to ask why you're so focused on a specific number? If you don't lose 3lbs a week then it could crack you and you might feel as if you're making no progress when you really are.

How many calories a day are you eating? (before your diet) and how many are you eating when you're cutting back?

1% per week would be a reasonable expectation in my books but it still requires a LOT of consistent effort! Spend some time reading other threads and even ask dr.houser about good foods to eat and that sort of thing.

Congratulations and good luck!

You have a wonderful reason to lose weight, and having a reason makes it easier especially when the day is all about you and your partner! You're already off to a great start since you've something to work to, I can't give very specific advice on how to lose 3lbs per week, but I do recommend cutting out all drinks with calories like coke, (also alcohol!). Stick to water and green tea. I also recommend flavoring water, I love to squeeze a lemon into a glass of water, sometimes even an orange. Gives it a bit of a kick!

Good luck again!

BB Martin - 06 July 2008 07:51 AM

To get started on your health improvement and weight loss adventure, please check out mini trampoline exercise (called "rebounding.") It is possibly the most effective form of exercise ever developed, according to NASA even.

I just started about 6 weeks ago, and although I do not weigh myself often (another tip to help you, don't weigh yourself every day or even every week!) I have made very noticeable improvements in inches lost, muscle tone and energy level. My clothes fit a lot better and looser already!

I've read about trampolining, a few of my friends recommended it but I never thought it worked with such great results. Thanks BB

Thank you soo much for replying!

I don't know, I guess I'm stuck on a number because I was happy at that weight before. If I lost 30lbs but looked like I lost so loads more, like 50lbs because of muscle gain then I'd be super happy still. All I want is to look really good on the day, as well as feeling comfortable. I want to be able to smile in pictures and look at them and think I look beautiful.

I'm about 5ft 2 in height. I haven't counted calories this week, I would say I average out at about 15000. I don't do very much exercise, most of the time I do none, but I did a lot of jogging last night.

You don't need to focus that much on one specific number as you might not get there again. Just check your measurements i.e. bust size, waist, hips etc. Then work on those instead as that will affect whether you'll get into your dress or not.

Fat loss is all about burning more calories than you take in. 1500 seems like an ok amount, but be as accurate as possible in portion sizes, (weight or measure whatever you're eating).

Thanks tefolio I've started a rigorous exercise routine and diet, I want to burn fat like crazy, but I want to do it sensibly eating the right foods. Thanks, you guys have helped...but I'm still open to anymore suggestions or advice!

Like others have said, do not focus on '51lbs' or it will probably end up driving you nuts and could end up hurting you if you don't reach the goal, sometimes it makes people give up early on in the dieting process and it's not great. Judge yourself by measurements and the mirror. Measure all the parts of your body (like hips bust waist, things like that..maybe even your legs if you want) do it once a week and compare, if you are trying to exercise you will probably be putting on some muscle too and the scales would say you're getting heavier which would make you think it's bad, but it's really a great thing because it's all muscle.

Oh, and congrats on your wedding, that's brilliant news!

exercise is great, go jogging too if you want optimal results..or even swimming to tone the whole body. you could even incorporate some weights into your routine a month down the line, so when you have lost more lbs you could start toning up.

congrats on your engagement