How much can I realistically lose in 4 1/2 months?

snoozypoo
snoozypoo Posts: 32 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,

I'm getting married in 41/2 months (21 weeks) and want to lose 42lbs for then but not sure if this is possible in that time frame?
I'm 5'4 and currently weigh 175lbs - I'm eating 1500 calories as still breastfeeding twice a day so 1200 calories would be too low.

What I'm wondering is if it is possible to lose that much via dieting and exercise in that time?If not how much should I realistically aim for?

Replies

  • gungho66
    gungho66 Posts: 284 Member
    I lost 57 pounds in that same time frame , it can be done with proper nutrition and excercise
  • weeblex
    weeblex Posts: 412 Member
    IMHO the 2lbs a week that is recommended seems tough to do without some SERIOUS dedication which you will probably get distracted from with all the other things going on with getting married, 1.5 is more doable.... like I said, IMHO :smile:
  • emdeegan
    emdeegan Posts: 219 Member
    thats a whole lot of weight to lose in 4 months time for someone your size.. i'd shoot for 25lbs and keep on doing what you're doing...
  • H4Photo
    H4Photo Posts: 6
    Hi there, not sure if you can lose that weight or not, especially while breast feeding. I'm sure that some people have done it before. What I do know, is that through exercise you could do a fantastic amount to your body in 21 weeks. My advice would be to use that baby and pushchair to get out and get some serious cardio exercise and then use some weights (could use baby again!) to tone up! Good luck to you and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!
  • FaugHorn
    FaugHorn Posts: 1,060 Member
    it's two pounds a week which is at the high end of loss but doable. You'll just need to keep an eye on your milk supply which will dictate your calories. If you go too low then you'll stop producing but sounds like you know that already :) If you add it some good exercise and use weights then it's totally possible to LOOK like you've lost 42 pounds in that amount of time and if you're worried about how you'll look in the wedding dress then how you look is probably more important than the number on the scale.

    Good luck!
  • H4Photo
    H4Photo Posts: 6
    Yeah, but you're a boy and boys lose weight so much faster than girls! ;-) Great work on your weigh loss though, that is a most excellent achievement!
  • ashreynolds09
    ashreynolds09 Posts: 257 Member
    IMHO the 2lbs a week that is recommended seems tough to do without some SERIOUS dedication which you will probably get distracted from with all the other things going on with getting married, 1.5 is more doable.... like I said, IMHO :smile:

    I have to agree with this! Good luck, OP!
  • MommaKit79
    MommaKit79 Posts: 852
    It is possible but, only with real dedication! I know a wedding is a GREAT incentive and i have been there. BUT, Honestly, with the stress from planning a wedding, it will be difficult. But, it may also be more of an incentive.

    The only problem I see you may have if you do this is your wedding dress fitting!! :)
  • MommaKit79
    MommaKit79 Posts: 852
    GOOD LUCK!!!!
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    You CAN loose 2 lbs a week BUT it depends on how much you have to loose and it doesnt look like you have that much. I would go for 1 lb a week. You are still nursing so I wouldnt push yourself too much.
  • melbhall
    melbhall Posts: 519
    I think you should set a fitness related goal. It's tough to say how much you will lose and I know as a bride it is really stressful (the planning, countdown, and you have a baby!). Don't make yourself crazy with a number on the scale. Set a goal of exercising so many minutes everyday. You will drop weight, gain muscle and confidence!! If you see that the scale isn't moving add or remove calories, clean up your eating, add more water and strength training! Best of luck to you!!!
  • OfficiallySexyVal
    OfficiallySexyVal Posts: 492 Member
    I am 1 pound away from 40 pounds in just over 4 months! It is definitely doable you just got to stick to a strict diet and exercise plan! It may be a little harder for you because you are only 175 to begin with but you can do it if you stick to your guns.

    Good luck! Wishing you the best of luck! Breast feeding will also help in burning those extra calories as well, I lost a good bit of weight from that after I had my son. Those 45 pounds that I did lose I don't count because they came off so fast I didn't even realize I had lost some of the baby weight.
  • angleu
    angleu Posts: 140 Member
    I just got married myself and I can't help but to wonder are you going to buy your dress the week of your wedding? I had to try to maintain my weight the last month to make sure the dress fit to my alterations. I did lose 4 more lbs for a total of 9 since the last fitting, when it was taken in, and I had small problems the day off. Meaning the dress kept falling a little but enough to make it a tad too long..
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Hi,

    I'm getting married in 41/2 months (21 weeks) and want to lose 42lbs for then but not sure if this is possible in that time frame?
    I'm 5'4 and currently weigh 175lbs - I'm eating 1500 calories as still breastfeeding twice a day so 1200 calories would be too low.

    What I'm wondering is if it is possible to lose that much via dieting and exercise in that time?If not how much should I realistically aim for?

    since this is all the weight you have to lose, that is quite fast as the less you have to lose the longer it should take.
    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.

    So taking this into account you should expect 1lb/week until you get to your last 10-15lbs then 0.5, so in 21 weeks at most you should be aiming for would be 1.5lbs for 1-2 weeks then switch to 1lb/week so in 21 weeks 1.5x2 +19*1 = 22 lbs in 21 weeks.

    Losing too fast when you don't have a lot to lose will lead to a loss of a large % of lean muscle, not just the fat you are looking at losing.
  • mdcjmom
    mdcjmom Posts: 597 Member
    I personally have lost 47 since February 14th, It is doable but I was exercising close to 3 hours a day and eating around 1800 calories.
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    General rule is that for sustainable weight loss, you shouldn't try to lose more than 1% of your body weight per week. For you right now that is 1.75 lbs, so you could ostensibly lose almost 37 lbs safely in that time period, but I'm not sure how breast feeding with effect that. I'd aim for upping your exercise (especially strength training!) rather that severely limiting your caloric intake, and keep measurements (bust, waist, hips, thighs) instead of pounds, since what you really want is to be smaller, not weigh less :) Good luck, and congrats on your upcoming wedding! I'm sure you'll look beautiful.
  • 4months2beingthin
    4months2beingthin Posts: 49
    I too have almost the same goal weight in almost that same amount of time. I'm 5 2" & weigh around 174lbs.
  • snoozypoo
    snoozypoo Posts: 32 Member
    I already have my dress and it fits perfectly at the moment (didn't want to get a smaller size just in case I didn't lose enough)
    Booked in for alterations 3 weeks before so if I do lose the dress can be taken in :) a bit worried as its a zip up so if i lose in those 3 weeks might have the same problem of the dress falling down.
  • SuMcP
    SuMcP Posts: 244 Member
    I've dropped just under 42lbs in 25 weeks on an average net of 1400/day evened out over a week - I'm sure you can do it, just be careful with your nutrition otherwise things will slow right down.
  • snoozypoo
    snoozypoo Posts: 32 Member
    Hi,

    I'm getting married in 41/2 months (21 weeks) and want to lose 42lbs for then but not sure if this is possible in that time frame?
    I'm 5'4 and currently weigh 175lbs - I'm eating 1500 calories as still breastfeeding twice a day so 1200 calories would be too low.

    What I'm wondering is if it is possible to lose that much via dieting and exercise in that time?If not how much should I realistically aim for?

    since this is all the weight you have to lose, that is quite fast as the less you have to lose the longer it should take.
    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal,
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal, and
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal.

    So taking this into account you should expect 1lb/week until you get to your last 10-15lbs then 0.5, so in 21 weeks at most you should be aiming for would be 1.5lbs for 1-2 weeks then switch to 1lb/week so in 21 weeks 1.5x2 +19*1 = 22 lbs in 21 weeks.

    Losing too fast when you don't have a lot to lose will lead to a loss of a large % of lean muscle, not just the fat you are looking at losing.

    Thanks, thought it would be more then that but least I know thats probably what I'll lose if I stick with it properly.
  • snoozypoo
    snoozypoo Posts: 32 Member
    Thanks everyone, looks like I should aim for 1.5-1.75lbs a week :)
    Least I know I might only lose 22lb so won't be too upset if I don't lose more.


    Edited to add well done to everyone who has achieved this :)

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