How fast can I safely lose weight?

I've been slowly losing 20 pounds over the past 6 months. I just got accepted for a MAKE-OVER in a national magazine!!! It is scheduled for May 30th. I want to get down another 15 pounds that will stay off after they buy me a new wardrobe. HELP!!!

Replies

  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Not as quickly as you put it on. It is a bummer, you don't want to lose it too quickly.
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    you can lose 3-4lbs a week, when i was losing weight and in the 210's - 220's i was able to lose weight at 3-4lbs a week, i had to eat perfect, lift and do cardio, but the pounds can fly off (im 205 right now, so it's not like i was very far away while in the 210-225 range).
  • HerkMeOff
    HerkMeOff Posts: 1,002 Member
    Safely?

    1-2lbs a week.
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    You are not going to lose 15 lbs by May 30th.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    todays the 7th.

    do you maybe mean like august/september?
  • Serah87
    Serah87 Posts: 5,481 Member
    Sorry OP, not going to happen. Be happy with what you do lose. :flowerforyou:
  • suziepoo1984
    suziepoo1984 Posts: 915 Member
    2-3 pounds maximum i guess
  • HerkMeOff
    HerkMeOff Posts: 1,002 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Good for you.
  • MBrothers22
    MBrothers22 Posts: 323 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Safely means without the POSSIBILITY of:

    Dizziness, and just in general feeling like crap
    Muscle loss
    Inability to keep the weight off

    Those are just the big 3 that come to my mind but I'm sure there's other possible negatives in losing too much too fast
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Safely means without the POSSIBILITY of:

    Dizziness, and just in general feeling like crap
    Muscle loss
    Inability to keep the weight off

    Those are just the big 3 that come to my mind but I'm sure there's other possible negatives in losing too much too fast

    i went from 260 to 200 in 6 months, never was dizzy, full of energy, i was stronger at 200 than at 260 and i kept it off quite easily. I think too many people make these generic assumptions. I get you may lose some muscle mass while in a deficit but if you'll be fine.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    OP, if you come up with some crazy crash diet, you'll just gain the weight back after the makeover and none of your new clothes will fit anyway! Keep doing what you've been doing, before and after the makeover, and find a good tailor. You'll end up with sustainable, lasting weightloss and a custom-fitted brand-new wardrobe.
  • I've heard that the general rule of thumb is to try not to lose more than 1% of your body weight per week. So if you are 250lbs, that means 2.5-ish lbs is healthy. But if you are 150lbs, you shouldn't try to lose more than 1.5lbs per week.

    Disclaimer: Not an expert.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    If you have 75+ lbs to lose 2 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 40-75 lbs to lose 1.5 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 25-40 lbs to lose 1 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have 15 -25 lbs to lose 0.5 to 1.0 lbs/week is ideal
    If you have less than 15 lbs to lose 0.5 lbs/week is ideal
  • MBrothers22
    MBrothers22 Posts: 323 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Safely means without the POSSIBILITY of:

    Dizziness, and just in general feeling like crap
    Muscle loss
    Inability to keep the weight off

    Those are just the big 3 that come to my mind but I'm sure there's other possible negatives in losing too much too fast

    i went from 260 to 200 in 6 months, never was dizzy, full of energy, i was stronger at 200 than at 260 and i kept it off quite easily. I think too many people make these generic assumptions. I get you may lose some muscle mass while in a deficit but if you'll be fine.

    Did I not capitalize the word POSSIBILITY enough for you the first time?
  • rekite2000
    rekite2000 Posts: 218 Member
    Get clothes that fit you at that time and find a great seamstress to take in the clothes. Most well made clothes can be taken in. Much easier than trying to lose the weight fast.
  • tworthen79
    tworthen79 Posts: 1,173 Member
    I never will understand why people are such in a hurry. Yes, it took me 13 mos to drop 58lbs. Six months for 30lbs. This isn't a race. Slow down, eat at a deficit, keep moving and love the middle because we all live there until the end.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    It's a rote, standard answer that people rattle off, most with no actual experience.

    I've "safely" lost slow, and I've "safely" lost fast.

    How fast is safe for any given person? Depends on the person.
  • ruthejp13
    ruthejp13 Posts: 213 Member
    where is my quote?

    agree with the person who defined safely.

    I lost a 5 pounds a week for about 3 + weeks about 10 years ago and kept it off. But that was starting from scratch. Because I've already lost weight and have been eating nutritionally for the past decade I don't see any hope of that fast. I've done a modified healthier version of Atkins in the past. The 6 months was on a medical study that had me on 1500 calories and 43 grams of fat.
  • HerkMeOff
    HerkMeOff Posts: 1,002 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Safely means without the POSSIBILITY of:

    Dizziness, and just in general feeling like crap
    Muscle loss
    Inability to keep the weight off

    Those are just the big 3 that come to my mind but I'm sure there's other possible negatives in losing too much too fast

    i went from 260 to 200 in 6 months, never was dizzy, full of energy, i was stronger at 200 than at 260 and i kept it off quite easily. I think too many people make these generic assumptions. I get you may lose some muscle mass while in a deficit but if you'll be fine.

    Did I not capitalize the word POSSIBILITY enough for you the first time?

    Apparently not.
  • ruthejp13
    ruthejp13 Posts: 213 Member
    find a good tailor. You'll end up with sustainable, lasting weightloss and a custom-fitted brand-new wardrobe.

    nice suggestion!
  • iggyboo93
    iggyboo93 Posts: 524 Member
    If you look like the "after photo" on your profile - I wouldn't worry too much about the show. You look beautiful! :flowerforyou: Suggest continue what you are doing with eating well and exercising. Maybe throw in a few more workouts if you have time. Enjoy the makeover!
  • ruthejp13
    ruthejp13 Posts: 213 Member
    If you look like the "after photo" on your profile - I wouldn't worry too much about the show. You look beautiful! :flowerforyou: Suggest continue what you are doing with eating well and exercising. Maybe throw in a few more workouts if you have time. Enjoy the makeover!

    Thank you for the compliment. Surprisingly those are not my highest and lowest weights. My goal is to get under OBESE by the time of the show. I also plan on growing an inch - ha ha.
  • sokkache
    sokkache Posts: 220 Member
    It took me nearly 3 months to lose 10 pounds. You could do some really quick fixes beforehand like the body heat wrap thing but those only last for a couple of days and then you can get back on track and lose at a healthy rate.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    you can lose 3-4lbs a week, when i was losing weight and in the 210's - 220's i was able to lose weight at 3-4lbs a week, i had to eat perfect, lift and do cardio, but the pounds can fly off (im 205 right now, so it's not like i was very far away while in the 210-225 range).
    That's only for an obese person when the risk of losing weight outweighs the risk of being obese. This girl has already list 20 of her 37 pounds left.

    OP, congratsxon your accomplishments. However, since you have so little left to lose, .5 lbs per wee about right.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    2-3 pounds maximum i guess
    No. She has only 17 pounds select to lose.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Safety losing weight means to have no excess skin left over after the weight loss.
  • ruthejp13
    ruthejp13 Posts: 213 Member
    you can lose 3-4lbs a week, when i was losing weight and in the 210's - 220's i was able to lose weight at 3-4lbs a week, i had to eat perfect, lift and do cardio, but the pounds can fly off (im 205 right now, so it's not like i was very far away while in the 210-225 range).
    That's only for an obese person when the risk of losing weight outweighs the risk of being obese. This girl has already list 20 of her 37 pounds left.

    OP, congratsxon your accomplishments. However, since you have so little left to lose, .5 lbs per wee about right.

    Actually, my goal is just to go from obese to overweight. I am still 50+ pounds over my ideal weight which I have no intention of getting to. My highest weight was 37 pounds more than now. But I did 10 pounds in a couple months and stayed that for a year, then lost another 10 and again kept most of it off for a year before I started on this bout of weight loss.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    what does safely supposed to mean? I lost much faster than that, didn't die, didn't lose an arm, no brain damage......

    Safely means without the POSSIBILITY of:

    Dizziness, and just in general feeling like crap
    Muscle loss
    Inability to keep the weight off

    Those are just the big 3 that come to my mind but I'm sure there's other possible negatives in losing too much too fast

    i went from 260 to 200 in 6 months, never was dizzy, full of energy, i was stronger at 200 than at 260 and i kept it off quite easily. I think too many people make these generic assumptions. I get you may lose some muscle mass while in a deficit but if you'll be fine.

    Active young people can lose weight much quicker. That is why it worked for you.