confused!!

KaciWood19

Hello All,

could someone please explain to me if 10 lbs a month is a healthy goal? Should it be lower/higher? how do you know?

Shweedog

According to health professionals a healthy weekly goal is 1-2 pounds. So 4-8 pounds in a four week month. For a month with 31 days I would say 9 pounds is healthy. Ten isn't too far off though.

melaniecheeks

It depends on how much you have to lose - but 2lbs a week is a lot, and that would be 8 lbs a month. Many peopel find it's more sutainable to aim for 0.5 - 1 lb per week.

LikeNoOneElse84

10lbs a month is easily doable depending on your method of weight loss. I'm currently doing Atkins and lose about 15lbs a month. I started March 1, and am down 30lbs already.

KaciWood19

Right now, I weight 180 and according to my doc, I should be around 130-140 for a "perfect" weight.

KaciWood19

I heard atkins was very unhealthy for you, have you had any issues with it?

bethrs

Hi Kaci- I think 10 pounds a month would be hard, but possible. If done carefully it could even be done while maintaining health. HOWEVER- I think that shooting for that goal would require lifestyle changes that I personally could never have maintained.

I think the hardest thing about losing weight (after deciding to do it in the first place) is learning to maintain a healthy weight and healthy habits. We can't lose 50 pounds and then "go back to normal" because normal is what led to the gain. The best solution is to find a new normal, and in my experience the easiest way to do that is slowly, setting goals of 1lb a week, and as the weight comes off inching closer and closer to maintenance so that I adjust overtime to what will one day be my forever and ever lifestyle.

I Hope that Helps.

KaciWood19

Hi Kaci- I think 10 pounds a month would be hard, but possible. If done carefully it could even be done while maintaining health. HOWEVER- I think that shooting for that goal would require lifestyle changes that I personally could never have maintained.

I think the hardest thing about losing weight (after deciding to do it in the first place) is learning to maintain a healthy weight and healthy habits. We can't lose 50 pounds and then "go back to normal" because normal is what led to the gain. The best solution is to find a new normal, and in my experience the easiest way to do that is slowly, setting goals of 1lb a week, and as the weight comes off inching closer and closer to maintenance so that I adjust overtime to what will one day be my forever and ever lifestyle.

I Hope that Helps.

It does! thank you! I've known all along it has to be a lifestlye change, not just something i turn on and off. I do a pretty good job I think when it comes to eating healthy but i do have my slip ups. my biggest concern is that I stay healthy!

ladyhawk00

As mentioned, it depends on how much you have to lose. The less fat you have, the slower it will be. Should help to read these threads that can help determine a healthy, realistic goal/deficit. Good luck!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/186814-some-mfp-basics

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/61706-guide-to-calorie-deficits

SueInAz

I heard atkins was very unhealthy for you, have you had any issues with it?

That is a myth. Atkins is actually VERY healthy. You eat a lot of vegetables, good fats and lean meats, while limiting refined carbohydrates, refined sugar and trans fats. In fact, I know a few people who suffer from diabetes who have chosen Atkins because it helps them to regulate their blood sugar more easily than any other nutrition plan. There is a website, atkins.com, if you're interested in finding out what it's all about.

Shweedog

I heard atkins was very unhealthy for you, have you had any issues with it?

That is a myth. Atkins is actually VERY healthy. You eat a lot of vegetables, good fats and lean meats, while limiting refined carbohydrates, refined sugar and trans fats. In fact, I know a few people who suffer from diabetes who have chosen Atkins because it helps them to regulate their blood sugar more easily than any other nutrition plan. There is a website, atkins.com, if you're interested in finding out what it's all about.

I know Atkins has many great benefits but the American Heart Association states the following:

"Individuals who follow these diets are [therefore] at risk for compromised vitamin and mineral intake, as well as potential cardiac, renal [kidney], bone, and liver abnormalities overall."

That is if you stay on it for a prolonged period of time, i.e. a lifestyle change to atkins-like eating.