How long realistically to lose 80 pounds?

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I'm a female in my late twenties and I want to lose weight sensibly, not cutting any food groups out and saving some calories for treats every day. How long did it take for the people who have lost weight to lose 80 pounds? I'm getting married next September so ideally I need to start looking for a dress in a year from now. Is that a realistic goal without breaking my back?
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Replies

  • theconnertys
    theconnertys Posts: 31 Member
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    One year? Yes, you can do that. 2 pounds a week safely...you may even see more loss than that during the first few weeks. So with a year to play with, your goal is 100% doable.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    edited March 2016
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    Assuming 80 pounds gone is your final goal weight? Rough estimate would be an average of 1-1.5 pounds per week. Perhaps 50-80 weeks. At 80 pounds to go, you can aim for 2 pounds per week and gradually will need to lower that. (A smaller body uses less energy than a larger body, so may have a harder time sustaining a big deficit.)

    But in reality, some weeks will go as planned while others won't. We're human, so we're not perfect. And calories in/calories out involves some estimation even if you try to be precise and accurate.

    Personally I lost ~50 in 9.5 months.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
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    Took me 10 months to lose 57 lbs. Then I got pregnant and had a baby. It took me a year to lose the 25 lbs gained plus an additional 27 lbs.
  • SonyaCele
    SonyaCele Posts: 2,841 Member
    edited March 2016
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    At a safe weight loss of 1-2 pounds a week its about a year long journey to lose 80 lbs
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
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    I lost 80 pounds in 1.5 year (72 of those in 1 year - but I lost a good size with those last 8 pounds). It really depends how aggressive your goal is... I'm still only 14 pounds under the overweight category.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
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    2 lbs a week is not an automatic safe rate of loss for everyone. Especially as you get closer to your goal, your weight loss will most likely start slowing down. May I ask what your height is, and your starting weight? That would help determine how long it might take you to lose.
    Having said that, I'm 5'6" and my starting weight was 241. I was able to drop 50 pounds in about five months. Your mileage may vary. 80 lbs could certainly be doable.
  • CountessOCandy
    CountessOCandy Posts: 17 Member
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    It took me 15 months to lose 80 pounds, but I still have 21 pounds to go before I'm not overweight anymore.
  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
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    75 lbs took me 18 months, with stop to smell the roses along the way. An off week here, a whole screwey two months there, etc. I don't know if you can get to 80 by this time next year. But I certainly bet you can hit 50-60 and be so proud of yourself and love the way you are looking.
  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
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    I had a friend who lost 110 in a year, but that being said, she started out over 300lbs, and was still 45lbs above a healthy BMI for her height at the end of that year.
  • TehLaughingDog
    TehLaughingDog Posts: 200 Member
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    Good basic rule of thumb is 1lb per week. So in a year you would lose 56lbs ideally. Some people manage to do that faster others slower and often people encounter a plateau.

    For myself I'm at 243 and want to get down to 145. So that means 98lbs total. There are 56 weeks in a year so I would expect it to take 1.75 years for me. So 21 months if my math is right. But that doesn't factor in pleateaus and the slower weight loss that most people encounter when they begin to reach their goal weight. Realistically my goal then changes to 2 years (24 months) for me to reach my goal giving me 3 months of wiggle room. I might not reach that time frame goal but its something to shoot for. :)

    Good luck! ;)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,620 Member
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    A year is a good shot if you're very consistent.

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

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  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
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    Francl27 wrote: »
    I lost 80 pounds in 1.5 year (72 of those in 1 year - but I lost a good size with those last 8 pounds). It really depends how aggressive your goal is... I'm still only 14 pounds under the overweight category.

    This is in line with what I was going to say.

    18-24 months is what I'd suggest. Yes you may lose 1.5-2 pounds a week for awhile but it won't happen all the way to 80 lbs. Your loss rate will likely slow down and you'd be smart to schedule in a few 1-2 week breaks along the way. I lost 52 pounds in a year. That averages out to a pound a week but was more like 2 pounds a week for 3 months and .75 or less a week after that in order to eat enough to fuel my workouts.
  • Tashlovesfood
    Tashlovesfood Posts: 51 Member
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    Thanks everyone. I'm 166cm and 216 pounds currently. Xxx
  • Tweaking_Time
    Tweaking_Time Posts: 733 Member
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    I lost 75 pounds in 18 months.

    I worked out in the gym 90 minutes every other day...but I still drank beer, wine, bourbon - but counted the calories. If I would have quit drinking I am sure I could have lost the weight quicker but what fun would that be? ;-)
  • hamstertango
    hamstertango Posts: 129 Member
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    Best Advice my dear.. Just get logging on MFP, you WILL lose weight if you...
    Log every day
    Weigh your food
    Visualise yourself slim for motivation
    Stick with it
    Do that and you will know for yourself soon, that whatever weight you get to for your final fittings, you will feel !much! more fabulous than you do today

  • Lizzypb88
    Lizzypb88 Posts: 367 Member
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    I too am in my late 20's with 100 pounds to lose.. I've lost 50 in 7 months, but it has slowed down to a pound a week... So as long as this keeps up I'll be down 70 pounds in a year.. You will lose a lot of weight at first, about 2-3 pounds a week on good weeks, but it slows down. Good luck!
  • scolaris
    scolaris Posts: 2,145 Member
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    FYI There are 52 weeks in my years...
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
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    Took me 8 months.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,575 Member
    edited March 2016
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    I think it took me about 10 months to lose 30 lbs. Slow poke. It really could have been a full year.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
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    Thanks everyone. I'm 166cm and 216 pounds currently. Xxx

    I'm 10 cm taller but was the same starting weight.

    I've lost 70 lbs in the past 11 months.

    That's logging every day, and without ever knowingly going over my calorie limit.

    It can be done!

    I like your sustainable approach. This bodes well for your success.