How long will it take me to lose 20lbs?

If I exercise 5 hours a week, doing 1hour Zumba classes and I eat 1,300 to 1,600 calories a day,
How long until I will lose 20lbs? I weigh 172lbs and my goal is 150ish

Replies

  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    About how long would you estimate it to?
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Think of weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Try for 1 pound a week initially, then scale back to 1/2 pound a week. On-line estimators are just that....estimators

    This is one estimator: http://www.calculators.org/health/weight-loss.php
  • rileyes
    rileyes Posts: 1,406 Member
    1 pound a week = 20 weeks. It can go by very fast. Just stay focused and adjust your calories to meet your goal. Adding a weight lifting program like Strong Curves or SL5x5 can help you retain LBM.
  • STEVE142142
    STEVE142142 Posts: 867 Member
    Just plug your information into the MSP app. Determine how many pounds you want to lose per week and then it will tell you how many calories you need to consume daily to lose that number. Use these numbers as a guideline, depending on your body metabolism you may need to consume more or less. Like anything else this app is not God's exact words it's a guideline. Part of weight loss and maintaining that weight loss is educating yourself about your body and how it works.

    Also my recommendation is go slow and steady instead of quick as far as the weight loss. Make this an enjoyable journey. Don't think of this as a diet but it's a lifestyle change. The past 6 months have been so easy for me it's scary. I've been on diets before and failed miserably and suffered. I've actually enjoyed it this time because I don't look at it as a diet it's a lifestyle change that's going to be with me for the rest of my life. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
  • ponycyndi
    ponycyndi Posts: 858 Member
    If you lose 1 lb a week, 4-5 months. If you're logging accurately, the "complete diary" button with give you another estimate of your progress in 5 weeks from now.
  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    Wow, thank you so much, everyone! So roughly 4-5 months. Ok, the race is on!
  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    Wow, thank you so much, everyone! So roughly 4-5 months. Ok, the race is on!
  • Antd420
    Antd420 Posts: 161 Member
    Set it at 2lbs a week and do it in 2 and a half months or quicker.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    20-24 weeks if you do it properly.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    Antd420 wrote: »
    Set it at 2lbs a week and do it in 2 and a half months or quicker.

    Quicker is not better! SMH
  • Carpercia
    Carpercia Posts: 134 Member
    If I exercise 5 hours a week, doing 1hour Zumba classes and I eat 1,300 to 1,600 calories a day,
    How long until I will lose 20lbs? I weigh 172lbs and my goal is 150ish

    "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

    Not that long - but you should just go for it. Eat well and workout - you can do it.

    Try to decide which is the best workout for you, the one you enjoy the most or the one that will burn the most calories (most likely the former!)


  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    edited June 2016
    I would count on 6-7 months. Not sure of your height but my guess is you aren't very overweight, so your comfortable rate of loss will be slower. Considering the hormonal fluctuations that are part of being female, you should not count on losing a pound a week. If it happens, great. If not, oh well.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    Antd420 wrote: »
    Set it at 2lbs a week and do it in 2 and a half months or quicker.

    Please don't. 2 lbs a week is way too aggressive to lose 20 lbs. :worried:
  • amgaylord
    amgaylord Posts: 9 Member
    I started with a goal of 2 lbs a week, and had to change it to 1 lb per week because I was too hungry.
  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    amgaylord wrote: »
    I started with a goal of 2 lbs a week, and had to change it to 1 lb per week because I was too hungry.
    It might be possible if I exercise enough. I was reading online and to lose 5lbs a month you need to have a calorie or burn deficit of 500 per day. So to lose 10lbs in a month I would either need to exercise off or eat less than my normal amount 1,200 calories per day... So I don't know if those websites are lying, but I do know it is possible because a lot of other people have talked about that. Also there's the show biggest loser and those people lose weight fast too, no?
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited June 2016
    amgaylord wrote: »
    I started with a goal of 2 lbs a week, and had to change it to 1 lb per week because I was too hungry.
    It might be possible if I exercise enough. I was reading online and to lose 5lbs a month you need to have a calorie or burn deficit of 500 per day. So to lose 10lbs in a month I would either need to exercise off or eat less than my normal amount 1,200 calories per day... So I don't know if those websites are lying, but I do know it is possible because a lot of other people have talked about that. Also there's the show biggest loser and those people lose weight fast too, no?

    There's a price you pay for fast weight loss. If you eat 1200 (gross) calories & exercise like crazy you can lose "weight" quickly. However, a fair amount of that weight will be existing lean muscle mass. Google skinny-fat.

    Lean muscle is firm & taut, this is the stuff you want to keep. But lean muscle needs fuel, OR it can be the fuel.

    If you want to lower your body fat %, then you want to lose at a more moderate pace.

    Biggest Loser participants are OBESE. Obese people don't risk muscle loss......initially. Besides, Biggest Loser is a "reality" show. Their weeks are longer than a week. Contestants have alleged all kinds of gimmicks such as diuretics. This isn't fat loss.
  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    amgaylord wrote: »
    I started with a goal of 2 lbs a week, and had to change it to 1 lb per week because I was too hungry.
    It might be possible if I exercise enough. I was reading online and to lose 5lbs a month you need to have a calorie or burn deficit of 500 per day. So to lose 10lbs in a month I would either need to exercise off or eat less than my normal amount 1,200 calories per day... So I don't know if those websites are lying, but I do know it is possible because a lot of other people have talked about that. Also there's the show biggest loser and those people lose weight fast too, no?

    There's a price you pay for fast weight loss. If you eat 1200 (gross) calories & exercise like crazy you can lose "weight" quickly. However, a fair amount of that weight will be existing lean muscle mass. Google skinny-fat.

    Lean muscle is firm & taut, this is the stuff you want to keep. But lean muscle needs fuel, OR it can be the fuel.

    If you want to lower your body fat %, then you want to lose at a more moderate pace.

    Biggest Loser participants are OBESE. Obese people don't risk muscle loss......initially. Besides, Biggest Loser is a "reality" show. Their weeks are longer than a week. Contestants have alleged all kinds of gimmicks such as diuretics. This isn't fat loss.
    Alright, thank you. I will take this into consideration because I really shouldn't starve myself or anything like that. But does that mean I shouldn't exercise 4 or 5 hours a week? Does that mean I'm depriving myself??

    I enjoy working out and Zumba<3
  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    No, I can, that's a dumb question...
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    amgaylord wrote: »
    I started with a goal of 2 lbs a week, and had to change it to 1 lb per week because I was too hungry.
    It might be possible if I exercise enough. I was reading online and to lose 5lbs a month you need to have a calorie or burn deficit of 500 per day. So to lose 10lbs in a month I would either need to exercise off or eat less than my normal amount 1,200 calories per day... So I don't know if those websites are lying, but I do know it is possible because a lot of other people have talked about that. Also there's the show biggest loser and those people lose weight fast too, no?

    There's a price you pay for fast weight loss. If you eat 1200 (gross) calories & exercise like crazy you can lose "weight" quickly. However, a fair amount of that weight will be existing lean muscle mass. Google skinny-fat.

    Lean muscle is firm & taut, this is the stuff you want to keep. But lean muscle needs fuel, OR it can be the fuel.

    If you want to lower your body fat %, then you want to lose at a more moderate pace.

    Biggest Loser participants are OBESE. Obese people don't risk muscle loss......initially. Besides, Biggest Loser is a "reality" show. Their weeks are longer than a week. Contestants have alleged all kinds of gimmicks such as diuretics. This isn't fat loss.
    Alright, thank you. I will take this into consideration because I really shouldn't starve myself or anything like that. But does that mean I shouldn't exercise 4 or 5 hours a week? Does that mean I'm depriving myself??

    I enjoy working out and Zumba<3

    Exercise is great for health & fitness. Cardio is great for your heart & lungs. Strength training, enough protein and a moderate deficit will help you retain more lean muscle.

    MFP will give you a minimum of 1200 calories (this is before exercise). When you log exercise MFP will give you additional calories. But, be warned calorie burn estimates are generous. Most people eat back 50-75% of exercise calories & still maintain their weekly weight loss goals.
  • DesiraeVosk
    DesiraeVosk Posts: 24 Member
    edited June 2016
    TeaBea wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    amgaylord wrote: »
    I started with a goal of 2 lbs a week, and had to change it to 1 lb per week because I was too hungry.
    It might be possible if I exercise enough. I was reading online and to lose 5lbs a month you need to have a calorie or burn deficit of 500 per day. So to lose 10lbs in a month I would either need to exercise off or eat less than my normal amount 1,200 calories per day... So I don't know if those websites are lying, but I do know it is possible because a lot of other people have talked about that. Also there's the show biggest loser and those people lose weight fast too, no?

    There's a price you pay for fast weight loss. If you eat 1200 (gross) calories & exercise like crazy you can lose "weight" quickly. However, a fair amount of that weight will be existing lean muscle mass. Google skinny-fat.

    Lean muscle is firm & taut, this is the stuff you want to keep. But lean muscle needs fuel, OR it can be the fuel.

    If you want to lower your body fat %, then you want to lose at a more moderate pace.

    Biggest Loser participants are OBESE. Obese people don't risk muscle loss......initially. Besides, Biggest Loser is a "reality" show. Their weeks are longer than a week. Contestants have alleged all kinds of gimmicks such as diuretics. This isn't fat loss.
    Alright, thank you. I will take this into consideration because I really shouldn't starve myself or anything like that. But does that mean I shouldn't exercise 4 or 5 hours a week? Does that mean I'm depriving myself??

    I enjoy working out and Zumba<3

    Exercise is great for health & fitness. Cardio is great for your heart & lungs. Strength training, enough protein and a moderate deficit will help you retain more lean muscle.

    MFP will give you a minimum of 1200 calories (this is before exercise). When you log exercise MFP will give you additional calories. But, be warned calorie burn estimates are generous. Most people eat back 50-75% of exercise calories & still maintain their weekly weight loss goals.
    That's amazing. I love that. Thank you for all your help and support! Thank you to everyone who has posted!!! :)
  • Diviniteee
    Diviniteee Posts: 10 Member
    If I exercise 5 hours a week, doing 1hour Zumba classes and I eat 1,300 to 1,600 calories a day,
    How long until I will lose 20lbs? I weigh 172lbs and my goal is 150ish

    You and me have the same goals! Lol
  • nikkijune18
    nikkijune18 Posts: 6 Member
    edited June 2016
    Let's do the math:
    Let's say your body naturally burns 2000 calories a day (daily activities, minus the Zumba- it may be a little less than this). You then burn maybe 300 calories during each Zumba class (this may be more I don't really know). So that's 2300 calories burned per day. Let's say you eat 1300 calories each day (some days will be higher but this makes the math easier). You would have a calorie deficit of 1000/day. You lose a pound with everyday 3500 calorie deficit, so you would lose two pounds a week! It may end up being a little less if you underestimate calories or don't Burn that much, so let's say 10 to 20 weeks
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Lose a pound a week. Create your 500 calorie daily deficit through both exercise and diet. You'll lose that 20lbs in roughly 20 weeks. End of story. Any more at a time and you'll wear yourself out and lose way too much muscle mass.