Advice for losing 20 pounds in 10 weeks?

My starting weight is 163, and my goal weight is 140 for the time being. I'm working out each Thursday with the local marines recruitment office. 2 people left for basic training today and will finish on 10 weeks. My goal is to be at my required weight of 140 when they come back. This is 2 pounds a week, which is ideal weight loss I believe. I can't really run very far but I love riding my bike but I don't typically ride it everyday. What kind've advice do you guys suggest for me to make my weight loss a reality? Thanks :)

Replies

  • PJPrimrose
    PJPrimrose Posts: 916 Member
    They have a calorie count for 2lbs a week on here. See if it works. BTW, the military will measure you for BMI if you are over on the scales. It's easier to get down in inches than in pounds for many people. Good luck!
  • loubidy
    loubidy Posts: 440 Member
    2lbs a week is not "ideal" it is the maximum recommended. You are close to your goal therefore a loss of 2lb a week will be very difficult, yes doable but you will need to be strict and there is a fine line between healthy and unhealthy.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    My starting weight is 163, and my goal weight is 140 for the time being. I'm working out each Thursday with the local marines recruitment office. 2 people left for basic training today and will finish on 10 weeks. My goal is to be at my required weight of 140 when they come back. This is 2 pounds a week, which is ideal weight loss I believe. I can't really run very far but I love riding my bike but I don't typically ride it everyday. What kind've advice do you guys suggest for me to make my weight loss a reality? Thanks :)

    2 pounds a week is ideal for someone who is more than 75 pounds overweight.

    Losing weight (too) quickly is a bad idea for a few reasons.
    1. Lowering your daily calories by 1,000 makes it difficult to get proper nutrition even if your diet is perfect
    2. Really large deficits make you more likely to binges.
    3. Really large deficits don't support lean muscle.

    Set a moderate goal......eat the best you can.....move more. Just do the best you can with the time frame you have.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    They have a calorie count for 2lbs a week on here.

    ...............It's called 1200 or MFP's lowest DEFAULT minimum.

    Anyone can set their goal to 2 pounds a week.... that doesn't make it feasible. A 2 pound a week loss is 1,000 calories a day deficit. This deficit for me would look like this.............

    1700 TDEE less 1000 = 700 daily calories. This is dangerous
  • oxers
    oxers Posts: 259 Member
    It's been said, but yeah, if your goal is only 20 pounds, losing two a week is super, super aggressive and mostly unnecessary. I'd focus more on overall health and some serious toning, which means resistance and lifting. Taking pounds off is one thing, but weights will help give you the body composition you're looking for. Don't hurt yourself, though! Take it slow, sweet pea :]
  • Well thing is that's the bare minimum for my height and age
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    eat in a calorie deficit..

    /end thread
  • My weight is supposed to be between 110 and 125 but I want to be 120
  • agent99oz
    agent99oz Posts: 185 Member
    Take your measurements firstly - scale and with a tape measure.
    If you want to have a 1200 a day calorie limit then your net must be 1200 a day - nothing less
    Protein is your friend - have this for breakfast and with meals, snacks etc
    Include good carbs, quinoa, vege's etc
    Eat whole foods, not too many packaged meals, snacks - these contain hidden sugars, sodium etc
    Weight train and include some HITT in your cardio training
    Weigh and measure all your food
    Drink water
    Sleep more

    And that's pretty much it....also the scale is an evil thing, I have lost a lot of CM's and no weight in 7 weeks.

    Good luck :smile: