How Much Could I Lose By October 22nd???

**cleochatra** · August 29, 2005, 12:52 PM

Re: How Much Could I Lose By October 22nd???

There are several ways to factor in how much you could lose by that date.

1) How much weight did you lose in the first 14 days? This will determine your metabolic edge on this WOE. If you have over 50 pounds to lose and lost 12 pounds the first two weeks, you have a high metabolism. If you have over 50 pounds to lose and you lost only 2 pounds the first two weeks, then you have a very low metabolism. Most people fall somewhere in the middle.

2) Calories still matter, even on Atkins. You just never feel it because you feel so satisfied and full all the time thanks to this way of eating!

For a general idea of how much you can lose, all things being equal in a vacuum, here's a formula to try.

1.) Take your current weight
2) Take your goal weight
3) How many pounds do you have to lose to get to your goal?
4) How many days do you want to take to reach this goal?
5) Next, calculate the total amount of calories you have to expend to hit your goal (line 3 X 3500)
6) Find the total number of calories to lose per day (divide line 5 by line 4)
7) Now calculate the amount of calories you currently need in per day at your current weight (line 1 X 11 for women, line 1 X 13 for men)

Now recalculate what you need to eat to form a caloric deficit to lose weight {line 7 minus line 6)

Adding exercise burns more calories, builds muscle mass and metabolism and is advisable to eating 300 calories per day to make up the deficit (as an example). Why not, instead, walk for four miles a day and eat the extra 400 calories?

Hope that helps.

**BikerGoddess** · August 29, 2005, 01:30 PM

Re: How Much Could I Lose By October 22nd???

Cleo's equation is probably more accurate, but definitely more work! Over two months, you could reasonably expect to lose an average of 1-2lbs per week or 8-16lbs.

However, exercise will tone your muscles, making you look better than just weight loss alone. Two months is plenty of time to see results from a concentrated work out.

As for a goal, why don't you make it along the lines of cheatfree days, or minutes exercised, or amount of water? Those are goals you know you can reach because you're completely in control, whereas weight lost is dependent on some things you can't change.

Laura

**Iapetus999** · August 29, 2005, 01:40 PM

Re: How Much Could I Lose By October 22nd???

You could lose 40-50 pounds if you starved yourself.
Yeah you'd make yourself sick and unappealing but that's how much you could lose.

If you're asking how much you'd lose on Atkins I'd say in 7 weeks up to 25 lbs BUT you'd need to throw in a good deal of cardio exercise.

**not2late** · August 29, 2005, 01:46 PM

Re: How Much Could I Lose By October 22nd???

Just to add to what the others have said. I wouldn't get too hung up on what the scales say. You can be losing fat, but gain muscle and that infernal machine will register as no loss, minimal loss or even a slight gain.

Fat takes up more space than muscle. Believe me: I went through a 6 months period where I lost no real weight according to the scales, but I lost 3 dress sizes.

I'm assuming that you want to look good in your wedding dress and in your honeymoon clothes right? So follow what the tape measure says and ignore the scales. If you lose 5 pounds of fat, but gain 5 pounds of muscle, that scale won't budge but you might have to get your dress altered so it will fit the smaller you.

Just remember, no one will know how much you weigh on October 22, unless you carry a sign that says "Today I weigh _________ pounds." BUT everyone will see that you look trimmer, fitter and healthier.

So don't get hung up on the scales. Keep up the exercise and your body will reward you by building muscle and losing fat while you do your Atkins.

**lbrowne** · August 29, 2005, 02:55 PM

Re: How Much Could I Lose By October 22nd???

Wise words from Megs. (as normal

)

A couple years ago I was taking photos often. I remember one month in particular that I lost only 2 pounds.... but the visible results in the photos were amazing!! Exercise is key. Keep after it and don't rely on the scale to tell you how you're doing.