Reasonable Goal???

[Vanilla]

I have been on the Induction Phase for 3 weeks. I need to lose 100 pounds. Can I do this in 6 months, or is that not long enough?

[Dyan]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

Well............. To lose 100 pounds in 6 months, you'd have to average over 16 pounds a month. There WILL (probably) be months where you'll lose that much. But, and I don't mean to discourage you, there will probably be months that you will lose less. The things is that as a concept, losing that much weight in half a year feels pretty fast to me.

Here's the thing though, what makes your question impossible to answer is the fact that we don't know how fast you'll lose. Some of us are blessed with fast weight loss, while others go slow and steady.

My question to you is this ....... is the number that important to you or is it more of a mental goalpost that can be moved and tweeked as needed? Because the danger of putting too much emphasis on number goals is that if you find that you're losing slower than you'd like, then you risk losing motivation. But if it's just a point to measure your progress and can be altered as needed, then having number goals can be very helpful.

Did I sit the fence enough?? LOL The bottom line is that weight loss is personal and unique to each of us. For me, that would be unrealistic and also unhealthy. For you??? No one but you will know that answer.

[Elizellen]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

Several of our members have lost that much in that short time BUT . . . . .
If I recollect they had much more to lose than 100 pounds in total.

But as Dyan suggested YYMV (your mileage may vary).

But give it your best shot by:
sticking to the list of allowed foods
no cheating
exercise vigorously and daily
drink your water and more
and I am sure you will achieve the best weightloss your body can manage!!

[sadie@136]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

i think u can do it,since one of our very dearest mods have done that,but,u will have to work your butt off!!!
but please dont be bothered about numbers i would love to weigh more but less inches
good luck

[Zuki]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

Its a big bowl of "Only Ifs"....But don't get discouraged if it doesn't happen...I would take month a by month and concentrate on that.

[Momtofour]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

I also had 100 pounds to lose. I'm giving myself as long as it takes. I started April 18, 2005. I am now down 60 pounds. It has really slowed down in the last few months, but that's fine. I am 60 pounds lighter and happier. My original goal was to lose it all in one year. Now I don't know if I will but I also don't care. This is my new WOL and it will come off in due time. If I lose it slower my body has time to adjust to the changes such as loose skin.

[cleochatra]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

I lost 100 pounds in 7 months, but I also had 200 pounds to lose.

The onus ought not be on how quickly one should attain goal, but on enjoying the journey one is to take for the rest of one's life.

[not2late]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

Just to add.... Weight loss is measured by the loss of pounds and/or the loss of inches. It's very possible to lose 20 pounds and be 2 clothing sizes smaller. So rather than limiting yourself to 'numbers on the scale', see if your goal corresponds to something more visible/physical like fitting into a size 10 or being physically fit enough to go on a 10 mile hiking trip or lowering your cholesterol/blood pressure.

[cruiser gal]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

I have to lose 112 lbs, and I started in the end of January 2005, and as at today, I am down 88 lbs, with another 24 to go. The first 5 months I lost about 10 lbs a month, and after that it started toslow down. Setting mini goals along the way helped tremendously. Remember we did not put on all this excess weight in only 6 months, and be patient, it will take time, but as the inches start to melt away, the weight loss is secondary. There will betimes when the lbs don't come off, but the inches do, and that's what people and you see!

[Vanilla]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

When i was on Atkins before I lost 35 pounds in 2 months. I can see a big difference already, I am afraid to weigh myself though. I have been working really hard, walking everyday. I've had a cold so I haven't been able to walk the last couple days. I've decided to give myself a year. That way I won't be disappointed.

[Alienore]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

I would suggest that you not limit yourself timewise. See how it all goes, enjoy eating more healthy foods and don't worry about the numbers on the scales. If you put yourself under pressure by saying 'I MUST weigh x pounds by x date' then you may find that your body turns round and waves two fingers at you because it feels that you are being unrealistic.

As others have said see how you feel when you go down clothing sizes and enjoy peeling off the pounds and inches. Give yourself all the time you need to lose the weight - a lot of people suggest that two pounds a week is a HEALTHY weightloss and that way your body gets used to there being less of you. Losing too much weight too quickly can mean that you gain when you start to move up to more liberal parts of the regime.

You might find that your metabolism likes losing weight fast, or you may be a slow loser. If you are, accept it and give yourself credit for adopting a healthier regime that will get you there in the long run.

And it's the long run that counts, not looking good on the beach in the summer. Too many people have 'looking good' as their ONLY reason for losing weight and don't think beyond the obvious.


Deborah

[2big4mysize]

Re: Reasonable Goal???

since you are a return to Atkins person I would strongly recommend you follow the plan and do all the phases and phase 3 prematenance phase should take 6 months to lose the last 5-10 pounds so you learn Atkins eating to maintain your weight loss. I list 110 in 7 months but I was doing a lot of exercise too.

Keep your walking going and increase your spped distance and time as you get into better shape. You are going to be amazed at how fast your endurance picks up.

Happy low carbing