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i wouldnt look at it as losing 20 pounds, b/c muscle weighs more than fat - i'd look at it as fitting into your clothes and sculpting your body more so and losing inches...
good luck!!
Believe it or not, muscle and fat weigh the same! I never realized that "myth" wasn't true until I got my personal trainer's license! However, building muscle mass is a great idea, because the more muscle you have, the more efficiently your body burns calories. It's not a bad idea to add in some weights after you do your cardio for a few days a week. Also, I have been doing Weight Watchers to get my eating habits under control; they really advocate for a balanced diet-6 glasses of water, 5 servings of fruit and veggies, 1-2 servings of lean protein, 1-2 of dairy and essential oils. I pay $39.95 a month and can either go to meetings or track online (or both). I love it because it has forced me to look at what I eat a bit more honestly. Since I am eating better foods, I also feel tons better! I have lost 10 lbs in 5 weeks, which is a healthy pace. If you're up for a lifestyle change, I would recommend it!
I Would take up pilates to get a leaner look if you tend to bulk up. Weights are good at burning calories fast since it targets certain muscles.
Weight Watchers...you will find your goal quite reasonable to accomplish on their plan. Worked for me!
Definitely try Weight Watchers. I ate healthy foods before and did okay with the exercise but it turns out I just needed a little help with portion control. I've lost 17 pounds in a little under 4 months and feel so much better. Your goal is totally do-able. Good luck!
"Weigh more" is an odd, non-specific term. Muscle is more dense, so if you have the same measurements, but you've grown muscle and lost fat, you would "weigh more".
I would definitly suggest adding 3 days of strength training into your workouts. I know it looks scarey to some people but if you hire a trainer for a few sessions (or more if you can afford it) to show you some exercises and make sure you are doing them properly your weight loss will be so much quicker and easier.
Cardio is great - aim for 30 minutes 3 days a week. You can alternate one weight day and then one cardio day, and take one day of rest!
I would also recommend yoga if you have the time (or interest) it's a great supplement to a weight training program as lifting weights often makes you lose flexibility.
I know some girls are afraid to lift weights because they will look "manly" but I have been lifting the heaviest weights I possible can for years and I don't think I will ever look like a man!
Let me know if you have any more questions - I'm obsessed with fitness and nutrition!
I agree that you should get a personal trainer (I had a great one at the local YMCA, a college gym, and an at home trainer who was just starting out). I've always done cardio (run with a friend 3x a week) but my body started seeing quick results once I got a trainer and started doing squats and lifting weights. My body felt incredible and as your muscles repair/build in the days following a workout, they burn a lot of calories!
My FI started Alli (the over-the-counter weight loss pill) in January and has lost 13 pounds in 3 months. He is also running at least 3 times a week, and we are now bringing healthy lunches to work (saves money and calories).
Finally, you say that you are eating healthy - but a lot of people think they are eating healthy, but really aren't. Track all the foods that you eat and use an online tool to calculate your daily calories to make sure you aren't getting too many or too few.
Good luck!
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Muscle is more dense than fat, so you might not lose pounds but still shrink inches.
I started serious weight lifting with my fiance about 3 months ago. He had tried to get me to for a long time, but I was really worried about bulking up. Well, he sent me a bunch of links on the subject and now I love it! I am super toned and feel really strong. I also mix in pilates and cardio. Don't feel afraid of weight - you can do a lot more than you think. But you do need to make sure you learn proper technique whether that be from a trainer or someone else who really knows what they are doing.
We eat small portions several time a day to regulate blood sugar and keep the metabolism going. It seems to be working!
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Get a STEPCOUNTER I live by mine- you have to get 10,000 steps a day to be healthy and it works- I have walked off the pouds literally- 15 lbs gone-
also I buy fruits and veggies on the weekend and I tupperware them- like a take grapes off the stock and wash them and box them, I cut the strawberries so they are ready to eat, I cut cucumber slices intead of leaving the whole thing in the fridge etc. It takes about an hour but when you open the fridge you see a colorful array of healthy foods
also i recommend yogurt and banana and granola a small bowl for breakfast- it is filling and healthy.
If you're looking for a great online tool to track what you eat, check out myfooddiary.com! They also have lots of message boards with a few Brides to Be groups.
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Weight Watchers has really taught me about portion control, getting the right amount of fruits, veggies, calcium, fiber, etc. in my diet, and eating well rounded meals. Adding up the points makes things really easy and you quickly learn which foods give you the "most bang for your buck" as far as low points without feeling starving. I have lost about 7 pounds.... Mr. Cupcake has lost over 20 in 2.5 months!
I use fitday.com for calorie maintenance... it allows you to track what you eat along with tracking your calorie burning with excercise and day to day lifestyle. Also I am a big fan of global healing centers Oxy-Powder www.ghchealth.com to really give your body a fresh start!!! Good Luck!
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I lost 20 pounds in 8 months with Sparkpeople.com. It is similar to WeightWatchers in that it teaches a healthy lifestyle, not just a "diet". Many people lose the weight faster than I did, but you shouldn't be losing more than 1-2 pounds a week. They have great Brides-to-be groups, and you can challenge yourself as much as you want. Good luck!
You can safely lose about a pound a week by cutting minimal calories daily and upping your exercise. If you're overweight or just getting started in fitness, you may find that you can lose weight more quickly but you will plateu fairly fast.
Be aware that as you exercise you will be gaining muscle mass as you lose fat. So it might not look like you are dropping lbs but you will see it in how your clothes fit.
A good way to track your progress is to get a hydrostatic (i.e. 'dunk tank') body fat test when you start on your fitness program. It will tell you how much body fat versus lean mass that you have. It will also tell you how many calories you burn in a day and what you should do in order to effectively lose fat (NOT LEAN MASS).
A lot of people don't realize that when they start seriously cutting calories, they also lose muscle in addition to fat, particularly if they are sedentary.
Anyway, good luck to you!
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Hate to say it...calorie counting! Aim for less than 2000 daily. Watch what you eat too...less sugar, low fat. Drink lots of water.
www.trainwithmeonline.com if you can't afford/don't want a trainer.
Make sure to have weight training and cardio in your exercise routine!
I also recommend weight watchers!
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here's another link that is free for food and exercise logging towards your weight goal. http://www.myfitnesspal.com. it also has a support group there for questions and answers.
The easiest way to cut calories is by drinking nothing but water and/or black teas/coffees. You get can consume a LOT of unneeded calories through soda, juice (most juices are also high in corn syrup and low in fruit), milk, lattes, etc.
I think a lot of it has to do with what you eat as well (I have a nutrition degree so I know way too much about this stuff!) You definitly don't need a "diet" but if you stick to fruits, veggies, lean meat, fish, low fat dairy and WHOLE grains (no white flour) you will also see a huge difference in your appearance, and your health.
It's always best to allow a little treat every day, just make sure it's under 100 calories. I always have a piece of dark chocolate to satisfy me, or a few spoonfulls of some chocolate frozen yogurt.
i strongly recommend myfooddiary.com, it has helped me really drop the 20 pounds i had been trying to lose through healthy eating and exercise on my own. it costs $9/month and in my opinion totally worth it.
Yoga is great for defining your muscles and stretching them and making them look leaner. I've always been healthy but I've never lost weight and kept it off until I cut my portions, stopped eating bread, cereal, and anything processed, added a lot more vegetables and fruit, quinoa.
Buy the book Abs Diet for Women. It's not a diet, it's a meal plan...much like MsB describes...but it is all laid out for you. It consists of 6 meals a day so you are never hungry. I started in on January 1, along with daily exercise (even if it's for 10 min.) and daily vitamins. I had lost close to 20 pounds by April 1. I don't know exactly how much I weigh because I do not own a scale....scales lie. As others have said, take your measurements and use your clothes as your guide. I went from a 28.5 inch waist to a 25.5 inch waist in about 8 weeks. Good Luck!
I don't have any trouble with portion control and I can't afford a personal trainer or a gym membership. My ultimate goal is to lose 50 lbs but I don't see that happening by the end of August. I'd like to lose half that however.
My FI an I got a personal trainer ($20 pp every week or every session) & worked out with him once a week and were on our own for the other 5 days. (Sunday=no working out and eating whatever we want :)) I've gained muscles and lost inches. But not lbs. which im totally fine with because losing inches means fitting into the dress :) haha plus im alot healthier than before and burn more calories when we have our sweet day :) He also says no sugars after 3 and no carbs after 12. and protien bars are amazing :) :) :)
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Ooo! Just found this on the Weight Watchers site:
http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=36371
It's a 12-week Buff Bride Challenge 
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:::QUESTIONS TO THE BEE'S:::
Does Weight Watchers work for those on a vegetarian diet? I've found a lot of diet programs are all meat based.
glittergrl, Weight Watchers is great for vegetarians! I am a vegetarian and have been on Weight Watchers for 6 months, and I have lost 25 lbs!
Weight Watchers is amazing because you can eat whatever you want; you aren't forced into a specific meal plan. Honestly, I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all, because I still get to prepare delicious vegetarian meals I always have, I've just learned how to cut out the excess fat, limit my portions, and make smart choices. I actually think I'm a better vegetarian because of it because I eat tons more vegetables instead of the junk food i was eating before. Don't get me wrong, I can still enjoy my mac and cheese, it's just now a reasonable portion of whole wheat pasta and low fat cheese!
Good luck, and I hope you give it a try!
Glittergrl -- I'm a vegetarian and worked for me! It could even work with a vegan diet.
Get a colonic hydrotherapist. It will cost around $200 for three sessions. You can clean out your system. Think about what you put in your body. No processed sugars, sugar substitues, avoid the middle aisles in grocery stores, no hydrogenized oil, stick to nature's food i.e. fruits, vegetables, nuts, have at least 7000 ORAC a day or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity which you can find in drink mixes at Henry's, Mother's, maybe even Trader Joe's, try to get organics for less hormones and chemicals used to grow, don't add salt to your foods, drink half your body weight in water each day, start eating foods that will keep you regular like papaya, avocados, and natural lubricant foods of similar texture. Don't drink caffiene so you don't get sugar cravings when the high wears off. Choose all natural decaffinated teas instead. Avoid alchohol, and if you do have to have a little every once in a while order a glass of water simutaneously for every cocktail you have. Learn to like your seasonings. A little cinnamon, pepper, tiny bit of butter or a spritz of lemon to your fruits or veggies instead of things like ketchup. Start mixing olive oil and vinegar as your salad dressing instead of buying ones with preservatives. Think of the water test. If you put a hose to something on a dish does it wash away easy or does it take forever to get off like melted cheese or peanut butter, etc.
awesome! thanks thriftsiren and radish!
I have to chime in on the colonics...... colonics are temporary. you will drop water weight. but in about 2 weeks it will start to come back. Don't get me wrong, they can be great for those that don't eat healthy and party, but it's a fast fix in my opinion.
I lost 70 lbs in 7 months by doing low-carb. I read Atkins and Palm Beach, but didn't follow either exactly. I cut out sugar and bread and pasta, but I am a coffee addict, so I drank as much as I wanted of that. Plus, I don't do exercise, oh well. But it worked just fine, it wasn't that hard, and I've kept it off for 2 years now.
GL!
Personal trainer and Alli have helped my FI and I.
As a nutritionist I have to say that I am incredibly pleased to see no mention of drastic measures! Does this mean that we've all finally moved passed the cabbage soup diets of our mothers?! hehe...
But, a reality check!! You didn't mention your start or ideal weight and this will have much to do with whether you lose the 20lbs.
Adding exercise (weight training a must - keeps your bones stronger as you get older) and practicing portion control is the key. If you're having trouble with the portion control part, groups like Weight Watchers are great as is getting a friend who you spend a lot of time with to team up with you on the weight loss wagon.
The way I've finally figured out portion control is to consciously eat. No eating in front of the t.v. or while working. Make eating a separate event and enjoy it. Take your time and eat slower. That was always my issue, but forcing myself to slow down has resulted in no more second helpings and often not finishing my first portion.
Best of luck
The last time I weighed-in February-I was 174 lbs. I'm 5/6". I don't eat unhealthy and I don't eat large portions at all. I've had alot of stress but those issues are dissolving now. FI and I have decided on a cruiseship wedding in October so now I'm trying to get bikini ready for the Bahamas...ooooooooooooooooooooohhhhh yea!! I have alot of "yucky" around my middle, thighs, back of legs (kind of feel like my ass and my legs are starting to run together) and my upper arms aren't looking so hot. It's depressing and I feel soooo FAT compared to what I used to be. I wanna be size 6 again (was 5 years ago). I don't have large bones so it's perfectly doable. I'm really considering My Alli but I don't consume alot of fat either. Booo Hooo
I just bought the book "Buff Brides" this weekend. I can't yet personally attest to how well it works, but it was recommended by serveral friends. It's all about easy workouts that you can do in your home (just need 5 lb. weights and an exercise ball, basically). It lays out 24 weeks of work-outs (or 6 weeks if you're in a time crunch). None of the exercises are super hard - it's mostly a tool to keep you on track ... all you have to do is open the book in the morning, follow the exercises you're supposed to do, and you're done. My friends have been married for a few years and say they still use the book!
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I need to lose about 20 lbs in less than 5 months. I don't eat unhealthy foods and I'm starting to do 30 minutes of aerobics and 25 minutes of fast pace walking (1.5 miles in distance).
Suggestions please?
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