Is this ever going to happen!?

Hi! I am a new calorie counter. I have struggled with my weight since I started to slowly put it on during my junior year of high school. I am a freshman in college now, and am at 140 lbs. I am so tired of pulling sweats on in the morning, because I don't like the way I look. I want to lose about 10 lbs in about 41 days for a family reunion...but I don't know if I can make it. I have been trying to lose weight for over a year, and I just dont know if it will be possible to do it in 40 days. I am also losing my access to the gym in two weeks! So, to me...it feels like this is going to be impossible!! Does anyone have some advice for me?! I would appreciate any! Basically, am if I put my mind to it...could I lose 10lbs (dropping me to 130) in 40ish days!?

You have got to be positive.  That's first, otherwise you may not be able to do this.  Do 1200 calories a day, and you will be able to drop the 10 pounds in the time you want to; without exercise even.  Eat egg whites, and fruits/veggies.  Just remember that just because it's healthy, doesn't mean you can have endless amounts.  An orange has 90 calories, while an apple (that is a pretty good size) only has 45 calories.  A good tip is to put splenda on the apple.  Super tasty.  You can do it honey!  Feel free to help me with my problem, and thankyou if you do.  It's under motivation also, and I've had 0 replies.

I disagree - 1200 is too low for almost everyone.  It is really only suitable for someone who is already small and bedridden.

You have plenty of time but cutting your calories too low may actually stall your loss and frustrate you enough to make you quit.

Losing weight works best when it includes moderate exercise as well as a calorie reduction.  But you dont have to give up exercise just because you can't go to the gym.  Walk!  Ride a bike, roller blade, play sports etc.  You are only limited by your own mobility.  Make a daily plan and stick to it.  Take a rest day every week.

When I first started on CC it was winter and there were a lot of days when I just could not go outside to walk.  On these days I ran around my living room (I eventually bought a tredmill).  The point is to just do something! 

Figure out your calories using the CC tools.  Don't just assume that 1200 is the magic number.  As I said before it is seldom the magic number for anyone.  Instead use choose "lightly active" and if you do at least 1 hour of exercise a day use "moderate exercise". 

Then weigh (don't measure) your food.  Weighing makes a huge difference and is really the only acurate way to know how many calories you are eating.  Think about it - a manufacturer says "1/2 cup" but whose 1/2 cup?  Measureing cups are non-standard and can vary a lot.   10 grams, however, is 10 grams.  When you weigh be sure to use grams and not ounces.  This is more accurate.  Grams are always given on the package so this is no big deal.  Digital scales are also easy to find at target, walmart and cooking stores.  $20-30 bucks will get you a good one.   

Even still - 10 lbs might be a bit ambitious.   That assumes a consistent loss of 2 lbs every single week for 5 weeks.  Many people find that weightloss is rarely linear.  There are ups and downs that seem to not make sense.  But you can easily lose enough weight to make a difference in how your clothes fit and with consistent exercise you may find your clothing size drops faster than your weight. 

Hey,

I think it's do-able with discipline and lots of exercise. 

I have the same goal.  10lbs.  If it would help to have a buddy feel free to PM me.

Cheers.

Do you have room for sporting equipment at home?  That would help when your gym access finishes. And you'd not have to appear in public in your sweats.

Check out the website www.freecycle.org - where people re-cycle items for free rather than throw them away.  I got  an elliptical and a bike from this website - both for free. 

Even if you don't have room for any equipment at home, you could always go running?  It's a fantastic way to lose weight. 

Good luck.