Hi, guys! My name is Crystal, and I am new to 3FC. I'm hoping to benefit (and help others benefit as well) from this site. I'm really liking it so far!

I've heard that having mini-goals is a good way to squash the evil "plateaus" (which I seem to get stuck with after every ten pounds I lose), and a way to more steadily reach your overall goal. I've never really TRIED a mini goal, so I figured that I'd give it a shot.

I have given myself a mini goal of losing five pounds by December 14th. I'm hoping I can make it! Any tips? Here's what I'm planning on so far (it's always worked in the past, so I figure, why not?)

- eat nothing but fruits and veggies for the next two weeks (shouldn't be an issue, as I'm a total "rabbit food" nut!)
- drink lots of water, and no soda (I do plan to let myself drink Rock Star zero-sugar/zero-carb energy drinks, though... they're SO good, only 20 calories per can, and they get me pumped for the day... they're my guilty pleasure)
- I only exercise minimally right now, so I plan to continue that, but I also want to motivate myself to get back on my treadmill (I haven't used it in weeks upon weeks... I really need to put it to use)

That's what I have so far. I'm pretty sure it'll work, but like I said, any advice is welcome!

Hope everyone else is doing well with their own mini goals, and I hope to get to know you guys a lot better!

Hi Crystal! First of all, welcome! I'm glad you found this community! I've only been here a short while as well, but I'm finding it to be a major part of my weight loss support.

Mini-goals are great things. There's this amazing quote I heard somewhere, "I can't lose 100 pounds. But I can lose 10 pounds 10 times." Essentially, a mini-goal makes your over-all goal feel more achievable. You're not as scared thinking "Wow, I have 50 pounds to lose." It's easier to think, "5 pounds by December 14th." So, good for you for setting a mini-goal! =]

But I do have something to say about what you plan on eating. First of all, eating just fruits and veggies is not a good solution to losing weight. Yes, maybe you might lose the 5 pounds, maybe more. But as soon as you go back to eating anything else, the pounds will pack on even faster than they fell off. You're body will get so use to only have those foods, that anything else with a hint more calories or carbs, it'll go straight to you. Plus, it's not very nutritious or well-balanced, and most likely you'll spend your day hungry and unsatisfied.

Honestly, you can incorporate meat into your diet without gaining any more weight than you would if you ate an apple. Lean meat. Do you like poultry? Try lean turkey breast or lean chicken breast. Most lean meats, or seafood of all kinds, are great for dieters. Just portion yourself correctly and don't eat too much.

Also, I'm on the South Beach Diet, and they actually recommend that you DON'T eat fruit for the first few weeks of a diet. Why? They have a lot of suger content, and also people tend to overeat on fruit a lot. I've had a whole basket of strawberries before in one sitting. So, honestly, lots of LEAN meats, and veggies is your best route. And try eggs in the morning, if you like eggs. They have tons of protein and are great for helping you get a start in the morning.

I'd try the South Beach Diet, especially if you're trying to lose a bit of weight (between 8-13 pounds) right away. There are many resources online to help get you started on it, and it's more than just a diet, it helps you create a healthier eating lifestyle.

Type "South Beach Diet" and "South Beach Diet Phase 1" into Google. You'll get lots of results. Many of those pages will have the lists of foods recommended for the South Beach Diet.

I'm not trying to lecture you, I just want you to be healthy and lose weight in a healthy way. You can lose 5 pounds by the 14th in a healthier way than eating just fruits and veggies. Good luck!