I have 8 months- 50 pounds

I thought you have an 8 months old that is 50 pounds! lol

Combination of cardio (walking/ running) plus some resistance training (weights).

Start out slow and stick to something you can keep doing even after your wedding.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that's probably an unrealistic goal in 8 months. That said my parents had good results with the south beach diet. No sweets for the first two weeks even fruit! But it really breaks the addiction.

Look up JJ Smith Green Smoothie cleanse. She also has a FB group. Great results. Worked for me but I also workout & make healthier eating choices after those 10 days.

You can't spot reduce. Just stick to a caloric deficit (burning more than you eat). I suggest the website/app Myfitnesspal!

Also search for other weightloss posts from the last few days on this forum, as there has been some great advice!

Eat less, move more.

I use weight watchers just to hold myself accountable for everything I eat. It's so easy to say "oh it's just one splurge!" And then do that multiple times a day/week. It adds up quickly and logging what I eat is helping me realize how many sweets and carbs I "splurge" on.

Do WeightWatchers! It works miracles.

If you can swing the cost, I will tell you the best thing I have done is hire a personal trainer. I have horrible anxiety that would keep me from going to the gym myself, but the cost of cancelling an appointment, plus having someone there who knows what they are doing encouraged me to show up. I work out with the trainer twice a week and run/walk near my house or work 2 or 3 other times a week. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, but if I am craving something sweet I will make protein cakes with a meal replacement shake. If I'm going to eat bad food, it's going to be pizza or cheese fries. I limit myself to one cheat meal a week, with mostly protein and veggies for other meals. If you are a drinker, try to switch to vodka waters. Surround yourself with a good support system and those with similar goals. Don't get discouraged if you have a bad day. And remember it's 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise. Having a good diet really goes a long way. If time is a constraint, try to meal prep. I go to Sam's club and cook a bunch of easy meals Sunday evenings.

A nutritionist can help you out the best! 80% of losing weight has to do with food. Cardio like swimming and biking will help immensely and yoga helps keep up your metabolism and tones your body. :-) fooducate is also an awesome free app to help keep track of your calories

I find not depriving myself of the foods I like but really measuring portions helped. I

Lost weight and still had butter, cheese, bread and desserts. In moderation.

I still need to lose a lot more but I'm working on it. There's an app called myfitnesspal where you can enter all your food to stay under your desired calories. It really helps to see what your eating for accountability

I know someone who lost 50 pounds in 6 months and they are on Weight Watchers.

Abs are made in the kitchen. That's how you'll lose the extra belly.

Ugh . skip the cleanses. Waste of time and money.

Short answer? Eat less. Move more.

Long answer?

First off- congratulations for taking steps in the right direction to improve your life and your health.

You have already pretty much conquered the first steps-

Eat less- move more- and create positive CONSISTENT habits.

You don't have to be a rock star at this game- you just really need to be patient and STUBBORN.

I.E. keep doing the things. No matter how mundane no matter how difficult you think the process is- and now matter how you FEEL about it- just keep doing the things. Make them auto pilot.

You'll have bad days- we all do.

#drinkingmorewinethanIshouldrightnow

So- even "the best" of us who seem to "have it all together" we have our bad days- I promise you- most people don't share them- but we have them. So don't think those fabulous super fit people in the gym have it all together all the time. They don't. Trust.

Now.

On to the next.

Diet. You absolutely 100% do not need to work out to lose weight.

#scoutshonor

Does it help? you're damn right. But you do not NEED it. So- first things first- make sure you're keeping yourself in a calorie deficit.

If you for some reason go OVER your goal- remember IT'S A DEFICIT- So- at worse- you won't gain weight- you'll just stay right where you are if you continue to eat at the calories you consumed that day.

So- DON"T PANIC. Averages are everything- so if 6 out of 7 days you're in a deficit- WIN!!! You're average is going to be in the "deficit" side.

You just have to make more good choices than bad ones. That's easy enough right!!!- you got this.

TWO-

read this article- it's wonderful- and it's written by nation wide trainer who lives also on MFP- extremely well respected- and knows his shit. for real.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

again- averages and consistency are key.

Being said- the closer you get to goal weight- the harder it is- and the more disciplined you have to be- most people stop 5-10 pounds shy of their weight because you have WAY less wiggle room for mistakes.

THREE

So- a general fitness/wellness program will incorporate both cardiovascular work AND strength training.

You want to do both.

"But Jo- you said you don't NEED to work out.??!?!"

You're absolutely right grasshopper- but it sure will help!!!

In fact it will do 3 things:

1.) Ensure you're in a calorie deficit.

2.) Ensure the body you wind up with is something closer to your minds eye than just "a smaller version of who you are today.

3.) Optimize FAT loss- and minimize MUSCLE loss.

weight = anything- fat, muscle- bone density- you're left arm- anything.

what you want specifically is FAT loss- so you should be doing some sort of resistance training to optimize fat loss. This also helps change your body composition so you don't look like just you know- a smaller you.

It also makes your day to day life more convenient and easier. Being stronger makes life easier.

So- win all the way around.

So- walking- swimming- classes- spin- zumba- whatever tickles your funny bone for cardio- kickboxing- doing a 5K- whatever.

ANYTHING is good- just do it.

Strength- no purre barre is not strength training. Neither is body pump.

yes it's good for you.

No it's not really strength training.

Anything that can be done in a class or on a DVD isn't strength training- outside of BeastBody by beach body- very little you do is going to be strength oriented- more "cardio/fat/burning/resistance/HIIT training.

Please understand- none of this is bad- but it's not the same as actual strength training.

If you have a gym- I would recommend- Starting strength, strong lifts, new rules of lifting, and strong curves.

Skip any program that has you doing it "bi's/tris and back/chest" you don't need that.

If you do not have a gym- I would recommend- Body by you, You are your own Gym- convict conditioning and nerd fitness.

what you're looking for is PROGRESSIVE loading- not those ridiculous shape magazine workouts with no sense or reason.

Also- bonus fact

Muscle does not "weigh more than fat"

it's more DENSE than fat.

A pound of muscle weighs as much as a pound of fat.

I.E. you can fit more of it into a smaller space- fat takes up more space.

which is why you get things like STACI!!! who looks so much tinier even though she may weigh more.

https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/07/21/meet-staci-your-new-powerlifting-super-hero/

being said.

Please do not be afraid of lifting.

I've been trying to get "huge" for years.

actively TRYING to get bigger- I am admittedly bigger than some people would prefer to see themselves- but even after over a decade of lifting- and focused diet the last 5 years- people are just now starting to say "oh you look like you work out" when I'm in regular clothes and not flexing. And to me- I'm not big enough- (GROW SHOULDERS GROW_ I COMMAND YOU TO GROW!!!)

it's fucking hard as shit to get big- so please don't say "I build muscle and get big to quick".

#notbuyingit.

Lift the weights- watch what you eat. And be stubborn as shit.

The main ingredient missing from most peoples stories is "persistence" gotta have faith in the long game.

So- YES- you can do this.

You GOT this.

I have faith in you.

#teamtinypotato

Spark is a good site. You don't starve yourself, just balance your diet. It's more a find your healthy then a loose weight thing. (Ex. I'm on it to gain but my mom is losing on it. Same height and build just different start weight and age)

Also what JoRocka said

My goodness! Let me add onto your list of responses with ditto. The only thing I'd add is join a fitness group in your community or find dance classes like perhaps belly dancing. Fun and releases stress.

Lots of fibre-rich foods with protein worked for me when I lost my first 20 lbs. Portion control is also a must and lots of water. Cut down the bread too. You got this!!!!

I move a lot I walk around 7 miles a day. I've always been heavy.

How are you walking 7 miles a day and how are you tracking that?

I just lost 93lbs in 6 months.

7am protein shake (premier protein is the brand I like)

930am protein shake

12pm low fat cheese stick and Jenni-o turkey sticks

2pm salad as big as you want but only put lettuce, cheese, onion, egg, tomato, and chicken go light on dressing and you don't have to do all the toppings if you don't want.

6pm baked chicken or turkey with a HIGH CARB VEGETABLE. Your body does need carbs and vegetables have good complex carbs that you need.

8pm have 1 small desert SMALL like 1 cookie

If you do this you will consume :

About 800 calories

and 10 grams of fat

120 grams of protein

Must must take multi vitamin morning and night along with b12 and biotin everyday

You won't loose weight for the first 2 or 3 weeks but then you will loose about 20 lbs a month.

The diet sucks ..you get sick of the food.

But this is HEALTHY .

do not do a diet that deprives your body of the nutrients.

This is doctor approved . I also went to bimonthly Dr appointments just to monitor it.