Is losing 3 lbs per week a reasonable goal?

kristidann
kristidann Posts: 42
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
My 30th birthday is in 14 weeks and I would really like to be below 200 by then. In order to achieve this milestone I need to lose 3 lbs per week. Is this reasonable or considered extreme? Thanks in advance for your advice!

Replies

  • talysshade
    talysshade Posts: 273 Member
    Seems a bit extreme to me. Unless you're REALLY overweight still.. i think you should go for 2 at most.
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
    It all depends on your current weight!
    But I think you can do anything you set your mind to.
    As long as you're not starving yourself, and you maintain a healthy diet.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    Anything more than 2 per week is considered extreme and can be unhealthy unless closely monitored by your doctor.
    Is being 40 pounds lighter by your birthday worth the long term risks to your health?

    Perhaps aim for 1.5-2 per week, and see what happens. Set a goal to have the rest gone a month or 2 after your birthday.
  • kristidann
    kristidann Posts: 42
    I keep leaning that was as well. I'm 5' 7" and currently weigh 244. I started out at 260 a few months ago. However, since I started using MFP I've been losing between 1-2 pounds per week. I just keep thinking that it's so close to breaking a milistone that maybe if I pushed myself more physically I could achieve it.
  • purroxide
    purroxide Posts: 27
    If you're exercising every day & not starving yourself AND losing 3lbs/week then I'm sure that would be fine but a lot of people find (me, too, speaking from experience) that if you do it the WRONG way by eating too few calories and over-exercising, when you go back to a "normal" routine, you will put it all back on :(
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    I had a lot more than you to loose, it looks as if you want to lose 70 pounds all up - you will have to work hard at it - but can be done

    I have been losing around 5 kgs (11 pounds) every month for the past 8 months - so yes - it can be done, but you will have to work hard at it - be very dedicated both in your eating - and exercise..... and expect a few set backs along the way - and then just work harder (exercise) to get going again....

    Don't cut your calories too low - then you wont lose the weight - it has to be a combination eating right and exercise otherwise you are just going to pick it right back up when you stop....
  • janesmith1
    janesmith1 Posts: 1,511 Member
    It's possible but depends on how many calories a day you eat. 1-2 lbs per week is fantastic. Personally I am finding that eating under 1300 a day moves my scale about .5 lbs a day. You might want to try to set the MFP weight loss thing to 2 lbs a week or 1.5 and see what happens.
  • kristidann
    kristidann Posts: 42
    Thanks everyone for the advice! Since I am currently losing between 1-2 pounds per week I think I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and be happy that I am seeing results! :happy: I'll get there one day!
  • kristidann
    kristidann Posts: 42
    My total weight loss goal is 100 lbs. I'd like to see 160 again...I hate to say it but I gained 100lbs in 6 years. WOW... the crazy thing about it all is that the BMI calculator shows my "healthy' range at 130-140. I haven't seen that since I was a freshman in high school.
  • thibautseeker
    thibautseeker Posts: 69 Member
    Losing no more than 2 lbs a week is considered best and healthiest. Bear in mind that if you are also exercising that this builds muscle which weighs heavier than fat so if you wanted to set a goal for your 30th birthday I'd be more inclined to set a clothes size goal and concentrate on toning your body along with losing weight at a healthy rate. The quicker you lose it the easier it is to put back on.
  • Keto_Kueen
    Keto_Kueen Posts: 23 Member
    Hey
    ive lose n got to my goal weight 3 times in life (im 23) using crash diets...but it allncame baco plus some! For da first time ive decided im gonna make a lifestyle changebdis time coz I obeviously cudnt stay on those super low calories forever so da day I ate normal again I wud see allll plus more weight back. Dis time im plannin 1-2 lbs aweek n a have a strong feeling itll b permanent dis time! I just wanna b healthy from now on!
    So pls focus on 1-2 lbs a week. Sounds like dats wat uve decided anyways but I still wanted to comment!
    Thanx
  • MKEgal
    MKEgal Posts: 3,250 Member
    in 14 weeks and I would really like to be below 200 by then. In order to achieve this milestone I need to lose 3 lbs per week. Is this reasonable or considered extreme?
    Since you have a lot of weight to lose, it _might_ be doable, but is more than recommended & you're going to have to work very hard. Be at or below your calorie goal every day (that's total, not net), plus exercising a lot.
    Up to 2 lb would be fine, and as you get closer to goal that will drop as low as 0.5 lb per week.

    Have you read the sexypants post?
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
    the crazy thing about it all is that the BMI calculator shows my "healthy' range at 130-140. I haven't seen that since I was a freshman in high school.
    There's usually a much wider range than that.
    Here's a chart: http://www.shapeup.org/bmi/bmi6.pdf
    For my height, the green zone is 130 - 165.
    For now, I'm aiming at that top number.
    Will reassess when I get there, decide if losing a little more makes sense, would feel/look good, or if I'm OK where I am.
  • skittle316
    skittle316 Posts: 128 Member
    3lbs is fine. I lost 55lbs+ in 4 months. That's an average 12-15lbs a month and i've maintained muscle and mostly lost fat and water. The only reason why fast weight loss is bad, is muscle loss not the actual fat loss. Make sure you are eating atleast 65g of protein a day. Other than that you're fine, anyone who says loosing 10lbs a month is extreme are delusional and are following trends instead of science.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    My 30th birthday is in 14 weeks and I would really like to be below 200 by then. In order to achieve this milestone I need to lose 3 lbs per week. Is this reasonable or considered extreme?

    The guideline is 1.5% of weightloss a week. At 200+ pounds, 3 pounds/week is doable.

    Not easy, but doable.

    Good luck!
  • breefoshee
    breefoshee Posts: 398 Member
    I've read that losing 1% of your body weight is a good goal. Personally, I tried losing 3lbs a week @ 220lbs to lose a weight loss competition and I ended up falling WAYYYY off the wagon when it was done. My energy levels were so bad that all I wanted to do was sleep. I thought I could just eat 1300 calories and workout a lot but I never felt like exercising because I was always so tired. After the competition was over, I put all the weight back on plus some ( that was the beginning of this year!) and it took me a while to even have the desire to get back on track.
  • caracrawford1
    caracrawford1 Posts: 657 Member
    I understand you'd like to be under 200 by then, and I think its motivating and good for you to have a goal to strive for--but you don't want to just reach your goal and then put it back on, do you? Theres no rush. Nothing magical happens on your thirtieth birthday. You will get there. Any weight you lose is positive, you'll be lighter than your last birthday, I assume. I would aim for something that keeps you within 1-2 pounds per week loss. That way, if you lose more(which you could), that's a bonus! If you aim for something that might be difficult to do, than you might end up frustrated and as if you "failed". Good luck :)
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    The fatter you are, the easier it comes off. If you're eating healthy foods and the doctor has approved your plan and the weight comes off, yay! 3 pounds isn't bad, lol. But it isn't necessary, either.

    Follow the doctor's advice and you won't go wrong. :)
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Thanks everyone for the advice! Since I am currently losing between 1-2 pounds per week I think I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and be happy that I am seeing results! :happy: I'll get there one day!

    I think you'll find that if you focus on fueling your body appropriately and getting fit (rather than just losing scale weight), you'll be much happier with your body when you get to your goal weight.It may take longer, but it is definitely worth it. :smile:
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    I will never understand the whole "I need to lose X lbs before this date" thing.

    If you needed to lose by that date .... you should have started earlier.

    Period.

    To answer your ? ... possible. But then so is gaining it all back after too. Fast weight loss from what I have seen is seldom maintainable .. as the people involved seldom learn how to maintain and maintaining it is harder than losing it.
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