how much time

Hi, and welcome to the site!
I've lost 18 pounds in 9 weeks. Considering I've got a thyroid problem, I think that's fantastic! I never thought I'd lose anything because of the thyroid problem.
Anyway though, I dance to oldies in my living room every day for exercise, and also walk alot. As for eating, I eat mainly oatmeal or eggs for breakfast, salads for lunch, and a smaller portion of meats and whatever for suppers. I still manage to eat things that I love, such as pizza and Chinese food, I just have to "work" for it with exercise!
Good luck with your weight loss!

{long post}

I think that the goal to successful weight lose is not to go on a "diet" or even a "exercise schedule".

In fact, for me, my goal is not even just weight loss but to be healthy again. For me, being healthy means losing weight. But there are some on here who need to gain or are simply struggling to tone or maintain their weight and be healthy.

No matter what you're trying to do, the key is not to "diet" but to change your lifestyle. To drop the junk food, cut out unhealthy practices, and develop a new healthy lifestyle. To be successful AND permanent, weight loss must be the result of a change in habits.

I, like many on here, know from experience that one can lose weight only later to gain it back (and more on top of that usually!) if you don't change your way of doing things.

This time around, I am changing my life not just my diet. The junk no longer comes in the house. We only eat out maybe 1x a week or less.

I eat more vegetables, less fried foods, smaller meals, cut out sodium as much as possible, and I exercise at least 5 days week.

I have lost 37 pounds in 11 weeks through a lot of changes and hard exercise. I still have over 100 pounds to go.

But this is becoming how I live, not simply what I am doing "until I lose weight."

You will also find that this is a very personal and personalized journey. Everyone is very different. We all progress at different rates--lose weight at different rates--and view things differently.

That means that we can't really "give" you a schedule to follow if this is to be successful. If it is to be successful, you will have to learn what is good for you, what works for you. Listen to your body, find out what works and what doesn't, what makes you feel good and what makes you feel bad.

Now, all that said--we're here for you! This is a great site full of wonderful loving people! You will find advice, support, and help here. Heck, we even chide each other and kick each other in the butt when needed--all in love! But we have all learned that we are individuals and have to find our own way to become healthy.

I will give you some general tips though and that might help:

--cut down on your sodium--just bad for you. Causes water retention, can cause high blood pressure, and you will see that food simply tastes better with less salt in it

--eat more vegis and fruits--they're filling and low in calories. You can eat HUGE salads that will fill you and yet be very low cal (watch the dresssings! I don't use any at all)

--exercise! Necessary for health. Do whatever form of exercise you can to get moving even if just walking 20-30 minutes a day

--water--drink plenty! At least 64 ozs a day. keeps things moving through your system

--cut out the processed foods, prepared foods, canned foods, and junk foods. Most of this stuff is FULL of sodium, fat, and carbs. Make your food fresh, from scratch, as much as possible. That way, YOU control what goes in and what doesn't. Plus, fresh food simply tastes BETTER!

I'm sure others can add more.

I wish you luck on your goals and congratulate you on deciding to do this at an early age while your metabolism is still revving and before health issues set in!

i know these things.. thing is when u cook at home u donno the amount of calories ur consuming

i hv been in love with fast food.. and i donno how to put this but.. when i think that i cannnt ever eat that again.. not even a bite or so.. i just loose it what shd i do:sad: