After 6 months of maintaining, how quickly can I try to lose weight again?

lauramillat
lauramillat Posts: 41 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello,

First of all, I am a 5' 6" and 25 year old female. Since highschool I have been trying to lose weight and along the way I figured out how to do it SAFLEY (slowly). I made it to about 130 lbs and have been maintaining for the past 6 months to a year.

My question is, how quickly should I try to lose weight again? Is it ok to lose by a deficit of about 250 cals a day? Or should I do it more slowly by about 100 cals a day?

My goal right now is to lose body fat and get down to about 18%. I think I am currently around 23%.

Please note that everyday I DO track how much protein I eat, I get atleast 1g per lb of bodyweight every day. I will also continue my weight training and walking.

Thanks!

Replies

  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    No need to wait. Start today. 250 calorie deficient from your maintenance is perfect. Your plan is pretty sound.

    Go for it!
  • nathan_haveagoodday
    nathan_haveagoodday Posts: 38 Member
    I would say a 100 calorie a day deficit is too low mainly because your margin of error for calorie counting needs to be higher. Even if you weigh your food exactly and get the right nutrition information there is a 20% deviance allowed by law on the labels. A 250 calorie deficit is much more forgiving.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    1-2lbs per week
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    1-2lbs per week

    I disagree, with only a few lbs left to lose 0.5 lbs/week (250 cal/day) would be ideal. If you follow TDEE do TDEE -15%
  • lauramillat
    lauramillat Posts: 41 Member
    I agree with the 0.5 lb mark. Thanks!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • itschanelle
    itschanelle Posts: 86 Member
    Why not strength train first to add some muscle and then cut to lean out? Depending on your current muscle mass, fat loss still might not get you to the physique you have in your mind.
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited May 2015
    I'm getting ready to also go back into a short period of weight loss (I prefer to be leaner in the summer and then relax a bit during the fall/winter). I'm also 5ft, 6in and my current maintenance range is 120-125lbs I'll be adjusting that down to a new maintenance range of 118-121lbs (low point for a healthy bmi for my height). I'll be working towards a .5lb per week loss.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    erickirb wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    1-2lbs per week

    I disagree, with only a few lbs left to lose 0.5 lbs/week (250 cal/day) would be ideal. If you follow TDEE do TDEE -15%

    Assuming exercise, TDEE-15% would be more than 0.5 lbs. And at a 1200 calorie diet, there is plenty of room for more than 1 lb.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    erickirb wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    1-2lbs per week

    I disagree, with only a few lbs left to lose 0.5 lbs/week (250 cal/day) would be ideal. If you follow TDEE do TDEE -15%

    Assuming exercise, TDEE-15% would be more than 0.5 lbs. And at a 1200 calorie diet, there is plenty of room for more than 1 lb.

    What? How do you know that? I'm 5'4" and about the same weight as her. With no cardio, my TDEE is 1800-1900 calories.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    erickirb wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    1-2lbs per week

    I disagree, with only a few lbs left to lose 0.5 lbs/week (250 cal/day) would be ideal. If you follow TDEE do TDEE -15%

    Assuming exercise, TDEE-15% would be more than 0.5 lbs. And at a 1200 calorie diet, there is plenty of room for more than 1 lb.

    What? How do you know that? I'm 5'4" and about the same weight as her. With no cardio, my TDEE is 1800-1900 calories.

    For some reason, the TDEE estimator I used puts her numbers lower than yours. At this rate, we'll have her losing at 2 lbs a week yet.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    OP, you should be fine to jump into a 250 calorie deficit. 100 won't do much, too much room for error. Congrats. I'm taking a break before I dip into the 120's as well.
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