How do I speed my weight loss?

Hello everyone!!!

I have been struggling to get out of the 150lbs zone! Iam 5'5 tall at 153. When i started I was loosing around 1.5 - 1.8 lbs a week.. but now i barely lose .5-1lbs a week.. I want to speed my weight loss to at least 1.5lbs a week.. Does anyone have any successful tips? I havent been able to work out as much because its the last month of my senior year at college.. and i been so stressed with finals and exams.. but I have been getting my 8hrs of sleeep.. please help!!!!

What's the rush... ?  Half a pound is no mean feat.  Next time you're in the dairy section of the supermarket have a look at a half-pound pack of butter... it's quite big. 

Find other ways to be as active as possible, keep eating healthily and watching the portions or the calories.  If you can hold it together and keep losing 0.5-1lbs a week for the next month until the finals are over then you'll have done really well.   If you start thinking about speedy weight-loss and cut back further on the calories you could compromise your ability to concentrate.

Best of luck

It isn't uncommon to lose your first few pounds very quickly during the first weeks that you begin dieting.  My first month I lost 10 pounds, but it has taken me 3 months to lose another 8!!!! Stress can be playing a role in this, because your  body produces unique hormones when you are feeling stressed, and one effect of these hormones is storing fats from your consumption.  This could be slowing the movement of the scale.  Get through these weeks of school without adding your weight to your list of stressors, and then start hitting it hard again when the semester is over.  Stay active-- go for a jog during a study break or make use of the campus gym.  Half a pound a week is nothing to frown at, it is a normal rate for many people.  These celebrities who go on magazine covers saying "Here's how I lost 25 pounds in 2 months!" are not a realistic model for weight loss in the real world. Stay motivated, finish the semester well, and celebrate little victories!  :)

I thought stress releases cortisol which mobilises fat? correct me if I am wrong

lilys -

Cortisol reactions are complicated. Chronic cortisol release frequently has the reverse action of short, infrequent bursts. Also, I'm not sure what happens when cortisol stimulates the release of fat molecules from the tissues into the bloodstream, but then you don't subsequently use that fat energy to exercise. Finally, stress releases cortisol, but it also frequently releases the desire to eat yummy, convenient food, which also mobilises fat... back into your system.

So, you're not wrong, but you're oversimplifying.

oh yeah, and OP, I agree with what the others say. .5-1 a week is awesome! be proud of your progress and don't get discouraged. I'm nearly convinced that the longer it takes to lose the weight, the longer it will stay off when you're finished.

thanks everyone!!! you truly made me feel better!! and you're right.. as long as i keep my weight loss between .5 - 1 lbs a week during finals week.. i should be happy.. but once its over I would kick my butt and increase my workout!! thanks again... Goodness!! I love CC!!

If you want to lose weight faster, cut your calories more and workout longer and/or harder. 

Whether you want to take it to the next level during finals week is up to you.