nervous newbie

Trish1c

Hi. I'm a 49 year old woman with 2 goals. I'd like to lose 20 pounds by October 1. I'm going on a beach girls trip for our 50th birthdays with some college friends. I'd also like to be in great shape with a flat tummy by March 2017 when my husband & I go on one of those once in a lifetime vacations. I really want to be able to wear a bikini on my 50th & be proud of the way I look.

I've never really exercised before or been successful in weight loss. I'm joining Planet Fitness later today.

I was 125 lbs for most of my life but weigh almost 160 now. Ever since turning 40 I feel like I ballooned up. I have joined a gym in the past. I got great arms & legs but my tummy never changed & neither did my weight. Yeah, yeah, I know muscle weighs more. I tried swimming again last year but the pool was too far from my home & office so I didn't commit as much as I should; I got sick for a month & then stopped. It's really hard & incredibly disappointing when you don't see results. Wine / drinking & soda seem to be my biggest temptations / sabotages.

I'm a size 10 now. I'd really like to drop to an 8 because I'm pretty sure going back to a 6 isn't an option.

Any encouragement people could provide would be most welcome.