LOSING 50 LBS IN 3-4 MONTHS

Change your goals to more realistic ones. It's too much to lose in that period and crash dieting only leads to regaining the weight at double speed.

I am of course assuming you're 18 (MFP has a minimum age).

I just don't want to feel ugly and fat when I head off to college next year haha
Do you think I could lose 30lbs in that time span then?

Take it slow and learn about nutrition while you're at it.

Welcome to MFP. You're on the right track. Along with going the the gym you need to figure out how to fit in healthy eating habits. It's simple math really, you need to burn more calories then you eat and that equals weight loss. Do not get discouraged if you don't hit 50lbs lost, that's quite a target to hit in 3-4 months. A healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week. So at 2 lbs lost every week for 4 months = 32 lbs (which is awesome). You will have weeks where you don't lose and weeks where you lose 3 so don't get frustrated. Keep exercising and eating healthy and you'll lose weight.

Good luck.

Hi there I was 165 when I started and currently I am @ 128, I am 5'6. I lost this weight from the end of Sept to now, so 8 months for 37 lbs. Yes some people lose fast, but those people are usually either a lot bigger to begin with or are doing an extreme form of dieting that is unhealthy... and most of the time the weight will come back quickly again after. I made a conscious decision that I wanted to attack the root of the problem and skip the years of yo-yo dieting and diet fads. You should really look at setting realistic goals, with an average of 1-2 lbs per week. So in 4 months you would be looking at 16- 32 lbs could be realistic and obtainable If you lose more, then awesome, but setting obtainable goals will be better for you because then you are less likely to get discouraged and give up if you don't meet certain deadlines.

Remember, it's not a race! Best of luck!

Losing weight too quickly will only be a temporary fix. It will be a worse let down in the long run because you will gain it back and each time this happens the bigger the disappointment and becoming very discouraged. You need to trust MFP. Be very honest and put in your number's. It is about life style changes and eating healthier. Working out is great. At your age I was doing the same as you are now and still was at 40 so, this part is fine, but choose healthier foods. Have healthy snacks around, but you still need to treat yourself once in a while. It is very exciting to get motivated and start a program like this, but losing it slowly has a much better out come in the long run. You are welcomed to friend me if you want.

Me personally I would aim for 15 to 20lbs

You can make a big difference by the time you go to college. The question is, what happens when you start college?
This is a perfect opportunity for you to make a plan to lose the whole 50 (but by the way, a body fat goal is probably more important).
Lots of people gain weight freshman year. There is a lot of food (and drink!) -- but there are also fantastic fitness opportunities at college, for free, and even for credit. Be the one in your dorm who is known for working out and eating healthy, but eating!
So I would advise you to make a plan that will take you through the whole year to get to that 50 pounds, with losing over half of it before you get there. That way, you won't starve yourself and work out crazy til you start, then put it all back on. You will start to lose more slowly after you lose that first 30, and that's OK. But the good habits will be built by the time you start, and -- best yet -- you will be losing while most of your classmates are gaining
Remember, no one sees the number on the scale; they see what you look like. What kind of equipment/resources do you have available to you over the summer? A progressive strength program would be great to start now. I have a pair of jeans that fit me at a certain weight a few years ago, and I'm at least 10 pounds over that right now, and they fit better. If you lift all summer, the vast majority of your losses will be pure fat, which is exactly what you want!

Since you said any help is appreciated, slow down your weight loss goals. You can probably lose that amount in that time, but you may do so at a cost to your health and energy levels, and if you're not taking the time to teach yourself habits for life, you may end up gaining it back.

I know people who gain and lose the same 30-50lbs their whole lifetime. I gained weight through college and being a newlywed working 2 jobs (on-call teaching and waitressing), and it was stress, lack of exercise, and not getting enough vegetables in my diet that led to my weight gain. Until I dealt with that, and built in new habits, I would have been in the same trap.

I lost weight through eating well - go and see a registered dietician, not a nutritionist (I could go online and get certified as a nutritionist today, but I'm not really equipped with the knowledge to really help people specifically) to get a plan for you and your lifestyle. I also lost and continue to maintain my weight loss through exercise. I aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days per week. Some days I fall short, but I make sure to push harder and longer next time.

tl;dr: establish the goals of healthy habits rather than fast weight loss.

Congratulations on starting! I agree with all the good advice you've been given.

You won't believe what a big difference even those first 20 pounds will make. If you exercise - do situps and planks and all those strength moves - you will LOOK so much better even if you haven't lost the weight you want to yet.

I also would just find clothes that look great on you at whatever weight you're at. Develop a style and then keep losing. Enthusiasm and smiles and confidence are more important in making someone attractive than anything else. I am a professor and look at students interacting all day long. Really.

When you get to school, DO watch your portion sizes, avoid junk food, and take advantage of the fact that you're going to do a lot of walking just to get to class.