Is it safe to lose 20 pounds a month?

kenshin001
kenshin001 Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
So I'm trying to lose 20 pounds per month 40 in 2 months. I started About 5 days ago and some how ive lost. Granted the first 2-3 days i barely ate going through some depression but thats another story. Anyways i just want to know if its safe along with some healthy eating which i did start 2 days ago. And is it even possible. I am Currently at 304 i started at around 317(lost some before with some healthy eating) my goal is to lose the 40 by september 4-7. So is it safe?

Also i forgot to add. I plan on slowing it down after the 40 like 10-12 a month because i know losing it all too fast can cause loose skin.

Height is 5'8
Working out twice a day 6 days a week
11am i do cardio some p90x stuff
11pm i do my best to run 3 miles with out fainting lol

Replies

  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    So I'm trying to lose 20 pounds per month 40 in 2 months. I started About 5 days ago and some how ive lost. Granted the first 2-3 days i barely ate going through some depression but thats another story. Anyways i just want to know if its safe along with some healthy eating which i did start 2 days ago. And is it even possible. I am Currently at 304 i started at around 317(lost some before with some healthy eating) my goal is to lose the 40 by september 4-7. So is it safe?

    Also i forgot to add. I plan on slowing it down after the 40 like 10-12 a month because i know losing it all too fast can cause loose skin.

    How tall are you?

    You may be able to lose 20 lbs the first month "safely" at your current weight, but you want that loss to be sustainable, right? Even with losing 2 lbs per week, which is the most that MFP recommends that you lose per week, you should only expect to lose about 8 lbs per month. Which is perfectly reasonable. I would suggest looking at your success more in the long run, rather than having such high expectations short-term. I would also suggest reading this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • kenshin001
    kenshin001 Posts: 5
    Yea i plan on slowing down a lot more after these first 2 months i just have something important coming up in September,
    and my height is 5'8
  • FatFreeFrolicking
    FatFreeFrolicking Posts: 4,252 Member
    Nothing good usually comes from rapid weight loss.

    Try for 8-10 lbs a month instead. It's healthier.
  • jennibear22
    jennibear22 Posts: 95 Member
    The more you have to lose overall, then the more you can lose in a month. Once you get closer to goal weight, it becomes really difficult to lose huge numbers each month.

    As you weigh over 300 pounds - then yes - you maybe could lose around 20 in your first couple of months, but a lot of it will be water etc.

    I think as long as you are healthy about it and work hard at it, and don't expect it to be like that as your journey continues, then yes, it is possible.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    I would suggest aiming for 8lbs a month. If you lose more, that's great and if you don't, you won't be disappointed. The huge problem I see with aiming for such a large amount of loss in a short time period is that if the scale doesn't move the way you want it to, you might ultimately resort to unhealthy methods to try and achieve it.
  • jules1506
    jules1506 Posts: 22
    At the start I lost 2 stone within a month, which was great, but when I uped my calories to the recommended, a stone went straht back on which disheartned me and then I ended upcoming off plan and putting on another 7pounds over 6 months. Yes its possible to do what you want and I really do hope you have more determination than me :) Just be aware that you will gain when you up your calories to what you should be eating, but stick at it xx
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    It's doable for your height, but as you go down in weight you need to adjust for BMR.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ReaganP13
    ReaganP13 Posts: 35 Member
    You probably dont want to hear this, but 20 pounds in a month is do-able, but not really healthy. Judging from your height and weight, you are gonna be able to do it, but you will likely gain it back. The truth is you are over weight, the good news is you are absolutely not morbidly overweight. If you were, I would say "go for it". If you want to impress at a wedding or something like that, then I guess you could do it. If you want to do something to change your body forever, than take it a bit slower.
  • kenshin001
    kenshin001 Posts: 5
    I would suggest aiming for 8lbs a month. If you lose more, that's great and if you don't, you won't be disappointed. The huge problem I see with aiming for such a large amount of loss in a short time period is that if the scale doesn't move the way you want it to, you will ultimately resort to unhealthy methods to try and achieve it.
    Yea at the moment I'm extremely stressed and whenever I'm stressed i can barely eat. Whatever i try to eat comes right back up. But I am managing to at least push down a good 1500 calories in . This morning I ate a slice of wheat bread with some penutbutter in it and a small glass of milk.
  • kenshin001
    kenshin001 Posts: 5
    You probably dont want to hear this, but 20 pounds in a month is do-able, but not really healthy. Judging from your height and weight, you are gonna be able to do it, but you will likely gain it back. The truth is you are over weight, the good news is you are absolutely not morbidly overweight. If you were, I would say "go for it". If you want to impress at a wedding or something like that, then I guess you could do it. If you want to do something to change your body forever, than take it a bit slower.
    Yea the 2 months thing is for something like that i guess. But i do plan on going a lot slower after that . I want to get t o a normal weight so i dont want to keep losing it this fast i know it would be very unhealthy and or I'd gain it all back. So after the 2 months ill start aiming for like 10-12 pounds a month.
  • CleanUpWhatIMessedUp
    CleanUpWhatIMessedUp Posts: 206 Member
    While, it probably won't kill you to lose 20 pounds per month, it's not generally considered a good thing to do because it's hard to maintain and you may end up losing lean tissue and not just fat.

    Here is a good article on it from the mayo clinic.

    http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/weight-loss/expert-answers/fast-weight-loss/faq-20058289
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Rather than focusing on a weight loss target, why not set a reasonable calorie level and set habit based goals that you have direct control over and let the weight loss happen however it does?
  • SherryTeach
    SherryTeach Posts: 2,836 Member
    I would aim for a more moderate loss and then focus on dealing with that stress.
  • zodan1976
    zodan1976 Posts: 30 Member
    my starting weight was 270. I also started this journey on June 12th. I am now 250. So yes you can lose 20lbs in one month. But I think its because we are so heavy to begin with. I wouldn't try to loose 20 again the next month. This is just my opinion. Don't get me wrong I am so excited about my 20lb loss and I am wanting to hurry up and loose more but I am TERRIFIED of loose skin and worse gaining it all back because I did it too fast. So....anyways hope I helped a little.......
  • chargraves
    chargraves Posts: 65 Member
    Rather than focusing on a weight loss target, why not set a reasonable calorie level and set habit based goals that you have direct control over and let the weight loss happen however it does?

    ^ Absolutely this! I did not experience any real weight loss success until I turned my focus away from the scale to the things that were within my control - like exercise on a regular schedule including strength training, , 5 - 7 servings of veg/fruit a day, building more activity in my day outside of workouts, weighing and logging my food, making sure I hit protein & fiber targets, etc.

    Based on your starting stats it's possible that you could hit the 40 but you could also hit a plateau for a few weeks along the way and become discouraged. There is nothing wrong with setting a goal for yourself I would dial it back a little and keep your calories no lower than the 1800 minimum for males.
  • kenshin001
    kenshin001 Posts: 5
    Rather than focusing on a weight loss target, why not set a reasonable calorie level and set habit based goals that you have direct control over and let the weight loss happen however it does?

    ^ Absolutely this! I did not experience any real weight loss success until I turned my focus away from the scale to the things that were within my control - like exercise on a regular schedule including strength training, , 5 - 7 servings of veg/fruit a day, building more activity in my day outside of workouts, weighing and logging my food, making sure I hit protein & fiber targets, etc.

    Based on your starting stats it's possible that you could hit the 40 but you could also hit a plateau for a few weeks along the way and become discouraged. There is nothing wrong with setting a goal for yourself I would dial it back a little and keep your calories no lower than the 1800 minimum for males.
    thanks as far as hitting a wall after the 40 its fine i dont plan on losing that much per month after maybe 10 or so. But this is the most determined i have ever been.

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