I need a plan to lose 20 pounds!

welcome aboard. while some might have fewer pounds to lose, I suspect many folks (me included) wish we got on the healthy journey when we only had 20 pounds to lose. so kudos for you for making the decision to do something about that extra 20 pounds before it becomes something more.

it is possible to lose 15 pounds in 7 weeks, but don't lose motivation if you don't lose that much in a relatively short period of time. There are 2 ways I am going to suggest that will have you come as closest to your goal as possible.

I. Cut out the crap and eat healthy

I don't follow a particular diet as I'm focusing on simply eating healthier. I don't really eat stuff that's packaged as low fat or fat free, so I won't be recommending any of that. actually, I really don't eat too much processed/boxed foods at all. I don't do low carb or low fat, but I do limit my grains/pastas/processed sugars/flour and usually don't have any of that stuff most days. I try to focus on eating fruits with a low glycemic index value, veggies, lean proteins and healthy dietary fat. My food diary is public and you are welcome to take a look at it (please ignore the last 2 Saturdays as they were not the norm for me for various reasons).

MFP will determine your basal metabolic rate (the number of calories you burn without doing much of anything, estimated). then you will enter that you want to lose 2 pounds per week (2x7=14 pounds lost in 7 weeks). My guess is that MFP will suggest that you eat 1,200 calories per day. Stay around that number, focus on healthy/natural foods and not processed foods, and you should lose weight.

II. A natural cleanse.

I did a 4 week natural cleanse and lost 18 pounds. I have kept all of the weight off, and lost more, by getting back on the healthy eating I describe above. If you're interested in it, send me a message and I will send you more details, but essentially, I did the following:

1. for the first 2 weeks, eat only veggies. eat as many veggies as you want as many times in the day as you want. you should allow yourself to feel hungry, but you can eat only veggies. you can eat veggies anyway you like (and I recommend variety)...raw, steamed, stir fry (with some reduced sodium soy sauce and either hoisin sauce or reduced sodium stir fry sauce). you can and should eat some EVOO every day (preferably on your salads). no other dressing is permitted.

2. some things you might consider veggies either are not veggies or are not permitted during the cleanse. these items include: corn (grain), beans (legumes), potatoes (startch...and this includes sweet potatoes).

3. you can drink only water and you should drink about 3 quarts of water a day.

4. you can also have some sugar free jello....but as the guy who told me about the cleanse said, your body will be craving nutrients and jello has none...so don't waste a lot of tummy space on jello. I decided to skip the jello.

5. during the second two weeks, you can also have 8 ounces of skinless, grilled chicken breast a day....along with the veggies and water.

6. you should exercise during the cleanse.

We are pretty much the same size, I am 5'1.25 (can't forget that quarter it is very important)! I started my weight lost journey on September 6th at 154.6 pounds 38.1%. I will give you hope it is possible to lose two pounds b/c I already have since I joined my MFP on Oct 6th. Here is the deal I started working out with a trainer on Sept. 6th. The first week I lost 5 pounds then the following weeks my weight just stood still. My trainer worked with me on changing up my calorie in take, but it didn't seem to work. So I got frustrated and started looking on-line for solutions. I ended up joining MFP and the weight started coming off again. From that experience I learned I personally needed to eat a more balanced diet. My trainer had me on a very high protein diet. When I joined MFP I weighed 149.6/35.5, today I am at 147.4/35.7. So this is proof it is possible to lose two pounds a week!

You have to realize everyone's body is different so you may need to make changes at times, but if you are just starting to work out and dieting the weight will atleast come off easier at first. There are always a positive sides, right?

Count Count Count your Calories!!! Do a 1,200 calorie diet! Make sure you measure everything do just assume! You don't want to be sabotaging yourself!

Exercise everyday to get the calories burnt off. Do more challenging programs verses light aerobics. I work out with a trainer for 40 minutes a day and when I am not schedule to go to my trainer I do more challenging DVDs like, J Michael's or Shape Bikini Body Boot Camp is good. I also walk my dogs two miles everyday.

Most importantly don't add calories back in after working out! If you do, it defeats the whole point of working workout in the first place!

One other thing I do is take psyllium husk it is a fiber supplement. It is good if you are on a lower carb diet to literally to get crap out of your body faster. But that is a personal preference.

Well I hope you can pull off your weight loss goal! I am routing for you! Do it for all us girls out there!

Best Wishes!!!!!!

Some more ideas.
My other breakfast options are 35 cal bread multi grain toasted with peanut butter. (No time pop toast well getting ready, eat on run)

Instant maple & brown sugar oatmeal with water only. (1.30 seconds to cook and I usually do this at work before I clock in)

Two eggs cooked with frozen veggies microwaved in a tad bit of olive oil or water. (I get eggs going, then put together the veggies and microwave for 3 min. Go back to eggs. If I am adding toast then I pop down at about a 1 min left for veggies. I use peanut butter or no sugar jelly for the toast). Total 5-7 min to cook. If you use egg substitute on the old weightwatchers with one slice of bread and no sugar jam it is 4 points).

Also the Fiber One 80 tastes good. Use skim milk and its not bad. You can always add strawberries, blueberries, bananas etc..