What will it take, what's your track record?

This is the 'Reaching Target in Oct 2008' group.

• So what will it take for you to reach your goal (or mini-goal) in October?
• And if you've been at this for a bit...have you generally been doing that?
• If not, why will now be different?

My answers:

• I need to lose a pound a week to be at my goal by the end of October. Right now I'm about 134 (technically 135.x but you know how that goes!) so if I average about a pound -no less!-- I should be in my 125ish happy range. I know from experience that I'll need to keep up my routine of walking to work/home 4 lunch. It will be easier if I add either some more walking or some other exercise. (I really want to be sure my daily routines are things I can/will do for life. I'm not a gym rat & never will be.)

• I've been at this for over a year. I started around 140, dropped down to ~132 (even saw 129 once!) and then went back up over last winter. I quit walking and did the usual holiday eating craziness. From the end of July until Mid-August I got back on track and was losing a pound a week. Kinda stalled the last few weeks.

• I'm going to do better because now I'm sure it can be done AND I'm not going to stop exercising again. If a friend or two wanted to give me a figurative poke every now and then, that would be cool too!

I'm about 6 pounds away from the weight I believe is my target.  I am really focusing on my eating right now -- trying to adjust my macro-nutrient balance (I tend to be a little carb heavy) to something that works for me.  I am eating more than I ever did while I was losing the first 58 lbs....  and it seems to be working.

I will get in as much exercise as I can (I am working two jobs, so easier said than done), but will also use any free opportunities I have to get in some movement.

I just need to eat healthy and exercise a little every day. My school program is very rigorous, so sometimes its hard to find free time for exercise, when I always feel like I'd rather take a nap. But my biggest problem is social eating. At home during the week I can usually be healthy, but then the weekend rolls around and I eat like crazy with my friends, and not good things either. I need to grow some serious will power.

So currently I weigh 117.5, and I'd like to weigh 110 by October 18th. I know that doesn't give me much time, but I'm going to try anyhow. I'm not classified as "overweight" according to the BMI scale, but my stomach is not at a place I'd like it to be. I will be on a diet until I feel comfortable with my body, and then I will eat more so I will maintain. The lowest I've ever weighed was 111, about 8 months ago. The most I've ever weighed is 132, about 2.5 years ago. I fluctuate like crazy, and for once, I'd like to get down and stay down.

October 18th is my birthday, and I want to have a pool party. This means in order to enjoy my birthday, I must be okay with how I look. That's why my goal date is set for then.

SO LET'S MAKE THIS LAST MONTH COUNT EVERYONE

Now im already starting to healthy foods, unlike before, i just whatever i feel like eating without any guilt because of my fast metabolism. Now my metabolism drop because i stopped playing basketball. My technique now is that whenever i want to eat delicious foods, i make sure that i have apple afterward and im gonna stuffed myself wit apple until im already full. I am also exercising 3x a week and i burn 300cal everytime i exercise.

    i currently weigh 114lbs and my goal is 110 also. However we all know that it's very hard to lose that last pounds. i am not overweight but i have a guy that i want to impress that's why i get conscious when i'm on my underwear because i can see my cellulites and those unwanted baby fats. i'm also not that thin that you would already see my ribs and bones..i just want to be toned that's why i need to lose these last few pounds.

    last august i weigh over 118 lbs, and now im down to 114. i guess my diet did work, i just hope that i could get tips and advise here to help me with this.

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to reach my goal right now, or it'd be really unhealthy if I do and my work will suffer. I started dieting in February, lost the first 15 pounds in a month and I couldn't really think straight, then I eased up and lost another 25 pounds up to May. I didn't really do much but play DDR and eat 1800 calories a day, maybe walking home if you count that too. I went to Ireland and it was really hard to regulate my eating while I'm strapped for cash, and without a scale to keep track of progress. I didnt lose or gain any within the two months i was there, but since I've gotten back, I lost another 8. I still have another 12 pounds to lose to reach my goals, but a month is kinda too short. I've also had less time for exercise lately, but I guess it isn't about how quick you do it but sticking to the plan.

Ditto on not making my 'goal'.  I wanted another 7 lbs off before 10/24.  I will be happy if I have three pounds off.  Body has levelled off after all these months of training and lifestyle change.  I need to do someting to shake it up.  I also need to focus on how far I have come and not that I am missing it by 7 lbs.  Difficult sometimes.

I think that if you are resolving to drop eight pounds by the end of the month, you will need to push yourself that extra bit and do something outside of your walking routine.  I know you are looking to make a lifestyle change, but once you get to your goal, it will be easier to maintain.

My goal is to hit 116 by October 24th-25thish and I started September 9th.  With on and off trips to the gym and regular calorie counting (I shoot for a daily average of about 1200 or less), I've lost 11 pounds in spite of having days where I have cheated on the calories and not worked out for a cumulative of two plus weeks since my start date.  I now have 4 pounds to go and I will be going to the gym and doing my work out DVD's regularly until my goal date.

If you don't like the gym, how about weekend hiking trips? Or workout DVD's a few days a week?  Some videos are only 15 minutes long! Keep in mind that you need a calorie deficit of about 3500 calories to lose one pound through a combination of calorie cutting and exercise, so do the math

I'm no expert... just letting you know what worked for me and that it isn't impossible to reach your goal, its just how determined you are to get there.  By the way, alcohol and late night snacking are killer!!!!!!  I don't know if you indulge in either, but cut them out and you will see faster results.... especially that snacking.  URG!  It still gets me sometimes.