Realistically ...

[NancyPickford]

How much weight can I lose in 21 days? I'm going to Greece on 31st May. I've known about this for months and have been doing sod all about losing weight. It's not just for the holiday, I'd be building on the pre-holiday weight loss afterwards with more attention to my diet, increased exercise and so on. I've put on a lot of weight and now I can no longer blame lockdown, I'm disgusted. I need to lose 3 stone, and have given myself a goal of Christmas to have dropped the 3 stone.
As for the holiday, it's not that I'm vain or think everyone is looking at me, but I just dread wobbling about in the heat, getting too tired for nice walks etc. So it's not about being "bikini ready" - I know that's not going to happen in 21 days. But I would like to know if anyone has some good tips for the quickest, safest, most weight loss in that short space of time. Thank you.

This possibly isn’t the answer that you’re looking for, but I would focus on making changes that you can sustain for the rest of your life. You’re not going to lose a huge amount in this time frame, but I think that approaching it from the point of view of sustainable change is the best way. It will allow you to keep losing weight whilst on holiday, but enjoying your food while you’re there.
I’ve lost just over 5 stones this past year, and this is how I have done it. I’ve spent my entire adult life dieting, and for the first time I feel free from food anxiety.

Cut carbs. This will do for now. Other than this, I agree with PP.

Cut out all bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and eat nothing with processed sugar for the next three weeks and you could drop 10 pounds. Lots of protein but go easy on nuts. Very little fruit - stick to berries. Plenty of salad foods with minimal or no dressings. Eggs, a little cheese, chicken, fish, veg. Drink lots of water. Don’t eat until 11am and stop at 7pm.

Also, if you can, buy a few bits of summer clothes that you will feel good in. You don’t need lots of outfits but a few dresses, nice sandals, etc. The clothes won’t make you look three stone lighter and you will still see the weight you want to drop but a few outfits that actually fit and are not too tight, etc will make you feel a whole lot better about yourself.

Thanks posters. If I had got my arse in gear I would have started being sensible in January, however ... here we are. So thank you for those suggestions above. And I agree with the first poster - this is just a short term fix, and I will be addressing the weight loss seriously and sensibly.
10 pounds is probably a dress size, no?

Cut carbs, alcohol and sugar (even fruit/juices) completely from your diet. Eat things like quinoa, steamed brocolli and chicken or salmon with simple herbs and spices. Lots and lots of water. That's the short-term fix.

When I lose control I count my calories for a few days just to see how much I'm actually overeating, I'm usually surprised and it forces me to rethink.

10 lbs isn’t a dress size imo. It depends where you loose the weight, how an item of clothing fit you before your weight gain, etc.

With three weeks to go, I wouldn’t be counting on fitting back into existing clothes but would try and buy a few pieces in your current size.