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If you eat sensibly, you should be able to shed 20 pounds over the next 4 - 5 months. Try and eat say, 6 modest meals per day (try putting meals on a smaller plate for the psychological effect), and drink plenty of water. Avoid cakes, biscuits, sweets, chocolate and all that stuff. Also be careful with cheese and butter, as they can be worse than the sweet stuff if you go overboard. If you feel you need your "fix", treat yourself to one bar of something that is not too heavy on the calories, per day. And if someone is having a birthday, just have a little slice of cake, rather than completely say "No", as these occasions should be celebrated and it won't hurt now and again. Pile on the vegetables, like cabbage, sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, peas and beans, to help fill yourself up. You could have a lean steak, cooked without extra fat, and have a small baked potato and plenty of veg, for example. Also eat fruit everyday, nice sweet grapes, melon, pineapple and mango for example. They will cater to your sweet tooth but be good for yourself at the same time. Don't look at this as a diet, ban that word, and just call it a healthy eating regime. For exercise, try and have lots of brisk walks, and swimming and cyling are also good. You don't really need to go to the gym unless you really feel you want to. Another tip, avoid telling too many people what you are doing, as you will be surprised at how many people will try and talk you out of it and try and tempt you. If you don't want to eat too much when you are out with friends, just say you are not particularly hungry. Anyway, good luck!