Weigh 133 pounds. Can I lose eight pounds in a month?

cat_monster
cat_monster Posts: 51 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Going on holiday in a month and would like to shed this weight but find it difficult what with having a life and everything! I go to the gym two to three times a week and walk a lot. Is it achievable? Usually can't lose weight that fast. Many thanks.

Replies

  • scarlett_k
    scarlett_k Posts: 812 Member
    It's possible but whether all of that weight will be fat loss is debatable as some of if would likely be water weight. With such a small amount to lose it's usually advised that you do it much more slowly, and that those few pounds can be the hardest to lose.
  • JewelsAU
    JewelsAU Posts: 52 Member
    edited September 2017
    At 133 and 5'2 I would say you might can lose a couple. Depends on when you started your calorie deficit. If you have been in a calorie deficit for a couple/thee weeks already and you stick to the deficit another 4 weeks you could lose a few.

    But you stated yourself "usually can't lose that fast".. so you answered your question.
  • hedwardsb
    hedwardsb Posts: 201 Member
    Probably not realistic to lose 8 pounds in a month. I was around the same weight at the beginning of June, and I've only recently gotten to mid to low 120's. however, as soon as I started eating healthier with a calorie deficit, my clothes started fitting better. Eating healthier for me means eating to meet or exceed my fiber and protein goals.
  • cat_monster
    cat_monster Posts: 51 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    Heh, I used to have the same profile picture as you. I'd get private messages from people accusing me on animal cruelty for letting my cat get so fat, who would then get all defensive and butthurt when I pointed out it was the number 1 result when you Googled fat cat.

    Sorry, sidetracked, your pic just reminded me.

    Ha ha, that's nuts. Haven't had any messages like that so far.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    cat_monster wrote: »
    Going on holiday in a month and would like to shed this weight but find it difficult what with having a life and everything! I go to the gym two to three times a week and walk a lot. Is it achievable? Usually can't lose weight that fast. Many thanks.

    It is possible but not healthy for someone at a healthy weight to lose 8 lbs in a month. Losing 2 lbs a week at your weight would mean eating a very low calorie diet. You probably would not be feeling great and based on what you say that really isn't how you want to live. You might drop a few pounds in water weight if you eat lower carb and lower your sodium intake. It'll come back though-probably right away on your holiday when you want to eat and drink more freely.

    A healthy reasonable rate of loss would be more like 2 lbs in a month for you. Set you goal for .5 lb a week and give it time.

  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    No
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  • MidModJenn
    MidModJenn Posts: 216 Member
    edited September 2017
    Could probably be done, but you'd screw up your metabolism so much (you'd have to have an unhealthy calorie deficit) that after your vacation you'd gain those pounds back and then some. Don't worry so much about a number on the scale -- eat healthier and exercise a bit more, and you'll head off on your trip feeling fantastic. :)
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Possible but not recommended.
  • LiftHeavyThings27105
    LiftHeavyThings27105 Posts: 2,086 Member
    Very possible to loose eight pounds......but not in your stated time frame. Well, not loosing those eight pounds in a healthy, sustainable way in your stated time frame.

    There are actually a lot of things to take into account for this: you age (not asking), your nutritional history (read: how often you have dieted in the past), your current caloric intake, your training program (if any).....

    What you could do is start a feasible, sustainable and healthy nutrition plan and a training plan, set long term goals and start working on them now. The gains that you make in one month might just surprise you.
  • AOdell79
    AOdell79 Posts: 94 Member
    I am 5 feet and realistically can do 4-5 lbs in a month if my eating is super clean and on point. Good luck!
  • JennJ323
    JennJ323 Posts: 646 Member
    edited September 2017
    I am about your stats right now, 5' 2" and 130. My goal is 128.. things have been very slow going since about 135. As you get smaller and have less to lose the harder it becomes. I walk each day on my lunch break, then walk 4/5 nights after work and I track calories. So I'm doing everything "right" and am still struggling to lose those last few. Long story short, I'd say at your size 8lb in 1 month is going to be tough! June and July I lost 6lb each month, then in August only 3lb.. but I had more to lose back then. But good luck!
  • JennJ323
    JennJ323 Posts: 646 Member
    edited September 2017
    fiddletime wrote: »
    I'm 5'2" and managed to lose a pound a week for 20 weeks with pretty aggressive dieting. I started at 140 and got to 120. I was hungry the whole time. I got sick a lot with every cold that came by, and usually I never get sick. I gained it all back within 7 months after I'd lost it. Then I discovered MFP and am back at it again, losing 0.5 pounds a week, barely. I'm at 128 and aiming for around 120 or so and have lost 16 pounds since January.

    I'd recommend if you want to lose weight and keep it off for a long time, just do the program (my fitness pal's logging and tracking) and enjoy your vacation next month, calorie counting or not.

    I have noticed since starting my weight loss I've been getting sick so much easier! I'm down about 25lb since the beginning of the year, and have had 4 colds this summer!! I'm dreading cold/flu season this year! Do you think weight loss can affect your immune system?
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    sarcasticarse wrote: »
    cat_monster wrote: »
    Going on holiday in a month and would like to shed this weight but find it difficult what with having a life and everything! I go to the gym two to three times a week and walk a lot. Is it achievable? Usually can't lose weight that fast. Many thanks.

    Yes you absolutely can. PM me when you are ready.

    Why don't you post the info for everyone to see? What mlm product are you selling?

    Probably amputations. given his username.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    stanmann571 wrote: »
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    sarcasticarse wrote: »
    cat_monster wrote: »
    Going on holiday in a month and would like to shed this weight but find it difficult what with having a life and everything! I go to the gym two to three times a week and walk a lot. Is it achievable? Usually can't lose weight that fast. Many thanks.

    Yes you absolutely can. PM me when you are ready.

    Why don't you post the info for everyone to see? What mlm product are you selling?

    Probably amputations. given his username.

    Checked him out. He is a fitness trainer who created a diet that is strikingly similar to intermittent fasting (omad) which anyone can do without his guidance.
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    I know I'm gonna get lots of hate, but...I'm 5'11, 38 years old and on July 31st I weighed 161.8. Today I'm 153. So in 5 weeks I lost 8.8lbs. I'm well within the healthy BMI range (so not heavy for my height). I'm eating between 1200-1400 calories daily and barely exercising (didn't start circuit training until week 4) I'm averaging losing 1.5lbs a week. I'm not tired or hungry. I feel great and I'm hoping to get 5 more lbs off before my vacation in November.

    So, when you might not be able to get ALL of what you want off - I do believe you can get some of what you want off. I'd expect 6lbs. You don't know what you CAN do until you try. Don't net under 1200 daily, and being consistant is key. Eat healthy, protein packed food. There just really is no room for error.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited September 2017
    cat_monster wrote: »
    Going on holiday in a month and would like to shed this weight but find it difficult what with having a life and everything! I go to the gym two to three times a week and walk a lot. Is it achievable? Usually can't lose weight that fast. Many thanks.

    Not likely - not fat loss anyway.

    8 x 3,500 = 28,000. That's the deficit you need for the month. 28,000/30 = 933.33 calorie deficit every day.

    I can't guess your TDEE (maintenance)..... but it needs to be at least 1200+933 = 2,133 calories.
    http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

    The reason people (who are close to goal) choose slower weight loss is they want to support existing lean muscle mass. This allows for lower weight AND a lower body fat %.
  • fiddletime
    fiddletime Posts: 1,868 Member
    JennJ323 wrote: »
    fiddletime wrote: »
    I'm 5'2" and managed to lose a pound a week for 20 weeks with pretty aggressive dieting. I started at 140 and got to 120. I was hungry the whole time. I got sick a lot with every cold that came by, and usually I never get sick. I gained it all back within 7 months after I'd lost it. Then I discovered MFP and am back at it again, losing 0.5 pounds a week, barely. I'm at 128 and aiming for around 120 or so and have lost 16 pounds since January.

    I'd recommend if you want to lose weight and keep it off for a long time, just do the program (my fitness pal's logging and tracking) and enjoy your vacation next month, calorie counting or not.

    I have noticed since starting my weight loss I've been getting sick so much easier! I'm down about 25lb since the beginning of the year, and have had 4 colds this summer!! I'm dreading cold/flu season this year! Do you think weight loss can affect your immune system?

    I think any stressor can affect your immune system. So that, while I was hungry, but glad to be losing the weight consistently with no plateau, my body was stressed. It was a test to see if I could lose a pound a week with no plateaus, just by decreasing my food intake. Unfortunately for this conversation and website, I wasn't calorie counting. I'd guess I was around 800-900 cal per day though, based on how I felt and portion size, compared to my 1200 calories I eat now.

    I got a cold this summer, losing 1-2 pounds a month. Very odd, as I just so rarely get a cold. I attribute it to weight loss, and am watching my macros carefully and will add 100 calories if I get sick again to see how that goes, before winter.
  • Silentpadna
    Silentpadna Posts: 1,306 Member
    cat_monster wrote: »
    Going on holiday in a month and would like to shed this weight but find it difficult what with having a life and everything! I go to the gym two to three times a week and walk a lot. Is it achievable? Usually can't lose weight that fast. Many thanks.

    Those that have responded with the concern for weight vs fat loss are on the right track in my opinion. I'm sure it's possible to lose that much weight that quickly, but I'm not sure about, in fact I'm confident that it is not likely that you will be able to lose that much fat.

    -Not a nutrition or fitness expert by any stretch - had leave that caveat.

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