3 Weeks to Loose Weight

Atkins Diet - the Induction phase (which lasts for 2 weeks) should help you lose almost all of those 20 lbs before you move on to phase 2

Atkins Diet, that has been already mentioned below. You can have the induction phase last for the three weeks. The more strictly you stick to the diet the more you will lose in that timeframe, you have to count the carbs of everything you eat.

Do a cleanse. I did Shakeology cleanse ( a lady I know sells them). They taste horrible!! But, I lost 7 pounds in 3 days.

My mom uses this and it works... if you follow it to a T!! She would loose up to 10lbs. This is ONLY to be used for a short time frame!

The 7 Day Cabbage Soup Diet:

1 head cabbage, shredded or chopped
2 large onions, chopped
16-28 ounces canned tomatoes, chopped
2 green peppers
4 stalks celery
1-2 packages Lipton onion soup mix, or any dry onion soup mix (optional)
black pepper
any fresh herb(s) of your choice, chopped
6 carrots, sliced
1/2 pound green beans, sliced on diagonal
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (optional)
Put all vegetables in a big pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, stir in the soup mix (if desired), and boil gently for 10 minutes. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until all the vegetables are soft. Stir in the black pepper and chopped herbs (saving some for garnish).

Eat as much of the soup as you like, as often as you like. Drink as much water as you like and non-caloric/ clear drinks including coffee, tea, and herbal teas. Remember: This diet should only be followed for 7 days at a time, with AT LEAST two weeks in between.

Day One:

Fruit: Eat all of the fruit you want (except bananas). Eat only your soup and the fruit for the first day. For drinks- unsweetened teas, cranberry juice and water.

Day Two:

Vegetables: Eat until you are stuffed will all fresh, raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. Try to eat leafy green vegetables and stay away from dry beans, peas and corn. Eat all the vegetables you want along with your soup. At dinner, reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter. Do not eat fruit today.

Day Three:

Mix Days One and Two: Eat all the soup, fruits and vegetables you want. No Baked Potato.

Day Four:

Bananas and Skim Milk: Eat as many as eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skim milk as you would like on this day, along with your soup. This day is supposed to lessen your desire for sweets.

Day Five:

Beef And Tomatoes: Ten to twenty ounces of beef and up to six fresh tomatoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once this day. You may eat broiled or baked chicken instead of beef (but absolutely no skin-on chicken). If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for beef on one of the beef days (but not both).

Day Six:

Beef and Vegetables: Eat to your heart’s content of beef and vegetables this day. You can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with leafy green vegetables. No Baked Potato. Eat your soup at least once.

Day Seven:

Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices and vegetables: Atleast 1 bowl of soup on this day.

Good luck!

I have had good results with cutting out all refined sugar and flour and white stuff (white potatoes, white rice) and no processed foods. I would suggest trying that. You can eat a lot of fruits and veggies, salads with light or no dressing (or salsa on top), go easy on the meat, butter and oils, some sweet potatoes, lots of veggie soups and healthy smoothies. Cut out soda and drink lots of water. Fill up a pitcher of ice water and keep it with you all day- it is an easy way to make sure you are getting enough water. In the meantime, buy a body slimmer like Spanx. Try to get some exercise over the next 2 weeks, not only will it improve your mood and burn some calories, but it helps you stand taller, hold your tummy in better and just look thinner. I am sorry for your loss. Good luck!

No more sodas or coffee. (Including diet sodas - none of it either!) Drink water instead - at least 64 ounces a day, more if you can. Eat a lot of protein for breakfast, like 3 scrambled egg whites and one regular egg together. Only 2 servings of bread products a day (small) including pasta, but only whole wheat. Meat that comes only from 2 legged fowl. Veggies big-time. Only 2 servings of fruits. Eat 6 times a day - small meals, and snacks in between. And push that water.

Walk an hour everyday to get your heart rate up.

If you don't backslide, and make every single thing that goes in your mouth count, without letting yourself be hungry, you'll lose at least 6 pounds. And then keep it up after the 3 weeks is over.

Good luck!
Dawn

All you can lose is water really.
So flush your system and cut your calories to no more than 1200/day.
You'll be starving and flooded, but you should be able to get some water weight and 5 lbs or so off.

The suggestions you've been given so far are great. Can you also go get your hair cut/colored or whatever you like to do to it right before the photo? Of course, I wouldn't try something new in case you hate it!!

I understand how you feel. I can tell what year a picture was taken by my size in the photo. In my adult life, I have been every size from 115 to 172 at least 2 or three times. Yes, I have issues. Anyway, do what you feel up to doing in prep for the photo, but I bet you will still have negative feelings everytime YOU see that picture. What you have to remember is that the picture is not FOR you! Let the love and effort put into "making" this gift for your loved ones be your focus as far as the picture is concerned. Then, when you are ready, start working on getting to the size and level of health that will make you feel good.

Good luck!

I lost 25 pounds in 3 weeks using the "6 Week Body Make over".

When I need to loose weight I use that and it works. Basicly, its no sugar no salt and no fat. Eat half a grapefruit in the morning with three cooked egg whites. 4 oz of chicken and 1 cup of rice for mid morning snack. 4 oz of chicken for lunch with one cup of cooked rice. 4 oz of chicken, one cup of rice, plus a salad or vegetables for lunch. 4 oz of chicken breast for mid afternoon snack, one cup of cooked rice, plus one fruit., Dinner is 8 oz of chicken breast, one cup of cooked rice, a gegetable, a fruit. If you get diet breaking hungry in the evening, eat another half of grapefruit.

I lost 25 pounds in three weeks and three pants sizes. Its tough to stay with if you don't like rice or chicken, BUT it will help you loose weight.

Good luck to you and yours.

Water, lots of water. No soda or sugary foods, avoid starches and most carbs. Eat raw foods, nuts, veggies, and fruits, and stick to around 1200 cal a day (any lower and your body will stop losing weight and go into starvation mode). Work out as much as you can.

I know there is a system cleanse that Hollywood people do...something about lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and honey. You can look it up. It's of course, not healthy but you asked. My boss also says there is a rapid drop diet that drs give to heart patients before heart surgery. You can research that and see if it is right for you.
For me though, taking your best picture will mean being your healthiest self. If you do one of these cleanses, the 1st thing that happens is your face breaks out because your liver and kidneys are releasing all thier toxins. You lose the glow in your skin, and you may be tired cranky and have a headache and terrible gas, from what I've heard.
Keeping that in mind, I would cut everything bad, load up on healthy low cal food like fruits veggies and lean meat, water and excercise. That way you feel abd look healthy

Be careful about quick fixes because they can be harmful to your health. Research before you try anything and be careful about cutting too many calories because it can backfire and you won't lose (your body goes into starvation mode and won't drop the weight).

What about getting some Spanx? Also, the tried and true option of wearing black can also make you look thinner.

My sister has been using Core and CLA from a line called TLS shape up. She has been using it for 5 days and says she notices a huge difference in how her clothes fit. I don't know if she's gotten on the scale. She has not changed her diet or exercise. If you do change your diet and exercise on top of the Core and CLA it will only increase your loss.
Check it out.
:)

http://bit.ly/sWhldB

I just lost 68 pounds, 12 of it in the first 30 days...
Breakfast:
plain oatmeal, 1 cup
fruit, 1 piece
nonfat yogurt, 1 cup

Lunch and Dinner:
a BIG SALAD with a little dressing or oil
at least 1 cup cooked veggies
4 oz of protein

Avoid flour, sugar, starches, no snacks, no artificial sweeteners, no cheat days, lots of water. This will not make you sick even if you lose a lot the first month. Eat at about 5 hours apart and the same time each day. Good luck

Running 2 miles 2-3 times a week would drop weight and tone you. I've done aerobics on and off for years and it doesn't produce the weight loss that jogging does. A nice easy pace is good, with gentle stretching beforehand.

If your tummy is a problem area, sit ups give a noticeably flatter stomach. Every other day for 5 minutes works well.

Maybe a colone cleanse would help. When John Wayne was autopsied, he was carrying 55 lb of poop! Also soon before the pictures, drink hibiscus tea - it's a duiretic.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water. No bread or pasta, or sweets. Eat lots of veggies and fruits, and fill up on protein. As far as excersize , I would work out at least an hour each day-1/2 hour of cardio, strength training. Yoga is good too. I also do an excersize called Pelvic tilts. It helps to strengthen your core muscles. You do see results of this within three weeks. Good luck to you!

Do the "17 day diet"! It is similar to what a lot of others have listed -- a lot of water, fruits, veggies and proteins. No carbs. The book is not too expensive and it is good at explaining the reasoning behind everything. It worked great for me, and I really liked having a written program that I could follow and refer to often. Read some of the book's reviews and you will be convinced!

Rather than trying the quick fix...is it possible to purchase a nice outfit that suits your current build so you look and feel better about your current body size? Don't feel you have to spend a lot...you could shop the sales or even go to a second hand store that has quality items. Also consider having your siblings sit or stand in front of you in the picture so people will notice your face but your body will not be as visible. Sometimes the photographers also have props...you could stand behind one of those as well as long as the pose looks natural.

Keep it simple. Don't eat sugar or wheat. Think about how your great great grandparents ate and eat like them. None of the preservatives or junk we have in our foods now. And remember, fat doesn't make people fat, sugar does. Do not skimp on fat. Good luck!

Exercise every day (doing weights on alternate days, because building muscle speeds up your metabolism).
Cut out all sweets, all white flour products (bread, pasta), and white rice.
Eat fruit at every meal; eat veggies at lunch and dinner.
Eat healthy proteins like eggs, avocados, and greek yogurt.
Drink lots of water, don't drink sodas, alcohol, or juice.

You should try shakeology. I have been drinking it for 2 months once a day. I was down 12 lbs (but like 16 inches) at the start of this week. I have been on a shakeology cleanse for 2 days now...I am down 5.6 lbs in 2 days. The cleanse is actually 3 days long (3 shakes per day, 1 snack of fruit and dinner of 4-5 oz chicken breast and green salad with no dressing) You can lose 5-10 lbs in 3 days doing the cleanse. For more information on shakeology itself, go to http://myshakeology.com/leannasmith. And to get specific instructions about the cleanse, email me at ____@____.com 3 weeks is plenty of time to start seeing great results and make your confidence soar!

I use to date a body builder...... they have to do this for competitions all the time.

Cut out all things white.. anything w. sugar and flour in it. I would do a lot of egg whites and canned tuna ... w/ a little bit of oil and lemon. Also a few veggies each day. No fruit as it's all sugar. TONS of water so your kidneys don't get out of whack. You can't do this for a super long time as it's clearly not healthy BUT it is guaranteed to get your bloat away and some fat off of you. Take a multi vit as well as B6 and B12. Let us know how it goes!!

Liquid diet will probably give you the quick results. I don't recommend it long term.