Is it possible to lose 20lbs by September 1st, 2009?

Hello Im new, Im Carrie..

im 25, I weigh 158lbs, Im 5'5 inches tall...

I started on my own elliptical last friday...
June 12 I've done every day on it for about an hour each day.

Half hour earlier in the day, then half hour later on. 
Unfortunately i have a desk job that doesnt allow for a lot of activity during the day, I work at home.

Im HORRIBLE at math, I've tried learning about the "deficit" of calorie intake, it boggles my mind!  I do undestand that yes, you have to burn more calories than you take in...(i dont know how many calories im burning on the elliptical at all!  it gives me an estimate but it seems really low)

Is that all it is?  Is counting the calories of basic foods?  Reading the labels?  Should I be dieting as well? 

Im trying as I said, to lose 20-25lbs by September 1st, I have a re-union to go to!  (not looking forward to it!)

Help?  Is it possible?  What more can I do?  How do I count calories?  How many calories should I be eating a day?  is it better to eat big meals or small meals? 

Thanks for any help provided!

Hi Carrie, use the calorie target tool.  It will help you determine how many calories per day you should eat to meet the goal date you set for yourself.  Record what you eat daily into the food log.  Don't go over your calorie target and you shoud drop some pounds.  Go back and look at your account settings.  Just play around with Calorie Count and you will have it figured out in no time.  I've lost a bunch of weight in the 11 months I've been using CC, so I know it works.

In my opinion, the best method or exercise to lose weight is swimming.  Last year, I decided to take an aquatics class in my school because I had heard that swimming was a great way of losing weight, relaxing, and having fun.  Indeed, Aquatics was one best decisions I have ever taken.  As a senior in high school, life can be very busy with all those applications to fill out!  Aquatics not only helped me to not be stressed out, but it helped lose weight!  Before I took aquatics, I weighed 165 lbs.  I took that class for one semester, that in reality was just 4 months, every other day for one hour.  At the end of the course, I weighed 145 lbs, and I did not even diet!  I could not believe it! I had lost 20 lbs. I had all my life tried to lose weight without getting any results.  I cannot be any happier and I would recommend anyone who is trying to lose weight, and at the same time stay relaxed, to swim!

Thank you both!  Im going to use the Calorie Counter then.  I havent even navigaated around the site...I just got frustrated today when i got ont he scale and nothing has changed!

I will add swimming to my regimine...I actually do have an indoor pool that i BARELY EVER use. 

How long should people swim for?

Hi There!

Im in the same boat! Im also 5'5 and 160lbs and am looking to lose about 20lbs for a trip to Vegas in November!

I work at a desk all day too and get very little exercise during the day so I too was wondering what kinds of things could help me to lose 20lbs!

Calorie count suggests that a person my size that is sedentary eat roughly 1400-1600 calories a day to lose weight, because it says I burn about 1900 just by living. So I have been trying that, I havent seen any results yet but it has only been about 2 weeks since I started really watching what im eating!

Keep me posted on your progress!

yup! it says we need 1200....but my calorie thing says to go about 1400-1500.

so Im just gonna do as little as I can....1200-1300 a day until i start seeing something.

I wish I could do swimming, i get so bored in there by myself! 

at least on my elliptical I can watch tv.

So you too, let me know of you progress!!