Need diet help - BF got ultimatum from Marines

gingercurves

Hey guys. I need some help. My boyfriend was in the marines for 12 years and took a leave, and just recently rejoined after 2 years. He has been trying to cut weight but his idea of that is work out tons and eat barely nothing. I have lost 100 lbs myself so I know you have to eat to lose, etc. My BF has been very stubborn about this but finally agreed this am to let me help.

Basically his CO in the marines took him aside for a meeting today and said lose 45 lbs in 30 days or you are out. He is currently about 5'10 and 235 lbs. I know the marines is very important to him and while the numbers are a lot to lose in a month, I want to at least give it his best shot. I'm hoping that if he comes up a few lbs short they will overlook it and let him stay.

My issue here is what would work best for him. I know that women lose weight slower and in different ways. I did Atkins many years ago and while it was miserable, I dropped tons of weight quickly. I feel like high protein/low carb/lots of exercise daily would work for him. I have lost my weight simply counting calories. Right now it is about getting this weight off as fast as possible and once that's done we can get him on a maintenance diet that is healthier.

If anyone has any suggestions or what would work best between low calorie vs atkins vs whatever else, please let me know.

IsaackGMOON

45lb's in 30 days? No way is that happening.

I'm sorry, but I don't think that's going to happen even if you low carb (you lose a lot of water weight and glycogen; but it'd come back when he reintroduces carbs into his diet).

LiftAndBalance

That's over a pound a day—even if he goes low carb and sheds a few pounds of water and glycogen, I just don't see how that's possible.
I'd say he should just give it his best and hope that they realise 45lbs in 30 days is impossible (also, don't marines have workers' rights??). Eat at a reasonable deficit, lift heavy weights to favour fat loss over muscle loss (surely the marines should be more concerned with body composition than just weight, no?) and be consistent.

Kalikel

The military has all kinds of programs for those guys. He should take advantage of that!!

They have people trained to explain and help with (and sometimes push you through) workouts and people to give you diet plans and all that jazz!

Tell him to ask someone about it. I can't believe they didn't make him do it. They used to do that, force the overweight guys to follow the programs.

If he asks, they'll hook him up.

Unknown

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jkal1979

I would suggest that your bf do a little bit of research on the regulations. I don't think that they can just kick him out if he doesn't lose that amount of weight in that amount of time. I'm not sure how the Marines are, but I know with the Army if you bust tape you are required to see a doctor to rule out any medical issues, meet with a nutritionist and sit through some classes, and meet a guideline of losing 3-8 pounds per month. His CO can say whatever he wants, but he has some guidelines to follow too. Have him do his homework and in the meantime start working on losing weight, but he needs to remember that doing something extreme may have an effect on his health and his physical fitness in the long run.

Mr_Knight

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Basically his CO in the marines took him aside for a meeting today and said lose 45 lbs in 30 days or you are out. He is currently about 5'10 and 235 lbs.

Even in Ranger school you can't lose that fast.

Back out 15 pounds of water loss (yeah I know) and you're still looking at a pound a day, which means a 3500 cal/day deficit. Meaning he would have to literally eat NOTHING while still somehow staying very active.

It's not happening. Rather than fail on an impossible goal, set an achievable goal (like 20 pounds, including water loss) and beg the CO for mercy.

pollypocket1021

Other than cutting off a limb (or two), that's an impossible goal.

gingercurves

Hi guys,

I realize the 45 lbs isn't happening. As I said I would like to give it his best shot and hopefully they will see he's making an effort and they will give him a chance.

So back to the main concern, would low carbs or low cal be more beneficial?

IsaackGMOON

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Hi guys,

I realize the 45 lbs isn't happening. As I said I would like to give it his best shot and hopefully they will see he's making an effort and they will give him a chance.

So back to the main concern, would low carbs or low cal be more beneficial?

Weight loss always boils down to calories in vs calories out (CICO).

Low carbing is just another way to do that.

Low carbing will make him lose more water weight and glycogen which will make the scale go down, but to what extent I cannot tell you as it is different for everyone.

momma_4boys

I know of a few people who were in a similar boat but instead of being fat overweight they were muscular overweight. Huge muscles putting them outside the acceptable Marine guidelines and they were booted. Good luck, but I think he needs to go to a weight loss program that they offer at the clinic there on base and hope that showing effort and consistency will allow him to stay in.

MelodyandBarbells

Damn. I thought we were needing people in the Armed Forces, not shoving them out

Tigg_er

jkal1979 wrote: »

I would suggest that your bf do a little bit of research on the regulations. I don't think that they can just kick him out if he doesn't lose that amount of weight in that amount of time. I'm not sure how the Marines are, but I know with the Army if you bust tape you are required to see a doctor to rule out any medical issues, meet with a nutritionist and sit through some classes, and meet a guideline of losing 3-8 pounds per month. His CO can say whatever he wants, but he has some guidelines to follow too. Have him do his homework and in the meantime start working on losing weight, but he needs to remember that doing something extreme may have an effect on his health and his physical fitness in the long run.

I second this ,, There are Regulations his CO has to follow, unless your BF has already been on the program and has not made any progress, If he was that overweight he should have already been in the program. Thats a Mandatory Regulation. 45lbs in 30 days is almost impossible and definitely not healthy.

ninerbuff

He may end up being malnourished when it's said and done if the attempt is made. What I don't understand is that is this can't be the first time it's been brought up I'm sure. And if that's the case and you're saying that the Marines are so important, then why didn't he address it earlier?
Anyway, what are the actual regulations and protocols that are to be followed? Or are you just going by what the CO is stating?

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

gingercurves

Ninerbuff: He has been addressing it for the past 2 months and joined again last 3 weeks. I don't expect anyone to understand what he has been going though since he has lost both his brother and dad in the last month. He has still been trying and dropped 20 lbs. looking for advice, not snide comments here.

Thanks to those who answered with helpful comments.

MamaBirdBoss

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Hi guys,

I realize the 45 lbs isn't happening. As I said I would like to give it his best shot and hopefully they will see he's making an effort and they will give him a chance.

So back to the main concern, would low carbs or low cal be more beneficial?

Low calorie. He need to preserve muscle, so he should only be losing about 2.5lbs a week. See if he can use the resources of the Marines to help with this--go to them and say, my CO says X, I need help. The doctors SHOULD intervene without any hand-holding.

SherryTeach

Perhaps I'm reading the OP incorrectly, but it sounds like the man was in the marines, then left and how wants to rejoin. The fact that is he not currently a member of the marines is why the military has not been on him or offering support services. Since his is a veteran, he might look into what services are available. There. But clearly, whoever told him to lose 45 pounds in a month doesn't know anything about nutrition or weight loss.

Merkavar

Is your BF Over the weight requirements for the marines.

My guess is he is and could be kicked out immediately but has been given a chance to get under the required weight.

I guess give it his best.

But then again why would they let him join if he is overweight an then give an impossible deadline with threats of being kicked out.

Maybe they know it's impossible and its to motivate/scared/push him to lose fast

jkal1979

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Ninerbuff: He has been addressing it for the past 2 months and joined again last 3 weeks. I don't expect anyone to understand what he has been going though since he has lost both his brother and dad in the last month. He has still been trying and dropped 20 lbs. looking for advice, not snide comments here.

Thanks to those who answered with helpful comments.

So is he enrolled in the weight control program? What have they done or what are they doing to get him to lose the weight? What kind of time frame are you talking about? The way that your OP read he was called into the CO's office and was just told this, but now you make it sound like the weight has been an issue for awhile now.

999tigger

Im no sure this makes sense OP are you telling us that he joined 3 weeks ago and his CO has just told him to lose 45 in 30 days or be booted or has he had the overweight problem for a while? It doesnt add up to be given an impossible amount to lose, but it would make more sense if hed known about the traget weight for a while?

Is he actually in the Marines or is he hoping to rejoin and some form of reservist? becayse surely they knew about his weight at the time you said he joined 3 weeks ago? Why didnt he wait?

Id agree with the above posters who point out what help he cna get from the marines themselves and also contact one of the support organisations who know the regulations on these sort of things.

PrizePopple

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Ninerbuff: He has been addressing it for the past 2 months and joined again last 3 weeks. I don't expect anyone to understand what he has been going though since he has lost both his brother and dad in the last month. He has still been trying and dropped 20 lbs. looking for advice, not snide comments here.

Thanks to those who answered with helpful comments.

That reply was the only side thing here honey. Your post just laid out that there was some sudden expectations of him set forth by his CO, expectations which are neither attainable nor healthy.

SherryTeach

Oh, so they gave him three months to lose 45 pounds? Still almost 4 pounds a week.

Mr_Knight

pinkalipaca wrote: »

So back to the main concern, would low carbs or low cal be more beneficial?

It depends on his activity level. The higher the activity level, the less likely low carb will work for him.

In the end, it comes down to the deficit - the weight loss will be entirely determined by the deficit. Low cal/low carb are just tools to achieve that deficit.

Mr_Knight

JaneiR36 wrote: »

Damn. I thought we were needing people in the Armed Forces, not shoving them out

Hasn't been that way for a loooooooong time. Way more applicants than spaces, selection process is much tougher now than it was say 30 years ago.

It's still not exactly hard, but yeah...no longer taking "just anybody".

Mr_Knight

PrizePopple wrote: »

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Ninerbuff: He has been addressing it for the past 2 months and joined again last 3 weeks. I don't expect anyone to understand what he has been going though since he has lost both his brother and dad in the last month. He has still been trying and dropped 20 lbs. looking for advice, not snide comments here.

Thanks to those who answered with helpful comments.

That reply was the only side thing here honey. Your post just laid out that there was some sudden expectations of him set forth by his CO, expectations which are neither attainable nor healthy.

Yeah, OP is clear as mud now....is it 45 pounds or 45 minus 20 pounds? One month or three months?

Whatevs...

999tigger

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Basically his CO in the marines took him aside for a meeting today and said lose 45 lbs in 30 days or you are out.

Inidcates thats the start and finish of it. Why would they let him rejoin if his weight was a problem.

It could be hes had the target a lot longer than a month and the CO was merely pointing out that unless he met it by the deadline then he was going to be out. It just so happens he has 45lbs more to lose and only a month left?

PikaKnight

999tigger wrote: »

pinkalipaca wrote: »

Basically his CO in the marines took him aside for a meeting today and said lose 45 lbs in 30 days or you are out.

Inidcates thats the start and finish of it. Why would they let him rejoin if his weight was a problem.

It could be hes had the target a lot longer than a month and the CO was merely pointing out that unless he met it by the deadline then he was going to be out. It just so happens he has 45lbs more to lose and only a month left?

There is a lot about this whole situation that is confusing.

Unknown

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softblondechick

Your BF is giving you the wrong information. His CO would have to refer him to the dietician. The CO can't make medical determinations for eligibility. Or discharge. That is medical, and he would recieve a letter. The letter would be a warning, and give him a time frame with body fat percentage and goals.

If his CO did make a medical determination, your BF can appeal this to medical.

999tigger

softblondechick wrote: »

Your BF is giving you the wrong information. His CO would have to refer him to the dietician. The CO can't make medical determinations for eligibility. Or discharge. That is medical, and he would recieve a letter. The letter would be a warning, and give him a time frame with body fat percentage and goals.

If his CO did make a medical determination, your BF can appeal this to medical.

Makes much more sense.

PAV8888

I love the abuse flag I got further up. I admit to being dense; but, can anyone, please, enlighten me as to how I am being abusive in my post above, and to whom?