Losing 3 lbs a week? help?

Quinn_Baker

Hey everyone! I need some motivation/ tips/ advice! I need to lose approximately 3 pounds a week until I am closer to my goal. Is this pretty doable? I am currently 218 (started at 246) and 5'4", 21 years old. Currently MFP has me eating 1200 calories a day. Even with this, and adding 20 minutes of exercise, I'm only at a 1000 calorie deficit a day. Plus1200 seems impossible when I'm exercising every day. Help?

ladynocturne

No, the most actual fat a human body can lose is between 1-2lbs a week. 3lbs a week would be for someone who is really obese and under doctor supervision.

It isn't safe to eat below 1200 net calories for a woman. I know it sucks, but it's going to take time to lose the weight, just like it took time to put it on.

So please make sure you eat at least 1200 calories + exercise calories to maintain a safe deficit. This is because your body will start to burn your lean muscle mass to run, your brain can't use your fat stores.

Achrya

First, congrats on your loss so far.

Second, slow down. Aim for 1-2 pounds a week, eat your exercise calorie back. and your body will do the rest. Yes, it will take some time but you didn't put the weight on at a 3 pounds a week I'm sure, so you don't need to lose that that rate either.

nomeejerome

Hey everyone! I need some motivation/ tips/ advice! I need to lose approximately 3 pounds a week until I am closer to my goal. Is this pretty doable? I am currently 218 (started at 246) and 5'4", 21 years old. Currently MFP has me eating 1200 calories a day. Even with this, and adding 20 minutes of exercise, I'm only at a 1000 calorie deficit a day. Plus1200 seems impossible when I'm exercising every day. Help?

It sounds like you have set an aggressive goal for MFP to set you at 1200. Your BMR is 1800, which is the amount that your body needs to function everyday. You do not "need" to lose 3 pounds a week, that is what you want to do. The weight was not put on quickly and will not fall off quickly either. Keep at it and congrats from getting to 218 from 246.

Quinn_Baker

I'm doing what my dietitian set for me. I posted a topic about losing 30 lbs before Halloween, and everyone said it was doable... so ISBN that close to 3 lbs (maybe 2, 2.5) pounds a week?

Quinn_Baker

Isn't*

Achrya

I'm doing what my dietitian set for me. I posted a topic about losing 30 lbs before Halloween, and everyone said it was doable... so ISBN that close to 3 lbs (maybe 2, 2.5) pounds a week?

Halloween is roughly 16 weeks away. that's more like 2 pounds a week, which lines up with my "1-2 pound a week' suggestion pretty nicely.

So again. 1-2 pounds a week. Eat back exercise calories. Relax. Don't stress.

Ang108

I'm doing what my dietitian set for me. I posted a topic about losing 30 lbs before Halloween, and everyone said it was doable... so ISBN that close to 3 lbs (maybe 2, 2.5) pounds a week

Obviously it's not do-able, because otherwise you would have lost close to 100 pounds since Halloween. Listen to what everyone else says and aim for a slower weight loss. It will work out much better in the long run. Most people who lose a lot fast will gain it back within a year and usually gain some extra on top of that.
So far you have done really well....Good Luck to you !

answezey

Hey girl I think loosing 3 pds a week is doable! I started at 206 pds and was loosing 3 to 4 pds a wk sticking to the 1200 calories a wk and consistently walking 30 min a day. I didn't workout I just walked. Once I got down to about 170 my weight loss slowed down to about a pd a wk. I'm currently 153 and started the end of jan. you may not loose 3 pds every single wk but if you stick to it, it will happen before you know it!

harleygroomer

Up your exercise to an hour and cut your carbs. You may shoot for 2 lbs a week--but long term? Gonna be hard to keep it going.

Achrya

Hey girl I think loosing 3 pds a week is doable! I started at 206 pds and was loosing 3 to 4 pds a wk sticking to the 1200 calories a wk and consistently walking 30 min a day. I didn't workout I just walked. Once I got down to about 170 my weight loss slowed down to about a pd a wk. I'm currently 153 and started the end of jan. you may not loose 3 pds every single wk but if you stick to it, it will happen before you know it!

Stop

dsanford55

Please don't eat less than 1200 calories a day....it's not healthy and will backfire by screwing up your metabolism....trust me I have learned this over the years. And please eat clean....meaning don't eat 1200 calories a day and 260 of it be for a regular coke or 300 for ice cream. Good Luck....2 lbs a week would give you amazing results!

Quinn_Baker

I'm doing what my dietitian set for me. I posted a topic about losing 30 lbs before Halloween, and everyone said it was doable... so ISBN that close to 3 lbs (maybe 2, 2.5) pounds a week

Obviously it's not do-able, because otherwise you would have lost close to 100 pounds since Halloween. Listen to what everyone else says and aim for a slower weight loss. It will work out much better in the long run. Most people who lose a lot fast will gain it back within a year and usually gain some extra on top of that.
So far you have done really well....Good Luck to you !

You missed it. I have only been losing weight for a couple months.. I want to lose 30 before this next Halloween. But thanks.

Quinn_Baker

Hey girl I think loosing 3 pds a week is doable! I started at 206 pds and was loosing 3 to 4 pds a wk sticking to the 1200 calories a wk and consistently walking 30 min a day. I didn't workout I just walked. Once I got down to about 170 my weight loss slowed down to about a pd a wk. I'm currently 153 and started the end of jan. you may not loose 3 pds every single wk but if you stick to it, it will happen before you know it!

Thank you! That's good to hear. I don't expect it to be 3 lbs on the dot each week every

Quinn_Baker

^week but at least it will be more than .5 every two weeks. Lol

nomeejerome

Look.... you said you wanted to lose 30 pounds by Halloween and your ticker says you have lost 25 pounds. So....you have until Halloween to lose another 5 pounds. Is that right?

Bearbrat

Hey girl I think loosing 3 pds a week is doable! I started at 206 pds and was loosing 3 to 4 pds a wk sticking to the 1200 calories a wk and consistently walking 30 min a day. I didn't workout I just walked. Once I got down to about 170 my weight loss slowed down to about a pd a wk. I'm currently 153 and started the end of jan. you may not loose 3 pds every single wk but if you stick to it, it will happen before you know it!

Stop

yes, please

Quinn_Baker

No, I want to lose another 30 lbs before halloween

ashleyisgreat

Obviously losing 3 lbs a week is too aggressive, probably not sustainable, and will likely result in metabolic damage. But you don't want to hear that, right? You asked the question to get affirmation for eating 1000 calories a day, and unfortunately you'll probably get some of that.

I think that, as others have said, you would be a lot better off eating at a lower deficit and aiming for 1-2 lbs a week. That way, you would be fueling your body, you would be less likely to plateau for an extended period of time (because you didn't cause metabolic damage), and you would be more likely to continue eating this way for life. When you go on crash diets (and that's kind of what 1000 cals a day for X amount of months is), you are more likely to rebound. Hard. That's my two cents, anyway. Good luck.

Quinn_Baker

I'm not eating 1000 calories a day! LOL! I'm eating 1200-1300...

LaurenAOK

3lbs a week is unhealthy and most likely not doable. You should be netting at least your BMR every day, which I'm fairly positive for you is more than 1200. Even if you net 1200, that's better than what you're doing now. Eat your exercise calories back.

Who cares if you don't lose all 30 pounds by Halloween? I wasn't at my goal weight last Halloween and I still rocked a sexy costume. Any weight loss should be celebrated. Even if you lose 1 pound a week and only make it halfway to your Halloween goal, that's still a great accomplishment and you'll look awesome. Not to mention you'll be wayyy healthier and have better long-term results. The slower you lose weight, the more maintainable it is.

I really like this thread on calorie deficits for further information. Check it out: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1017045-a-very-interesting-and-informational-read-on-deficits

nyrina4life

Hey everyone! I need some motivation/ tips/ advice! I need to lose approximately 3 pounds a week until I am closer to my goal. Is this pretty doable? I am currently 218 (started at 246) and 5'4", 21 years old. Currently MFP has me eating 1200 calories a day. Even with this, and adding 20 minutes of exercise, I'm only at a 1000 calorie deficit a day. Plus1200 seems impossible when I'm exercising every day. Help?

Of course it is doable. We have seen, and heard of this before. I would honestly suggest being comfortable with a 2lb a week weight loss, and if you see more, then that's awesome. Don't set the bar so high that when you go to weigh in and miss the mark, you feel defeated.

Honestly, if you were starting at a higher weight, yes, you could lose thirty pounds by Halloween. But considering your current weight, it is unlikely. Set a goal, and no matter what, be PROUD of any number you see by the time Halloween comes.

Quinn_Baker

Okay, maybe I should restate some thing. I've been losing weight for only a couple months, I started in April. I am 218 lbs currently, and a size 20. (If that helps) I eat 1200-1300 cals a day, as recommended by my dietian and MFP. I am under doctor supervision.
I don't expect to consistently be losing 3 lbs a week. I know some times will be less. Sorry

Achrya

3lbs a week is unhealthy and most likely not doable. You should be netting at least your BMR every day, which I'm fairly positive for you is more than 1200. Even if you net 1200, that's better than what you're doing now. Eat your exercise calories back.

Who cares if you don't lose all 30 pounds by Halloween? I wasn't at my goal weight last Halloween and I still rocked a sexy costume. Any weight loss should be celebrated. Even if you lose 1 pound a week and only make it halfway to your Halloween goal, that's still a great accomplishment and you'll look awesome. Not to mention you'll be wayyy healthier and have better long-term results. The slower you lose weight, the more maintainable it is.

I really like this thread on calorie deficits for further information. Check it out: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1017045-a-very-interesting-and-informational-read-on-deficits

Quinn_Baker

30 lbs won't get me to my goal weight, its just a mini goal for now. I am fine with 2 lbs a week if that makes everyone feel better, lol. But I want to be able to enjoy my fall clothes shopping and be proud around Christmas. That's all

rosemaryhon

My concern would be to get disappointed when it's not often 3 lbs a week and having that cause me to give up.

I've been losing about 1 lb a week for the past 5 months, though I haven't lost a thing for the past 2 weeks! And that's okay. Because I'm not in any rush and I'm pleased with the weight I have lost. I still do plug along and trust that any day I'll see the scale start dropping again . I think if I had set an (unrealistic IMO) goal of 3 lbs a week I'd have given up by now. I'd like to lose another 15 lbs and if that takes me to the New Year, fine by me. Better than gaining 15 lbs by 2014 LOL

nomeejerome

30 lbs won't get me to my goal weight, its just a mini goal for now. I am fine with 2 lbs a week if that makes everyone feel better, lol. But I want to be able to enjoy my fall clothes shopping and be proud around Christmas. That's all

You posted about this goal about 10 days ago, posting it again today and you have received some feedback. If you started in March and have lost 25 pounds in 4 months, does it seem possible to lose that much plus 5 more in 3 months? In the end, it is your choice.

Best of luck.

ashleyisgreat

30 lbs won't get me to my goal weight, its just a mini goal for now. I am fine with 2 lbs a week if that makes everyone feel better, lol. But I want to be able to enjoy my fall clothes shopping and be proud around Christmas. That's all

You can do that while also maintaining a healthy numbers of calories. Think about it: Halloween is 15-ish weeks away. Even if you only lost 1lb a week (totally doable), that's 15 lbs that won't be on you anymore! That's awesome. But if you overdo it and eat far below your BMR, you will be losing a significant amount of muscle and you will damage your metabolism. You don't want to do that. It's better to take it easy and go at a reasonable pace because that is sustainable.

shadus

No, the most actual fat a human body can lose is between 1-2lbs a week. 3lbs a week would be for someone who is really obese and under doctor supervision.

You know, there is plenty of good science supporting why it's a bad idea to lose weight too rapidly, but if you're going to discourage someone from doing something unhealthy, don't go with the bull-"crap" route made entirely up of broscience crap.

Give them real facts backed up with real science.

teagirlmedium

Okay, maybe I should restate some thing. I've been losing weight for only a couple months, I started in April. I am 218 lbs currently, and a size 20. (If that helps) I eat 1200-1300 cals a day, as recommended by my dietian and MFP. I am under doctor supervision.
I don't expect to consistently be losing 3 lbs a week. I know some times will be less. Sorry

Did the dietitian tell you to eat 1200 to 1300 calories a day and tell you not to eat the calories you exercise off? From what I have seen on this website the amount of calories you should eat that day changes depending on which exercise or exercises you did. This website wants you to focus on the net calories. The website does not want you to have a deficit.

Quinn_Baker

30 lbs won't get me to my goal weight, its just a mini goal for now. I am fine with 2 lbs a week if that makes everyone feel better, lol. But I want to be able to enjoy my fall clothes shopping and be proud around Christmas. That's all

You posted about this goal about 10 days ago, posting it again today and you have received some feedback. If you started in March and have lost 25 pounds in 4 months, does it seem possible to lose that much plus 5 more in 3 months? In the end, it is your choice.

Best of luck.

I was also eating more calories and not exercising very much.. that's why I'm wondering how to speed it up a bit. I'm sorry everyone feels the need to be so rude. Still a new thing to me!