Hi Callie,
Glad to hear you've figured out the fad diets or crash diets don't work. In order to lose weight successfully, you need to burn more calories then you eat. That doesn't mean you should go on a starvation diet.
A pound equals 3,500 calories. So if you are able to burn 500 more calories than you eat each day, you will lose 1 pound a week. In the timeframe you've allotted yourself, you would be able to lose about 10 pounds. Any more might be unhealthy.
Depending on you current weight, height, and age will depend on how many calories you need to eat every day to remain healthy. There are several sites that can help you calucate the calories you need each day. Take an average of these three to get a number to shoot for.
http://nutrition.about.com/library/b...tion_guide.htm
http://www.calorieking.com/tools/weight_maintenance.php
http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/calories-goal.php
The next step is to figure out how many calories you are eating each day. Many successful dieters keep a food journal. A site that can help you figure out how many calories are in various foods is
http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/item/18060.html
Exercise is the second element in the equation for weight loss. Pick something you like and do it. Even walking is good for you. If you can, add in some weight training because muscles burn more calories than fat and make you look better.
Try only to weigh yourself once a week so you don't get discouraged by normal daily fluxuations. For instance, water weight can cause the scale to go up.
When you hit your goal, in order to maintain your weight loss and not regain it all back plus more, you need to continue to monitor what you eat and keep exercising. It's the truth, eating 'normally' ~ the high fat American diet ~ will only put the pounds back on.
You're at a great time in you life to commit to a healthy lifestyle and be fit and trim for decades to come.
Best of luck to you.
How to Lose Healthfully????
