My trainer wants me to lose 79lbs in a year

Looking at it from a bit of a different perspective, would you be depressed if you lost 75 lbs in a year? 50lbs? The point is to get healthy and while 79lbs is very doable, it would be a huge success to lose 50lbs in a year and be happier and healthier! Just do your best, give it everything you have and if at the end you can say to yourself "I did everything I could!" be happy with whatever the number is! Good luck!

I don't know that I would say don't focus on the number - you shouldn't let the number defeat you, but you should focus on your weight when you have a sizable amount to lose. Honestly I'm always flabbergasted by people that say they've been working out and exercising for the last year or three, they've lost 15 pounds and they're still obese. If you're going to put in the effort and sacrifice, at least get some results out of it. At the end of the day, focusing on your health means getting your weight in a healthy range.

But the problem with focusing on the number is you can do everything right and not drop the pounds expected. And then you get disappointed and give up. If you focus on the process, the weight will come off.

Of course, track calories, exercise, drop calories as you drop pounds. But if you set a goal to lose 10 pounds in a month and only lose 5, you're going to be upset. If you set a goal to eat right and exercise and you lose 5, you'll be thrilled.

I disagree. If I'm focused on the process and I ignore changes in my weight (or lack thereof), I may sit spinning my wheels for months at a time, because I needed to make a change to my process (as evidenced by my lack of weight loss) but I didn't. What you log and what you burn are only part of the equation - the other half is your results.

You should focus on the numbers if you want to ensure results, but you need to do so in a rational manner and not get all emotional about it when you don't lose what you expected to lose. If I go for a month with no weight loss, that's not a reason to get all emo and quit - that means I need to adjust my process by dropping my calories and/or adjusting my exercise routine. Honestly if you're going to get emotional and quit because you lost 5 pounds instead of 10 in a month, I'd wager you're going to get emotional and quit regardless of what you focus on.

I don't know that I would say don't focus on the number - you shouldn't let the number defeat you, but you should focus on your weight when you have a sizable amount to lose. Honestly I'm always flabbergasted by people that say they've been working out and exercising for the last year or three, they've lost 15 pounds and they're still obese. If you're going to put in the effort and sacrifice, at least get some results out of it. At the end of the day, focusing on your health means getting your weight in a healthy range.

But the problem with focusing on the number is you can do everything right and not drop the pounds expected. And then you get disappointed and give up. If you focus on the process, the weight will come off.

Of course, track calories, exercise, drop calories as you drop pounds. But if you set a goal to lose 10 pounds in a month and only lose 5, you're going to be upset. If you set a goal to eat right and exercise and you lose 5, you'll be thrilled.

I disagree. If I'm focused on the process and I ignore changes in my weight (or lack thereof), I may sit spinning my wheels for months at a time, because I needed to make a change to my process (as evidenced by my lack of weight loss) but I didn't. What you log and what you burn are only part of the equation - the other half is your results.

You should focus on the numbers if you want to ensure results, but you need to do so in a rational manner and not get all emotional about it when you don't lose what you expected to lose. If I go for a month with no weight loss, that's not a reason to get all emo and quit - that means I need to adjust my process by dropping my calories and/or adjusting my exercise routine. Honestly if you're going to get emotional and quit because you lost 5 pounds instead of 10 in a month, I'd wager you're going to get emotional and quit regardless of what you focus on.

Well, the advice I gave worked for me and the OP is overwhelmed by the numbers.

I dropped 32 pounds in 12 weeks and kept it off right up until my thyroid went haywire. Now I can't lose no matter what I do, but I continue exercising and eating right, regardless of the scale and haven't given up.

Telling someone who's already overwhelmed by a number that she has to focus on that number isn't helpful.

I lost 78lb in 7 months... I was 210lb when I started. You think it's hard now? I'd never NEVER exercised in my life & NEVER eaten less than I burnt unless I was sick. I still workout daily (almost 1000 days now) and still eat less than I burn.

Still think that it is hard? Be overwhelmed..... cause you were not to begin with.

I don't know that I would say don't focus on the number - you shouldn't let the number defeat you, but you should focus on your weight when you have a sizable amount to lose. Honestly I'm always flabbergasted by people that say they've been working out and exercising for the last year or three, they've lost 15 pounds and they're still obese. If you're going to put in the effort and sacrifice, at least get some results out of it. At the end of the day, focusing on your health means getting your weight in a healthy range.

But the problem with focusing on the number is you can do everything right and not drop the pounds expected. And then you get disappointed and give up. If you focus on the process, the weight will come off.

Of course, track calories, exercise, drop calories as you drop pounds. But if you set a goal to lose 10 pounds in a month and only lose 5, you're going to be upset. If you set a goal to eat right and exercise and you lose 5, you'll be thrilled.

I disagree. If I'm focused on the process and I ignore changes in my weight (or lack thereof), I may sit spinning my wheels for months at a time, because I needed to make a change to my process (as evidenced by my lack of weight loss) but I didn't. What you log and what you burn are only part of the equation - the other half is your results.

You should focus on the numbers if you want to ensure results, but you need to do so in a rational manner and not get all emotional about it when you don't lose what you expected to lose. If I go for a month with no weight loss, that's not a reason to get all emo and quit - that means I need to adjust my process by dropping my calories and/or adjusting my exercise routine. Honestly if you're going to get emotional and quit because you lost 5 pounds instead of 10 in a month, I'd wager you're going to get emotional and quit regardless of what you focus on.

Well, the advice I gave worked for me and the OP is overwhelmed by the numbers.

I dropped 32 pounds in 12 weeks and kept it off right up until my thyroid went haywire. Now I can't lose no matter what I do, but I continue exercising and eating right, regardless of the scale and haven't given up.

Telling someone who's already overwhelmed by a number that she has to focus on that number isn't helpful.

I honestly see where both of you are coming from... on the one hand that number is awfully overwhelming and focusing on it can be difficult, but on the other hand if I don't focus on it and just feel healthier if I don't actually lose anything at the end of the day I'm still technically morbidly obese(even though I don't look it -_-) according to bmi and in a danger zone.

i might just need to find my happy medium on this one.

I'm not saying don't look at the number. I'm saying that if you're doing everything you can and you don't meet a specific numerical goal in a specific amount of time, have some perspective.

You really CANNOT control that. You can have a perfect week and see the scale go up or not move at all. It might then drop 5 pounds the next week.

I'm saying focus on the things you can actually control. If they aren't moving the scale, change them. But to set a goal of a specific amount of weight to lose in a specific amount of time is discouraging because it may not happen no matter how perfect you are in your methods. Are you going to be upset if you lose 50 pounds in that amount of time instead of 79 when you did everything you could to lose 79? You still lost 50!

It's possible. I have a success story that was posted in our local paper where I had a client who was 370lbs and is now 280lbs in one year's time. No dieting, no special programs.Just train with me and I told him to get the MFP app and track his calories. Along with his weight loss, he lowered all the doses on his BP meds and insulin.



A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

One thing that helped me get started, was googling weight loss success stories and reading stories about people similar to me as far as age and weight.

I don't know your starting point, but you can do it. I lost 130 pounds in 13 months. Some days/weeks were easier than others, but just keep working at it, don't beat yourself up if you gain at some point, just keep working toward the ultimate goal.

ETA: Keep your smaller goal of 30 pounds by Christmas, once you reach the 30 pounds set another smaller goal, ever 10 pounds or 20 pounds, whatever you feel will keep you motivated. Sometimes the ultimate goal can be daunting, but the smaller ones seem doable and then they add up.

Even if you try and fail, you're still that much closer. Just keep swimming

He must be crazy. Ugh I know it's possible but honestly I haven't been even under 200lbs since middle school. I'm terrified that I won't make it, and worse that I'll make it and still hate the way I look.
So far I'm keeping my goal at 30 lbs by Christmas. Cardio 6 days a week and lifting 3 days a week. Also, low carb high protein focused.

Boy I don't want to fail... :frown:

Just do it!!!! You will surprise yourself.... positive thinking

When losing a lot a weight in one year, you should definitely consult your doctors as well. Losing a lot of weight fast can put strain on your heart causing a lot of issues, mainly heart diseases and failures. Thats why its better to lose weight at no more than 2 pds a week. You can definitely do it with a lot of will power, I would just say make sure your doing it in a healthy way

When losing a lot a weight in one year, you should definitely consult your doctors as well. Losing a lot of weight fast can put strain on your heart causing a lot of issues, mainly heart diseases and failures. Thats why its better to lose weight at no more than 2 pds a week. You can definitely do it with a lot of will power, I would just say make sure your doing it in a healthy way

79/52=1.52 pounds per week.

You can do it and so can I! I joined a gym mid-July and did not drop any weight the first month. I started tracking my food with MFP and realize why the weight was not coming off. One dinner out to eat was the same calorie count that would take 3 Zumba classes to burn off! It was an eye opening experience for me. I am now eating high protein, low carb, and making healthier choices if I go out to eat. I've lost 8 lbs in three weeks and have a goal to loose 30 by Christmas. We can do it!