reasonable time?

I need to lose about 7-8 pounds but I need to choose the time frame
within which I'll be doing it. What do you consider a reasonable
period of time? 8 weeks, pound per week, or less?

Unless you're in some terrible hurry to lose weight, 8 weeks seems very
reasonnable and doable with only minor caloric restriction. Or if you're
sedentary and willing to move some, it might actually be possible through
exercise alone (assuming you intend to keep doing it forever) while keeping
your usual meals. A combination of both would be the easiest, physical
activity is good for your health anyway, and you would keep satisfying meals
(which is an important part of keeping your eating habits for a long time).
You could lose them faster, but usually slower weight loss is more stable.
The stronger the restriction and the faster the loss, the harder your body
wants to snap back to its initial weight (and more).
Of course, this all depends on your current activity level, your BMI, your
age, how many diets you have done so far, how many pounds you have lost in
your life, if you have any disease... If you have a very high BMI, the first
pounds are very fast to lose. If you're closer to your health weight, it
might be slowler. If you're under your natural weight, it might take ages
(though I would advice against losing weight then).

"South833" wrote in message
om...
I need to lose about 7-8 pounds but I need to choose the time frame
within which I'll be doing it. What do you consider a reasonable
period of time? 8 weeks, pound per week, or less?

Well, that depends. Do you want to put them
back on? If not, then start exercising and plan
to keep it up the rest of your life. Also keep
a food diary for about a month and then go
over it with your doctor to see how you can
change your eating habits -- permanently --
to be healthy.

"South833" wrote in message
om...
I need to lose about 7-8 pounds but I need to choose the time frame
within which I'll be doing it. What do you consider a reasonable
period of time? 8 weeks, pound per week, or less?

Thanks for replying!
I must have added some information when I posted for the first time...
My BMI is 22,4, and I'm 23 and relatively healthy (and very
small-boned, so 130 pounds look as if there are 140).
During the last 6 months I've lost 15 pounds, so now I'm just under
130. But I want it faster... yet I'm afraid if I go too fast, it will
come back. (Scared by the horror stories of the experienced
'thinners"). I didn't add any exercise except for some (occassional)
Pilates, just cut the sweet and fat foods, now eating mostly chicken
breast, veggies and fruit. But those last pounds are stubborn! Much
more stubborn than the previous ones.

It is my first time -- have never tried to lose more than a pound or
two before, no strict diets either (again, too much of a chicken to
try : ).

My worst eating habit is eating for pleasure (that is, eating when I'm
not really hungry, just because it tastes so good.) I don't need to
eat a lot, but quality is a concern, since I'm drawn to the worst
types of food.