14 lbs in 4 weeks!!!!

[toodles]

this is my goal. I am heading to so. california on June 21 for a week and will be spending my time on the beach in a bikini and need to lose 15 lbs in order to be "bikini ready". so...here I go. I could sure use your encouragement and help here. any ideas, suggestions, tips, or just "wishes of good luck" are greatly appreciated.

[toodles]

the norm for me, even after having my daughter, is 130. that is what i weighed after having her, before her i was 118. so....now, here i am at 144 thinking...why in the world am i carrying around these extra pounds? when i was on the depo shot (2.5 years ago) i gained 30 lbs. i have lost all but these last 14 so i am hoping to shed them before our trip. i just need to dedicate myself to it. i will be soooooooo much happier. and you know what...my friends are all telling me i have gotten "tiny" just with the weight i have lost so far. so, if i lost what i am hoping, i am sure i will look good. but i want to do it right. i would love to tone my muscles some. i used to have awesome arm and back and leg muscles. i have really let myself go. so...honestly...if i toned those muscles, i probably wouldn't lose any weight but i would lose inches and that is what i am most concerned with. for me, the number 144 isn't so bad if it is all muscle and not fat right now it is all fat LOL. now...i know i am not too far past where i need to be so it shouldn't be too hard. i know that if i wait...and keep putting it off...it will be so much harder to do. so i am going to get started right now.

as far as eating what is offered to me...i really am pretty good at telling people "NO". just ask my hubby he eats ALL THE TIME. he has gained sooooooooooo much weight. he is always offering me JUNK and i just say "nope, i'm done". we will eat a meal then he will start munching on other things. i just tell him I'm done and he keeps on going LOL. so i know i can do it, the hardest part for me is the exercise. i just need to get off my tush and get "moving". i am going to call a couple of my friends that go to the gym i have a membership at and tell them to force me to go with them hopefully that works.

[Janet]

I know it helps to drink plenty of water to keep yourself full. I know you can do it. I need to get back on the wagon too.

Go Girl!! Go Girl!! You can do it!!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Good luck Mandee!! I'm sure you'll look great when vacation time comes.

Not sure if you drink alcohol or not but I noticed when I was drinking ALOT i gained ALOT of weight!! My high was 159 and I was miserable.. I totally stopped drinking (only an occasional one now) and begin drinking ALOT of water (like Janet said) with lemon!! I hate working out but I have a trainer and she trains me twice a week!! Also, I go on long walks with my dog after dinner once the weather starts to get nice... I know Jody and I love being outside and are very active.. MAybe you can encourage your hubby to start walking with after dinner so that will cut back on his munchies!! Its always better to go at it with someone!! Make sure to encourage each other and if you do good during the week, treat yourself to a snack on the weekends (ice cream, cake, etc).. Good luck and keep us posted!!

[Mandy]

Good luck on the weight loss, you will look great by the time you go on vacation.