10/5/2019- NEED TO DROP POUNDS.

30 lbs in 2 years is very doable. I recommend myfitnesspal. It's a very simple and straightforward way to lose weight. You enter in your stats, it tells you how many calories to eat a day, you eat that. It's a little tedious at first but it gets easier and once you see your weight coming off you will want to keep it up.

10/7/17- NEED TO LOSE POUNDS

but currently eating cupcakes for lunch.

OP- you've got time. Enough time that you could lose the weight, gain it back again, and lose it again. Focus on slow and steady. Don't try to drop it all in two months. Get started on a diet and exercise plan and ramp it up over time. Good luck and congrats.

I feel like we're the same person, except I'm 22. Freaking weird.

Anyways!!! You could try to do a Whole30 diet or switch to a Keto Diet, both of which you cut carbs and eat lots of protein and natural foods or lots of fat and natural foods. Google them, there's tons of online resources.

Your priority should be getting more more more water and cutting those carbs.

Then, get to the gym and work out 3 or so times a week. FH and I actually just started going to the local high school and playing soccer and tennis using their field and courts. I've been sore for days! And it's a lot of fun!

Good news is you have plenty of time! However please don't beat yourself up if you don't lose the weight before your wedding. My weight loss story was before we got engaged. I was starting a new job and felt extremely defeated when I went to try on clothes to wear for my first day and NOTHING fit me. When I started my new job they offered Weight Watchers (WW) at work program (and my job would pay half! - awesome). I knew I wanted to lose weight but NEVER thought about weight watchers, but since they were going to pay half - why not? I started the program and loved it! I lost a little more than 20 lbs in about a year time frame and was within approx. 7 lbs to make goal! Well unfortunately WW wouldn't renew the contract because we didn't have enough people to sign up. I thought "I can do this on my own" so almost a year goes by and I gain roughly 10 back! I figured out that I NEEDED the support that WW provided and I needed to go to the meetings. I decided to join again and go to an actual meeting and I have been back ever since. I made goal in April 2017 (lost total of 30 lbs) and got engaged in June 2017. Everyone is different but I can say that I struggled with my weight my whole life and WW is what worked for me, and I am an extreme advocate of it (I have many friends and family that are now members after seeing my success). Even though I made goal I still attend the meetings because it really helps you stay on track. I recently bought my wedding dress and I can say that I was the BEST experience! Everyone commented on my figure saying how everything looked great on me (little did they know that over 2 years ago, I did not have this figure). Healthy weight loss is 1-2 lbs a week, so you have plenty of time to reach your goal before you have to go dress shopping. Whatever you decide to do, know that it is possible (I follow a WW facebook group and some people have lost 200+ lbs and to me that is extremely motivating!)

I 100% agree with PP, don't buy a dress that is too small!

Weight watchers has worked for me. I lost 50 pounds in about a year after I graduated college. My mom recently lost 30 pounds in the 8 months or so before my wedding. I still pay for the app because I love being able to track my food and it gives me a way to balance my eating throughout the week so that I can still do fun things (like eat chicken wings and drink beer) without gaining the weight back.

ETA: I recommend the meetings when you first start. The weigh ins were extremely motivating for me, and it was nice to be able to celebrate/talk with people that were also doing WW.

Wait a year until you buy your dress. That gives you a year to loose 32lbs (for your lower end of the range). That's less than a pound a week on average. Easily doable if you are dedicated to it and don't have any underlying medical issues. I lost about 20lbs after gaining in college using Sparkpeople.com.

Do not buy a goal dress. Everyone loses weight differently so you can't guarantee where you'll lose weight from. What if you lose weight in your arms and legs, but not much in your stomach? You're better off to wait and buy closer to the time.

Focus on what you eat. Cut processed foods, cook most of your own meals, don't buy unhealthy snacks, drink mostly water. Boost your exercise - walk more, take the stairs, try group classes, hiking etc.

And try not to put too much focus on the scales. There will be weeks when you don't lose anything but don't let it set you back. Focus on other indicators - how much more energy you have, how long you can walk/run without getting out of breath, how much better you're sleeping, how many stairs you can climb. That tells you how much healthier you are, which is honestly more important than fitting into a dress. Good luck

I did a "goals dress" once when I was a bridesmaid. I ended up ordering my normal size but the dress ran very small. It was a good motivator and I lost 25lbs... but the dress didn't fit and I had to get it altered. Not my best idea. If I hadn't had that previous experience I probably would have done that with my wedding dress. But I would rather order my size now and then if I lose weight get my dress altered. Hope this helps

As my mom said: Dresses can always be taken in, it's sooooooo much harder to let them out

Try for a year to lose, go buy a dress that fits where you are at that point. Then, if you lose, alter, alter, alter the dress - don't buy for "I hope to be" it will just stress you out - and it's stressful enough to plan a wedding

Don't buy a goals dress, too much pressure.

I just do calories in, calories out. I do yoga almost daily, strength 2x a week and cardio 3-4x a week. I did not entirely cut anything from my diet but drinks except water and occasional alcohol, which wasn't hard because I didn't drink soda regularly anyway. I couldn't cut sugar or carbs or whatever forever, and with elimination diets like that, you tend to gain back once you start eating that food again.

I set a goal of 13 lbs to lose, and am at 12 lbs down now. Honestly, I don't care if I lose that last pound or not, and with my stress eating this week, it's not likely.

I actually feel like it's better to set fitness goals rather than weight goals. I may have only lost two pounds in the last month, but I finished a triathlon and held myself up in crow pose for the first time, and those two moments felt better than seeing a lower scale number. I'm done with weight goals and am switching to fitness goals: I want to drop 15 minutes off my overall time for the next triathlon, and want to do a shoulder stand. I'll still track calories, but won't be as focused on whether I'm hitting a specific deficit every day.

I don't recommend a goals dress. Don't put that amount of extra pressure on yourself! You have plenty of time and not that much to lose! Cutting sugar out of your diet makes a tremendous difference! Even walking everyday!-just as simple as walking! The main thing is cutting sugar and eating in moderation, just don't overeat. And lots of water! BEST OF LUCK! You can do this, you gotta want it!

I've recently lost 18 pounds with Weight Watchers and have another ten or so to lose (ideally) and I would highly recommend it to other brides. It's sustainable and not a crash diet. It sounds cheesy but it truly is a lifestyle change! Go slow, be patient with yourself, and know that no matter what size your dress is, you will be a beautiful bride!

Weight Watchers is amazing! I started 3 weeks ago and I'm already down 8 lbs, the program is so easy to follow. I recommend attending the meeting they help keep you motivated.

I agree with the "no goals dress!" I bought my dress a size up from what I measured, have been working out and toning up, and I'm down 15 lbs and a few inches, from the day I ordered my dress. My first fitting.... dress was too tight.

I wouldn't get a goals dress either. That's way too much pressure on yourself and you'll be devastated if you don't end up losing what you need to.

You definitely have TONS of time to lose the weight though! As others have said, start eating healthy, eat healthy portion sizes, and start exercising at least 3-5 days a week for at least 30 minutes. Both cardio and weights are great for losing weight. When I was high school, I was 60-70 pounds overweight. I started eating heathy and walked four miles every night - ultimately losing 50 pounds in about four months.

If you have the extra money, going to personal trainer will also be very beneficial for you. They can help keep you on track exercise-wise and will know what will work for you, and they can make recommendations for nutrition.

I agree with most everyone else. Don't buy a goals dress, buy what is comfortable for you. It's great that you have a goal to look towards, but it's so easy to get sidelined or beat yourself up if you don't achieve your goal. Also, it's really early to be thinking about buying a dress. I bought my dress a year out, and immediately had dress regret because it wasn't my size. My size hasn't changed since I bought it, but it's so easy to doubt your dress choice and sizing.

With that said, now is the perfect time to start trying to get fit. Don't even think of it as losing weight, think of it as getting fit and feeling more comfortable and confident in your own body. My fiancé and I started dating in high school and I was tiny. I am now a solid 20 pounds heavier, but I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin. All because I work out regularly, eat well most of the time, and still eat/drink what I want in moderation. Best of luck! I look forward to hearing about your journey!

I'd wait to get the dress. Just in case what you think will look good after weight loss doesn't actually look good on your after weight loss. You could buy a mermaid dress thinking of it as goals only to realize you really want a ballgown no matter what weight you are.

Get yourself a personal trainer at a local gym. It's been helping me a lot.

I am very much in the same boat as you, and have been struggling with this question.

My coworker bought a goal dress that was two sizes smaller and she actually ended up losing more weight than she had to. I tried on dresses a few weeks ago and this left me feeling pretty sad (unfortunately the person who helped me was not very sensitive to the fact that just MAYBE some people have body image issues) but it was the kick in the butt I guess I needed. It's only been about 3 weeks since I've been counting calories on the "Lose It" app. and being consistent at least 2-3 workouts per week which is what I can fit into my schedule. I don't even want to try on dresses again until I've lost some weight, but at the same time I only have a year. until the wedding. I guess it really depends on how much pressure we want to put on ourselves and how good we are at visualizing what buying a dress too small would look like on a changed body? The thing I think about - will I even like how a dress looks on me if my body looks differently? I struggle to envision it! I'm hoping if I stick to diet and exercise for a few months and hopefully see some results maybe it will sway my option of the "goal dress." Maybe the same for you!