[SarahinBalance]

I'm living in France right now and have no idea how much I weigh - I'm guessing around 145 based on how my clothes are fitting - My goal weight for the wedding is 130-135 which is quite thin for me (but not too thin) but considering I'll have these wedding photos for the rest of my life, and I'll be going somewhere tropical for my honeymoon, it's worth it.

Since I'm living in France I don't want to restrict the foods that I'm eating (and I'm only here for another month). I do want to drop 5 pounds before I go back to the states and have 5-10 pounds to lose in the new year before I get married in March.

It's been rainy and cold here for the past weekend and I've been sitting in my room eating and eating and eating and eating - I have a history of binge eating, but today I am back in control. Been eating well, bought a bunch of veggies and got my exercise in. My goal is 1200 calories this week to cleanse a bit after this weekend, have an even calorie burn/deficit on the weekends, hit 1500 calories during the week and lose a pound a week between now and when I go back to the states

I was on this board for South Beach which I've been really successful at but since I'm in France it seems cruel to give up bread & wine. If I want a chocolate croissant for breakfast I'll let myself have one but just figure it into the calorie count.

Anyways, thanks for "listening" and I plan to post every day.

[EmmaD]

Hi! I just wanted to say that I had similar stats: I am 5'6" and started at 142 a few months before I got married and was 129 for my wedding. I *did* do South Beach and it worked out well as my belly was flat for the very fitted top of my dress. It was a size 2 and I was worried that I wouldn't fit in it, but diet and Spanx worked wonders.

I read the book French Women Don't Get Fat, so apparently if you move around a LOT and don't eat between (moderate) meals, that's all it takes.

If you aren't already doing so, strength-train! You have enough time to build some awesome arms, plus tighten everything else up. You could even start with yoga at home if you don't have access to a gym/weights while you are still in France. Check out the Holy Cow plank challenge here (in the Exercise section, I believe). That seriously builds some core and arm strength without weights.

Good luck to you - I'm sure you can do it as you have a lot of motivation before the wedding. (After that is the hard part )