Is it possible
Hi all, I really want to lose weight for this wedding I am going to, I want to look nice and slim for once and feel good in a dress, do you think it is possible to lose 20 pounds in two months? Have you?
I think it is definately possible and no I have not. You just need to make sure you keep a balanced diet, consume way less calories than you are burning, and watch the fat, salt, sugar, and fiber content of what you eat. You definately want fiber in your food, and you want some fat, but you want the natural fat that comes in some foods. You don't want excess of fat, salt or sugar. I reccomend doing tons of cardio, and if you decide to lift weights, dont use anything over a 3 lb weight, because since you are female, your body will start to bulk up with muscle if you use anything heavier. Pilates is a good way to tone muscle and not bulk up a bunch because you are using your own body weight for resistance. Good luck! Just make a plan, stick to it, and you can definately accomplish it.
It depends on how overweight you are now. You can reasonably expect to lose 1% of your body-weight each week with a calorie-controlled/exercise-based programme. If you're 250-300lbs you could possibly lose 20lbs in 8 weeks. If you're 150lbs you're being unrealistic.
Trying to lose 20 lbs in two months is probably not the best goal. It's extremely fast and the fact is that the way you would have to eat to accomplish something like that is undoubtedly going to leave you feeling hungry and deprived. Even if you did lose the weight for the wedding chances are you would put it back on afterwards.
Also, I've lifted weights for the past 5 or 6 years, both on my own and with my team in college. You will not gain bulky muscle from using anything over a three pound weight. In fact, if you were to only use weights less than three pounds you might as well just use body weight because it would be like lifting nothing.
Lifting weights that are heavy enough to challenge your muscles is a great way to tone your body, build lean muscle (not bulky muscle) and increase your metabolism. It's important to include a good mix of cardio and strength training in your routine.
I would suggest increasing your activity, eating a well-balanced diet made mostly from whole, minimally processed foods and cook most of your food at home. Avoid alcohol as much as possible. If you do all of those things chances are you will definitely see a differene. My first month on CC I lost about 10 pounds, much of it water retention from improving my diet I think, but I still saw noticeable changes in my body. I did cardio about every day for at least 45 minutes and strength trained 3-4 times a week. This month the weightloss has slowed to about a pound a week and that is absolutely fine with me. Keep track of your deficits and don't aim to go over 1,000 calorie deficit a day. You should see results (not 20 lbs in 2 months) that you will be happy with.
That's my advice, maybe not what you want to hear, but what I know from my experience.
Note that I do not recommend doing this for healthy weight loss since the weight will comme right back after you stop. But you could do it on a ketogenic diet while controling your calories intake at the same time. You will melt really fast, too fast in fact. But for losing weight in a flash for special events it works.
Re: ketogenic diets, I just want to point out that ketones in one's urine are usually a sign you should be going to the hospital, not a wedding.
what jane said.
Indeed, it is very extreme. But the question was "Is it possible?" and the answer is "Yes but... maybe you should not." 
valtor, we still don't know how big mdarwish is. if she's 300lbs, this goal is pretty reasonable.
...we still don't know how big mdarwish is...
You are right. This might help, it is from mdarwish's bio: "I'm only 4'11'' and have always been chunky esp in highschool when i used to wear size 11-13."
oh-kay. yeah, when i checked she hadn't posted that. size 13 is biggish for 4'11", but it's not that big.
hopefully she read jane's post about the 1% rule.
me, i tend to lost in spurts, 3-5 pounds at a time, but overall even when i'm in a losing phase, i average a pound a month. exceptionally slow, i know, but i'm confident that i'm not going to gain it back.
Exactly! It is the best way, slow and steady. Otherwise, if you do not truly change your life-style, the weight will come back. The "one fact" is so simple 
Original Post by emilycoolface:
and if you decide to lift weights, dont use anything over a 3 lb weight, because since you are female, your body will start to bulk up with muscle if you use anything heavier.
This is so stupid words cannot explain it.
Original Post by tonyrocks922:
Original Post by emilycoolface:
and if you decide to lift weights, dont use anything over a 3 lb weight, because since you are female, your body will start to bulk up with muscle if you use anything heavier.
This is so stupid words cannot explain it.
doesnt it contradict itself? because your a woman, you WILL bulk up? doesnt make sense.
Yes, it's possible, and yes I did...but is it healthy? Not really.
I went from 145 to 125 from May 2008 to July 2008. I did it in a very unhealthy manner, by cutting my calories from 2000 per day to between 900 and 1000 per day. Any problems that I've had? Yes, my heart started skipping beats and I've been seeing a cardiologist since August. You have to be very very careful because when you diet like that you don't get the nutrients and vitamins that you need. I've worked with brides before (4 years at a bridal boutique) and knowing them as I do, I'm assuming that you're going to try a crash diet regardless of how unhealthy. My advice, if you do choose that method, is to be sure and take a multivitamin every day so that you're getting things that will keep you healthy (especially heart healthy) and drink skim milk. Studies have show that women who diet and drink skim milk are more likely to keep the weight off. Plus, you lose belly fat quicker that way.
Good luck and take care of your body.
I know this is an older thread, but I just need to comment on the ketogenic diet that was suggested. I am wondering if the poster noted it as a joke (to say it was possible to lose 20 pounds in 2 months), but I must say that in no way should you consider it! It is absolutely dangerous, and when carried out is monitered very closely by doctors and dieticians, but also requires a one week stay in the hospital when it is initially started. This is because those going onto the diet may suffer heart problems, dehydration, and any other (of a large list of adverse reactions). It is only used for those individuals that are suffering from rare forms of epilepsy which is not treatable any other way - it is a last ditch effort to control uncontrollable seizures. I have seen it in use, and it was absolutely horrible to witness the effects of such a diet (though it did help with the seizures).
Playing with your body's chemistry is incredibly dangerous, especially when you are replacing your glucose and glycogen stores with ketones. This essentially (in one who IS suffering from seizures), alters the chemistry of the brain and as a result decreases the amount of seizures (not always, but sometimes). In one who is NOT suffering from seizures, this may actually CAUSE seizures.
