Is a goal to lose 90 lbs in 7 months achievable?

I know that everyone says a healthy weight loss goal per week is 2 lbs. I started this journey in October 2013 at 298 lbs. My goal weight is 160 and I want to be there in time for my wedding in December of this year. I think that breaks down to roughly 3-4 lbs per week.
Is this something that would be detrimental to my health?
Or is this something achievable and maintainable?
What are your personal goals?
What helps you to set goals that are reachable?
Does everyone abide by the 2 lbs a week rule?

Replies

  • Kitship
    Kitship Posts: 579 Member
    2 lbs/week would be the max that would be recommended for someone your weight. 3-4 lbs/week would not only be difficult to achieve; it would also cause you to lose muscle mass in addition to fat.

    I can still lose 100 lbs and be in a healthy weight range, and I have my goals set to lose 1lb/week.
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
    If you're trying to be healthy, I would say no. I try to stick very close to the 2 pounds a week rule and it's meant that I have kept off what I have lost since last October. You don't want to lose too quickly because it tends to mean you're losing muscle and your skin doesn't come back in line (you can end up with "loose" skin if you drop too quickly.)

    In 7 months, I would say a healthy drop would be no more than about 70 pounds tops. (You might have the occasional week where you lose more than 2 especially if you've just changed your exercise routine.) It's not QUITE your desired 90 pounds but you can wait another coupla months to get there, right? It didn't come on overnight and it shouldn't come off that way either.

    As far as personal goals, I join short-term "challenge" groups on here to try and maintain focus. We set a goal to be achieved within 60-90 days to give us a focus and it's helping me to stick with this. I actually set my goal as 1.5 a week and then shoot for SLIGHTLY over that at the end of the 90. For example, 90 days= 12 weeks * 1.5 lbs per week= 18...I might set my end goal as 20 or 21 pounds.

    Another way of keeping on task is to remember: It's not all about the scale. Getting healthier sometimes doesn't "look" like a weight loss for a week or two...maybe you gained muscle tone and your body got SMALLER in the same amount of pounds..your clothes are looser..you go longer on the treadmill/elliptical before you're winded...you do more pushups...lift more reps/weight etc etc etc
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    i lost 84 in 6 months. so it can be done.
  • loubidy
    loubidy Posts: 440 Member
    I would say no because if it's for your wedding you want to look beautiful not ill. Drastic weightloss like that will probably leave you looking quite awful gaunt grey and just generally ill because you'll have lost so much muscle too.

    Yes do try and lose as much as you can, but mentally set an achievable goal. Add some weightlifting to make you look awesome and healthy and do not under eat - that is silly!
  • itsolyo
    itsolyo Posts: 27 Member
    i lost 84 in 6 months. so it can be done.

    what have you found to be successful?
  • itsolyo
    itsolyo Posts: 27 Member
    I would say no because if it's for your wedding you want to look beautiful not ill. Drastic weightloss like that will probably leave you looking quite awful gaunt grey and just generally ill because you'll have lost so much muscle too.

    Yes do try and lose as much as you can, but mentally set an achievable goal. Add some weightlifting to make you look awesome and healthy and do not under eat - that is silly!

    very true! I def don't want to look SICK---
  • itsolyo
    itsolyo Posts: 27 Member
    Another way of keeping on task is to remember: It's not all about the scale. Getting healthier sometimes doesn't "look" like a weight loss for a week or two...maybe you gained muscle tone and your body got SMALLER in the same amount of pounds..your clothes are looser..you go longer on the treadmill/elliptical before you're winded...you do more pushups...lift more reps/weight etc etc etc

    this is something i'm trying to teach myself to accept. i'm always worried about the scale but i know the inches are coming off.
  • GBrady43068
    GBrady43068 Posts: 1,256 Member
    I know that everyone says a healthy weight loss goal per week is 2 lbs. I started this journey in October 2013 at 298 lbs. My goal weight is 160 and I want to be there in time for my wedding in December of this year. I think that breaks down to roughly 3-4 lbs per week.
    Is this something that would be detrimental to my health?
    Or is this something achievable and maintainable?
    What are your personal goals?
    What helps you to set goals that are reachable?
    Does everyone abide by the 2 lbs a week rule?
    For what it's worth, since October I've lost just over 36 pounds and it's STAYING OFF. By December of this year at my current trajectory I would be around 190-192 pounds come December. My end goal is between 150-170 pounds so it's pretty close to yours.
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    i lost 84 in 6 months. so it can be done.

    what have you found to be successful?

    i went on a medically supervised diet. I was seen by an RN and a DR once a week to make sure I'm healthy. they did blood work every other week.

    It was a shake only diet. well shakes and vegetables. they also had entrees i could eat.


    but to answer your question to what works best:


    put the fork down, get out and run.


    I walk 4 miles 5 days a week and run 5 miles a day 4 times a week. this week I'm kicking it up to 6 miles a day.
  • kyregi
    kyregi Posts: 55 Member
    I would not set a distinct weight goal for your wedding. This is "the" day of your life. Set your goal to:
    "Dancing through the night", which means your then to be husband has to get fit with you ;-)
  • desimia1
    desimia1 Posts: 60
    Anything is possible I suppose but Dont set yourself up for something that might not happen! Many people have done it with MFP that I have seen. Do your best and do it healthy! 2 pounds maybe three pounds a week is more realistic. I started at 309, I am at 276 right now and it has been slow for me. Everyone is different too so......... I will wish on my lucky stars for you!
  • ilmb87
    ilmb87 Posts: 216 Member
    I know that everyone says a healthy weight loss goal per week is 2 lbs. I started this journey in October 2013 at 298 lbs. My goal weight is 160 and I want to be there in time for my wedding in December of this year. I think that breaks down to roughly 3-4 lbs per week.
    Is this something that would be detrimental to my health?
    Or is this something achievable and maintainable?
    What are your personal goals?
    What helps you to set goals that are reachable?
    Does everyone abide by the 2 lbs a week rule?

    I started at a weight very close to yours and my goal is also 160. I've been on MFP since August of 2012, but have been working on losing the weight since May of that same year. I'm of the mindset of slow and steady, since the ultimate goal is not to GET to 160, but to MAINTAIN. And life happens. You may lose 3 pounds one week, then nothing the next.

    I would agree with what someone else said about setting a goal of "dancing with your husband." But if you really want to get to 160...I'd imagine it would be difficult, but you could probably get there, or very close to it. Not sure how you'll like the results of losing that much weight in such a short amount of time, though.
  • FireOpalCO
    FireOpalCO Posts: 641 Member
    Here is a thought (since everyone has the more then 2 a week covered). You will need to purchase your dress months in advance of the wedding. While attempting to still lose dramatic amounts of weight (that will get harder as you get thinner). So you could end up with:

    1. A dress that is dramatically too big and has to have emergency alterations before your big day.
    2. A dress that is too tight because you overestimated your future weight loss and started to slow down after you ordered it.

    If I was in your shoes, I would probably get a professional involved about what can realistically be done with any dietary restrictions you may have, the shape you are in (bad knees, diabetes, etc.) and the time you have (not just months to the big day but hours per day to work out). Then sell yourself on the reality that 90 pounds is going to take serious work and serious time and if you even make it to "only" the 50% mark that's forty five pounds not walking down the aisle with you. That's not a failure but a big flipping success.

    I would also tell the dress shop/seamstress about what is going on so they can guide you to dresses that are easy to alter and/or are forgiving to changes in measurements. (A bodice that cinches up with ties is more forgiving then a fitted bodice with a zipper. Lots of beadwork and embroidery can be hell on taking in dresses at the seams.)
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    First, congratulations on your loss so far! If your goal is 160, and you have 90 to go, that means you've gone from 298 to 250 since joining MFP. Pat yourself on the back!

    I'm with those who think you'll be happier in the long run if you don't try to rush things. You've been losing 8 lb./month so far. It will get a bit harder as you approach your goal, so let's say you average 1.75 lb./week in the next 7 months. That's 52 lb. and would put you within 20 of your goal. Most people aren't going to notice a 20 lb. difference between your wedding photos and your weight 6 months later, and those who do will be impressed that you weigh *less* after your wedding than at it.
  • destinimac
    destinimac Posts: 10 Member
    The speed that you lose weight depends on how much you weigh at the time you are losing it. The more you weigh, the faster it will come off usually, but as you get smaller and smaller, you'll notice it gets harder to lose that last 20 lbs or so, but its possible so don't get discouraged. As for 90 lbs in 7 months, that is only about 8 weeks. Because of what I said about it slowing down as you reach your goal and the fact that its only healthy to lose about 2 lbs per week without losing muscle mass, I would aim for about 60 lbs in 7 months, and 90 lbs in 10 months!
  • andeey
    andeey Posts: 709 Member
    To answer your question: yes, it's possible to lose 90 pounds in 7 months. However, it's likely you want this to be healthy and long term, so perhaps consider a goal different than just scale weight?

    If you incorporate strength training along with your caloric deficit, you're more likely to reshape your body and may lose multiple clothing sizes while the scale doesn't drop as dramatically. Example: since January of this year, I've gone down only 11 pounds, but lost two pants sizes.

    Just something to consider so you don't set yourself up for possible failure by focusing only on the scale weight.

    Also, check this out: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • Just a thought. . .

    Why not lose weight at a steady maintainable safe rate and focus on losing INCHES rather that the pounds??
  • tony56pr
    tony56pr Posts: 141 Member
    Could it be possible? Yes, but instead of trying to reach your goal by then I'd recommend working hard to simply lose weight, workout and eat right, (don't cheat and don't starve yourself). If you set a goal, to say lose the weight in time for your wedding, you will drive yourself crazy, you'll get on scale to weigh in and the scale won't move, it will knock you down, you'll be saying "I can't lose this weight" etc... Then you will get depressed and reach for your favorite junk food. Or simply give up. Or, be very depressed on your wedding night because you didn't get to where you wanted, you would have missed your goal. (perhaps a small chance you reach it, but how long it takes you to lose the weight is something you can't predict.)

    It is hard enough to keep patience when on this journey, but when you give yourself a deadline, it would be hard for you to stay with it. You will be knocked down over and over, because this isn't a straight line, you don't lose in a nice steady amount. I went through weeks were I lost nothing, then would start losing again. It is a roller coaster, up and down all the way through.
  • RM10003
    RM10003 Posts: 316 Member
    Very good advice from FireOpalCO on the dress thing, and from previous posters on not wanting to look sick for your wedding! When I spent time on wedding boards I saw way too many frantic last minute "OMG MY DRESS DOESN'T FIT" posts. Wedding planning is stressful enough without bringing that on yourself.
  • craftywitch_63
    craftywitch_63 Posts: 829 Member
    I know that everyone says a healthy weight loss goal per week is 2 lbs. I started this journey in October 2013 at 298 lbs. My goal weight is 160 and I want to be there in time for my wedding in December of this year. I think that breaks down to roughly 3-4 lbs per week.
    Is this something that would be detrimental to my health?
    Or is this something achievable and maintainable?
    What are your personal goals?
    What helps you to set goals that are reachable?
    Does everyone abide by the 2 lbs a week rule?

    The maximum healthy weight loss is 2 lbs per week. If you're losing more it's probably water. Some water will be lost but too much leads to dangerous levels of dehydration.

    I think your goal of losing 3-4 lbs/week might be a little extreme. I would hate for you to do all the work, not hit your goal weight by December and become discouraged. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.

    Personally, I'm hoping to get to 135 but I'll be happy with 140 (healthy BMI for my height of 5'5".) I have my weight loss goals set for 0.5 lbs/week but I've been pleasantly surprised that I'm actually losing more like 1 pound/week. Even eating what seems like a LOT of food. I would have bet against this, but recently I've been "wasting" 250-300 calories/day because I just can't eat any more. Some MFPers "save" calories, I don't. If I don't use them within the prescribed 24 hour period, they're gone. Period.

    As for reaching my goals, because I have an ED, I weigh/measure and log every bite that goes into my mouth. Even if I go over my calories, which I haven't done in awhile. I have failed at eating "clean" before, so I eat what I like as long as it fits in my macros. I've changed my mindset which used to be: I have to change myself and eat what someone else says I "should" eat because it's "good for me." Now, my mindset is: "I'm going to eat what I like, fit it into my macros/calorie allowance and make only those changes that I can make for life."

    Oh, yeah, and I work out like a beast. I used to hate lifting because I thought it was boring. I still think it's boring but in only three weeks I've seen a real change in my body composition and I "likey"!! :glasses:

    Lastly, I don't rely on the scale alone. I take measurements every week. I thought I had plateaued recently because the scale wasn't moving, so I took my measurements and was pleased to find that I'd dropped about 2 inches from my waist, an inch from each thigh and added to my biceps and calves. It's all muscle. I can tell because I can see the definition.

    :flowerforyou:

    [edited for typo]
  • mlh37214
    mlh37214 Posts: 517 Member
    Admittedly, I haven't read through all the responses on here, but here's my 2 cents.

    I think it really depends on how much you have to lose. If you were 300 lbs overweight with that goal, yes, totally doable. When you are getting closer to your goal, not so much. I saw the response that says losing so fast can make you look sick! That's true!! And if you go on a diet with too few calories, you will go into starvation mode and 1, lose muscle, or 2, not lose at all. Also, being too restrictive will set you up for failure. You want to do something that you can maintain.

    Keep doing what you are doing. Looks like you've got good loss going so far, Focus on how you feel, how your clothes fit, and not so much on the number!!
  • ccf_trainer
    ccf_trainer Posts: 86 Member
    There is really no limit to how much you can lose per week. I have seen people actually lose 20 lbs. in one month. All it really takes to demolish your goal is the right mindset, self-discipline, and hard work. You must sacrifice, make yourself uncomfortable, and be willing to do what you normally wouldn't want to do, and that's to continue eating clean, spend a few days per week in the gym (or just exercising, period), and give up things like partying (I'm not sure if that's what you do, just an example), watching TV, comfort foods, and sleeping in. The most important thing you need to focus on is your nutrition. If you have the right nutrition plan, which includes vitamins and supplements, your daily intake of proteins, and the right amount of calories, you are golden. 90 pounds in 7 months is very attainable. As I've been saying to a few people on here, "There is NO GOAL that can't be reached."
  • links_slayer
    links_slayer Posts: 1,151 Member
    It was a shake only diet. well shakes and vegetables. they also had entrees i could eat.

    lol...shake only diet...plus veggies...plus entrees.

    i'm a vegetarian...except i eat beef....and chicken....and pork.
  • scubasuenc
    scubasuenc Posts: 626 Member
    I am not a fan of setting a goal to lose X lbs by a certain date. Because weight loss isn't linear and we are not perfect it is quite possible to miss that goal. For me, if I was X -5 lbs by that date, I would see that as a failure instead of focusing on all of the weight I had lost.

    Losing 90lbs in 7 months is going to be difficult to do and remain healthy. You might be able to achieve it under a medically supervised diet, but for doing it on your own, I think it is unrealistic.

    I started at 310 and have lost 75 lbs in 6 months. Initially I was losing over 2lbs per week, but eventually I started getting tired and was unable to recover from my exercise. After I had a lot of data, I realized I was eating less than half of what I needed. I slowly increased calories. Now I'm eating about 1700 calories per day and still losing around 2lbs per week. The closer I get to my goal, the less I will be able to lose each week. So I expect my weekly loss to drop further in the coming weeks and months.

    Rather than focusing on a number on the scale by a certain date, why not focus on doing the best you can every day between now and then to improve your health. Set yourself a calorie goal for no more than 2lb per week weight loss, and then set yourself a goal to exercise at least 30 minutes per day. Eat some of your exercise calories back. If you do those things every day the weight will come off and so will the inches. You probably won't be at goal by your wedding day, but you will be well a long your way. You will be healthy and happy. You will also establish habits that you can live with, so that you can continue on your journey until you reach goal.
  • It was a shake only diet. well shakes and vegetables. they also had entrees i could eat.

    lol...shake only diet...plus veggies...plus entrees.

    i'm a vegetarian...except i eat beef....and chicken....and pork.

    LOL!
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    It's worth noting that the closer you are to a healthy weight, the slower the pounds come off. So, while you may "easily" lose 2 pounds a week to start that will slow down dramatically as you get smaller even if you over-restrict and over-exercise.

    As others have mentioned, quick weight loss has undesirable consequences. Increased loss of lean muscle mass means you end up smaller but, extra jiggly instead of firmer. You want to lose fat, not muscle, and fast weight loss = muscle loss. The lack of proper nutrition also means: thinning hair, brittle nails, saggier loose skin, bags under your eyes, fatigue, hanger (hungry-anger!)...and you don't want ANY of those to get in the way of feeling fabulous on your special day.

    I promise, if you are consistent from now until then, you may not reach your ultimate goal weight...but you will feel and look amazing.
  • pdxvintagette
    pdxvintagette Posts: 10 Member
    There is really no limit to how much you can lose per week. I have seen people actually lose 20 lbs. in one month. All it really takes to demolish your goal is the right mindset, self-discipline, and hard work. ..... 90 pounds in 7 months is very attainable. As I've been saying to a few people on here, "There is NO GOAL that can't be reached."

    Okay, this is just not correct. Don't listen to him, and don't pay attention to anecdotal evidence or even personal experience with weight loss that claims no limits. There IS a limit - at least, if we are just talking about fat, and it's a pretty simple mathematical equation. This equation will give you the absolute maximum that could be lost under extreme "Biggest Loser" type conditions - it's not what you should shoot for. Also, your body, not being in shape, may not work efficiently, and so it may not be possible to function at the maximum.

    Here's the equation: 290+/- 25 KJ/kg/d, (maximum energy transfer of 31 kcal per lb of fat per day)

    So take your weight and body fat percentage. Mine is currently 182 lbs, with 37% body fat. That's 67 pound of fat.
    67 lbs x 31 kcal is 2077 calories that could be released from fat cells per day. 2077 x 7 days = 14, 539 calories. Divided by 3,500 equals approximately 4lbs of weight loss a week.

    Now. That's the utter maximum of fat my body could release if it is working efficiently. Which after only one month of regular exercise, it's probably not. And would be damn near impossible to create that kind of calorie deficit. I work out A LOT. I have a gym quality elliptical and do light hand weights, as well as getting to the gym for real weights 2-3 days a week.

    But when I work out, I need to eat more. It doesn't feel good to workout that hard on only 1,200 calories. Further, I'm not staying at any one weight for all that long. After one month, I might be 6-8lbs lighter, maybe 10 in these first couple of months, right? And have a lower body fat percentage.

    By the time I'm 170, if I'm 32% body fat, the absolute maximum would be about 3lbs a week.

    And by the time I'm 150 at 28% or so, the absolute max will be 2.5 lbs a week. By 140 at 25%, 2lbs is the max. Which means I'll probably struggle a bit to lose 1lb a week as I near my goal.

    Remember that you'll go through plateaus. I know my body well enough to know that the 160s are going to be hard to break out of for me.

    Finally, I sell vintage clothing, and I carry a lot of wedding dresses. Wedding dresses from that era are very small, as women married younger, and the obesity epidemic hadn't hit yet. I mean 24"-26" waist pieces. I have a lot of experience with brides asking me "I weight X amount, and I'm working out a lot. Can I fit this dress for my wedding?" I tell them not to buy it. I tell them to lose weight for themselves, and not for an event. Your guests, your groom will all think you look beautiful on your wedding day as long as you are healthy and happy.

    I recommend working on losing weight at a healthy rate until about 5 weeks before the wedding, and then going on maintenance. You do NOT want the extra expense of a last-minute 48 hour dress alteration. It's a common price gouge in the industry. I recommend avoiding strapless dresses, as these are the most likely to be problematic if there is a weight change - falling down if it's too large, or pinching under the arms in an unattractive way if it's too tight.

    Be good to yourself. Remember that your smile is more important than your waistline that day. The waistline can continue to come into shape in time. Give yourself an attainable goal that says - this is for me, and not for anyone else.

    Good luck to you, and congratulations.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    i lost 84 in 6 months. so it can be done.
    I think it's VERY important to realize that men and women just do not lose weight at the same rates. I'm not saying that men have it easy, but pound for pound, yes, in general for men the pounds come off faster and easier.

    Men are typically larger, and almost always have a higher % of muscle...and both of those things lead to faster weight loss...I wish more men would take this into account when replying to women's posts.
  • GiveMeCoffee
    GiveMeCoffee Posts: 3,556 Member
    It's taken me 16 months to lose 106 lbs and I started at 285 lbs. Keep it with a reasonable calorie deficit, do resistance training and you will look wonderful for your wedding.

    Don't put a set amount of lbs to lose by a specific date, and don't overly restrict or do anything drastic that will make it more difficult.

    7 months time is a good amount of time to make a big difference doing it a healthy way.