Is what I'm doing healthy?

myfitnesspal1121
myfitnesspal1121 Posts: 10 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello everyone!
I recently got back onto MFP for the zillionth time trying to lose the 40-50 pounds I need to lose. I'm 5'3 and 180 pounds. This puts me at an obese level according to my BMI. I was doing really good for one week, lost 4 pounds. Then I got really stressed out about a medical scare my boyfriend had. I gained it all back because I quit using MFP and working out. When I actually stick to MFP, I eat around 1,450 calories per day. I try to ride my bike, or do some sort of cardio for at least 15 minutes a day. I know I should be doing strength training, but I've found that starting with cardio the first couple weeks, helps me lose a little weight so other exercises are easier for me to finish later on. If that makes sense. So what I want to know is, is a goal of losing 20 pounds by July 25, 2015 (Today is May 22, 2015) is a reasonable and healthy goal? I'm going to Warped Tour on July 25, and I want to be able to wear a tank top and shorts without feeling miserable and self-conscious all day. Thanks for taking the time to read this! Any tips on how I can stay on track would help a lot too!

Replies

  • myweightloss2016
    myweightloss2016 Posts: 147 Member
    It will be tough, but with a lot of dedication, lots of working out and eating very healthy it is possible. I once managed to do it myself, wouldn't recommend it, though. Take is easy.
  • Arliah
    Arliah Posts: 266 Member
    Hi there,

    20 lbs in 4 weeks would put you at 5 lbs a week. Even with your stats (which are very close to mine when I started out last year), it's really hard-pressed. Feasible, maybe, but not healthy and not sustainable. 1 lbs per week is a sustainable goal. In the beginning you'll notice a bigger loss, but that's most likely water weight, and it will slow down after a while.

    In general, putting yourself on a timeline is not a good idea. Slow and steady is a much better approach. You most likely didn't gain 20 lbs in four weeks, so taking it off again in four weeks is equally unlikely. Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-good news, I know it's not what you want to hear (I certainly did not when I started out).

    As far as the clothes go: Find a nice shirt and pants you like and have fun!
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    It's a tough target but achievable if you keep weighing and logging every little thing that goes in to your mouth. It's your goal so you need to keep pushing your self towards it. Can you put the ticket on your fridge maybe?
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Here's my take...start now...do what you can do...focus on health and fitness and less on the scale. Your weight loss isn't going to be a linear function...you may hit that goal and you may not...having time restraints for these kinds of things aren't good IMO...I see too many people do stupid *kitten* things trying to hit some time sensitive weight loss goal...these stupid things tend to be counter to actual health and good livin'...which to me is the whole point...health.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited May 2015
    .
  • myfitnesspal1121
    myfitnesspal1121 Posts: 10 Member
    Arliah wrote: »
    Hi there,

    20 lbs in 4 weeks would put you at 5 lbs a week. Even with your stats (which are very close to mine when I started out last year), it's really hard-pressed. Feasible, maybe, but not healthy and not sustainable. 1 lbs per week is a sustainable goal. In the beginning you'll notice a bigger loss, but that's most likely water weight, and it will slow down after a while.

    In general, putting yourself on a timeline is not a good idea. Slow and steady is a much better approach. You most likely didn't gain 20 lbs in four weeks, so taking it off again in four weeks is equally unlikely. Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-good news, I know it's not what you want to hear (I certainly did not when I started out).

    As far as the clothes go: Find a nice shirt and pants you like and have fun!

    It would be an 9 week time frame. I know 20lbs in 4 weeks would be practically impossible. Lol
  • futuremanda
    futuremanda Posts: 816 Member
    Weight loss is a huge stress on the body, as is exercising. And an aggressive deficit like you're talking about -- aiming for 2 lbs a week, no fail, no exceptions -- will be an even bigger stress. And you tend to quit when you're stressed.

    Mathematically, you may be able to hit 20 lbs down (or close enough) by the end of July. Will you feel healthy and happy doing this? Will you stick with this for life, and be happy and healthy and energetic and have a healthy relationship with food and with your body?

    My tip to stay on track is to drop all expectations about speed and aesthetics and this and that. Do what is the least stressful for your body and mind that still effects change. Work on your emotions and habits and things that crop up along the way (that we all have to work on). Some days, you'll have a great deficit and feel satisfied and on top of the world, and other days you will blow your target, or feel hungry all day no matter what you do, or tired, or frustrated, or whatever. It won't go perfectly. You need to figure out how to still log on those days, still log the next day, how to keep going. That's the real challenge, not x lbs in y days. You'll be more successful, imo, if you change your habits and emotions and perceptions until you feel good about the process and can do it long term, than if you technically lose more in a given timeframe.
  • avskk
    avskk Posts: 1,787 Member
    I'm a little confused -- there are nine weeks between now and July 22nd, which puts her right on target for losing 20lbs or close to it. I don't see what everyone else sees here, I guess, because 2lb/week doesn't seem all that terrible to me.

    OP, it's an aggressive goal but not an unhealthy one so long as you're being accurate, choosing nutrient-rich foods to fill your calorie allotment, and eating back your exercise calories appropriately. I will say that it's probably going to be very hard, but if you're comfortable with that and know you can stick with it, more power to you.
  • myfitnesspal1121
    myfitnesspal1121 Posts: 10 Member
    futuremanda wrote: »
    Weight loss is a huge stress on the body, as is exercising. And an aggressive deficit like you're talking about -- aiming for 2 lbs a week, no fail, no exceptions -- will be an even bigger stress. And you tend to quit when you're stressed.

    Mathematically, you may be able to hit 20 lbs down (or close enough) by the end of July. Will you feel healthy and happy doing this? Will you stick with this for life, and be happy and healthy and energetic and have a healthy relationship with food and with your body?

    My tip to stay on track is to drop all expectations about speed and aesthetics and this and that. Do what is the least stressful for your body and mind that still effects change. Work on your emotions and habits and things that crop up along the way (that we all have to work on). Some days, you'll have a great deficit and feel satisfied and on top of the world, and other days you will blow your target, or feel hungry all day no matter what you do, or tired, or frustrated, or whatever. It won't go perfectly. You need to figure out how to still log on those days, still log the next day, how to keep going. That's the real challenge, not x lbs in y days. You'll be more successful, imo, if you change your habits and emotions and perceptions until you feel good about the process and can do it long term, than if you technically lose more in a given timeframe.

    Thank you! Very helpful!
  • 1shauna1
    1shauna1 Posts: 993 Member
    edited May 2015
    Arliah wrote: »
    Hi there,

    20 lbs in 4 weeks would put you at 5 lbs a week. Even with your stats (which are very close to mine when I started out last year), it's really hard-pressed. Feasible, maybe, but not healthy and not sustainable. 1 lbs per week is a sustainable goal. In the beginning you'll notice a bigger loss, but that's most likely water weight, and it will slow down after a while.
    Actually, she said July 25 so it's 9 weeks, which is 2 lbs per week, more achievable.

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Sorry ...edited out my post cos I was reacting to 5lbs a week post
  • Arliah
    Arliah Posts: 266 Member
    myfitnesspal1121 wrote: »
    Arliah wrote: »
    Hi there,

    20 lbs in 4 weeks would put you at 5 lbs a week. Even with your stats (which are very close to mine when I started out last year), it's really hard-pressed. Feasible, maybe, but not healthy and not sustainable. 1 lbs per week is a sustainable goal. In the beginning you'll notice a bigger loss, but that's most likely water weight, and it will slow down after a while.

    In general, putting yourself on a timeline is not a good idea. Slow and steady is a much better approach. You most likely didn't gain 20 lbs in four weeks, so taking it off again in four weeks is equally unlikely. Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-good news, I know it's not what you want to hear (I certainly did not when I started out).

    As far as the clothes go: Find a nice shirt and pants you like and have fun!

    It would be an 9 week time frame. I know 20lbs in 4 weeks would be practically impossible. Lol

    Oh, DUH, sorry. I got my months screwed up!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Id go along with the approach wolfman has. ever thought why you are at the zillionth time? Aim for it by all means , but if I was a betting person id say its too tough and you wont make it especually based on what youve stated you will be doing, its unlikely to happen. That said your approach is fine, its just your expectation that it will achieve that rate of loss I think is a bit optimistic. 2lb a week is quite hard to hit unless you are seriously overweight. 1lb a week is more reasonable.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    myfitnesspal1121 wrote: »
    Hello everyone!
    I recently got back onto MFP for the zillionth time trying to lose the 40-50 pounds I need to lose. I'm 5'3 and 180 pounds. This puts me at an obese level according to my BMI. I was doing really good for one week, lost 4 pounds. Then I got really stressed out about a medical scare my boyfriend had. I gained it all back because I quit using MFP and working out. When I actually stick to MFP, I eat around 1,450 calories per day. I try to ride my bike, or do some sort of cardio for at least 15 minutes a day. I know I should be doing strength training, but I've found that starting with cardio the first couple weeks, helps me lose a little weight so other exercises are easier for me to finish later on. If that makes sense. So what I want to know is, is a goal of losing 20 pounds by July 25, 2015 (Today is May 22, 2015) is a reasonable and healthy goal? I'm going to Warped Tour on July 25, and I want to be able to wear a tank top and shorts without feeling miserable and self-conscious all day. Thanks for taking the time to read this! Any tips on how I can stay on track would help a lot too!

    I would just start today and not set any deadlines. Decide to do this for your life and your long term health not to wear certain clothes for a one day event. Set goals that you can really stick with and be patient.

    I started at a similar point. I lost weight fairly steadily with a 1 lb a week goal and it took around 6 months to lose 20 lbs for me.
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