I'm new to 3FC, been trying to diet for the last 3 years and have put on 4stone instead. I graduate in May and have to lose 70lbs or I'll refuse to get my photo taken. As a student, I'm skint and have no time to cook proper healthy meals like I want to. I've just joined a gym, and I'm going to start doing Callanetics at home as well. Does anyone have any advice on losing 70lbs in 7 months? I need all the help I can get!

Jxx

It is very achievable I guess, its 10lbs per month - at the start you will loose fast and it will gradually slow down to a 2lb or less loss a week. I achieved my weight loss by running. I am aiming for my last stone to be gone by christmas. That would have given me a 50lb+ loss in 12 months. I guess if your determined enough to do something it will happen. No one is saying you need to loose the whole lot by graduation, you mite like yourself enough for a photograph with two stone gone...

Thanks for that. I really feel like I need to lose most of my weight before I graduate. When I started Uni I was less than 150lbs and it gave me so much confidence. But I met my boyfriend, got too comfortable, and turned procrastination into an Olympic sport. Every day I promise myself that it's the last day, so I binge as a farewell to overeating, then do it all again the next day. I've joined the 'Lose a dress size for Xmas' challenge, so I'll just need to grit my teeth and give myself a big slap.

Jxx

Just bear in mind that the bigger you are the more it takes to loose a dress size - it acts like a roll of toilet paper, the more layers you take off the easier it is to loose dress sizes. I am not trying to be down or disheartening - its just something that really got to me when I was beginning.

Hi

The best way to lose weight is usually a combination eating less and moving more. Definitely the gym will help - stuff like running, swimming, aerobics really burns calories.

I think you might have to take maybe a couple of hours each week to start cooking healthy meals. It works out much cheaper than buying takeout or ready cooked meals and they needn't take too long to prepare. Maybe cook two or three different recipes at the same time over the weekend - then divide them in to portions and keep them in the fridge/freezer for during the week and buy some frozen vegetables to go with them - dinner could be ready in 10 minutes! It needn't be expensive stuff - have a look at the recipe thread for ideas.

Ooohhhh - while I remember - it REALLY helps to keep a diet diary recording what you ate and when (and why) and the calories you burn through exercise. www.fitday.com really helps with this.

Thanks for your input guys, I start tomorrow! I promise! I've buggered up today already, had crisps and biscuits for breakfast, but I made 8 litres of healthy soup yesterday in preparation, really gota do it this time before my heart gives up on me. I have a real hard time cooking though, I never have the time, I spend 7 days a week on Uni, not being naturally very smart, so cooking never seems to make it to the top of the priority list. I realised after spending 2 hours making my soup that I could have bought the same thing for less in Tesco - Heinz, no less, not Tesco Value! Makes me wonder if its worth it...

Okay... gotta say this... but eating healthy homemade food might help with the studying. Seriously! Your brain is like any other part of your body and it functions best when its being fed properly.

If you're seriously struggling with the work try taking an Omega supplement. They are conducting trials on school kids which are proving that it really does aid concentration and improves educational performance.