Net 1250 calories/day but not losing more than 0.5-1 lb/week

masterbob985
masterbob985 Posts: 3 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
18 y.o. Male 5' 7" 158 lbs.

I've been chubby most my life and was pretty much obese at 182 lbs before a Crohn's Disease hospitalization let me drop some weight. Started exercising when I graduated HS in late May (172 lbs) and started counting calories in mid July. My goal is to reach 140 lbs by New Year's Day and I was losing a reasonable 1-2 lbs/week for a month. However, I've only lost 2.5 lbs in the last month, making my goal seem less reasonable. My exercise consists mostly of walking throughout campus (carrying a ~20 lb backpack) at roughly ~3mph for an average 2 hours every weekday, and a brisk walk in my hilly neighberhood (MapMyRun says 220 ft rise) at ~3.5-4 mph for 30-45 minutes every day.

The only time I was consistently losing 2 lbs/week was when I totally cut out breakfast and lunch (my net was 800-1000 kcal IIRC), but I lacked the willpower to keep doing that. I've already made it so far, dammit. What do I have to do so my goal is a reality?

Replies

  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Well, first of all your calories are way too low for an 18 year old male. Secondly, why 140 lb? What does your goal body look like in your mind? You may be going about this the wrong way to get the results you want.

    ETA: A 2 lb per week loss is far too aggressive for the amount of weight you have to lose. That's for people with 75+ lb to lose.
  • f0r54ken
    f0r54ken Posts: 21 Member
    You're actually Pretty much were you should be.

    To answer though The closer you get to your daily maintenance the slower you'll lose the wieght. You would need to drop additional calories from your daily to lose more, but It's ill advised.

    You should not try to get below 150. at your age height and gender you will start falling into malnourishment.

    Also you probably built tons of lean muscle from that much walking with a heavy backpack. Keep in mind that muscles are pretty heavy.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    You don't have that much to lose, so 0.5-1 pound a week is expected and reasonable
  • masterbob985
    masterbob985 Posts: 3 Member
    Well, first of all your calories are way too low for an 18 year old male. Secondly, why 140 lb? What does your goal body look like in your mind? You may be going about this the wrong way to get the results you want.

    ETA: A 2 lb per week loss is far too aggressive for the amount of weight you have to lose. That's for people with 75+ lb to lose.

    I picked 140 because it was smack dab in the middle of the normal weight section of the BMI scale (I honestly didn't think I'd reach it down to the zero, but it was a nice pipe goal at the time.)

    In terms of what I want to be, I'm not looking to be muscular or anything, I just want to tuck my shirt in at the waist with nothing bulging over, upper or lower chest.

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