Realistic to lose 50 lbs in 5 months?

fitjerseygirl
fitjerseygirl Posts: 76 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
I am getting married on October 10th (yay!) and I really want to get back to my "fighting weight" which was (sigh) about 50 lbs ago. I used MFP with a lot of success in the past along with running multiple times a week - but life changes, stress and injury got me sidetracked. Now, I don't have the time or ability (knee and ankle issues) to run like I used to - so, I want to know is it possible for me to lose 50 lbs in 5 months?

I am 37, female, 5'6" and currently around 228 lbs. I do a good bit of walking everyday and I am aiming to keep my calories at around 1,200.

Thanks!
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Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    Possible, yes. Realistic? Probably not.

    You can probably lose 6-8 lbs a month now, but it will likely slow down as you approach your goal.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Honestly, I don't think so but there's only one way to find out, right? You'll lose weight more quickly at the beginning than at the end so 10 pounds might be doable the first month but the rate of loss will get slower and slower the less you have to lose.

    Is finding out it's not possible going to change your mindset on losing the weight? It seems to me that you'd want to lose as much as you can whether that's 30 pounds or 50....
  • sherbear702
    sherbear702 Posts: 650 Member
    If you ditch a limb or two, yes. Just by diet and exercise, no...well maybe but it wouldn't be a very healthy loss. At 1200 calories per day, assuming you're measuring and weighing everything every single day up until the wedding, the best you could hope for is 8 pounds a month and that's still pretty aggressive. You'd be better off shooting for 25 pounds in the next 5 months.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    no not realistic.

    5 months = 20 weeks...2lbs a week=40lbs...but that being said you have to have a deficit of 7000 for 2lbs and at your current size that will not be easy...almost impossible.

    1lb a week is doable and healthy tho...
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    It's possible, not ideal. You may feel like crap the whole time too. 1200 calories is not a lot and may lead to ragequitting. Set your goal a little higher so that you don't feel like you're starving but still in a deficit. Patience and consistency are needed, also. Good luck.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Nope. I don't think so. When you account for the initial water whoosh plus a reasonable pace per week, I would say 35-38 pounds may be doable.
  • Emilia777
    Emilia777 Posts: 978 Member
    You can definitely make some good progress on your goals by then, but I wouldn’t set a deadline or an aggressive goal like that. You don’t want to stress yourself out unnecessarily - you will get there, give it time, and take it slow.

    P.S. A good running alternative is using the rowing machine, if it’s something you’d like to try. I was benched from running because of knee stuff for a while and it was my go-to. Do check with your doc if it’s appropriate though, and keep in mind that exercise isn’t necessary for weight loss.

    Best of luck :smile:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Probably not realistic, losing weight isn't as linear of a process as people like to think.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Not realistic imo.
  • fitjerseygirl
    fitjerseygirl Posts: 76 Member
    Thanks everyone. Yes, I would be happy with 25-30 lbs - anything to look a bit trimmer in my wedding pics!!

    I am curious about trying to lose weight without exercise. I have lost a considerable amount of weight in the past (70+ lbs) and always did it with diet and exercise - usually around 1,200 calories per day and a half hour on the elliptical plus walking about 30 mins per day. I found the weight came off at first, but over time not as much. I wonder if I was stressing my body too much?

    I am going to experiment this week and next with eating around 1250 calories and just getting 'normal' exercise (I work in a city so have to walk around a lot) and see what happens.

    And yes, I have found it SO HARD to keep off. I lost 75 lbs in my 20s and then again about 2 years ago - and have put it back on TWICE. I just can't keep up that lifestyle (low cal/working out) forever. I need to adjust/find something that I can do forever.

    Thanks again!
  • TiffanyR71
    TiffanyR71 Posts: 217 Member
    Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Not to be a downer, but 50 lbs in 5 months is maybe a little bit of a reach... 30-35 is more doable, but will still require commitment and consistency. Keeping a comfortable calorie deficit, and being as active as time and body allow is the way to go! Even if you don't meet your ultimate goal, you will look and feel so much better and healthier! Good luck! :)
  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    No, it's not realistic.

    You don't have to run to lose weight.
  • JillianRN527
    JillianRN527 Posts: 109 Member
    I would aim to be 199. Totally realistic. Anything else is a bonus. This way your under the 200s. We have the same starting weight but I want to lose my 50 pounds by Christmas. I have to be realistic.
  • RavenLibra
    RavenLibra Posts: 1,737 Member
    why did you wait so long??? even if you could... you would end up with excess skin issues... use MFP to create long term sustainable healthy habits and you will succeed... this is NOT for crash diets... you will just set yourself up for failure and future health issues associated with malnutrition and food deprivation.. NOT to mention the emortional stress you will be subjecting your loved ones too as you try to meet this Unrealistic goal.. so.. take a few long slow deep breaths... and find some compromises that will give you a chance to succeed. Emu out
  • mathandcats
    mathandcats Posts: 786 Member
    I think you can probably lose 20-35lbs. I think 50lbs is pushing it, but you can definitely make good progress!
  • autodominio
    autodominio Posts: 55 Member
    Would you aim for 25 lbs loss and then surprise yourself if you actually lose 35.

    Setting 50 or 10/month is just too much, specially because a drop like that means that almost inevitably you will gain it all back. But if you lose 25 you'll know how to do it and then can just carry that effort all the way to your weight goal.
  • kjrnTX
    kjrnTX Posts: 1 Member
    I lost 50 lbs in 25 weeks back 10 years ago, don't know that I could have fired it up much more and continued a normal routine (12 hr. days). I targeted 2 lbs a week and it averaged out there. Used WW online and some very hard core determination to make it happen. Am 5'6" and weighed around 196 when I began. That would lead me to say 40 lbs ~is~ in your reach if you stay focused. 50 would be pretty tough. Best of luck to you!
  • fitjerseygirl
    fitjerseygirl Posts: 76 Member
    I think everyone is right - I feel better already setting a goal at 30 and not 50.
  • shrinkingletters
    shrinkingletters Posts: 1,008 Member
    Perhaps the number is not realistic, but if you really work, you can get slimmer.
  • Emilia777
    Emilia777 Posts: 978 Member
    edited May 2015
    fitjerseygirl wrote: »
    Thanks everyone. Yes, I would be happy with 25-30 lbs - anything to look a bit trimmer in my wedding pics!!

    I am curious about trying to lose weight without exercise. I have lost a considerable amount of weight in the past (70+ lbs) and always did it with diet and exercise - usually around 1,200 calories per day and a half hour on the elliptical plus walking about 30 mins per day. I found the weight came off at first, but over time not as much. I wonder if I was stressing my body too much?

    I am going to experiment this week and next with eating around 1250 calories and just getting 'normal' exercise (I work in a city so have to walk around a lot) and see what happens.

    And yes, I have found it SO HARD to keep off. I lost 75 lbs in my 20s and then again about 2 years ago - and have put it back on TWICE. I just can't keep up that lifestyle (low cal/working out) forever. I need to adjust/find something that I can do forever.

    Thanks again!

    Well, exercise just doesn’t burn that many calories, unless you’re spending hours at the gym (and I definitely do not have the patience or inclination for that). To give you an idea, I just do a heavy lifting program 3 times a week, and maybe go on the occasional run if the mood strikes. I’m eating 1400 cals at 128 & 5’4" and losing about 1lb/week.

    If I were in your shoes, I’d try setting a less restrictive calorie goal (wedding cake taste tests, YUM :yum:) and being as active as you can just with walking and such. I do always recommend lifting heavy weights - it’s such a great way to maintain muscle mass and get strong. Some good programs are Starting Strength, Strong Curves, or Stronglifts 5x5.

    Then, once you’re closer to your ultimate goal weight, you can slowly add in calories, go to maintenance, and continue tracking your intake for a while to create the lifestyle change that will help keep the weight off :smile:
  • Nuke_64
    Nuke_64 Posts: 406 Member
    fitjerseygirl wrote: »
    . I just can't keep up that lifestyle (low cal/working out) forever. I need to adjust/find something that I can do forever.

    If you follow what many have done here, that is not something you need to do forever. 1200 with no exercise is fine for your current weight, but as you loose more, you should slow down your loss and eat more. Also, you should eat more calories if you exercise. You may find you can loose 1-2 lbs a week eating 1500 calories a day or more, and then maintain your weight eating around 2000 after achieving your goal.


  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Probably not realistic, losing weight isn't as linear of a process as people like to think.

    Definitely this. For perspective, I started out at 202.5 on 1/2/14 (I'm 5'6" like you btw, OP.) From 1/2/14 to 4/27/14 I lost 30 pounds. From 4/27/14 to 4/25/15 I lost another 25 pounds. So the first 4 months were at about 2 pounds per week and then the next 52 weeks were .5 pounds per week. And it wasn't a steady decline. There were weeks when my weight was down, up, and steady, all along the way.
  • deniztuzu2
    deniztuzu2 Posts: 77 Member
    I have lost 68 lbs in 5 months.
  • seansquared
    seansquared Posts: 328 Member
    deniztuzu2 wrote: »
    I have lost 68 lbs in 5 months.

    You're male. We have it easier when it comes to weight loss.

  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    fitjerseygirl wrote: »
    Thanks everyone. Yes, I would be happy with 25-30 lbs - anything to look a bit trimmer in my wedding pics!!

    I am curious about trying to lose weight without exercise. I have lost a considerable amount of weight in the past (70+ lbs) and always did it with diet and exercise - usually around 1,200 calories per day and a half hour on the elliptical plus walking about 30 mins per day. I found the weight came off at first, but over time not as much. I wonder if I was stressing my body too much?

    I am going to experiment this week and next with eating around 1250 calories and just getting 'normal' exercise (I work in a city so have to walk around a lot) and see what happens.

    And yes, I have found it SO HARD to keep off. I lost 75 lbs in my 20s and then again about 2 years ago - and have put it back on TWICE. I just can't keep up that lifestyle (low cal/working out) forever. I need to adjust/find something that I can do forever.

    Thanks again!
    Have you given any thought to strength training in addition to a light amount of cardio? I started doing that last year and have had amazing results. I've not lost much weight but I'm definitely smaller and firmer everywhere.
  • peachyfuzzle
    peachyfuzzle Posts: 1,122 Member
    seansquared wrote: »
    deniztuzu2 wrote: »
    I have lost 68 lbs in 5 months.

    You're male. We have it easier when it comes to weight loss.

    And also likely heavier/taller.

  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,744 Member
    fitjerseygirl wrote: »
    I think everyone is right - I feel better already setting a goal at 30 and not 50.

    That is probably a better number goal, however, I think the most important goal is finding a plan you CAN stick to long term. Will you stop this current plan after the wedding? I'm not judging. That's up to you, but it seems to me that if you start a reasonable plan now that you can keep up with you won't have to keep yo-yoing up and down. Over time, that can get unhealthy and result in loose skin. Good luck and congrats on the upcoming wedding!
  • seansquared
    seansquared Posts: 328 Member
    chadboyer64 wrote: »
    1200 with no exercise is fine for your current weight

    Without knowing her bodyfat percentage we have no clue if it is fine or not.

    For a 228lbs human at an estimated 30% BF (guessing based on "not being at fighting weight") who is sedentary we're looking at a maintenance of roughly 2320 Calories daily. This means she's looking at 1820 Cals per day at a 500 Cal deficit (roughly -1lb fat per week), or a minimum 1570 per day at a 750 Cal deficit (roughly -1.5lbs fat per week).

    Without knowing sodium intake but assuming an average American lifestyle (given the weight gain of +50), cutting that down could help shed water (from retention) as well.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    barneygood wrote: »
    I think you can probably lose 20-35lbs. I think 50lbs is pushing it, but you can definitely make good progress!

    This. You might lose more, but no need to set yourself up for failure or feel compelled to do something non sustainable. You can lose enough to make a significant difference in how you look and feel, so no reason not to get started.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    fitjerseygirl wrote: »
    Thanks everyone. Yes, I would be happy with 25-30 lbs - anything to look a bit trimmer in my wedding pics!!

    I am curious about trying to lose weight without exercise. I have lost a considerable amount of weight in the past (70+ lbs) and always did it with diet and exercise - usually around 1,200 calories per day and a half hour on the elliptical plus walking about 30 mins per day. I found the weight came off at first, but over time not as much. I wonder if I was stressing my body too much?

    I am going to experiment this week and next with eating around 1250 calories and just getting 'normal' exercise (I work in a city so have to walk around a lot) and see what happens.

    And yes, I have found it SO HARD to keep off. I lost 75 lbs in my 20s and then again about 2 years ago - and have put it back on TWICE. I just can't keep up that lifestyle (low cal/working out) forever. I need to adjust/find something that I can do forever.

    Thanks again!

    I wonder if, for you, the solution might be to eat a bit more and to lift weights.

    30 minutes of walking and 30 minutes of elliptical is certainly NOT stressing your body too much--you are barely getting your heart rate up doing those things and you are probably still not even over 10,000 steps for the day. Experiment to see what works for your body, but you may find that you need to do more intense exercise to see the kind of loss and maintenance that you are looking for.
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