Need advice on how to lose 35 lbs in the next 4 months. Please Help

Roxxykyu wrote: »

How many calories should I start back again?

Set up MFP based on your goal. (I think 2 lb is okay at your size, as I did it at a similar size, but if the calorie amount seems depressing or hard to manage go for 1 lb or 1.5 -- it is WAY more important that you find a way to enjoy this so you can make it work long term than that you kick yourself into being as super disciplined as possible and feel like you either get to eat normally and enjoyably or lose weight). Also, it may be helpful to have a big goal, but don't let it get too important -- just losing and not gaining is a huge thing, and time flies (maybe not as much at your age as mine, but it does). I also found smaller goals useful -- getting to 199 if you start at 200, say, and also goals you have more control over (you have control over the loss, but maybe not the time). Process goals are things like "eat within my calories every day" or "eat vegetables at lunch and dinner" or "run three times this week."

Try to eat in a way that is not only calorie appropriate but doesn't feel like a "diet" to you -- normal, tasty eating, but calorie conscious. Someone watching me wouldn't necessarily be able to tell if I was eating at a deficit or not, as I eat the same basic food, just am a bit more indulgent more often (oils and cheese and such) when I have more calories to work with.

I can't afford a gym, but I can workout at home and I do have a park in front of my apartment complex I can go to. What other tips might help me?

For working out, when I first started one thing I did was walk as much as possible. Anywhere I wanted to go, I walked if I could. It made a lot of difference in my calorie burn without feeling like I was doing much, I felt generally good as a result (good for one's state of mind), and I think it's actually why I was able to lose 2 lbs (MFP predicted less). Beyond that, again with the idea of making it as sustainable as possible, I found things I enjoyed doing and didn't start too hard. I'd go through "must get back in shape!" in the past and burn out fast, so I initially just said I'd do something extra that was active 3 days, 30 minutes/day and worked up. I tried a variety of things (gym cardio, running outside, yoga, various DVDs, weights, swimming, before figuring out what I really enjoyed the most, and for a while I even had a goal of trying something new at least once a week).

Just some ideas. Good luck -- I am sure you can do this!

You have had some success with losing weight so you know how to do this. I am not sure that 35 pounds is reasonable...but 20 or 25 would make a huge difference and the shorter term goals can be just as rewarding.

I am a long time maintainer of over 50 pounds of weight loss...about 10 years now. I struggle with gaining and losing the last 20 pounds.

The long term change that I made that helps me maintain is my overall activity level doing day to day things like walking to the store, shopping, cleaning, playing with pets. I think a step tracker like Fitbit helps. I aim for well over 10,000 steps and that is completely doable. In terms of lifestyle it makes for a lot of fun. It also helps to be less restrictive with diet over the long term.