How to make a weight deadline without harming metabolism?
hi76
Posts: 4
Hi,
A couple days ago, I made my debut post on this website asking if my diet was healthy. I got a lot of great feedback and will definitely implement those changes. My question today regards something different. In my college, there is a local fitness study/experiment going on. In order to participate in the study, I need a BMI of at most 30.5 (206 lb). However I want to drop to 204 lb just to be safe because I'm not sure of my exact height. My current BMI is now 31.3 (212 lb) after abiding by my original diet. The professor in charge of the study told me that he's going to start the testing on the 23rd of this month. However, I'm planning on going a couple days (possible a week) later to give myself more time. I plan on having a healthy diet after I make the cut for this experiment, but I also realize that I may have to eat less in order to reach the required quota. The reason why I didn't ask this question in my original debut post was because I didn't realize it made a difference. I had no knowledge about concept such as BMR, starvation mode/slower metabolism and such. So my question to you guys is, How do I drop to my desired weight without severely harming my metabolism? Again, this is all temporary and when its over, I'll eat a regular, reasonable diet. I know now that simply eating <1000 cals won't allow me to hit this weight due to metabolism issues. I'm worried that this slowed metabolism will get it in the way of reaching this short term weight goal as well as my overall metabolism in the longterm. If it makes any difference, I am burning ~630 calories daily on the elliptical (plus plenty of walking around campus). Because of that, I'm not sure how to approach this. Any advice? This experiment is very important to me. Thank you for your help guys, I appreciate it.
Additional notes: when I'm testing for my weight I'll have to go through other tests such as blood pressure, body fat content and other things of the sort. So I don't think I can cheat by not eating or drinking the day before
My original post asking about my diet was this. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/891961-is-this-a-healthy-diet
The idea I was having was that I undereat for two days straight, then eat something like 1600 cals every third day.
A couple days ago, I made my debut post on this website asking if my diet was healthy. I got a lot of great feedback and will definitely implement those changes. My question today regards something different. In my college, there is a local fitness study/experiment going on. In order to participate in the study, I need a BMI of at most 30.5 (206 lb). However I want to drop to 204 lb just to be safe because I'm not sure of my exact height. My current BMI is now 31.3 (212 lb) after abiding by my original diet. The professor in charge of the study told me that he's going to start the testing on the 23rd of this month. However, I'm planning on going a couple days (possible a week) later to give myself more time. I plan on having a healthy diet after I make the cut for this experiment, but I also realize that I may have to eat less in order to reach the required quota. The reason why I didn't ask this question in my original debut post was because I didn't realize it made a difference. I had no knowledge about concept such as BMR, starvation mode/slower metabolism and such. So my question to you guys is, How do I drop to my desired weight without severely harming my metabolism? Again, this is all temporary and when its over, I'll eat a regular, reasonable diet. I know now that simply eating <1000 cals won't allow me to hit this weight due to metabolism issues. I'm worried that this slowed metabolism will get it in the way of reaching this short term weight goal as well as my overall metabolism in the longterm. If it makes any difference, I am burning ~630 calories daily on the elliptical (plus plenty of walking around campus). Because of that, I'm not sure how to approach this. Any advice? This experiment is very important to me. Thank you for your help guys, I appreciate it.
Additional notes: when I'm testing for my weight I'll have to go through other tests such as blood pressure, body fat content and other things of the sort. So I don't think I can cheat by not eating or drinking the day before
My original post asking about my diet was this. http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/891961-is-this-a-healthy-diet
The idea I was having was that I undereat for two days straight, then eat something like 1600 cals every third day.
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Replies
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So if it sounds correct you want to drop about 8 lbs in just over one week (eight days). That is a huge stretch. The only way possible to do this is to lose water weight. If you really feel like you need to do this my recommendation would be to cut back on Carbs as much as possible for this week. When you first cut carbs out of your diet you will lose a significant amount of water weight. Know that as soon as you go back to a regular diet the weight will come back on. Also if this is to get into a weight / fitness study it seems you are gaming the system and your weight gain after you get in and start eating normal again could make the study results inaccurate.0
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So if it sounds correct you want to drop about 8 lbs in just over one week (eight days). That is a huge stretch. The only way possible to do this is to lose water weight. If you really feel like you need to do this my recommendation would be to cut back on Carbs as much as possible for this week. When you first cut carbs out of your diet you will lose a significant amount of water weight. Know that as soon as you go back to a regular diet the weight will come back on. Also if this is to get into a weight / fitness study it seems you are gaming the system and your weight gain after you get in and start eating normal again could make the study results inaccurate.
Thanks for the input. Like I said though, I won't do it on the 23rd though so it will be more than 8 days. Lets assume it's more like 15 days. Does that change anything?0 -
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Ask another professor to invent a time machine so you can go back in time and start dieting sooner. Your goal is a little lofty, so don't beat yourself up if it doesn't happen. Just be patient and stick with it.0
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No....and why? Most of what you would be losing would be water weight. To lose just one Lb of fat requires a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories. To lose 8 Lbs of fat, even in two weeks would require a 14,000 calorie deficit per week...very unsafe...very unhealthy....basically you would have to net to just a couple hundred calories per day to actually achieve 8 Lbs of fat loss. Just do this right.0
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Does the experiment go by BMI or directly measured body fat? If the latter, what measurement are they using? If it is a dunk test or a scan of some kind, crash dieting is not going to fool it.0
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I'm afraid that you'll only be losing water weight for most of the 8 pounds you lose initially. Good luck though.0
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^^ This totally!No....and why? Most of what you would be losing would be water weight. To lose just one Lb of fat requires a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories. To lose 8 Lbs of fat, even in two weeks would require a 14,000 calorie deficit per week...very unsafe...very unhealthy....basically you would have to net to just a couple hundred calories per day to actually achieve 8 Lbs of fat loss. Just do this right.0 -
Forget the study. It's not going to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle.0
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^^ This totally!No....and why? Most of what you would be losing would be water weight. To lose just one Lb of fat requires a caloric deficit of 3,500 calories. To lose 8 Lbs of fat, even in two weeks would require a 14,000 calorie deficit per week...very unsafe...very unhealthy....basically you would have to net to just a couple hundred calories per day to actually achieve 8 Lbs of fat loss. Just do this right.
It's admirable that you want to do a study that will help promote your weight loss, however, I have to agree here. Ultimately your weight loss journey needs to be about you and if you start off on the wrong foot this way, you're just going to slow your progress in the long run. You're better off taking your own path.0 -
I would take the advice of the people above. With that being said, I have cut 8 - 12 lbs in 24hr periods many many times to make weight for tournaments. It is all water weight obviously and gained back immediately and probably not extremely healthy. If there is a large cash reward for this study, you could probably do it. Otherwise, I would say screw it and do it the right way0
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What is the study? Why does it matter to you so much?0
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