Weight loss question

[Krischaser]

Hello . I really would like to lose 15-20 lbs in a month if possible. I have been working out at least three times a week and just gave up soda today. Is my goal possible? What have been your experiences? Any advice on how to conquer cravings and munches? Any organizations I should join? Help!!!
Thanks!

 

[chris31997]

Might get 15 in a month but I don't think you can keep it off. You would need to cut back alot of calories and when you eat normally again you will gain it back. IMHO

Here is what my family is doing and it is working. Here is the background. DS needs to gain wieght DH and I are okay with our weight but would like to lose some but DH wants to gain/maintain muscle. USMC works out alot. DD is a ballarina, wants to lose some weight and is cross training.

We eat ALL THE TIME. Actually, about every 2 hours we eat about 200-300 calories. The only thing we took off the table was simple carbs like white bread, we would eat whole grain. We prep lots of lil containers so all we have to do is go into the fridge and grab. We also get dessert, but it is portion controled by the calorie count.

DH, Me, DD have lost about 10lb in about a month without feeling like we are losing out on food. We find it easier to eat out. We are full and bring home leftovers that we divide up DS has gained a couple of pounds and he eats his meals with everyone now and does not fight when it is time to eat

DD does ballet 3 days a week for about 2.5hr per day plus 2 day crossfit workout with me. DS does jiujitsu.

Good luck

 

[rachel09985]

I don't think it is possible at all! You would need to severely limit your food intake.

You could try a cleanse for a week and that might help.

I have learned that it doesn't matter what exercise I do if I don't change my diet it doesn't help

 

[brertoad]

In order to stop sugar cravings and the munchies, you have to keep yourself from ever getting too hungry. You will need to eat frequently with good foods that satisfy hunger. Your blood sugar levels can't dip so low that you feel like you are ravenous, then you go on an eating binge and stuff anything and everything in your mouth.

I'm reading a diet book, not really a diet book per say, more like an owner's manual about the body, it explains why we feel hungry - hormones, why we get fat - unused extra calories, etc. It's a Mehmet Oz book called You on a Diet, and it has helped me learn more about how the body processes food.
You can probably get one at a used book store for a few bucks, I think I saw it on Amazon Prime lending for free?? not sure.

Keep healthy snacks in the fridge. You can pretty much eat any raw fruits and veggies within reason. Talks about portion sizes. We should only eat lean meats. Cut out white carbs as much as possible. Eat healthy fats like olive oil or nuts, walnuts, almonds. It takes a little fat in our gut to send signals to our brain to stop eating, so eating a small amount of nuts about 20 minutes before a meal should help start the feeling full process.

I could go on and on, you should check out the book, it's really interesting.

 

[robinb]

Hello . I really would like to lose 15-20 lbs in a month if possible. I have been working out at least three times a week and just gave up soda today. Is my goal possible? What have been your experiences? Any advice on how to conquer cravings and munches? Any organizations I should join? Help!!!
Thanks!

I would say that 15-20 lbs in a month may be OK depending on how big you are now. If you are morbidly obese it might be OK. If you are just overweight or obese then that is way too much weight to lose in a month. IMO it's unhealthy.

 

[gracie1]

I don't think your going to lose that much in a month. If you try to starve yourself, sometimes your body will not lose either. I exercise 2.5 hours every single day, and in the summer remember you retain water. I have lost 115lbs by exercise and eating healthy and I never lost more than 10 pounds in a month and that's when I started losing!!
You should just try to eat healthier and exercise and you will lose weight. But don't put pressure on yourself!

 

[crisi]

Generally, healthy weight loss is 1-2 lbs a week - you might drop more your first week as your body adjusts (like five) but you won't maintain that.

If you try to loose that much weight your body will decide that you must be undergoing famine and shut down your metabolism.

I have good luck with weight watchers - which I tend to join when I need to loose ten - I loose ten, then go back in five years to take the ten off again. It takes me about six weeks to loose the ten.

 

[Egdisney]

How much soda were you drinking and was it regular soda? If you were drinking alot, you will see a nice weightloss just from quitting that! I would shoot more for the 10 lb mark so you are not disappointed with a big shortfall if you don't make it to 20. To lose more weight, you will also want to plan on working out at least 5 days a week, in my opinion.

 

[HippieChickadee]

Hello . I really would like to lose 15-20 lbs in a month if possible. I have been working out at least three times a week and just gave up soda today. Is my goal possible? What have been your experiences? Any advice on how to conquer cravings and munches? Any organizations I should join? Help!!!
Thanks!

Unless you are very obese- 15-20 lbs is unlikely and not something that can be maintained.

I'm not one to talk- need to lose the weight and need the motivation. I've been swimming everyday now that it's swimming weather, but like you- need the cravings and munchies to leave already!

Anyone? Advice?

 

[crisi]

Advice on cravings and munchies.

Identify them and be prepared for them - then substitute and portion control.

I have a sweet tooth so when losing weight go through a lot of bananas, dipped in a tablespoon of Hershey's syrup. I get the chocolate and the sweet, but the banana adds bulk without the ton of calories that other sweets will give. (Or strawberries).

If you crave chips - try air popped popcorn.

 

[disneychrista]

Your weight loss will depend on your current weight & activity level.

For every pound you want to lose you need a negative calorie intake of 3500. To lose 20 pounds in 30 days you need have a negative calorie intake of nearly 2500/day. That is a LOT of working out and very little eating.

It is "safe" to lose up to 2 pounds a week / 10 pounds a month.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hello . I really would like to lose 15-20 lbs in a month if possible. I have been working out at least three times a week and just gave up soda today. Is my goal possible? What have been your experiences? Any advice on how to conquer cravings and munches? Any organizations I should join? Help!!!
Thanks!

I don't think that's a healthy weight loss to shoot for at all. Even if you're a man, or have hundreds of pounds to lose, that initial huge loss won't continue; you'll taper off.

If you can see my ticker, you can see the time it has taken me; I have lost consistently (but NOT every week! very important! I have had gains and that's OK and normal...my whole life going forward I'll deal with gains and losses and maintains, and it's OK) and most in my Weight Watchers meeting consider me to be on a fast-ish track.

My cravings have been dealt with SLOWLY. I don't plan to never eat sweet things again, so why would I lose by not eating them? That teaches me nothing. So I have learned fairly extreme portion control; half an hour ago I weighed out my avocado, getting rid of even one extra gram. Later I'll weigh out my full fat ice cream, and I'll be ecstatic about the ice cream and enjoy it all. But this took time. And I did it this way because I will be eating this food forever. there has been just one food that I haven't allowed since I started, and that's not a sweet at all. (marinated artichoke hearts, for the record)

If you're willing to lose it in a more healthy way, I would recommend Weight Watchers wholeheartedly. But not if you're still going to think of 15-20/month. They won't help you with that.

 

[casjen]

Get the book It Starts with Food and go Paleo! The Whole 30 is a great jump start to losing weight. people do report losing 10-20 pounds in the 30 days. I follow the Whole30 guidelines 85% and Paleo 100%. You give up all grains, carbs, dairy and sugar. You live on whole foods only. Lots of veggies and good healthy fats and fruit. I gave up nuts and eggs as well and have never felt better. But you don't need to give up nuts and eggs. It really does realign your system and your blood sugar regulates itself. It's a big change and a big commitment, but so easy to follow. Just buy fruits, veggies, and meats (I only eat lean meat and almost all turkey and chicken). I eat 1-2 avocados a day and my hair and nails are so strong and growing like crazy. I haven't lost any weight bc I didn't need too but I have gained nice lean muscle so that's a plus.

It's not for everyone but giving up processed food and carbs and sugar has been so good for me. I do cheat a little and drink seltzer 1-2 times a week. I just love the fuzzies and still water doesn't always cut it in summer.

Whatever you do, don't restrict calories so much that you can't maintain the lifestyle. You'll gain back whatever you lose and more once you stop the plan. This isn't a plan for me, it's my lifestyle. I'm flexible on weekends and when we eat out but finding protein and veggies is never a challenge in a restaurant. I will have an occasional gluten free, dairy free, soy free treat but it is rare. I do eat dark chocolate everyday. Who can live without chocolate!

To be successful with any plan you have to be prepared and committed. It's so easy to be starving, have no good whole food available and fall off the wagon.

Good luck to you!!

 

[HM]

I lost 10 pounds the year I gave up sodas. It came off in less than two months. I didn't do anything else differently. If you really watched your diet and continue to exercise (adding more time or intensity over the month) you might be able to get rid of 15 pounds. Try to do it in a healthy way though.

 

[trinchick]

Get the book It Starts with Food and go Paleo! The Whole 30 is a great jump start to losing weight. people do report losing 10-20 pounds in the 30 days. I follow the Whole30 guidelines 85% and Paleo 100%. You give up all grains, carbs, dairy and sugar. You live on whole foods only. Lots of veggies and good healthy fats and fruit. I gave up nuts and eggs as well and have never felt better. But you don't need to give up nuts and eggs. It really does realign your system and your blood sugar regulates itself. It's a big change and a big commitment, but so easy to follow. Just buy fruits, veggies, and meats (I only eat lean meat and almost all turkey and chicken). I eat 1-2 avocados a day and my hair and nails are so strong and growing like crazy. I haven't lost any weight bc I didn't need too but I have gained nice lean muscle so that's a plus.

It's not for everyone but giving up processed food and carbs and sugar has been so good for me. I do cheat a little and drink seltzer 1-2 times a week. I just love the fuzzies and still water doesn't always cut it in summer.

Whatever you do, don't restrict calories so much that you can't maintain the lifestyle. You'll gain back whatever you lose and more once you stop the plan. This isn't a plan for me, it's my lifestyle. I'm flexible on weekends and when we eat out but finding protein and veggies is never a challenge in a restaurant. I will have an occasional gluten free, dairy free, soy free treat but it is rare. I do eat dark chocolate everyday. Who can live without chocolate!

To be successful with any plan you have to be prepared and committed. It's so easy to be starving, have no good whole food available and fall off the wagon.

Good luck to you!!

I'm another clean eating advocate. I'm going more the primal route as opposed to paleo (still eat dairy - love my coffee cream and cheese). I also don't limit myself to lean meats. Lots of steak and bacon happening at my house. I do have some weight to lose, and I am losing it effortlessly this way - despite eating all that steak and bacon and cream.

I eat until I'm full. I'm never hungry. When I am hungry, I eat. I sleep like a log. I have so much more energy. Like the PP my fingernails are stronger than ever and growing like crazy.

And since this is the budget board, I will add that this is possible to do without breaking the bank. I haven't gone down the organic-only, grass-fed, pasteured eggs road due to the cost and inconvenience. I still eat the conventional fare at the grocery story - but none of it is processed. Just veggies, meat, eggs, dairy and a little fruit.

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Hello . I really would like to lose 15-20 lbs in a month if possible. I have been working out at least three times a week and just gave up soda today. Is my goal possible? What have been your experiences? Any advice on how to conquer cravings and munches? Any organizations I should join? Help!!!
Thanks!

If your goal is to lose that weight short term, you might be able to. If you actually want to BE that weight, you'll likely harm your metabolism and slow down/stall/harm your body's ability to hold that loss or lose more. Check out the blog Go Kaleo for more info. She is awesome!

I've gone primal and it was a GREAT change for my family. For me it was about health. I have lost weight, but I havent paid attention to how much. Just focused on changing my habits. We eat whole foods and veer away from too many starchy veggies. My weight continues to drop and I know the results will last as long as my good habits do.

 

[ellone]

I don't know if it is possible.

Like others I recommend a whole foods diet. Not as part of any specific diet, but because processed foods are bad for you. I highly recommend reading Pandora's Lunchbox. You will not look at processed foods the same way again after reading it.

One thing I learned from the book is that processed foods make our bodies work less in order to digest them (the processing of them changes them). So not all calories are created equal. Eating whole foods makes your body use more calories in digestion.

In our house we have meat (organic chicken or grass fed beef-grass fed has more omega 3's which we don't eat enough of), lots of fruits and veggies, dairy from cows not treated with rBGH, no artificial colors or flavors, no unspecified 'natural' flavors (they aren't so natural and some have hidden MSG), and no GMOs (which pretty much eliminates most processed foods anyways).

I lost 15 lbs over a year and I wasn't overweight to start with. I still have desserts, but with the above limits, it's not that easy to just buy something at the store.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I would not recommend trying to lose that much weight in one month. You are setting yourself up for failure. I think that too many people watch the "Biggest Loser" and think that is how you have to do it and are disappointed if you don't have huge losses.

I have been doing Weight Watchers since February (I had one bad month but other than that I have been very consistent) and I have lost 27 lbs so far. I don't mind the slow weight loss because I am learning healthy habits along the way and I have a better chance of keeping it off.

Good luck with your weight loss journey!

 

[Ginny Favers]

I am not sure how anyone can say it's not possible without knowing your current weight and fitness level.

I really think 3 times a week is not enough. You need to work out every day, in a combination of weight training and cardio, for at least 45 minutes.

Because I love food, I do not limit what I eat, although I make it a point never to eat anything after my big old bowl of ice cream at 6 PM. It really helps to go to bed on an empty stomach, and to eat breakfast as early as possible in the morning.

 

[Haley]

I have been using myfitnesspal.com to track everything i eat- start doing that immediately and it should help.

I eat 1200-1500 calories a day and I lost 10 pounds in month. Eating like that forces you to eat healthy. Because fruits/veggies/lean protein are the most filling/low calorie.