text: need to lose 200 lbs by august? i am severely obese, weighing 420 lbs, and have weighed this much for about 5 years. i would like to impress/surprise my fiance', who has accepted me exactly as i am and who has been there for me in every way, with losing down to 190 lbs by our two year anniversary in late august. seeing as i have been overweight for so long, my metabolism is very slow, if non-existant.   i have cut out sodas and drink nothing but water all day, plus allowing myself artificially sweetened tea at meals.  i need to lose about 1 pound every two days in order to reach my goal. i am looking for any advice anyone may have for me, that does not include spending alot of money. i can exercise, alebit carefully due to knee problems, and swim frequently (2 hours every day), but cannot afford any expensive pills. i do take multi-vitamins, but that is it.   i would appreciate suggestions on how to lose this weight as quickly as possible without starving myself or breaking the bank! thank you very much!  carey carey, i'm sorry but the weight loss goal you are pursuing is nor realistic or safe.  and i would not even consider losing that kind of weight in that short a time period without medical guidance.  even at your level of obesity, the most amount of weight you should consider losing on any given week should not exceed 3-5 pounds.  this would not even get you half way to your goal, but at least you would have a much better chance of permanent weight loss.  the best advice i can give you is to seek the advice and guidence of a naturopathic doctor who can help guide you in the right direction for safe and permanent weight loss through diet, supplementation and even exercise.  in the meantime here are some helpful tips for you to review:  lose weight safely: http://www.preventdisease.com/fitness/weightloss/articles/losesafely.html  healthy eating http://www.preventdisease.com/fitness/nutrition/articles/healthyeating.html  weight management issues http://www.preventdisease.com/fitness/weightloss/articles/management.html