Okay so I am setting my goals. Previously I have tried Carb Counting and it just doesn't work for me I can't stick with it. So I have began to count calories and it working great actually I feel like I can actually do this. I have already lost 3 lbs since wed. I know it will slow down and it could be water and so on. I just want to know do you think its attainable to set my goal to get down to 140lbs so 96lbs down by next Thanksgiving 2009. That's a whole year and when you do the math it's about 1.8lbs a week.
What do you guys think?
I have a similiar amount to lose, actually a whole whopping 100lbs and I plan on losing it by Jan 2010. I am not sure it is attainable but I know for one thing, if I don't work hard as if it IS attainable, I'll be right back where i started, fat and miserable. I think a whole year is a rational/sane amount of time in which to base your goal. If you wanted to lose your weight in 6 months, I think you'd be less successful.
I hope some of the people who have lost a ton of weight will hop on with their input. I am so always impressed when I see people here who have lost 50, 75, 100+ lbs.
Ok, two thoughts here: I think 100 lbs (give or take) in a year is totally doable. I really do. Many people here have done it and it's well within the range of reasonable.
OTOH, I wouldn't consider it a hammered in stone goal. I lost 70 lbs or so and sorta stalled out. It's taken me 2 years to get to this point and while I"m ok with that, if I'd have thought about it 2 years ago it would have thrown me into the pits of depression!
So ... I'd say it's a great goal and you shoudl work for it. But don't let it rule your life and realize that there may be bumps along the way.
I agree, it's totally reasonable, and you may even be able to do it in a shorter amt of time. I have lost over 70lbs so far in a little over 7 months!! I am doing it healthy, exercise, water, ect.... If you put your mind to it you can do it. but, like photo chick said... dont let the time line rule you....because as long as you are losing weight, and going in the right direction you are doing good.....good luck
you can do it. the secret is getting right back on track when you slip up, because you WILL slip at times. getting rid of the all or nothing mentality was key for me. life is a journey, not a destination, so just keep in mind that there will be bumps along the way. that being said, you go!!
I think as a goal it is great....on the other hand there is a lot of research that indicates the most "successful" dieters (meaning maintainers) average about .5 pounds per week. (That's average, much more at the beginning, less as it goes on.)
I'm sitting here eight months in and down 46 pounds. Its been very uneven, I've only had one ticker adjustment up any week (and I ticker adjust every Monday) but I've had lots of slowdowns.
For sure if you work at it you will be substantially smaller a year from now! For sure if you don't...you won't!
Just try to avoid the real traps...
...crazy restrictive diets to speed up the loss
...getting discouraged if you don't meet your goals and letting that trigger binging or just overindulging.
Reading PastaQueens blog was very helpful for me. She had the optimal weight loss start, 378 pounds, never dieted, and in her 20's (so her metabolism was not reduced by previous diets or aging.) She lost incredibly fast during her first year, then it slowed tremendously. She still ended up at half her previous weight!
Good luck, stick with it. I hope you do achieve your 100 pounds down in a year. (And if is is "only" 70, or even 50 won't that still feel better than you do today?)
Well I am glad you guys all thinks its attainable. And I would totally be happy with 50 or 75lbs if I didn't make it all the way because that is still less then I am now and I would be in onderland. I have tried atkins in the past and it comes off fast but like some I gained it back after a pregnancy and I know for sure now I just need to do it healthy this time by eating right, and exercising and lots of water. I started counting my calorie on wed. and I was 240 and Yesterday and Today when I weighed in, in the morning I weight 236lbs. So I am taking that as I am down 4lbs which is great for the 1st week and I am so happy with that. I know eventually it will slow down but thats okay atleast its going down and not up.
And I would totally be happy with 50 or 75lbs if I didn't make it all the way because that is still less then I am now and I would be in onderland.
Kayla - this is such an awesome statement! I remember when you first started posting here ... at the time could you believe you'd ever have said such a thing?
Now look at where you are. I think you finally had your "ah-hah" moment and are on the right - and healthy - track.
While I would love to have lost a full 100 pounds by the time the year anniversary of my renewed health effort comes up next May, it may not happen, simply because I am not losing a full 2 pounds per week; and losing 2 pounds per week is what it takes in order to lose 100 pounds in a year.
However, I've lost nearly 50 pounds in 7 months, and I'm very pleased with that. My average is about 1.6 pounds per week, or about 0.6% of my bodyweight per week. (Throwing that in for PhotoChick, who likes to talk about losing 1% per week rather than a flat number )
If I continue to lose at my current rate, it will take me until March 2010 to be at my goal weight...that's nearly two years. Not one year.
But I'm totally OK with that. Really. I look and feel so much better after just losing 50 pounds (along with the radical diet changes I've made and my beginning efforts at exercise).
So I guess my input is: Sure, you could possibly lose it that quickly, it's not unheard of. But consistent progress over the long haul is what really gets you there. (Even if you do lose your weight quickly, you still have to figure out how to maintain it.)
I am looking forward to being lighter and meeting a "physical me" that I have never seen before. However I am also thoroughly enjoying the 10lbs I've lost so far and the energy I have. It's motivation enough to keep going.
I think if we all enjoy the progress we've made and look forward to where we're going that we can have a pretty fun journey.
Attainable Goal
You'll get there!
)