Realistically, how much weight could I lose in 5 months?

[ChaosTrulyReigns]

Am 40 at the start of March!

Would like to be new and improved.

Well...how fat are you?! If you are very overweight, then you can lose a lot. Whereas if you are basically normal weight then you will lose less because you won't need to lose loads.

More than a small child to lose. and

I would say a weight loss of 2-3 lb a week is probably achieveable unless you are not very overweight.

Say even 2lb a week - that's about three stone.

You need to do it (IMO) in a way that makes it feasible to keep it off tho - ie change yr lifestyle not just "go on a diet".

Cut biccies and choc and crisps and cakes (or whatever you eat too much of); eat a lot more veg and less processed stuff; eat a good wholegrain breakfast; don't eat after 8pm; cut out alcohol; cut out coffee and tea (IME); get an exercise routine going - one that will work eg walk or cycle to work, swim two mornings a week, do a class with a friend etc.

Is that small child 10lbs or 4 stone?

I lost 2 and a half stone in about 5 months for my fortieth. It's a big motivator.

at the risk of sounding like a stuck record (as I have said thi in reply to many other threads!!).

Exercise wise - Jillian Micheal 30 day Shred DVD - 20 mins long & it really works - come & see our thread on here for further details

Foodwise - couple of choices Slimming World - I lost 5 stone in a year with them a while back. Or if you are organised, cut out all processed food - cook from scratch & watch portion sizes & alcohol. But don't tell yourself that stuff is forbidden or you'll want to eat it more.

I've lost 36lb since 6 June - just over 2.5 stone.
I've used My Fitness Pal.com - not a diet site but you put in what you weigh, what you want to weigh and when and it works how how many calories, carbs, fat & protein you should eat in a day. Nothing is 'banned' as long as you stay within the limits. Execise - I do My Fitness Coach for the Wii 15 minutes a day, 6 days a week.