Lose 40-50 Lbs by Easter (April 16th, 2017

Easter is 14 weeks from now. For a 40 pound loss, that is 2.85 lbs per week. While it may be possible with a large deficit, it is higher than you should be aiming for. A more realistic goal would be 28 to 30 pounds by then (or less).

I would not aim for this. You mention that it'll be a nice surprise "sticking to it this time" - that inducates you've been in a bit of a yo-yo cycle in the past. I would guess that trying to lose it too fast has been a big factor in that - one of the main reasons quick weight loss is not recommended is because it often leads to poor adherence and to gaining the weight back. That cycle is unhealthy - if I were you I'd be trying to break it now, not jumping on the carousel for another go-around.

My advice : set myfitnesspal for a reasonable rate of loss - at your current weight you could get away with one and a half or two pounds per week - and settle in for the long haul. It took time to gain it, it'll take time to lose it, and only by losing gradually will you learn the skills you need to keep it off long term.

I would say, set a different goal. Learn about nutrition, and what works for you. Focus on your relationship with food. I am a yo yoer myself and this is my goal for the first 3 months. Weight loss will come as a side effect. And if I am able to transform my relationship with food, there will be no looking back. I know seeing the number go down is downright wonderful, but I have done this too many times before to know that it will go right back up if I do not have a healthy relationship with food. I am 5' 4'' and weigh 230 lbs, and although I do have a weight loss goal of about 20lbs in 3 months, my main focus is doing it in such a way that I do not have to look back

It seems like one of the problems has been over-restricting. Have you tried incorporating sweets/chips into what you eat regularly? It helps to reduce the moralistic view of food (i.e., junk/what-I-ought-to-eat, good/bad), which can help make losing weight (and keeping it off) more sustainable. I frequently plan my food for the day around a specific "extra" - a glass of wine on weekends, cookies or cake druing holidays or birthdays, a piece of chocolate if I just want a piece of chocolate., and so on. Things are neither good nor bad, they are just things that fit or don't fit into my meals for the day.

tmharrison1985 wrote: »

I totally see where your coming from :-) I do tend to be a yo-yoer but its my own fault... I lose weight and Im like ooo, i look cute in this or im in a smaller size now i can treat myself to this piece of junk food and then its a downhill spiral from there.

Take it from someone who has struggled with this, and there are so many others who have struggled the same way - you have less control of that last "downhill spiral" than you think you do. At least part of that behaviour is compulsive and is tied to the fact your diet was too restrictive and your weight loss too fast. You are setting yourself up to binge and gain it back.

You will never stop this cycle until you break it at the end you have control over - at the restriction. Restrict less and you will be less driven to binge, because they are two sides of the same coin. It's like being on a trampoline and thinking "if I can only jump higher, I won't keep falling down". The only solution is to get off the trampoline - stop dieting. Instead, aim to eat normally (whatever that means for you), sustainably, and just a little bit less than you need to maintain your current weight. This is not a diet. It is your life now.