50 pounds in 6 months.. is it possible?
glipogloopy
Posts: 4 Member
I am getting married in the second week of February and was trying to get down to 150 pounds by then.. I am currently 5'6, 197 pounds. I am freaking out because I crave food all day, and despite working with a personal trainer 4 days a week, I am finding it hard to clean up my nutrition. I even tried Lomaira (a lower strength Phentermine, appetite suppressant), but I am scared of the long-term side effects. Any advice, anybody? I am new to this site.
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Replies
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How tall are you?
2 lbs per week is a pretty aggressive goal. At the beginning you might be able to make that happen, but as you get closer to goal you will lose your wiggle room and the pace will naturally slow down. I'd guess 25 lbs is more realistic, with more lost upfront and less as your pace slows down and your stress possibly goes up a little as the wedding day approaches?
And losing weight at an aggressive pace for 6 months leaves you vulnerable to being fatigued and hangry for your wedding, probably not what you want to do!
Check out these posts, they may help:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10634517/you-dont-use-a-food-scale/p1
Good luck!6 -
Congratulations! I'm assuming weighing 150 pounds isn't a prerequisite to your marriage, since it's already happening
So why add stress to an already stressful time? You will have your hands full with the holidays and wedding planning and life in general.
Set a modest calories deficit (with 50 pounds to lose, 1 pound a week would probably be reasonable), focus on getting a variety of nutritious foods but leave yourself room for some treats, and continue with your personal trainer if you enjoy it (or work out on your own). You want to be relaxed, healthy, and happy on your wedding day, not a hungry ball of stress.26 -
its impossible mathematically. As you need 6.25 month to get 50 pounds to lose at 2lb/per week. Try more realistically 30-35 pounds(1-1,5lbs per week). More proteins, moderate carbs. Proper nutritionist would be ideal. As you need a moderate amount of experience to know what is working with you. Weight food with scale, log into mfp, take database entries with enough calories, not to small. Don't know you intensity of work outs, but adequate eating after workout is needed. As you control yourself better you will get less cravings, from my experience cravings subside after time of not succumbing to it. So after few day, few weeks you will not get them.
Log/weight everything. Measuring is most inaccurate. And most important, eat enough to reach calorie goal.17 -
I lost 60 in 4 months but I am 6'1" and was pretty obese @ 280 starting weight and very aggressive with calorie deficit and exercise (I didn't eat back my exercise calories either) I am by no means saying you should do what I did, just telling you it is possible for very obese people like I was to lose a lot of weight in short period of time. Be more realistic like others are saying and shoot for 25-35 lbs . You have to stay on it though and be meticulous with calorie counting. Good luck.3
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Do you want to get to your wedding burned out, possibly ill or suffering other consequences of losing rapidly for a long period of time, all of which you will just blame on the stress anyway?
OR
Would you like to start your marriage with healthy habits?24 -
glipogloopy wrote: »I am getting married in the second week of February and was trying to get down to 150 pounds by then.. I am currently 5'6, 197 pounds. I am freaking out because I crave food all day, and despite working with a personal trainer 4 days a week, I am finding it hard to clean up my nutrition. I even tried Lomaira (a lower strength Phentermine, appetite suppressant), but I am scared of the long-term side effects. Any advice, anybody? I am new to this site.
Welcome.
If you are craving food all day you are probably already trying to be too aggressive which usually ends badly. You can probably lose 20 pounds comfortably by then. By comfortably I mean that you won't be depriving yourself over every date night and holiday between now and then.
You need a plan that can survive everything that is going to happen in the next 6 months AND your wedding so that when you get back from a honeymoon (if that is happening) you come back ready to lose the rest.
Talk to us about what you are eating now that is leaving you so hungry all the time. How many calories? What is your protein goal and are you getting close to it?10 -
Baby steps. You can make small changes that will make a huge difference in your health and well-being and become a sustainable lifestyle for you or you can rush things and end up being miserable and possibly unhealthy when your wedding day arrives.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Blessings on your upcoming marriage. ❤6 -
I lost 50 in 6-7 months but it was the first 50 of 150 total loss. The second 50 took about 8 months. The last 50 took 14 months. This is because as you get closer to goal, you should run a smaller deficit. I was losing 1-2 lb per month at the end. By the time I got to goal, I naturally stopped losing and began “maintenance” without needing to change my diet much at all.14
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Yeah, it's technically possible to lose 50 in 6 months, I've done it, but not from a starting point of 197 pounds. That'd be over 25 % of your weight, it's way, way too much too fast. Forget that and rethink the whole thing.
You say you're craving food all the time and popping appetite suppressants. That doesn't sound good, healthy, or or suitable to your needs. You're obviously not getting enough food and your diet is (whether you know it or not) about to collapse from excessive deprivation, to be followed by massive gorging. I suggest you back off the extreme thinking and get focused on an achievable, non-punishing effort to lose 20-30 pounds in 6 months. Probably more like 20 than 30. Something you can actually accomplish in a steady, happy way.
Basically, you need more food than you're getting. So get more food.
And for the love of god, don't take any more of those pills. You know you shouldn't be taking them. You don't really need some online stranger to tell you to stop, but just in case you do need that, "stop". Flush them down the toilet and get yourself on a healthy footing. Your instinct to be worried about long term effects is 100 % sensible. You don't need a pill. All you need is a more moderate, healthy diet and a goal that is more reasonable.18 -
It’s taken me almost 6 months to lose 17 pounds. They’re mostly vanity pounds, though, I was a normal BMI when I started.3
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Yes, it's possible, using a loss of 1% per week. Actually, that leaves you 2 pounds above but that's close enough. It definitely is possible to lose 1% per week.7
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It is possible but not really advisable. You will end up looking thinner but your hair could start falling out, your nails could become brittle, and you could have a pale, washed-out complexion instead of being the glowing bride.
Just remember that your partner chose you as you are now. You are who he has fallen in love with and wants to spend the rest of his life with. He would want you to be healthy and happy.13 -
Please be careful, I lost 15kgs quite aggressively before my wedding. Then before I knew it I was 20kgs up from that and have hardly been able to budge it since (2 years later)! Please consider your long term health 💕 you will look stunning on your wedding day regardless of your weight! Xx10
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Remember that you are the event and not the wedding. When we diet for a big event, stressing out over the numbers for the big reveal, all of that can go right out the window when the event is over. Sit down face-to-face with a medical professional who can help you get your meal plans and food in order. One step at a time down to the altar. You'll have a much better chance of getting there and staying there long, long after the wedding is over....way down the road into your future. Long term weight stability is where the rubber meets the road.4
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Possible yes. Probable, not likely. You'd have to have at least a 1000 calorie deficit daily and if your intake for your BMR is sitting at say 1600, you'd end up undereating. Unfortunately, you waited to long to start the process, so what you do is lose what you can. And just don't do it for an event. Do it for life. Nothing worse than looking at wedding pictures down the road and saying "that's how I used to look" and being 50-80lbs heavier.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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Yes, it's possible, using a loss of 1% per week. Actually, that leaves you 2 pounds above but that's close enough. It definitely is possible to lose 1% per week.
Right now, she could technically lose 2 lbs as 1% of her weight. But as she gets lower, that 1% becomes less than 2 lbs. And that 1% is not the average or to be expected, it's the max recommended.
And the 1% of your body weight max recommendation doesn't supersede the minimum number of calories a person needs to eat to get basic nutrition. Many women simply don't have a high enough TDEE to manage a daily 1000 calorie deficit without severe deprivation.
Faster isn't always better, and losing weight aggressively fast right down to the day of her wedding is not a great idea, for reasons both physical and psychological.
Considering OP was considering an appetite suppressant she is fearful of in order to make this happen, I think that's a red flag it's probably better to take it a little slower.20 -
+1 for the suggestions to go with a more moderate deficit and goal.
My other tip is NOT to buy a wedding dress that is several sizes too small as "motivation". You're already feeling hungry and frustrated, and the stress will go up as the wedding gets closer. The last thing you need or want at the last minute is a dress that doesn't fit because you set your mind on some number that your body may or may not agree to get to. 16 -
I was 5'6" and 197 when I started my weight loss in January 2014. I lost about 26 pounds the first six months - I did weight watchers, and didn't up my activity beyond walking more and found that I was hungry but it was manageable. In June I started a more targeted weight training program and in July I went to MFP, ditching WW because I wasn't getting nearly enough protein, and over the next 8-10 months dropped the next 24# and felt GREAT. I agree with the advice above. Planning wedding ceremonies is stressful enough
Go for a reasonable deficit, work out at a reasonable pace (this can help with the stress) and enjoy your day. And yeah, for sure don't buy a dress too small for "motivation." 8 -
"I am freaking out because I crave food all day" if you're craving foods all day right now, it's probably not going to get better until you address where these cravings are coming from. Is it because you're bored? Is eating an emotional reaction? Is snacking all day a habit that you need to break? Are you getting enough protein/ fats/ carbs/ fiber/ water? I found that I was having a hard time sticking to my calorie goals when I was getting most of my calories from carbs and I wasn't getting enough fiber, fat and protein to keep me feeling full. I have also found that focusing on drinking enough water has made a huge difference for me. It may or may not be possible for you to lose 50lbs in 6 months, but to achieve any goal you set you will need to come up with a nutrition plan that doesn't leave you hungry all the time.3
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This may not pertain to you but the stress of losing weight on a deadline is really screwing with my head right now. I am not eating that much less than I was before but the impact on my mental state is ridiculous. Last night I came close to a full on unstructured overfeed session. Knowing I can't have more food is making me want it A LOT more. In my normal system I am relaxed and I don't care if I eat a little over my calorie goal which keeps me comfortable and under it most of the time. From beginning to end this hurry-up phase of mine will last 3 months and I am only halfway through it and feeling antsy so I would not recommend this to anyone for anything less than medical reasons.13
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Possible? Yes. I lost just over 100 lbs in 8 months and 4 days AND yes, I have kept it off. I lost this weight in 2017 and I have maintained and even loss more since. I started at 260 lbs and I changed my lifestyle completely... diet and activity. I made changes that I could maintain in my life. I didn't cut anything completely out. I just cut back and got to moving more.4
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ChelleDee07 wrote: »Possible? Yes. I lost just over 100 lbs in 8 months and 4 days AND yes, I have kept it off. I lost this weight in 2017 and I have maintained and even loss more since. I started at 260 lbs and I changed my lifestyle completely... diet and activity. I made changes that I could maintain in my life. I didn't cut anything completely out. I just cut back and got to moving more.
But you started out 60 lbs heavier than the OP, and aimed for a higher weight. That suggests you started with a higher TDEE so you could maintain a faster pace for longer. Starting weight matters.
And that rapid weight loss is not typical, many people simply couldn't stick to that. Possible, probable, and advisable are very different things and are different for different people.15 -
ChelleDee07 wrote: »Possible? Yes. I lost just over 100 lbs in 8 months and 4 days AND yes, I have kept it off. I lost this weight in 2017 and I have maintained and even loss more since. I started at 260 lbs and I changed my lifestyle completely... diet and activity. I made changes that I could maintain in my life. I didn't cut anything completely out. I just cut back and got to moving more.
What @kimny72 said. What worked for you will not just work for anyone. Starting weight matters. Stats matter. You created an average calorie deficit of close to 1500 calories per day. The OP would be nearly fasting to try to do the same. You were fortunate to get away with it yourself.
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ChelleDee07 wrote: »Possible? Yes. I lost just over 100 lbs in 8 months and 4 days AND yes, I have kept it off. I lost this weight in 2017 and I have maintained and even loss more since. I started at 260 lbs and I changed my lifestyle completely... diet and activity. I made changes that I could maintain in my life. I didn't cut anything completely out. I just cut back and got to moving more.
But you started out 60 lbs heavier than the OP, and aimed for a higher weight. That suggests you started with a higher TDEE so you could maintain a faster pace for longer. Starting weight matters.
And that rapid weight loss is not typical, many people simply couldn't stick to that. Possible, probable, and advisable are very different things and are different for different people.
AND that is exactly what I told the OP.... that I was heavier than them. The question was IS IT POSSIBLE!? I answered the question. I didn't advise OP to do anything. I answered the question.5 -
ChelleDee07 wrote: »Possible? Yes. I lost just over 100 lbs in 8 months and 4 days AND yes, I have kept it off. I lost this weight in 2017 and I have maintained and even loss more since. I started at 260 lbs and I changed my lifestyle completely... diet and activity. I made changes that I could maintain in my life. I didn't cut anything completely out. I just cut back and got to moving more.
What @kimny72 said. What worked for you will not just work for anyone. Starting weight matters. Stats matter. You created an average calorie deficit of close to 1500 calories per day. The OP would be nearly fasting to try to do the same. You were fortunate to get away with it yourself.
Thank you for your input, but I lost the weight... I am healthier and my weight and bloodwork show this. Dr just ran everything and has told me to go out and live my healthy life. Therefore, I IMPROVED my life. I DID NOT advise the OP to do anything... I SIMPLY answered their question.5 -
I was so overweight when i got married, but made changes and lost 75lbs or so later. I'm in maintenance for going on three years now. I still enjoy looking at my wedding pictures, doesn't matter that I'm fat there. I'm not anymore, and it's more important. I've had my share of lose/ gain back- plus- ten- extra- pounds every time cycles because the changes i was making were temporary and that had to change for me to keep the weight off successfully. You've got so much good advice here, OP. Don't set too hard of a goal, but focus on changing habits that got you to become overweight to start with. Identify them and make changes, even if you change one thing at a time, as long as it's sustainable for you. And for God's sake, stop taking pills. Have a big salad with low calorie or low amount of s higher calories salad dressing, eat more veggies, they are filling and low calorie. And so nutritious too. And added stress from too aggressive of a goal eill make it harder on you and your family too, because many of us get hangry when we're hungry, lol. Good luck and congratulations, OP!1
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+1 for don't add extra stress to yourself when trying to plan a wedding, the planning itself is stressful enough! I actually gained ~15lbs right before my wedding in stress-eating (obviously not everyone has this reaction to stress but it is possible). I would recommend setting yourself a realistic goal, something you can stick to comfortably. And to be honest, I'd recommend just eating at maintenance for the week or so before the wedding, just to make sure you're as happy and glowing as possible. And enjoy your wedding day, you'll look and feel stunning no matter what you weigh so don't sweat it!2
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Are you sure you're not pregnant? A friend of mine attempted to aggressively drop weight before her wedding last year, and assumed something was wrong with herself. I kept telling her, "you might be pregnant." I was right. She'd thought she was incapable of conceiving. She was weighing, logging & exercising. Fast forward>>She is due next week.
Congratulations on your pending nuptials!
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