How long does it take to lose 40 lbs?

irareloaded
irareloaded Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all!

I'm 32 year old, 220 lbs and 5'2. I have 3 jobs, 1 full-time and 2 part-time. I commute everyday from my home to my workplace. I spend around 3-4 hours a day driving.

I really don't have time to workout. currently I'm doing Leslie Sansone because it's the most feasible exercise I can do.

How long does it take for me to lose 40 lbs in the most realistic length of time? and what strategy you can suggest for me to achieve my goal.

Thank you.

Replies

  • HIITMe
    HIITMe Posts: 921 Member
    at about 1/2 pound a week considering your sedentary lifestyle.... so in about 80 weeks or about 18 months....
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I would say a year if you work the MFP program correctly. You don't HAVE to exercise, but it will help make this a more sustainable lifestyle change because you will be able to eat more.

    I was similarly overweight when I started. I lost my first 20 lbs in 5 months with NO exercise. Then from months 6 through 10, I was walking 3 or 4 times a week. Then the last 2 months of my first year I was doing C25K (running). I lost about 45 lbs. that first year, and I am a pretty slow loser compared to many.

    Given your stats, I would say a year is a great target.
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    I lost 30lbs in 3 months using Intermittent Fasting 19/5 and that was with ZERO exercise.
  • Camille0502
    Camille0502 Posts: 311 Member
    Half a pound is reasonable - but you should be able to lose 1 pound per week - so 40 weeks. You don't want to lose it too fast, though.

    I had abour 50 pounds to lose when I started my journey. I gave myself 1 year to do so. Unfortunately, I've been on a mean plateau since before the holidays - so I might not quite make my 50 pound weight loss by the one year mark!
  • Katetw
    Katetw Posts: 188 Member
    it's not how much you work out. it's how much you eat.

    Healthy weight loss is 1lb a week. If you put everything into mfp (ht, wt, age, activity level, etc) it will tell you how many calories you get a day.

    Good luck!
  • ZETAZEN
    ZETAZEN Posts: 46 Member
    http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_loss.php

    That should help....
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    vague answer? it depends.

    No. Really. It depends on how much you have to lose. I lost my first 40 in about 2 months... but I started at over 330 lbs.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    With that much to lose you should be able to do 2 lbs a week for a while without exercise if you stick to a budget, no cheating and weighing and measuring food for accuracy. As you get nearer to goal you'll lose a a slower pace. Commuting (driving in a car) is no different than sitting in a chair so don't get caught up in those who will tell your that burns extra calories.
  • Blacklance36
    Blacklance36 Posts: 755 Member
    I lost 30 pounds in three months but I exercised 3 to 4 times a week and really watched what I ate (calories, carbs and protein).
  • lfergurson1
    lfergurson1 Posts: 137 Member
    I started here in jan and I have lost 16 and will probably lose another 10 or so by april but I really try to be very real with food journaling and walking 5 times a week and using the free weights every other day and doing squats. Honestly I think even with a busy schedule someone could keep up with my routine but I have more weight to lose than you I am 30-40 pounds heavier ... Just get started and do you best ... it will take a lifetime if you never get started. good luck!
  • Rabunm
    Rabunm Posts: 3 Member
    what do you mean by "using Intermittent Fasting 19/5"?
  • keeugea
    keeugea Posts: 1 Member
    Abs are made in the kitchen! You definitely need to do 30-45 minutes of moderate-intense cardio at least 3xs a week for your physical health. You can lose all the weight you want, but if you don't strengthen those muscles you won't live long enough to enjoy being lighter on the scale. Buuuut, as previously said, its all about your caloric intake and eating the right foods. How long will it take? How dedicated are you?
  • retiree2006
    retiree2006 Posts: 951 Member
    It took me about 6 month. The only exercise I had was walking a bit with my dog...and that wasn't a steady walk since a beagle stops to sniff really often! I tried to keep to more accurate portion sizes, added in more fruits and vegetables rather than too much of the "other stuff"...in other words, I tried to eat healthier.
  • kristy6ward
    kristy6ward Posts: 332 Member
    I'm 5'5 and started at 225. It's been over a year and I'm only at 37 lbs lost. I exercise consistently, tried lifting, tried c25k. I took September and December off from logging, I didn't gain during that time, but I wasn't actively losing either.

    How much you lose, is up to you. But realistically I would allow for .5-1 lb a week loss schedule. And maybe add in a few weeks buffer, because you will probably have a zero loss week thrown in there.
  • witchy_wife
    witchy_wife Posts: 792 Member
    I lost 40lbs in year. But I could have done it quicker but I liked the longer route lol. What I tend to do, is lose like half a stone pretty quickly by being really dedicated and doing lots of walking, and then I lighten up a little and eat a bit more and try and maintain for a couple of month. Then get dedicated again and lose another half stone and then maintain for a little while.

    I'm hoping that by trying to get used to eating at maintainance levels and what activity I need to stay there (turns out walking and lifting is good for me) I'll be ok for once I actually get to my target weight.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    For me, it's gonna be about 40 lbs in one year.

    I wouldn't go much more aggressive than that because you are already stressed out as is.
  • tricksee
    tricksee Posts: 835 Member
    what do you mean by "using Intermittent Fasting 19/5"?

    19 hour fasting window = No calories
    5 hour feeding window = eat my calories
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Took me 1.5 years, but I did it by slowly changing habits. I had no rush. I didn't start MFP until I had 10-15 more to lose and they came off in 4 months. Start now and in no time you'll be where you want to be!
  • nczuczu
    nczuczu Posts: 611 Member
    I used a calculator found at this location: http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/weight-loss-calculator.php

    Using the information you provided, to stay at the same weight, you would need approximately 2095 calories a day.

    To lose weight, choose an option from the table below.

    1467 calories October 27, 2013
    1571 calories December 11, 2013
    1595 calories December 24, 2013
    1676 calories February 16, 2014
    1781 calories June 7, 2014

    Note: These are estimates. You may need more or less calories a day. Track your progress; eat more calories if you lose too much weight, or feel hungry/tired.
  • lifeviabrittney
    lifeviabrittney Posts: 28 Member
    I started at 297 and am down to 271 and am 5'5". I have been just tracking my food and doing a some walking or a work out video once or twice a week. I have had a weight loss of about 2.4 lbs/week (started Jan 1 this year.)

    I haven't been SUPER strict. I have probably had a day over per week and even a few weekends where I didn't count at all. Don't be too hard on yourself and focus on a LIFE change instead of trying to lose 40 lbs ASAP. Think of it as improving over time and it will be easy. :) Good luck to you!!
  • Andrew_peter
    Andrew_peter Posts: 94 Member
    11 weeks for me. Although that was with the max allowable calorie restriction, weighing everything raw (even lettuce), 3-4 times week strength training, daily heavy cardio, eating back only 1/3 - 1/2 of cardio cals burned and only if hungry, and cutting out booze 100%. Works out to around 3.6 lbs/week average so far.
  • Msperry804
    Msperry804 Posts: 1
    He means fasting for 19 hrs a day and leaving a 5hr window open to consume his daily calorie intake..I am experiencing with this as well and it has helped me a great deal with not going over my calorie intake...
  • msqueenofpain
    msqueenofpain Posts: 34 Member
    i lost 30 pounds in 2 months. I had a personal trainer 3x's a week i would wake up at 5:30am before work to go to the gym to meet him. I was/am on paleo diet. It worked miracles for me and continues to do so. Now that I am not as strict on paleo my weightloss is slower.
  • pjp1125
    pjp1125 Posts: 313
    Hi all!

    I'm 32 year old, 220 lbs and 5'2. I have 3 jobs, 1 full-time and 2 part-time. I commute everyday from my home to my workplace. I spend around 3-4 hours a day driving.

    I really don't have time to workout. currently I'm doing Leslie Sansone because it's the most feasible exercise I can do.

    How long does it take for me to lose 40 lbs in the most realistic length of time? and what strategy you can suggest for me to achieve my goal.

    Thank you.

    Instead of focusing on the 'how long' focus on the 'how'. Once you get that part figured out, the 'how long' will become irrelevant.
  • BajaDreamin333
    BajaDreamin333 Posts: 267 Member
    One of my favorite quotes is "You can't out-excercise a bad diet" and I truly believe nutrition comes first. It all comes down to what you put in your mouth. I agree with most posters that 1 lb a week should be very doable in the beginning, as long as you eat 500 calories LESS a day than you currently are. As you get smaller, it will be harder to lose, but I also believe once you start losing, you'll want to excercise and find the time (as impossible as that sounds right now.)

    You really just need to create a 500 cal deficit a day to lose one lb. a week. When you start logging, look for ways you can cut 50 cals here and 20 cals here. It all adds up! Oh, and be honest in your logging. It doesn't work if you cheat (we've all done it -- be honest with yourself and no one need see your diary.)

    Good luck, and congratulations on taking the first step.
  • AshleyNicole43
    AshleyNicole43 Posts: 1
    Explain this to me

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