Hello, I'm trying to lose 40 pounds by Christmas!

pagemap
pagemap Posts: 5 Member
in Introduce Yourself
As the title states, I am trying to lose 40 pounds by Christmas. I'm currently at 200.2 lbs. So far I've been trying to stay close to the calories recommendations from myfitnesspal, as well as going to four 30-minute cycling classes at the gym per week. Do you think I will be able to achieve my goal?

Thanks everyone!
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Replies

  • liz3marie
    liz3marie Posts: 211 Member
    that's over 3 months away still, if you keep dedicated then I don't see why not! my goals very similar!
  • egh1974
    egh1974 Posts: 147
    Men tend to lose faster, so I'd say yes. Lots of people on here might say that's too big of a goal, but I say go for it as long as you are doing it healthy / the right way. Even if you don't make it to 40 lbs you will surely make a significant dent in it and have achieved a lot!
  • EmilyPike16
    EmilyPike16 Posts: 1
    Yes, I think if you start to drink water before your meals you should feel a bit more full than usual. Don't over due it on the water though. You can find yourself gaining water weight and that can through someone off. Give it a try, you may even find that you can stay a little under the ''right calorie'' intake and save yourself some room for later! Good luck! I hope you reach your goal, from the sounds of it you're really putting in the effort.
  • kwantlen2051
    kwantlen2051 Posts: 455 Member
    Hi, You have roughly 10 lbs to lose per month ( approx 2 per week). I think if you increased your cardio exercise time and add strength training plus keep slightly below your max calorie allowance every day, you should be able to able to achieve it. Good luck.
  • floareaciprian
    floareaciprian Posts: 46 Member
    As the title states, I am trying to lose 40 pounds by Christmas. I'm currently at 200.2 lbs. So far I've been trying to stay close to the calories recommendations from myfitnesspal, as well as going to four 30-minute cycling classes at the gym per week. Do you think I will be able to achieve my goal?

    Thanks everyone!

    No! There are 15 weeks left till Christmas. At your lowest possible allowed weight loss, you would lose 30 pounds, and that is...mathematical. Fat does not know deadlines. Soon I will be losing 40 pounds in the course of a year. I had my plateaus, my ups and my downs, you won't lose weight the way you calculate, this much I learned. Good luck tho ;)
  • farway
    farway Posts: 1,260 Member
    Yes it is do able, but as pointed out, no cheating & eat healthy. Plenty of veggies
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    This is interesting......

    http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/weight-loss-calculator.php
  • kkelley46
    kkelley46 Posts: 2
    You might add some strength training in there, cycle has some but not like adding weights. Muscle burns fat even when you are not doing anything so the more muscle the faster you lose it. Eating clean is going to be a big deal during this time if you want to get to 40 lbs. What is your monthly goal? I found I was more successful going month to month rather then looking at the final number. Best wishes on your journey.
  • HefferSprint
    HefferSprint Posts: 124 Member
    Good luck to you! Hope you make it! Won't that be a great gift to yourself? I'm hoping for some changes too.
  • sweebum
    sweebum Posts: 1,060 Member
    This is interesting......

    http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/weight-loss-calculator.php

    This is cool!

    And yes, you're a guy so you'll lose faster anyway. Good luck!
  • pagemap
    pagemap Posts: 5 Member
    No! There are 15 weeks left till Christmas. At your lowest possible allowed weight loss, you would lose 30 pounds, and that is...mathematical. Fat does not know deadlines. Soon I will be losing 40 pounds in the course of a year. I had my plateaus, my ups and my downs, you won't lose weight the way you calculate, this much I learned. Good luck tho ;)

    I might need to reset my expectations at some point, but for now 40 lbs by Christmas is my goal.
  • jeannemarie333
    jeannemarie333 Posts: 214 Member
    Good luck!! I think it depends on your determination, your will power and amount of time able to exercise and cook healthy foods.

    :smokin:
  • abovetheopensea
    abovetheopensea Posts: 3
    http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/weight-loss-calculator.php

    ^^that just gave me a wake up slap in the face... lol
  • lewcompton
    lewcompton Posts: 881 Member
    Shoot for the stars and hit the moon... Would be a great approach... Try for the 40 and be happy with 15... My goal is to be logging what I am doing 50 years from now to keep myself on track with what I am doing! If I lose the 28 or so that I have left to go for my goal by New Year's I'm going to be very happy if I lose 12, I'm still going to be happy.
  • rassha01
    rassha01 Posts: 534 Member

    No! There are 15 weeks left till Christmas. At your lowest possible allowed weight loss, you would lose 30 pounds, and that is...mathematical. Fat does not know deadlines. Soon I will be losing 40 pounds in the course of a year. I had my plateaus, my ups and my downs, you won't lose weight the way you calculate, this much I learned. Good luck tho ;)


    Fat may not but water does!!! MFP math does not=science. I can gain 8 pounds in a day and drop it back off in 2 so go blow your 2 pound math somewhere else.

    OP keep your attitude positive and if you do not meet your goal congratulate yourself for trying!!!!!
  • Deipneus
    Deipneus Posts: 1,855 Member
    Do you think I will be able to achieve my goal?

    Thanks everyone!
    Beats me. That's 15 weeks away. It took me 30 weeks to go from 200 to 160 but I wasn't in a hurry.

    Then I figured out 160 was too little and started eating and lifting my way to 170+
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    Well, I'm sorry but I will not cheer on your unrealistic and potentially unhealthy goal. Expecting our body to lose x pounds by x date is just a fail all around. Been there, did that, probably a thousand times.

    I would suggest adopting a healthy lifestyle that you enjoy and can stick with for the rest of your life. A healthy body will lose weight without being given an ultimatum to weigh a certain amount on a certain day. Did you gain 40 pounds in 3.5 months? But you think you should lose it in that time? I'm sorry to burst your bubble but the first 20 might indeed come off fast, but the last 10-20 might not. What then? Give up?

    I'm not saying "don't bother", I'm saying find something you can do forever, focus on improving health, look for non scale victories and forget setting dates for weight loss. It's a recipe for disappointment.
  • M22KY
    M22KY Posts: 61 Member
    It's possible. My brother lost 60 pounds in 3 months, but he was very strict. Chicken breasts and veggies. No carbs after 2 p.m. A minimum of 6 workouts per week, PLUS an additional evening workout on two of those days.

    He did it, but he was a cranky one to be around.

    He's maintained about 40 of that 60-pound loss since though.

    Go for it!
  • MzzFaith
    MzzFaith Posts: 337 Member
    Put your effort to it. You can do it. Good luck.
  • pagemap
    pagemap Posts: 5 Member
    Well, I'm sorry but I will not cheer on your unrealistic and potentially unhealthy goal. Expecting our body to lose x pounds by x date is just a fail all around. Been there, did that, probably a thousand times.

    I would suggest adopting a healthy lifestyle that you enjoy and can stick with for the rest of your life. A healthy body will lose weight without being given an ultimatum to weigh a certain amount on a certain day. Did you gain 40 pounds in 3.5 months? But you think you should lose it in that time? I'm sorry to burst your bubble but the first 20 might indeed come off fast, but the last 10-20 might not. What then? Give up?

    I'm not saying "don't bother", I'm saying find something you can do forever, focus on improving health, look for non scale victories and forget setting dates for weight loss. It's a recipe for disappointment.

    Thanks for your input, I appreciate the honest feedback.
  • bacitracin
    bacitracin Posts: 921 Member
    40lbs of pure fat, at 3500 calories per pound is 140,000 calories.

    You have about 100 days to burn 140,000 calories. That's a deficit of 1400 calories a day.

    Better start your squats, lunges and deadlifts.

    Focus more on body fat percentage reduction, lean body mass gain (recomposition) or at least retention, and how your clothes fit.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    You will need to average a 1275 calorie deficit per day to do this. Is it achievable? Yes, but it will be extremely difficult and possibly hard to maintain.

    Why do you want to lose it by Christmas? Why not set yourself up for success by losing a pound to a pound and a half a week (750 deficit per day)? This would take you roughly 6 months.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    Sorry, no. For a goal like that, you should have started back in January.

    Drs will recommend losing no more than 2 lbs a week, to avoid losing lean muscle mass, fatigue, and developing saggy skin.

    Also, keep in mind that weight loss comes in leaps and bounds. You may be on the fast track to reach your goal now, but the closer you get to your goal weight, the slower it goes. So by November you may be only losing .25-.5 lbs a week. Nothing wrong with that, just be prepared for a major slowdown, and don't let is discourage you. Good luck!
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    nope, sorry. 20 maybe, not 40.
  • ejherndon727
    ejherndon727 Posts: 4 Member
    I am working on trying to make my old pants fit by Christmas! I don't necessarily have a set goal as far as weight goes (that has never worked out well for me in the past). I figured as long as I stick with my suggested caloric intake from MFP and make sure I work out AT LEAST 3-4 days a week, it is bound to happen! I mean, I gained it all by not watching what I eat at all, and not even lifting a finger as far as working out goes!

    I actually wrote down a usual day's food intake one day just to see how bad I was doing, and I was pushing 3000 calories a day and not even realizing it! So far I have 827 calories, not counting my lunch (Buffalo Chicken Pie at That Pie Place in Atlanta) - I can't seem to find any of the nutrition info online. :( Bummer. Anyways, for the first time, I was able to walk/run 3 miles in less than 45 minutes! So I am making progress!

    Good luck reaching your goal! You can do it!!!
  • ArtemisRuns
    ArtemisRuns Posts: 251 Member
    I think it's a pretty aggressive goal, but not impossible. Keep in mind that people often set deadlines and really aggressive goals and the thing is, weight loss is actually pretty tough and I just don't want you to get discouraged and give up because you don't meet that particular goal.

    Good luck!
  • mrsoleaujr
    mrsoleaujr Posts: 1 Member
    Hello and good luck to you. I can tell you that there are many I agree with on here. It's going to depend on your dedication. I love this app for my iPhone. I started recording what I eat on July 1st and I weighed 277.5 lbs. Today I weigh 227 lbs and feel so much better. I also use the Nike running app to add my cardio. This is the best thing that could of happened- opening my eyes to the amount of caloric intake that used to eat. Stay dedicated and good luck!
  • eazy_
    eazy_ Posts: 516 Member
    Great goal. Hope you make it.
  • GGDaddy
    GGDaddy Posts: 289 Member
    I have to leave work, don't have time for a better thought out (i.e. less blunt) answer. Bottom line--possible to lose 40lb if you kill yourself, eat unhealthily, and impact your long term health.

    But looking good for Xmas sounds driven by what other people will think of you when they see you?

    Why not focus instead on making yourself healthy and happy. What if you aim to lose 1lb per week, add strength training, and lose 13 lb of fat by Xmas (instead of 20 lbs of fat and 20 lbs of muscle, which is what will happen if you crash starve).

    You'll be healthier, happier, have more energy, and will impress the people you see that much more. But even more importantly, if you do it for you instead of for them, the self-confidence that results will do worlds more for you physically than losing the extra 27 lbs of fat and muscle will...
  • beckysloan1
    beckysloan1 Posts: 1
    I have just started with myfitnesspal and have lost 10 pounds the first week. I love being accountable. I have really changed my life style, and that is what you have to do, to lose the weight. You may need to do some extra walking, instead of just cycling a coupling times a week. Go for a 20 or 40 minute walk every day. Cut out salt, and drink water.. and nothing but water. That was a little hard for me, for I thought that diet coke caffeine free was ok to drink. But the aspertine in that, actually makes you crave sugar. And, you may need to measure things for a week... to make sure you are only put a tablespoon of dressing on your salad... when you realize, oh, that was actually 3 tablespoons I was using. Yes, all of this is time consuming, but it pays off. So, walk, walk, walk.... drink water, and eat healthy. Keep track of your calories here, and stay a little under what is assigned and you can do it!!!:happy:

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