4 pounds in 3 weeks! Who's with me?
Hi everyone! I'm new to this CC website, but I thought I'd introduce myself and see if anyone is in the same boat as me. I'm 5'2 and currently at 115 pounds. While I realize 115 is perfectly healthy for someone at 5'2, I'm very petite and used to being around 105. I'm trying to lose that 10 pounds before it goes up anymore! Is anyone else out there struggling with a small amount of weight? I'm meeting up with friends I haven't seen in years in about 3 weeks and I want to look like I used to!
If anyone else out there needs some motivation or a buddy feel free to join this group! I know there's tons of groups out there but it appears a lot of the links or forums are dead. Anyway, everyone is welcome!
I look forward to meeting you guys!
hi courtney, I recently started a 1200 calorie a day diet and took "alli" after each meal and lost 5 lbs. in 7 days. I love alli. As long as you stay on the low calorie diet plan, it works great! you might want to try it.
at 115, you shouldn't be trying to lose more than 1 pound a week (the 1% rule). it can be done, but chances are you'll gain it back.
as for alli, the key phrase in jeffersonshaw's post is: "As long as you stay on the low calorie diet plan...." well, yeah. if you maintain a calorie deficit, you'll lose weight; which drugs you take are irrelevant.
Hi pgeorgian!
Thanks for your response. I understand your point, however the rule is 1-2 pounds per week. Therefore losing 6 pounds in 3 weeks is not unhealthy or out of the question. In the first week, it is typical to see people lose more than 2 pounds (sometimes around 3-4) because their metabolism experiences a "shock" so to speak. Therefore, losing 1 pound each week after that would put me at my goal of 6 pounds in 3 weeks.
Thanks for your concern, but don't worry! 1-2 pounds a week is my target weight loss per week and I know that going over that will simply be water weight, or weight that I'll almost instantly gain back the second I eat something.
EDIT: I changed the title to 4 pounds in 3 weeks. That way it's an easier more realistic goal, but if somehow I magically end up losing 6....that's okay with me too :)
no, it's not. it's 1-2 pounds per week to a maximum of 1%. 2 pounds/week isn't recommended unless you're 200+.
in the first week (the first two to three weeks, actually) it's typical to see no loss, as your body holds onto weight to see if the changes in intake and/or activity are maintained.
you seem pretty set in your goal, though; i don't expect to talk you out of it. just don't be disappointed if a month from now you realize it hasn't worked.
pgeorgian, I have read your posts and responses and you are so extremely intelligent. You should have your OWN website, and share ALL of your Wisdom with the World!
thanks, jefferson. i think a lot of people would love it if i started my own website and left this one forever!
hmmm...maybe that's what you meant...oh well; thanks regardless ;)
In response to jeffersonshaw, yes you do seem incredibly intelligent and seem to know a lot about dieting, nutrition and fitness. However, please don't let that mean that no one else can offer input that is different from your own.
"in the first week (the first two to three weeks, actually) it's typical to see no loss, as your body holds onto weight to see if the changes in intake and/or activity are maintained."
This statement is completely dependent on how much you work out, what foods you eat and how in shape you were to begin with. It IS very typical to see an increased weight loss in the beginning. While you are also correct that some people may experience no weight loss until the 2nd or 3rd week, please do not disregard the fact that others may experience weight loss right in the beginning. Many people lose weight to begin with and then seem to hit a plateu in the 2nd or 3rd week and have to change around their diet/work out plans.
As a kinesiology student focusing in nutrition, I do know what I'm talking about. I believe you do as well, and that's why I think instead of posting that I'm somehow "wrong", you would do better to share your wisdom without discrediting others.
Obviously I have taken what you have said into consideration and lowered my goal to 4 pounds in 3 weeks. That is within safe limits and I do expect to see weight loss. Thank you for helping me see that 6 pounds would be too much, I appreciate it.
like i said, i'm not trying to change your mind. "typical" doesn't mean "everyone."
edit: i just want to clarify, i don't think your original goal was unsafe. i just think it was unrealistic, both in terms of achievability and maintainability.
Original Post by pgeorgian:
thanks, jefferson. i think a lot of people would love it if i started my own website and left this one forever!
hmmm...maybe that's what you meant...oh well; thanks regardless ;)
pg, you are too funny! Don't ever leave CC!
why do people think i'm funny when i'm being perfectly serious?
edit: i just want to clarify, i don't think your original goal was unsafe. i just think it was unrealistic, both in terms of achievability and maintainability.
This is kind of like telling a young child who wants to grow up and become an NBA all-star that his goal's are unrealistic.
There are many worlds of thinking when it comes to goals in life. Some people think that if someone has a goal, regardless of the magnitude, go right on and take your best shot. Then there are people who think that goals should be trimmed, changed, re-sized, etc to make them seem more realizable to the average Joe. As I have reached just a mere 22 years in life, I am beginning to realize just how many people don't pursue exactly what they want to do in life (including myself.) On top of that, so many people always scrutinize other people's goals because they can't imagine themselves achieving it (again, I do this too.) Yet, there is always great hope when you meet those individuals who pursued their dreams and, due to their diligent work ethic, they either made it to the moon or landed in the stars. You ever think "I wish I had done that"?
I think courtney should go with her gut on this one and if she has a goal to lose a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time, let her try. If she fails, she'll learn. If she suceeds and maintains it, well, success is success. It will be an achievement that can always be referenced in the future.
edit: As Goethe once said: "Just trust yourself. Then you'll know how to live"
Original Post by mds86:This is kind of like telling a young child who wants to grow up and become an NBA all-star that his goal's are unrealistic.
it's nothing like that. anyone can lose six pounds. it's the timeline that's unrealistic. and with weight loss, for some people, if they can't have it now they'd rather not try.
i didn't tell courtney not to try; i just warned her of a potential disappointment.
why not just lose six pounds as fast or slow as your body allows it to happen? After years and years and years of dieting, the biggest disappointment was always looking back on how i didnt reach my goal in time. I think its best to just work out a good healthy plan and let your body respond to it.
Hi Courtney--I am 5'2" too! I used to be in the 100-105 range (25 years ago!) Boy have things changed! Though I have seen 108 (size 2) about 10 years ago.... I find that I now concentrate more on lifting weights and trying to get into a size 4 than what the scale actually says-- just a thought.
*sigh* I can see this website is not quite what I expected. I understand all of your points and that it's not a good idea to diet and set all these goals, etc. to set yourself up for failure however that's what works best for me. By setting a deadline, I'm giving myself motivation and a goal to reach. What is wrong with goals?
"why not just lose six pounds as fast or slow as your body allows it to happen? After years and years and years of dieting, the biggest disappointment was always looking back on how i didnt reach my goal in time. I think its best to just work out a good healthy plan and let your body respond to it."
--> That's great advice for some people, but I just don't work well when I follow that plan. I like to have a set goal. If I don't reach my goal in 3 weeks, I'm not going to break down and stop. I'll simply continue in the same fashion until I reach my goal weight. Putting a marker on a date is just a way to remind myself to eat healthy and exercise.
"Though I have seen 108 (size 2) about 10 years ago.... I find that I now concentrate more on lifting weights and trying to get into a size 4 than what the scale actually says-- just a thought."
--> Thanks for your post! I definitely am more focused on my general appearance rather than what the scale says, however since I know that 105 was my weight just a year ago that's what I'm aiming for. Everyone has kind of a set weight that feels good and 105 was that for me, that's why I picked that number to get back down to. If I get down to 108 and feel good, then I'll stop there, but at least having a number to reach gives me a sense of purpose.
I don't think there's anything wrong with goals and deadlines - and I don't think there's anything wrong with setting your sights as high (or in this case as low) as you want! I have a lot more weight to lose than you, but I'd love to be diet buddies :)
Hey,
I will go for that goal, i have been stuck for the past few weeks at the same weight and its driving me mad..
lets try this 4 pounds in 3 weeks is completely safe, i think that im not eating enough actually thats why im having problems loosing.. but its like i dont find anything that i want to eat, or im not really hungry.. so anoying...
I am aiming to losing a total of around 20 pounds, im in a healthy weight range but its not the one i like and wish to go down..
so lets do this 4 pounds in 3 weeks..
I'm 5'1" and I only need to lose 10 lbs. (it was 7, but I gained a couple over my brother's birthday... too much cake! LOL) It's extremely tedious and annoying, and I'm frustrated with the whole 1,200 calorie thing. I used to be able to lose weight on 1,500, but I lost my job which kept me active... so now I'm screwed. Even WITH going to the gym it only keeps me at the "lightly active" level. 
Same here, my job before was very active, now not that many customers and i have more office tasks.. so sitting on my bum.. at one point i managed to loose in a couple of weeks 6 pounds... and im stuck there...
and now im starting to get the flu... great!!!!
Yay! :) I knew there had to be some people out there that were in the same boat as me. So let's say we have a weekly weigh in, I'm going to put a vote in for Wednesday just because Monday is such an awful day to begin with, who really wants to have it be weigh-in day as well?
