20 lbs in 30 days, who's with me?!

Folger5
Folger5 Posts: 15 Member
in Introduce Yourself
I'm 33 and 40 lbs overweight since giving birth to my first child in November 2014. I'm tired of not being able to wear any of my post-pregnancy clothes and want to kickstart a lifestyle change. I've decided to challenge myself during the month of March - attempting to lose 20 lbs! WHAT?! :wink:

Here's my plan....

1) Saturday 3/1 I cut down my daily calories to 1200 (not including the calories in fresh fruits and veggies before every meal). I've read a good way to start is to eat 2 fruits and/or veggies before your 300 or less calorie meal. Those raw rabbit foods go uncounted and help fill you up. Paired with a glass of water, the 300 calorie meal should feel more satisfying. (BTW - I found some GREAT 300 or less meals online today). I can eat up to 4-300 calorie meals per day, trying to consume them before 7:00 each night with no food until the next morning. Essentially my body will fast for about 12 hours per day.

2) Next, I vow to work out at least 5 times a week for at least 45 minutes. (I'm signed up for a 10k at the end of March so some of my workouts will be jogging/running). I'll combine with at least 1-2 days of weight-training and other cardio activities (BodyStep, BodyJam).

3) No Alcohol!

4) 30-day Squat and Plank Challenge. I've decided, in addition to my 45-min workouts 5x or more per week, that I want to also commit to a Squat and Plank Challenge that I found online. I figured I will do this after work at the end of each day and get my step-kids involved in helping to push me along, time my planks and be there for high-fives when we get it done!

5) Daily logging on my food diary. (My diary is open!)

5) Take a before and after photo and only allow myself to weigh every Saturday. While I'm taking this as a 30-day challenge, I want to focus on a Saturday to Saturday schedule and feel confident as I successfully complete another full week.

Would love any supportive MFP friends! Hit me up if you want to!

Replies

  • MSouthernbelle87
    MSouthernbelle87 Posts: 63 Member
    I'm with you! I logged daily! :)
  • GreenIceFloes
    GreenIceFloes Posts: 1,491 Member
    edited March 2015
    One does not lose 20 lbs in 30 days in a manner that is even close to healthy or not in the neighborhood of downright unhealthy. Lose at a rate of not more than 1-1.5 lbs/week for your first 20 lbs.
    Stick to the calorie limit MFP assigns you. Measure/weigh and log every single bite you put into your mouth, including rabbit food. Eat back at least half your exercise calories.
    Don't demonize foods / food groups; e.g. some foods might make you bloat up and some might cause you to lose bloat - remember, this is just bloat, not fat (water weight, glycogen stores etc.). Hit your macro and micro targets best you can.
    I repeat, don't lose weight at a rate that is any faster than 1-1.5 lbs/week, and 0.5 lb/week for the last 15-20 lbs. This will cause you to lose muscle. Not only is it unhealthy to lose LBM, but it also makes you end up looking saggy and soft. Incorporate lifting into your routine. Slow and steady wins the race!
    All the best to you! :)

    ETA: Indulging in some alcohol once in a while isn't a bad thing, long as you stay within your calorie limits. If you restrict yourself too much with respect to anything, be it carbs or fried food or chocolate or whatever, you will end up overindulging the first chance you get once it becomes too much for you to handle. The point is to make the process sustainable and long-term, or a 'lifestyle'.
  • AlexanderLeRitz
    AlexanderLeRitz Posts: 33 Member
    GreenIceFloes wrote: »
    One does not lose 20 lbs in 30 days in a manner that is even close to healthy or not in the neighborhood of downright unhealthy. Lose at a rate of not more than 1-1.5 lbs/week for your first 20 lbs.
    Stick to the calorie limit MFP assigns you. Measure/weigh and log every single bite you put into your mouth, including rabbit food. Eat back at least half your exercise calories.
    Don't demonize foods / food groups; e.g. some foods might make you bloat up and some might cause you to lose bloat - remember, this is just bloat, not fat (water weight, glycogen stores etc.). Hit your macro and micro targets best you can.
    I repeat, don't lose weight at a rate that is any faster than 1-1.5 lbs/week, and 0.5 lb/week for the last 15-20 lbs. This will cause you to lose muscle. Not only is it unhealthy to lose LBM, but it also makes you end up looking saggy and soft. Incorporate lifting into your routine. Slow and steady wins the race!
    All the best to you! :)

    ETA: Indulging in some alcohol once in a while isn't a bad thing, long as you stay within your calorie limits. If you restrict yourself too much with respect to anything, be it carbs or fried food or chocolate or whatever, you will end up overindulging the first chance you get once it becomes too much for you to handle. The point is to make the process sustainable and long-term, or a 'lifestyle'.

    ^^^^this. GreenIceFloes is absolutely right in every bit of what was written above. I'm stoked you're so motivated and ambitious but make sure you lose weight the healthy way !
  • italiamommy
    italiamommy Posts: 3 Member
    I'm trying to loose 30 lbs by June! So realistically I'm trying to loose 2lbs a week on a 1200 cal diet ;)...after 2 babies I'm ready to be my pre pregnancy weight again! I also am the maid of honour for my sisters wedding and want to look good
  • bnorris2013
    bnorris2013 Posts: 256 Member
    I knew this generally isn't safe to do but if you're at almost 300 pounds could it be reasonable that you could lose 5 pounds a week
  • angelica820608
    angelica820608 Posts: 1 Member
    edited May 2015
    I am in the same boat as you. I had my son in November 2014 and put on the pounds while on bedrest. I have been exercising and eating a lot better but I can't get it gone!
    I understand the urge to get it gone quick. But it didn't come on over night so it's not going to leave that way. Or atleAst that's what I'm told. Good luck!
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,189 Member
    edited May 2015
    I'd be interested to know of OP's progress, given this thread is now some 3 months old.
  • Gabyleon6
    Gabyleon6 Posts: 9 Member
    I am with you:) my daughter was born in January 2014 but she was a c section so I wasn't able to start right away :/ I tried and I end up hurting myself ! but here I am again !! hoping to get to my regular size
  • GreenIceFloes
    GreenIceFloes Posts: 1,491 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    I'd be interested to know of OP's progress, given this thread is now some 3 months old.

    Unfortunately, OP has disappeared without a trace. Wonder why. :unamused:
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,189 Member
    GreenIceFloes wrote: »
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    I'd be interested to know of OP's progress, given this thread is now some 3 months old.

    Unfortunately, OP has disappeared without a trace. Wonder why. :unamused:

    That's what I thought....
  • MarziPanda95
    MarziPanda95 Posts: 1,326 Member
    edited May 2015
    bnorris2013 wrote: »
    I knew this generally isn't safe to do but if you're at almost 300 pounds could it be reasonable that you could lose 5 pounds a week

    Even at almost 300lbs, 5lbs a week isn't healthy. That's only really safe for really morbidly obese people, like 400+. At 300lbs 3lbs a week is probably doable though. Perhaps 4lbs some weeks, but that's pushing it. 2lbs a week is still safest for someone that weight.

    ETA: the (now vanished) OP is only 40lbs overweight, so it's very very unlikely that she's anywhere near pushing 300lbs.

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