[poemsandpeaches]

I am meeting my new beau in a month or so and am trying to lose 20lbs..

I am 5'4 130lbs and proportional..I wish I could post my pic but have no clue...
I am actually heading to my aerobics class..where I will stretch..and run for about 1/2 hour then do 200 crunches and run tradmill for 15 minuts..If I do this 4 times a week plus drinking only liquids and no snacking or eating..Do you think I'll lose the weight.. Only people who have experience reply with advice..

Thank you and no hard feelings..

[wideawake]

Originally posted by poemsandpeaches
I am meeting my new beau in a month or so and am trying to lose 20lbs..

I am 5'4 130lbs and proportional..I wish I could post my pic but have no clue...
I am actually heading to my aerobics class..where I will stretch..and run for about 1/2 hour then do 200 crunches and run tradmill for 15 minuts..If I do this 4 times a week plus drinking only liquids and no snacking or eating..Do you think I'll lose the weight.. Only people who have experience reply with advice..

Thank you and no hard feelings..

Sorry, but I don't really think your goal is possible, nor a healthy one to undertake.

You stated that you're already 'proportional' so I'll take that to mean that you're just a little over-weight and looking to lean up a bit. This being the case, (the fact that you're not really obese) than you'll have a tendency to lose fat slower than if you were much larger with a higher body fat percentage.

I would think that anywhere from 4-8lbs of fat loss would be the upper limits.

And to be honest, I don't think starving yourself ('drinking only liquids and no snacking or eating') will do anything but make you sick, make you lose MUSCLE and make you look much worse.

You need to supply your body with good healthy food that is perhaps about 400 calories under your 'maintenance' level (the amount of calories you body needs just to function on a daily basis). Drop those calories to far under maintenance and your body will go into a starvation mode and do everything it can to hang onto every last fat cell.

I think you should continue with your exercise, but you need to build a balanced diet with a subtle calorie restriction to lose FAT. The method you've stated above is a recipe for disastor.

Peace,

[Tony T]

I have experienced the diet you prescribe for yourself but each person's body reacts differently so my experience may not be yours. I also want to say that such rapid weight loss as you seek can be dangerous for some people and should only be undertaken with a doctor's oversight. Additionally, such rapid weight loss as you propose holds a very high possibility of even greater weight gain in the future as well as other physical complications. And it will make it much more dificult for you to lose weight in the future if you are one of the 95 percent of people who lose weight fast and gain the weight back and more.

Now, the exercise is ideal. Drinking a lot of water is ideal. Not eating is dangerous and could cause you serious complications which could lead to low blood sugar, fainting, and other serious problems. I'm not even recommending somebody do as little as what I'm going to tell you here but if you want rapid weight loss this one time: Eat some fruit at breakfast (a banana would be good) and take an excellent multivitamin. A nice salad without cheese is great for lunch. Three oz. of lean meat for dinner or a small piece of broiled seafood, such as flounder or salmon. No snacks. Go low on carbohydrates. To do this, you will have to clean up your kitchen of all snack foods or else you will go crazy and binge in your second week. Once a week, treat yourself to one cup of sherbert or low calorie ice cream.

You did not say if the liquids you are planning on drinking are low calorie nutrition drinks. If they are, that's a plus but still dangerous if that's all you're going to be taking in. You can substitute some low calorie nutrition drinks for one of your small meals each day.

You must eat the minimum because your body needs fuel to operate and exercise and if you are going to the gym you can work off some of the extra pounds but you must also present the body with new forms of nutrition as well.

Your body is shocked in a very negative way by the sudden jolt of such dramatic diet change.

Just remember, there are 3500 calories in every pound. So if you count your calories in and out, you can mathiematically determined how many pounds you will lose. For instance, to lose a full 20 pounds in 30 days, you will have to expend 70,000 calories more than you take in. Doing so in such a short period of time will be extremely dangerous and possibly life threatening if you suffer from certain heart or other abnormalties you may not eve be aware of. What this means is that if you burn about 400 calories a day in exercise (on average) and considering your normal body consumption of 1500 to 2000 calories per day (just to live on) and if you reduce your daily caloric intake to the very minimum required to keep up your exercise regimen, say 1,000 calories,....you do the math but you will come up way short.

I urge you to see a doctor before you do this. It would be much better if you would see a nutritionist, or work with a personal trainer at the gym, and stay supervised during this time. You won't find one doctor or nutritionist in the universe who would advise you to lose weight this fast. Again, this kind of quick weight loss could be life threatening....but maybe not for you. But it could have other consequences. IF YOU MUST DO WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING CONSULT WITH A MEDICAL DOCTOR FIRST!!!

I was able to lose about 30 pounds but I had to eat the minimum and it took me several months. I gained it back and more and decided to take the slower route...and now the weight has remained off. I had a friend who starved herself as you are planning to do and she died. Everything I am telling you is based on my own personal experience and observation. You could have a different experience...but see a doctor first. Only a doctor will understand your metabolism and be best able to advise you.

[aquaria127]

I can certainly understand wanting to look good for someone, first impressions and all that.

I am meeting my new beau in a month or so and am trying to lose 20lbs..

can I take this to mean that you are wanting to lose weight because you are meeting him? Are you going to beat yourself up and feel crappy if you can't attain this nearly impossible and not very healthy goal? What if he doens't quite measure up to your expectations? If you are going to take advice, I just want to say, please don't stop eating. You know that getting into a regimen of exercise and eating healthy can help you get more "in shape." What you need to show your new boyfriend is that you are confident and proud about who you are.

[moimeme]

Please listen to Tony. Don't try to lose that much weight so fast. My mom was your height and she looked terrific at 120 lbs.

I wanted to ditch 15 extra lbs that landed on me. I've done it by making sure I eat only when I'm hungry and I stop when I'm full. I'm also exercising, but I'm starved when I get home afterward and I definitely eat again then. None of my meals are huge, though because I quit eating once I'm not hungry. If I have food left over, I put it in the fridge and eat it next meal.

It took me about two months to lose and it's stayed off. I've done this once or twice before over the years and it's worked every time. I definitely second the idea of getting rid of the junk food in your house. It is so easy to resort to it when you're hungry and if you only have good stuff around (fruits, veg, healthy food), you'll eat that instead. I'm not big on counting calories, but it's worth it to know the calorie counts of some foods. Ice cream, sadly, is one of the worst possible foods - a small serving has huge amounts of calories in it.

By the way, milk has been associated in more than one study with weight loss and fat loss. I have found that milk helps take the edge off hunger. I'd suggest drinking 1% milk with meals. It doesn't add that many calories, it helps you feel full, and it seems to be very good for people.

[kroset]

I definately don't think trying to lose 20 pounds in a month is a good - or healthy idea.

People that lose weight slowly, and by eating meals (not starving themselves) and exercising regularly keep the weight off better than those on fad diets - especially those that you are starving yourself.

Basically, by not eating much in a month - your body will go nuts after the month is over and you start eating again. You will put weight back on faster than you ever imagined!!!

I recommend shooting to lose a pound or two a week and exercising and eating good, healthy meals.

Sure, you CAN lose 20 pounds in a month - people do it on "Survivor" all the time. But it really is a BAD and UNHEALTHY idea.

[Ryan]

20lbs in one month is not feasible. That is more of a 4-6 month goal.

It's also suspect that you are even in need of such reduction. There is nothing wrong with being conscious of one's fitness level and striving to improve it, but one must be realistic. I would need more information to be more specific.

I will say that activity program is a huge waste of time.

[poemsandpeaches]

I eat a light lunch and exercise for atleast 2 hrs during the day..and because I get home so late I often ti,e skip dinner because I don't want to go to bed with a full stomach *yuck*

Breakfast? I'm not really a breakfast person..I might drink orange juice....and call it a morning...

[moimeme]

You really need to eat. Breakfast is very important. You are running your body on nothing, and that will lead to problems. Think of a car - needs gas. The eating and exercise pattern you describe sounds like that of a person on her way to an eating disorder. You can't possibly be taking in enough calories to keep your body healthy. Nothing is worth sacrificing your health for and you will win no points with this guy by being a fanatic about starving yourself. I think it's time to see a physician and ask for a healthy diet/exercise plan. You WILL harm yourself if you continue this way.

[HokeyReligions]

Everyone said the same things I would say - except that I've had two doctors tell me that rapid loss was not a bad thing -- if its done right. The faster one can get the weight off the better for the whole body & especially the heart - but only if its done in a healthy manner.

I hate eating breakfast too - I have to force myself to eat in the morning. But having 5 or 6 small meals a day vs. 1 or 2 meals is MUCH better for you and will help you to regulate your metabolism so that fat loss is consistent and you can feed your muscles.

Know that with a lot of exercise you are building muscle strength and sometimes muscle mass, and since muscles are dense a one inch cube of muscle is going to weight more than a one inch cube of fat. In this case you can't count on your scale to tell you if you are doing any good! When I dieted it looked like I was actually gaining weight on the scales, but my clothes were fitting looser and looser - because I was building muscle mass while losing fat. That will hold true for almost everyone who diets and exercises as you described.

Having said that, I will say to aid in your health improvement, drink more ice cold water. Make sure it is ice cold. If you can't stomach a full breakfast - then try some kind of engery or granola breakfast bar - give your body some fuel to keep your metabolism up. Eat lighter meals, but eat more often. Don't starve yourself or skip a meal because you are saving up for a dinner out. Just eat less at the dinner and drink more water along with the meal. Timing is as important as counting calories and fat.

Look at how your clothes fit, and how you are feeling overall and don't rely on a scale to tell you if you are doing any good. Ignore the scale for a while and when you begin to notice the change in your clothes then you can weigh.

Good luck!

[wildfire4689]

The Atkins Diet.....I did it and lost 19 lbs in a month....some lose more and some lose a little less....but it really works!!!

www.atkinscenter.com

[poemsandpeaches]

a friend of mine.. also tried introducing me to this diet..
I'm thinking of trying it

[Ryan]

Oh yes...you lose 19lbs.
More than half of it is water.

Seriously....this preoccupation is not healthy. The approach is unsound for any fitness goals. Safe and efficient loss of bodyfat takes time. There is no sound method of rapid FAT loss that will be anywhere near healthy.


If you really want to improve your fitness, you need to slow the hell down. 2 hours a day is far more exercise than anyone needs...but then again, what you are doing isn't really exercise. If you reset your goals to something more reasonable, then I can outline a more appropriate course of action.

[wiseluv34]

I once lost weight quickly, just by not eating and it wasn't healthy. I eventually lost my appetite, my parent and family had to start forcing and encouraging me to eat. I also exercised until my bones ached, but it didn't last. I gained some of it back, but I've never been at that very fat stage anymore.
NOW, I've learned that having good healthy foods, is far better than the "starving" mode. it's healthy to eat more veggies, fruit, lean meats, and whole grains. cut sugar intake down, to lose fat. but have your splurge day so you will not feel deprived. i've lost weight, by cutting down on my carbs, and eating smaller meals. it's hard for me, b/c i LOVE chocolates! so, i have some once in a while. also, drink plenty water b/c it flushes the fats out. cut your fat down to 20-30 percent, b/c fatty foods have many calories. exercise, but don't overdo it.
also, the Atkins diet is a killer, your cholesterol level will rise..and that means TROUBLE! so, cut down on sugar/fats and you'll start losing weight. good luck!
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT FOR YOU...AND NOBODY ELSE*****

[sonofhud]

I believe losing 1-2 pounds is the only healthy way to lose weight, from what I've read. So thats like maybe 5 pounds in 20 days?