So I'm brand new here. I am finally admitting that I am not "just muscular." I am overweight. I am 5"6" 162 pounds, and although I am very strong, I want to weigh 145 pounds by June 1.

I am vegan and very active. Here is my average (or, ideal) day:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with unsweetened almond milk and berries
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Tofu/Veggie Stir Fry
Snack: Carrot Sticks with hummus
Dinner: Sushi or Salad
After dinner: Small piece Dark chocolate

Workout: 45-75 minutes intense cardio (4-6 days per week)

Granted, I have a sweet tooth and will often give in to soy dream ice cream or some bad snack after a night of drinking. So my goal is just to stick with what I know I should eat. But really, I shouldnt be overweight, should I?

I need support! I always make this same plan to "Finally make a change for good!!" And then a week or so later, I slip back into eating pretzels or sweets (those are my weaknesses). This time I'm making my goal public. And I am going to have the hottest body I've ever had this summer

How many calories does your eating routine add up to? Are you sure it's enough?

I think so. I eat between 1200 and 1600 calories per day depending on how much I exercise. But, that's also an ideal day. I've been known to occasionally go out for drinks and give into whatever junk food is being consumed. That's the hardest part! Still being social and doing fun things without being the "girl on a diet" or the one only having one drink because Im scared of calories. How do you manage that?

I think personal accountability is a big thing. I tell myself that I'm only going to have one of something, in this case a drink, and I just force myself to stick to it.

I have given up alcohol for the time being though, so that is actually helpful for me. I've heard (I'm not sure if it's true or not) that it's extra hard to lose weight if you regularly drink liquor that's over 30 proof. Plus it's empty calories!

Definately make sure you're counting the alcohol calories, they add up really really quickly. The ice cream usually has huge amounts of hidden calories too.
Otherwise, I don't see any reason why you're not lighter.

We just talked about this on another thread. How when you are thin and fit, you find OTHER things (then drinking) to be "fun". Like getting oodles of compliments, feeling incredibly confident, having your energy level sky rocket, being able to shop wherever you want and having just about EVERYTHING look fantastic on you. Now THAT'S fun.

If you have a sweet tooth, you should make shakes,and put them in the freezer for later, I have a huge problem with Ice Cream i can eat a half gallon in one sitting. I dont even buy it now, but every morning for breakfast I make a frozen fruit shake, I buy bananas at the grocery store, peel them and put them in a freezer gallon bag and stick them in the freezer. WE bought a TON of pineapple at the store when it was $1 ea and cut it up and put them in the freezer as well, along with Frozen Strawberries i get at the grocery store or costco. So I put 1 banana, 1/4 cup of pineapple, and 1/2 cup of straweberries in with 3/4 cup of plain nonfat yogurt (not sure if you eat that but use some of the milk you use) and that's my breakfast, but i make one for me and one for my DBF, so sometiems i have some left over, so i just grab a cup and put it in there for after dinner, so good! OH YEA, i forgot you can totally take sugar free, fat free pudding mix and add it to it to, so you can have chocolate with out really having chocolate!!! One package will last all week, i put about 2 tsps per shake! Right now I'm mixing vanilla with pistachio, its awesome!

I'm not a vegeterian, but i eat this way the whole day and eat meat once a day, I try to get all my protein from non animal products...

BUT i will say, occasionaly splurging at the bar with friends is probably surprisingly your downfalll, I stopped doing this, and making sure I ate a good meal before heading out, and am drinking more water at the bars these days, keeps me from getting drunk to fast, and so hungry i could eat a whole pizza!

Thanks guys! I felt kinda sad that no one responded at first...

I'm down from 162 to 158 now! Yey! I really appreciate the support... and Ive been taking it easy on the going out thing!

Plus, I'm kind of into a new guy... somehow that always makes me lose weight at first.. it makes you all giddy and not as hungry or something—it's great..I wish it lasted forever!