Losing weight to enlist in army
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I won't say you can't do it. Maybe you can, but just remember that not everything the recruiter tells you or asks of you is going to be in your best interest. You have to look out for yourself, because they're usually not. I hope you do well and are able to enlist. It was a fun time in my life, and I wish today I was in the shape I was in back then. My recent C25K has reminded me a lot of those days when I had somehow managed to convince myself that I "liked" to run. I think it was my way of escaping the fact that like to or not, I was going to be doing it.0
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CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Given the safe recommended maximum to lose is 2lbs per week, then yeah, you're crashing.
OP has enough excess weight to safely lose faster than 2 lbs/week.
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CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Safe weight loss is considered to be 1-2lbs a week...
That's one perspective.
Another perspective is, as has been heard in the Army from time to time, "30 pounds in 30 days".
They want me down to 165 by October 10th0 -
CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Given the safe recommended maximum to lose is 2lbs per week, then yeah, you're crashing.
No I've made dramatic changes. I used to eat out once a day and my dinner was always fried and smothered in cheese. Now I'm eating chicken and fish, vegetables and fruits. I used to drink nothing but soda and now I drink water only.0 -
I won't say you can't do it. Maybe you can, but just remember that not everything the recruiter tells you or asks of you is going to be in your best interest. You have to look out for yourself, because they're usually not. I hope you do well and are able to enlist. It was a fun time in my life, and I wish today I was in the shape I was in back then. My recent C25K has reminded me a lot of those days when I had somehow managed to convince myself that I "liked" to run. I think it was my way of escaping the fact that like to or not, I was going to be doing it.
Lol I appreciate the support and words of encouragement thank you! I need to work on my running more.0 -
CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Given the safe recommended maximum to lose is 2lbs per week, then yeah, you're crashing.
OP has enough excess weight to safely lose faster than 2 lbs/week.
When I first started losing back at the beginning of the month I was almost to 200 lbs....0 -
CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Safe weight loss is considered to be 1-2lbs a week...
That's one perspective.
Another perspective is, as has been heard in the Army from time to time, "30 pounds in 30 days".
So are you saying thats viable?0 -
CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Safe weight loss is considered to be 1-2lbs a week...
That's one perspective.
Another perspective is, as has been heard in the Army from time to time, "30 pounds in 30 days".
So are you saying thats viable?
You probably shouldn't lose that much but I'm talking between 3 and 5 lbs a week. At my weight it is. Obviously it will be harder to lose the more I lose, but I also need to build my strength and endurance. My hope is to go to basic sometime around march.0 -
Ok. So. As the wife of an Army recruiter, let me begin by saying that a goal given by a recruiter is just that - a goal. Something to aim for. You don't have to hit it right then - more likely he was giving you a reasonable time frame to lose the weight. If you don't have it off that day, he'll work with you when you're ready. Heck - a lot of them will invite you to what's called "future soldier training" if you show sincere interest, which is basically military-run PT, *if* they have it where you are. (Not all locations run it, and some of them won't let you come until you've enlisted. It depends on the branch you're working with. Something to inquire about, anyway, as it shows them you're honestly trying. They like that.)
Second, running is something you should start now. C25K is a great plan.
Third, whatever you do, don't mess up your health trying to lose weight. If you hurt yourself in the process, you're out for a lot longer.0 -
DoctahJenn wrote: »Ok. So. As the wife of an Army recruiter, let me begin by saying that a goal given by a recruiter is just that - a goal. Something to aim for. You don't have to hit it right then - more likely he was giving you a reasonable time frame to lose the weight. If you don't have it off that day, he'll work with you when you're ready. Heck - a lot of them will invite you to what's called "future soldier training" if you show sincere interest, which is basically military-run PT, *if* they have it where you are. (Not all locations run it, and some of them won't let you come until you've enlisted. It depends on the branch you're working with. Something to inquire about, anyway, as it shows them you're honestly trying. They like that.)
Second, running is something you should start now. C25K is a great plan.
Third, whatever you do, don't mess up your health trying to lose weight. If you hurt yourself in the process, you're out for a lot longer.
Thank you
I appreciate it! 0 -
From AR 600-9
"A monthly loss of either 3 to 8 pounds or 1 percent body fat are both considered to be safely attainable goals that
enable Soldiers to lose excess body fat and meet the body fat standards" ... now compare that to your goal.
Do you know what happens when a human body replenishes its glycogen stores? How about when it replaces the sodium that you're currently denying yourself? If you do, then you'll see the folly in your current approach. If you don't, you need to do a lot of homework.0 -
DoctahJenn wrote: »Ok. So. As the wife of an Army recruiter, let me begin by saying that a goal given by a recruiter is just that - a goal. Something to aim for. You don't have to hit it right then - more likely he was giving you a reasonable time frame to lose the weight. If you don't have it off that day, he'll work with you when you're ready. Heck - a lot of them will invite you to what's called "future soldier training" if you show sincere interest, which is basically military-run PT, *if* they have it where you are. (Not all locations run it, and some of them won't let you come until you've enlisted. It depends on the branch you're working with. Something to inquire about, anyway, as it shows them you're honestly trying. They like that.)
Second, running is something you should start now. C25K is a great plan.
Third, whatever you do, don't mess up your health trying to lose weight. If you hurt yourself in the process, you're out for a lot longer.
Taking your word for it as you know and that sounds much more sensible and reasonable.0 -
brianpperkins wrote: »From AR 600-9
"A monthly loss of either 3 to 8 pounds or 1 percent body fat are both considered to be safely attainable goals that
enable Soldiers to lose excess body fat and meet the body fat standards" ... now compare that to your goal.
Do you know what happens when a human body replenishes its glycogen stores? How about when it replaces the sodium that you're currently denying yourself? If you do, then you'll see the folly in your current approach. If you don't, you need to do a lot of homework.
That makes sense0 -
CassiCundiff wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Why does it have to be August 3? Is there a dream job that will disappear if you don't qualify by then?
In the absence of a real deadline, lose the weight safely and sanely and go in a little later. One of my biggest regrets is the crash dieting I did during Basic Training, which set me up for 30 years of yoyoing.
I am losing 5-10 lbs every 2 weeks until october. I'm not crashing.
Given the safe recommended maximum to lose is 2lbs per week, then yeah, you're crashing.
OP has enough excess weight to safely lose faster than 2 lbs/week.
Not for the period of time they want to do it. Every week until October? Really?0 -
While I am sure that she can probably lose more than 2lbs a week. I am also fairly sure that 5lbs a week is extremely aggressive and requires a 2,500Cal a day deficit. Which may be possible for a week, or two, or three; but, not for months at a time.
OP you really need to concentrate and figure out what is BS and what is a requirement.
Working towards BS short term goals hurts your ability to work towards the true long term goals.
So, from the discussion here I am figuring out that the August 3rd goal is utter BS.
We don't give a flying *kitten* about it and we are going to ignore it (other than by continuing to work on your actual required long term goal).
So is your required long term goal 165lbs?
BY WHEN?
We are talking 26lbs from now to end of February? 7 months?
So let's work out a 5lb a month plan for 7 months <-- that way you have a little bit of extra leeway.
Your BMR is 1625. You do NOT NET less than that. Just 'cause I said so ;-)
You need to create a deficit of 122500 Cal, more or less, over the next 212 days.
That is actually a deficit of less than 600Cal a day. NOT chump change; but not impossible.
So, go and start by eating 2000Cal a day! Measure by weighting your food on a scale. Pick verified database entries in MFP.
And then make sure you burn 2800 to 3085+ Cal a day.
3 to 4 hours of fast walking a day is actually probably enough for you to do that! Especially if you start carrying a backpack.
But, you probably need to do more than walking if you want to survive boot-camp.
So a C25K or C210K may be appropriate as well as your push ups and sit ups (why don't you look up the online PT army manuals?)
All of a sudden what was impossible given fake deadlines... becomes possible if you actually put your mind to it.
Adjust as necessary to meet your real deadlines.
I respect the US Army; but, I am not 100% sure that as an institution it looks out for the welfare of each individual soldier. You have to make sure you take care of yourself and the crash diet you're on now is probably NOT the best thing for your long term health, especially if you want to avoid yo-yo dieting for the rest of your life.
And please avoid all the water weight manipulations I discussed previously... I really should learn to verify when people say "I need to" whether they really do!0 -
Water weight is water that gets released when your body uses up your carbohydrate ready reserve called glycogen. It has little to do with how much you drink.
In terms of setting up MFP, I would setup MFP for 2lbs a week loss, and I would setup myself at the MOST ACTIVE setting of MFP. Then I would get a Fitbit (a zip is like $59).
I would enable negative adjustments and make sure I stayed within my 2lbs a week parameters (which is actually more than 5lbs a month) based on the "steps" (running, walking) given by the Fitbit.
The strength training would be a bonus ;-)
(note that you should be able to meet your February goal even when setup with a 1.5lb a week deficit).0 -
I love your commitment, and it seems like you've made a lot of progress so far. The timeframe the recruiter gave you does seem a little unreasonable, though. Have you talked to a doctor about this goal?0
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CassiCundiff wrote: »I meet with my recruiters again on August 3rd to weigh in again. I started at 196 lbs and need to be down at least to 186 by the time I go back in to talk to them. I am down to around 192.5 right now. Any help or tips to lose the excess weight is appreciated. I've also been working on my physical fitness to get ready for my physical test. I am working on push ups and sit ups this month and running next month once I've lost a little more weight.
Thank you.
First off, do NOT trust the recruiters. Until you go to MEPS, pass the ASVAB, physical and and are offered a contract, nothing is in stone. I am prior service and my twins both went through Navy Bootcamp in the past year. Work on fast walking, crunches and push ups NOW. Get your body were you want to be, study for your ASVAB, then find a new recruiter. Start off fresh; trust me, we went through 3 recruiters and they are like used car salesmen. Also, what job are you looking at in the Army? Have you considered other services? Just wondering because in the Army, you are a solider first and your specialty is second. Been there done that with Air Force then Army Reserve. Stay motivated. Feel free to message me if you like.0 -
brianpperkins wrote: »katiewisler wrote: »Look up "the military diet"- Skip the ice cream and add some cardio. I lost 7 pounds.
I've noticed a correlation between very low post accounts and those asking about or encouraging the very flawed, and mis-named "military diet."CassiCundiff wrote: »IsaackGMOON wrote: »Caloric deficit. But even then, you left it too late.
OP you're not gonna make it.
I've lost 10 lbs in the past two weeks I think it's possible. You people are just being *kitten*. Not you PAV
Well, this *kitten* has been in the Army for the past 25 years. So far in this thread you've shown an unwillingness to accept fact based guidance. You've lashed out at those presenting reasoned advice. The short term plan PAV provided is only to lose water weight ... it does not remedy your underlying body composition and you will gain the weight back as soon as you fully rehydrate and restore glycogen stores.
Your crash diet plan just to eek in puts you in a very dubious group that, if they ever do follow through and enlist, tend to gain the weight back and end up in the weight control program during their first term. Guess which group gets cut first in an Army that is reducing its end strength.
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Trust those with a military background. Even if you go to the recruiter, he still has to schedule you for MEPS, they in turn do a FULL physical. Be very careful with whatever diet you do because you may end up with a problem you didn't start out with such as anemia or type 2 diabetes. Then, you wait for your ship date and get another physical the day you actually ship. So slow down, do it right and don't take chances with your career or your health. Many recruits end up in medical by dramatically dropping weight before boot.0
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