Exercise & Diet Help

You're setting yourself some very tight goals there. You will likely a couple of lbs in the first week or two from water weight, so let's say 6 lbs in two weeks. It may differ - I didn't lose any initial water weight, I've known people lose up to 9lbs in the first two weeks.

1lb per week is considered a healthy, steady and sustainable weight loss. With your timescale that would give you a 12lb loss. Include your initial water weight loss and you'd be looking at somewhere around 15-20lbs.

As for training, speak to the staff at your gym. They will be able to advise you on a programme best suited to you.

Food wise, if you're going to the gym you need to eat food to fuel your workouts. Skimping by on 1200 calories while working out isn't very practical, your calorie goal is likely to be around 1600-1800 upwards (regardless of what MFP tells you). Eat healthy, whole foods and balanced meals. Don't deny yourself snacks or treats, a restrictive diet is less likely to be sustained. Drink enough water to rehydrate yourself, but don't fret over the 8 glass thing. It's a long standing myth.

What event is coming up in three months that has triggered this goal?

First off why wait until August 1st, why not start now. Start logging your food, seeing exactly what you are eating, building that habit. You don't need a specialized meal plan, you need to figure out how many calories to eat that will put you at a reasonable calorie deficit.

Also why the time line, yes it's nice to have goals but setting specific weight loss goals like 30 lbs in 3 months can be discouraging and set yourself up for failure.

You don't need to work out for 2 hours a day. Find an activity you enjoy and do it. Do you like to bike? Do you like to walk or run do that? I would suggest strength training.

Here's some information that might help

Log your food accurately and honestly. Go for 80% good choices the other 20% don't worry so much about. I eat lots of delicious food and have consistently lost. Keep it simple find a REASONABLE deficit:

If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1234699-logging-accurately-step-by-step-guide?hl=logging+step+guide

Find an activity you enjoy doing - I found I love to ride my bike and lift heavy stuff

Here are 2 more threads that will help take the time to read them:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here?hl=so+you're+new+here

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

If you try to lose to much weight at once you will end up gaining what you lost and then some back. As far as counting calories go I don't really count calories I am just more overly cautious about what I put in my mouth. For example I have cut down considerably on my iced coffee from dunkin donuts as well as cut any kind of soda out completely this includes diet as well. You would be surprised what this would do for a persons weight. Good luck to you!!!

Can you explain how cutting out diet soda a 0 calorie item helped with weight loss. Also you can gain weight no matter what you eat if you eat too much that is why counting calories which is what the site you are on is built around works.