Contest

safahu21

I’m just getting back into counting calories and exercising. I entered a contest where the winner who loses the most % wins 800. My question I have read mixed reviews. Weight training or cardio or both lol. I eventually want to lift but for the duration of the contest should I stick to just cardio to ensure the bigger % lost? If this sounds dumb I’m sorry I’m just trying to find something to motivate me and keep me on track. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated

fdlewenstein

I'm no expert, but I've done a lot of reading. Walking seems to be a great way to lose weight, but building lean muscle will set you up for the future. I've also read that it is possible to lose weight without exercise. Its the calorie deficit that's important.

AnnPT77

I feel obligated to preface what follows with the comment that I think contests like that are a bad plan: They reward people who are more willing to take health risks, and ignore issues of sustainability and learning to maintain.

If you want to maximize calorie burn through exercise over a fairly short time period (short number of weeks, tops), the sweet spot for calorie burn is usually to identify the amount of time you're willing to devote daily to exercise, and spend it on cardio, structured as:

1. A short warm-up,
2. Steady state intensity for the overwhelming fraction of the time (at the highest intensity you can sustain for that time period without becoming too exhausted to finish, without having fatigue afterward that reduces your daily-life calorie expenditure, and without putting you in a position where you can't fully recover before the next workout), and
3. Wrapping up up with a short cool-down.

This would give you the maximum calorie burn, and it's calorie balance that determines weight loss.

What would be much more sensible for your health and well-being would be to divide your time between cardio you enjoy, and some strength training, because it's a better plan to preserve muscle while losing fat, and strength training helps with that. Optimally for both fitness and sustainable weight loss, it's good to phase in an exercise program gradually and manageably, not go from minimal to maximum all in one jump.

That exercise schedule would ideally be combined with a fully nutritious, calorie appropriate way of eating (not losing too fast, for sure less than 1% of current body weight weekly - possibly much less, depending on current weight and other factors (with the exception that someone morbidly obese may be able to lose faster than 1% for a while, if under close medical supervision).

TV shows like "Biggest Loser" have given people really toxic ideas about how to lose weight, and essentially no idea at all about how to lose weight in a way that helps one sustain that loss long term.

Best wishes as you strive to accomplish your goals, sincerely.

PAV8888

Dump the contests.

Cheat by manipulating your water weight.

Carb load, guzzle water, hold your pee and poop and weigh the most you can at the start.

Go low carb, pee, poo, and don't drink or eat and bring some help in case you faint for your final weigh in.

Bonus points for timing your menstrual cycle to coincide with the weigh ins

Doesn't sound very appealing does it?

Bet you some one will be doing some of this to win the $'s

Inherently any morbidly obese person in the contest has an advantage (of fat availability and available water weight) that would allow then to drop both absolute value and percentage wise more than a normal weight or slightly overweight person.

These contests do not provide anything but fleeting motivation.

Fleeting external motivation does not accomplish long term weight loss.

Did I mention that I don't think they're very helpful?

Maybe I need to share my opinion more clearly!!!

Nony_Mouse

Agreeing with Ann and Pav. While a contest (more specifically the cash prize) may seem like a good incentive, you pretty much can't win unless you're willing to go to extremes and risk your health, because at least one other person will be doing that.

safahu21

Thanks guys I ditched the contest and will just focus on eating healthy, working out and being happy!

Nony_Mouse

safahu21 wrote: »

Thanks guys I ditched the contest and will just focus on eating healthy, working out and being happy!

So happy to hear this

marycgehman

I disagree that "contests" do not provide anything. Four years ago, I entered a contest called "Slim to Win". Over the six-month duration, I learned how to count calories (using MFP), count macros, what worked for me and what didn't work for me. I learned how to love exercise, and eventually began running half-marathons. I lost 65 pounds during the "contest". Over the next several months, I lost an additional 35 pounds, again the right way. What I learned was life changing. That 100 pounds is still off.

Danp

safahu21 wrote: »

Thanks guys I ditched the contest and will just focus on eating healthy, working out and being happy!

You can still do the contest. Just understand that winning a weight loss contest and actually losing weight are two different things. Just don't do anything stupid or dangerous to win.

paperpudding

marycgehman wrote: »

I disagree that "contests" do not provide anything. Four years ago, I entered a contest called "Slim to Win". Over the six-month duration, I learned how to count calories (using MFP), count macros, what worked for me and what didn't work for me. I learned how to love exercise, and eventually began running half-marathons. I lost 65 pounds during the "contest". Over the next several months, I lost an additional 35 pounds, again the right way. What I learned was life changing. That 100 pounds is still off.

I am not a fan of contests - but I can see the time frame makes a difference - how much weight you lost over 6 months is going to give a contest a better focus.
People wont be trying short term gimmicks and will need to lose real weight to do well.

Vs say, a 2 week contest where short term water weight will be all you measure.