50lbs in 3 months, and just starting weight loss journey!

tionnapursley
tionnapursley Posts: 6 Member
edited November 30 in Health and Weight Loss
I have finally come to terms that I need to get healthier and lose weight (a lot of it).
I want to lose 50lbs in 3 months.
I'm the type of person if I don't see results I get depressed and go back to my old habits.
So I'm looking for mainly how do I need to eat to help me get to my goal?
Like step by step
What I need to eat for breakfast lunch and dinner. Or what have worked for some that have done this type of major weight loss?
Thanks! :)

Replies

  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited March 2016
    Just eat the same foods you have been, just less of it, and add some fruit, veg. All you need to do is weigh your portions with a food scale using grams and log it into myfitnesspal. Have you set up your mfp profile accurately? There's no need to 'diet'. Also, slow and steady wins the race. If you do have 50lbs to lose, then 1lb/week weight loss is suitable. 50lbs in 3 months is far too fast, unless you have over 100-150lbs to lose.

    I did the above... 80lbs down in years.
  • VoiceWithNoValue
    VoiceWithNoValue Posts: 58 Member
    The average weight loss per week is 4.16lbs/1 week. That's too high, and is very unrealistic. Unless you weight 200+ lbs and is obese, it is very unrealistic. Lower your expectations, especially since you're the type of person that when they see no results will go back to their old habit.
  • tionnapursley
    tionnapursley Posts: 6 Member
    I just now downloads the app so I'm still trying to figure it out.. :/ I really want to lose about 85 total. But if I could lose 50 that soon I wouldn't get discouraged.
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    edited March 2016
    Your goal is set way too high. Many people on MFP recommend the following weight goals based off how much you want to lose:
    • <25 lbs, shoot for 0.5lbs lost per week (250kcal daily deficit)
    • 25-50lbs, shoot for 1lb lost per week (500kcal daily deficit)
    • 50-75lbs, shoot for 1.5lbs lost per week (750kcal daily deficit)
    • >75lbs, shoot for 2lbs lost per week (1000kcal daily deficit)

    If you want to lose 50lbs in 3 months (about 10 weeks), that'll be a rate of 5lbs lost per week. Unless you have close to 250lbs to lose, that weekly weight loss goal is unsustainable and potentially dangerous (a 5lb per week loss is about a 2,500kcal deficit). At that type of a rate, you would be losing a ton of muscle also and can really mess up your body (hormone imbalances, infertility/amenorrhea, hair loss, brittle nails, decreased immune function, etc). At a maximum, I really recommend that you shoot for no more than 1.5lbs lost per week (preferably, 1lb per week would be best) and use that time to learn habits that you can use to maintain your weight loss for the rest of your life (it's not a quick fix, and you'll eventually need to learn how to maintain your weight to prevent gaining it all back once the "diet" is over).
  • Marilyn0924
    Marilyn0924 Posts: 797 Member
    tionnapursley wrote: »
    I just now downloads the app so I'm still trying to figure it out.. :/ I really want to lose about 85 total. But if I could lose 50 that soon I wouldn't get discouraged.

    Don't set yourself up for failure by putting time limits on your weight loss. Your expectations are unrealistic and unsustainable. Aim for a 2 pound/week loss to start, after 10 pounds drop it 1.5 or even 1 pound per week as you will not be able to maintain the same loss. Be as accurate as possible with your food (using a digital scale for solids and measuring liquids), eat back 30-50% of your exercise calories and learn to be patient!!!

    You didn't gain overnight, nor will you lose overnight.
    Best of luck :)
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    50 lbs in a year is more realistic, sorry.

    I made a 2 year plan chart to lose 90 pounds. So far, so good as I get to check off my goals. Not just weight lost but NSVs too. It's a great visual motivation. Dietbet is also keeping me from getting discouraged, but it's not for everyone.
  • dave_in_ni
    dave_in_ni Posts: 533 Member
    I think you're setting yourself up for failure, I've been going extreme, working out 6 days per week, limiting cals to 1500 per day by weighing everything and in 2 months I've lost 19lbs, I'm not saying it isn't possible to loss 50lbs in 3 months just very unlikely unless you starve yourself.
  • brant710
    brant710 Posts: 134 Member
    I really want to encourage everyone on their weight loss journey. I've lost 60 pounds and started off wanting to lose 85 or so. It's taken me 6 months to come this far. It's really tempting for me to say I like the weight I am now and to not be as regimented in my efforts. For me I didn't "diet" but decided I wanted to eat healthy foods every time I had a choice. Tracking my intake has really helped educate myself on what foods are good and bad for me. I didn't realize what a health benefit of eating healthy foods would make. I also started running for exercise. When I first es started I couldn't run 2 minutes without wanting to quit. I'm now training for a 10k. All of this to say you have to have the want, the discipline and the patience to achieve your goals. Good luck on your journey.
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    edited March 2016
    12 weeks @ 2 pounds a week = 24 pounds

    You might do a bit better than that, mainly because many people lose a chunk of water weight at the start.

    I'm trying for 36 pounds in a bit over 19 weeks. Still have a shot at it so far.

    ETA: I started obese/211.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    You're setting yourself up for disappointment. Aim for 50 pounds in 9-12 months.
  • tionnapursley
    tionnapursley Posts: 6 Member
    Thank everyone I guess I do need to lower my expectations at first. :neutral: I've been reading on the paleo way of eating and I think going try that to help.
  • size102b
    size102b Posts: 1,370 Member
    Lifestyle change I was like you tbh honestly I still am where it got me a fat yoyoed aim for 6lbs a month work on yourself mentally why you get down if you are setting high goals it's setting up yourself for a fall so subconsciously you've an excuse to fall off the weightloss wagon as you know deep down that's a big goal and not easily achievable
    We sabotage ourselves because if deep rooted emotions until we get our heads sorted out its years of yoyoing
  • adburleson3
    adburleson3 Posts: 4 Member
    You will (and should) read the same responses here. That is: that goal is unrealistic and you will most likely be disappointed. That being said, you can certainly make a nice impact in weight loss 3 months. The key is consistency in whatever your weight loss choice or lifestyle change. Some kick up their activity, many change their diets, most do both. Different things work for different people for various reasons (time, food likes, accessibility, etc.). I think the thing they all have in common is consistency. And not just for a few weeks. Find a path that works for you and STICK TO IT. You will see results if you don't give up. I use MFP to track calories and a Fitbit to monitor activity. I use a few good (and free) exercise apps too. For 6 weeks I saw no progress on the scale. And yes, like you, I wanted to give up. It gets frustrating. I did notice I actually felt better and I know it takes time. At around the 7 week mark the pounds started falling away. Not as many as I'd like but it's heading in the right direction. I don't want to gain it back so I'm trying to make changes that are permanent. No fad diets or exercise. Mainly less food and more activity. Make a decision and stick to it. Make minor changes that allow you to fine tune what works best for you but don't give up. Good luck to you!
  • Skillet007
    Skillet007 Posts: 55 Member
    Don't get caught up in some fad diet, trust me. Are you going to eat paleo for the rest of your life? I hope not, and if you don't you'll be back to where you're at now. Trust me, it happens all the time.

    Keep eating the foods you enjoy and make changes over time. When I started my journey I was still eating out fairly regularly. I still lost weight because I was eating in moderation! Over time I decided to make healthier decisions because I could eat more for less calories, especially with veggies. I haven't looked back. I've lost 25 lbs in 2 months which is pretty quick, but it's slowing down now. That's fine! I'm working out, moving more, already getting so many compliments on my body! I'm vain, I want that praise to continue.

    Slow and steady wins the race.

    If you jump the gun and radically change your life too fast, you're more than likely to not stick to it. If I had tried a diet, I would have given up a long time ago.

    You can do this and you can do it right! I have faith in you and I'm sure this whole community does as well. I promise that in a few months, whatever you have lost you will be sooooo proud of yourself. Add me as a friend and others, as well. We can and will help you with any questions you may have and will motivate you.

    Good luck with your journey!
  • missblondi2u
    missblondi2u Posts: 851 Member
    I just want to echo others. 50 pounds in 3 months is absolutely unrealistic outside of surgery. Shoot for 1 or 1.5 lbs/week, with the understanding that weight loss is not linear.

    You described yourself as the type of person to give up if things don't work out as you expect. This is the kind of thinking that can and will sabotage your efforts. Some weeks you will lose more and some you might even go up, even if you did everything right. If you come to terms with this now, you will be much better off.
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