So I finish school in about 9 months. After that I'm placed right into a job. I'm 270 pounds right now, 5'4, 20 year old female. My goal is to be 170 by the time im done with school. How can I lose 100 pounds in 9 months?

Who cares how long it takes? You have a long life ahead of you. Would you rather spend the next 60-80 years at 270 pounds or 170 pounds? How long it takes to get it off will be irrelevant a decade from now. The fact that you lost the weight, no matter how long it took, will be what makes a difference in how you feel, how you look, and how healthy you are.

For some hope in the meantime, I was surprised at how much better I felt and looked when I'd lost forty pounds. The benefits start coming long before you reach your goal weight -- yay for that!

I'd have to say... no, probably not. BUT, every month that you are getting your weight closer to a "normal" range is a GREAT month! So what if it takes you 10 months... or 12... Start now, with a reasonable plan, and enjoy the ride. And do make it reasonable--because you are finishing school, and that can be stressful all by itself.

Good luck!
Jay

Go out jogging every day and cut down on your food intake.

I think you can do it. Figure 20 lbs. the first month due to water weight down and loss is always faster first then 10 lbs for the next 8 months = 100lbs.

But, I do agree with the others that it is best just to take your time and let your body guide you on what pace it will take. This will take dedication, you have to work every single day on it. Count calories, write down everything you eat, get in some exercise, drink water. If you are ready to do it. Go for it!

I would think it's possible, but not likely. If I were you I would aim for a goal like sixty pounds in nine months and save the 100 pound goal for a longer time frame. Another thing to keep in mind is that the benefits of weight loss begin to occur long before you reach your goal.

It took me 10 months to lose my first 70 pounds. I still have 40 to go... But, for real, let's say you "only" lost 70 pounds in those 9 months, wouldn't you rather start the job at 200 than 270? I think it's good to have the long-range goal. I set mine at losing 1% of my body weight every week. I'm definitely a little behind that, but I feel great and I'm okay with the slower-going now. I know now that I WILL get there eventually... I never felt that way before. You gotta just start and appreciate every pound gone!

I think you can do anything you set your mind to, if you have the right mind set. 100 lbs in 9 months, is only 11 lbs per month that definitely seems do-able!!

I didn't in just under a year--I was consistent but I wasn't killing myself though--I found a way to never be hungry through calorie counting and exercised every day. You can absolutely do this.

It's doable, but means that you'll have to stick to your plan like white on rice, even if the scale stalls, even if you don't feel like exercising, want to cheat, etc. You might have to exercise 6-7 days a week and weigh out your food and track all calories. If you're willing to do that, while making sure you're getting all your nutrients, then more power to you.

But if you were to take a less hardcore approach, maybe you wouldn't hit the 100 in 9 months, but I bet you could still accomplish a lot, and actually taking a less hardcore approach might be more sustainable in the end.

Either way, I wish you lots of success. I know coming to 3FC has helped me a whole lot, and I'd say you've definitely come to the right place!

I weighed 306.2 on December 13,2010. As of May 13,2010 I weigh 243.4. So I have lost 62.8 lbs in 5 months just by watching what I eat and exercising.

It's possible, yes, but as others have said - you'd need to stick to a plan pretty strictly to make it happen. I agree with gardenerjoy though... even if you don't make it to 100 lbs lost in 9 months, you can still lose a very significant amount of weight in that time and the changes will feel fantastic. If you focus entirely on a 100 lb loss within a strict time frame, you may set yourself up for failure. I would suggest instead focusing on getting into a weight loss routine that is comfortable enough for you to maintain over the long haul.

I started in the middle of January at almost exactly where you are now. I am 5' 4.5" and I weighed 280 lbs at the start. In just over 4 months I have lost 59.1 lbs. I don't know how long it will take me to lose 100 lbs, and I am still a long way from my ultimate goal, but I can tell you that losing ~60 lbs feels AMAZING. Even if it had taken me twice as long to lose the same amount of weight, everything I have done and continue to do would still be completely worth it.

In case my routine is helpful for you as you start this journey, I eat 1200-1500 calories per day (usually closer to 1200), and once or twice per month (for special occasions only, like holidays) I allow myself a day where I eat 1500-2000 calories. I exercise 5-6 days per week, alternating days between cardio only and strength training + cardio. It took me a few weeks to get into this routine, but this is what I have stuck to since the beginning of February.

What these other wise people have said.

Sure it's possible, but it may not be likely.

That's not to discourage you, it's just about being realistic.

Let's say your goal is to lose 100 lbs in 9 months. At the end of 9 months you've stuck to your plan every single day. Never once gone over your calories. Exercised like a madwoman. ....To find out you've "only" lost 50 pounds. Losing 50 pounds is a ridiculously amazing accomplishment. You'd not only be closer to your initial goal of losing 100 lbs, but you'd be healthier from your eating habits, more energetic from the exercise, your clothes fitting great, etc.

Would you be okay with that?

We cannot control what the scale says. We can control our healthy habits.

You have a final goal of losing 100lbs? That's great! So do many of 3FCers. Plan for it. Work towards it. But, don't lose hope and don't give up if you "only" lose less than that by a certain date.

Such great advice here! I also have a significant amount of weight I want to lose and I feel like I'm looking down a long long road. It's nice to hear the different perspectives and what worked for everyone.

Chickadee 32 - your story in particular is inspiring to me. I'm trying a similar path - calorie counting and exercise. So far I'm mostly struggling with the exercise part. I'm just not sure where to begin! Do you go to a gym? I don't want to leave strength training out, but I don't have any equipment...