Is this a realistic goal?

iSurvive
iSurvive Posts: 91
in Health and Weight Loss
Is it a realistic goal to lose 70 pounds in one year? That is about 1.5 pounds a week for the whole year.

Replies

  • Zalli
    Zalli Posts: 132 Member
    My very determined friend has lost well over fifty pounds this past year, so I think that given enough hard work, it is quite possible.

    Good luck!
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    It depends on how much you have to lose. Generally, weight comes off quickly at the beginning and gets progressively harder to lose. It's attainable, but don't get discouraged if you don't quite reach it. You're doing a wonderful thing regardless! Your body will thank you.
  • lee91356
    lee91356 Posts: 330 Member
    Yes it totally possible to loose 70 pounds within a strict one year time line, however you would need to be very disciplined in your eating and exercising. An off day here of there wont hurt the process but make sure not to fall into a bad routine and dont skim on your calories/ food - eat most/ all of your calories, and track EVERYTHING you eat. The best way to loose efficiently and steadily I found is to gradually reduce your caloric intake (start at 1600, then 1550, then 1500, ect.) while at the same time increasing your time and level of cardio/ strength training (as you loose).

    Good luck!
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Thanks I am very determined! I have a lot to lose, about 96 pounds. I know I will feel great with even half that loss. Just wondering if I work my butt off (pun intended) if I can realistically hope to lose around 70 in a year.
  • rjh1975
    rjh1975 Posts: 71 Member
    I've lost 75.5 lbs since the end of February - so, in 9.5 months (my ticker only shows the weight I've lost since joining MFP when I'd already lost 35 lbs). It's been a lot of work, but so worth it!
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Thanks rjh that is very inspiring! I know I will have to work for it.
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    I've lost over 80 in 9 months so it is certainly possible.
  • Amy911Gray
    Amy911Gray Posts: 685 Member
    YES...it is realistic. Very doable...and you can even have a cookie at Christmas and pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving! :)
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Cappri that is amazing!! You really have given me hope that I too can do it!

    Amy, that is just it. I want to still enjoy little treats here and there, just not the way I have in the past. ONE slice of pumpkin pie as apposed to the whole damn thing! Right?! LOL!
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Hey I asked this in another thread about tickers, but I think it's gotten overlooked, but how do you add a ticker to your posts? I can't seem to figure it out.
  • lrob100
    lrob100 Posts: 122 Member
    I've lost 72 lbs since June 16. It is faster/easier when you are very obese like I was (251 lb start weight). I did it the old fashioned healthy way, 1200 calories per day and lots and lots of sweating. Walking and Jillian Michaels DVDs six days per week. I'm down to 179 with 29 lbs left to go till goal. So it's been almost 5 months. People think I have taken pills or had surgery. I used MFP and logged every single thing I put in my body seven days a week, and was very disciplined about the exercise. Usually six to nine miles per day plus an hour DVD. So lots of hours sweating. I put it before everything else in my life. Some people might say this is unhealthy to lose it so fast, but I did nothing at all unhealthy. My diet was / is much more nutrient rich than ever before, and I went from being out of breath walking from my car in the parking lot to the store to running 5 miles in an hour four times a week now, each and every week. I do drink NOTHING but water, and I avoid sweets except maybe once or twice per month. I know my approach isn't for every one as it's very low calorie and involves at least 3 hrs per day of exercise. But it worked for me.
  • suckerlove
    suckerlove Posts: 198
    I am down 60 in 7 months, my goal is 75 by the first of the year.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    If you have a lot to lose, yes. I'm pretty sure you can do it!! :)
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Those are both very inspiring stats!! I hope to be posting the same in a year! :D
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Yes my starting weight last week was 260 and my goal weight is 164.
  • cowgirlashlee
    cowgirlashlee Posts: 301 Member
    It's 100% possible! A good friend of mine started losing weight on January 1 of this year, and as of last week she's lost 72 pounds.
  • crazybookworm
    crazybookworm Posts: 779 Member
    I lost 100 pounds in a year. And I was very healthy about it! I think it all comes down to the person and their body. Eat right, portion control, moderation and exercise, the rest will take care of itself :)

    A lot can happen in a year!

    Good luck! :)
  • moran1917
    moran1917 Posts: 1,133 Member
    I lost 75lbs in about 11 months. I workout a lot. I stay within my calories as often as possible. It can be done. Lots of people here have lost more in the same amount of time. It depends on how hard you are willing to work for it and how big you are when you start.
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    All these responses are great! Knowing it is possible just makes me all the more determined to do it!
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    I think it depends on where you are starting. If you only have 70 pounds to lose it will be hard. If you have 170 to lose, it will still be hard but more likely. As your body weight decreases, so does your BMR. So, say I was to start out at 200 (lightly active) with a goal of 130 (lightly active). At 200 lbs, I would burn about 2300 calories per day and at 130 I would burn about 1900 calories per day. So, if I eat 1400 calories per day, I would start out with a 900 calorie deficit and at the end I would only have a 500 calorie deficit. 500 calories per day is not enough to lose 1.5 pounds per week, so you'd have to increase your activity level (preferred) or further restrict calories (which can cause you to lose lean body mass).
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    Yes my starting weight last week was 260 and my goal weight is 164.

    I started at 256 so very close to where you are. We must be about the same height, I'm 5'8" because my healthy range starts at 163. I have my goal set at 156 on my ticker, but I'm not really sure if that is my stopping point or not. I would just really like to be in the 160s by Christmas. I'm at 175 right now.
  • Larisonlj
    Larisonlj Posts: 426 Member
    Hey I asked this in another thread about tickers, but I think it's gotten overlooked, but how do you add a ticker to your posts? I can't seem to figure it out.
    You add your ticker on your profile and then it comes up when you post. Go to apps then choose tickers.
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    I always thought that I was 5'8 but then at a doctors appointment the other day they wanted to measure me and they said I was only 5'7... somewhere along the way I lost an inch. Or all this time I've been giving myself an extra inch!
  • leftoverbun
    leftoverbun Posts: 111 Member
    It's very possible for some, if you're heavy enough at the start. I lost just a tad over 100 in a year, and could have done better if I had stuck with a strict regimen. I lost 50lbs in the 1st 3 months, then 54lbs in the next 9. I still have another 50+ to go, and I will be thrilled if I can average 5lbs a month. Good luck!
  • shinkalork
    shinkalork Posts: 815 Member
    I think it is....but you need to go slow...Not shock your body, not starve yourself and eat and train well.

    More you train, more your body gets use to it.
    Less you eat, same thing.

    My system changed so much since i started this process. I don't need to lose that much but still.
    Starving equals bad nutrition and gaining later.

    Get good protein, medium carbs, medium fat, little sugar, little salt and your calories goal and you'll be fine.
    I never go over my calories,carbs,fat,sugar and salt. I do go over my proteins and fiber sometimes but this ain't a problem at all.
  • TArnold2012
    TArnold2012 Posts: 929 Member
    5 months and 57 pounds here. A lot depends on the starting weight.
  • otkbrat
    otkbrat Posts: 18
    I've lost 61 lbs since March.
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    So far I have only been paying attention to my calories. Should I put more attention on the other factors too, like carbs, fat, etc? I haven't been eating "diet" foods, but rather have been focused on eating more fruits and veggies, chicken instead of beef, that kind of thing.
  • cappri
    cappri Posts: 1,089 Member
    So far I have only been paying attention to my calories. Should I put more attention on the other factors too, like carbs, fat, etc? I haven't been eating "diet" foods, but rather have been focused on eating more fruits and veggies, chicken instead of beef, that kind of thing.

    When I started I only paid attention to calories or points since I'm following WW. As I went along I just naturally started eating healthier foods. I still don't pay to much attention to anything other than calories, but others do. My one guiding principal for how I eat is "Is this sustainable?" This is for life for me, so I have to be able to keep doing what I'm doing long term!
  • iSurvive
    iSurvive Posts: 91
    Okay thanks, I think for now I will keep doing what I have started, and as things progress I might need to look closer at the other stuff. I agree, for me I need to make this a life long thing. That is why I haven't taken to eating any of the "diet" foods. I also want to do this for better health in general so I really have made it a goal to eat healthy foods. Well it's working for this first week anyway! LOL! I have been "trying" to lose weight for awhile now, but not really. It' wasn't till this past week that something just clicked inside my brain and I am finally serious about this thing!

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