47.2 lbs in 175 days - is this doable?

Silentpadna

What do you want to look like when you get there? If you think that a drastic loss like that (and it would quick) is likely to reveal a muscular ripped body, I believe you'll be mistaken (unless you have a genetic advantage). The deficit you need is likely to take quite a bit of lean body mass away along with the fat.

That said, if you lose half of your goal while incorporating lifting, I think you might be pleasantly surprised.

You have two things that are arbitrary and undefined - in my opinion of course:

1. A set date.
2. A specific number.

Both of those things tend to turn into reasons to quit for many beginners. But.....you can do wonders just getting started and make the change for life (which should be the bigger motivation).

All the best to you.

walking2running

I agree with the majority. You still have your whole life ahead of you the day after your wedding anniversary. You'll be celebrating a huge milestone but don't let it be overshadowed by your weight loss or lack thereof. Congrats on your upcoming big day and good luck with your weight loss.

kaykaybebe

Yea I think it's doable. I just lost 50 lbs in 6 months. U just need to really count your calories and eat within and less carbs, and work out. I worked out 45 min 7 days a week for 6 months. I don't know what's it called but my method was eat within calories for 1 month then slack off eat whatever I want for 2 days. Then back on my diet. Every time I do that I lose 5 lbs in that week. Now I just need to lose another 10 lbs with toning. I think u can do it! motivation!

billdwyatt

Again, many thanks for all the input. What a valuable resource these discussion boards are! To answer a few questions that have been asked, I'm 5'7" and want to get back to 165 lbs. At last year's anniversary I weighed 222. I've average losing between 1 and 1.5 pounds a month with MFP. At my current rate, It'll take me 3 years (2 1/2 from now) to reach my goal. It took me 19 years to gain the weight, so I figure my loss, even at this rate, is still rapid by comparison. I'm competitive. I respond well by setting a goal and going after it. In reality, this goal of 47 pounds in less than 6 months is probably too aggressive for me. But you know the expression "shoot for the stars and hit the moon." Right now, I'm excited about getting back under 200 again. Then, when I get in the low 190's I'll be able to fit into a ton of clothes I can't wear now (I carried that weight for a number of years). Once I get back in the 180's again, I'll already feel like I'm there. I won't care how slow the rest of it goes. Hopefully this will address the questions asked and explain my mindset on this.

xfc1

If you don't have a job and have a lot of spare time for exercise, yes you can achieve it.

cheryldumais

Interesting conversation. Here's my two cents worth... I dieted many times in the past for a particular event and rarely made my goal nor maintained any loss. This time was different because I took my time and lost it slowly while learning a new way of life. Permanant weight loss takes time. There were times in the past where I glimpsed this truth but promised myself after losing quickly I would then "learn" to maintain. That never happened. My advice as someone who lost 105 pounds is take your time enjoy the ride and find the path you can live with for life.

me0231

I went from 202 to 155 in just over 10 months and have kept it off so far. I do think it's possible to do it in 6 months but for me it wouldn't have been sustainable.

I had a couple of trips during the fat loss phase and also didn't start exercising until about 4 months in. I gradually changed my habits to make sure I can keep them up. I've done extreme before where I'd only eat egg whites, chicken breasts and broccoli and salads, and go to the gym 7 days a week with the result that I gained it all back sooner or later. This time around I wanted to keep it manageable, and I never exercised or restricted my food more than what I knew I could keep up indefinitely. Just my $0.02

lolly2414

I did it 11 years ago when I was still in my 20s (on a low fat diet back then which of course translated to lower calories and with pilates and aerobics). I dropped 40 lbs in just under 5 months. Through three pregnancies I gained it all back and then some. This time around (in my late 30s) my weight loss is just slightly slower than that. My first goal is to have 44 lbs lost by the end of the year (and I started at the beginning of May). So far I've lost exactly 20 lbs. The first 14 lbs came off quick and the last 6 have taken more work. Most of my exercise is just walking this time around due to some medical issues. I also realize that I might not make my initial goal by the end of the year, but I'll be happy if I'm still losing weight then. My husband can lose weight much quicker than me though (he's in his early 40s) just by adding a little exercise and eating a little less. I think a lot of times it's easier for men than women.

So, my advice is to go for it, but don't push yourself too hard and eat too few calories doing it. If you only lose 25 or 30 of the pounds you want to lose by the end of the year that's still worth celebrating, and more importantly you want to do it by living a lifestyle you can continue even after meeting your weight loss goal or you'll gain it back in the future. Good luck!

racheladleruk

I think that unless you are planning to wear a t-shirt with your weight printed on it to your anniversary celebrations, then you shouldn’t worry about the actual number and just concentrate on the scale going down at a healthy, sustainable rate