Can I realistically lose this much weight?

[Lucky]

I started a fitness plan last week to lose weight. A lot of it. I'm 6'0, 235. Halfway to bitch titties. My initial goal is to lose 35 pounds in the next 6 months and develop my chest.

I was previously eating, I'm guessing, somewhere in the range of 3000-4000 calories a day with no exercise.

Here is my plan:

1. Run every day, starting at 1 mile/day at an 11 min/mile clip. Gradually increase the amount run each day and at about 2 to 3 miles start increasing the pace.
2. Cutting back on calories. I've found I can realistically limit myself to about 1500-1800.
3. On the advice of my pharmacist uncle, I've starting taking from GNC a twice daily vitamen and also a fat burner called hydroxycut.

Is my goal (35 pounds in 6 months) realistic? Would I be able to lose more?

I'd ask a doctor but I dont have insurance or anything. :/

 

[hoihtah]

try it.
🙂

 

[Lucky]

I did! I'm a week into it but I'd like to get opinion's on its viability.

 

[Mani]

Sounds like you're on the right track. If you stay dedicated in both the excercise and nutrition regimen, you'll definitely make a noticeable difference - though 35 lbs may be a bit too optimistic.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: Mani
Sounds like you're on the right track. If you stay dedicated in both the excercise and nutrition regimen, you'll definitely make a noticeable difference - though 35 lbs may be a bit too optimistic.

Especially if you develop a lot of muscle.

amish

 

[N8Magic]

Yes, it is possible, although I don't know if i'd slash n' burn the calorie count so quickly like that. Have you figured out what your optimum # of calories per day is?

For someone who is 6'0, the optimum # of calories per day are as follows:

Small Frame -- 1945-2431
Medium Frame -- 2059-2574
Large Frame -- 2203-2753

Good luck!

 

[Fausto]

Yes, it's realistic, but you'll have to keep your focus to do it. 2lbs a week is pretty much considered to be the max weight one can safely lose. You're talking about 35 in 6 months or approximately 24 weeks so that works out to roughly 1.5lbs per week. It can certainly be done.

One bit of advice, if you're having trouble eating only 15-1800kcal per day (I certainly do) then eat a bit more and work out the balance with more time exercising. Add some speed walking to your jogging regimen or something similar. You may want to consider investing in a heart rate monitor so you'll have an idea of how hard you are working while running/walking/etc. There are also some models that will keep track of calories burned.

Polar heart rate monitors

Good luck!!🙂

 

[BlueApple]

Very possible, especially with your plan. If you stick to your plan, you will loose probably twice the amount of weight you plan on.

# of calories body uses - (#of calories consumed - # of calories burned off) = # of calories lost per day
2,500 - (1800 - 500) = 1200/day burned

1200 *180 days = 216,000 cal

360,000/3500 <----number of cal/lb of fat

61.7 Lbs if consumed 1800 cal/day
77.1 lbs if consumed 1500 cal/day

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: Mani
Sounds like you're on the right track. If you stay dedicated in both the excercise and nutrition regimen, you'll definitely make a noticeable difference - though 35 lbs may be a bit too optimistic.

Especially if you develop a lot of muscle.

amish

You may not see your weight go down as you will be developing and toning muscle all the time, especially in the first few months as you previously did no exercise. You will a big difference at the start.

Its safe to lose 2lbs a week. Any more and its not safe.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: Mani
Sounds like you're on the right track. If you stay dedicated in both the excercise and nutrition regimen, you'll definitely make a noticeable difference - though 35 lbs may be a bit too optimistic.

Especially if you develop a lot of muscle.

amish

Well, Im not going for a bodybuilder look but something that isn't embarressing when I take my shirt off at least. Doesnt developing muscle help you burn fat faster (or increase your metabolism?)

 

[Entity]

I would stay away from the Hydroxycut, but that's predominantly because I've noticed the effects of Ephedra in the past before, and frankly, that stuff scares me. Otherwise, don't expect results overnight, and don't despair when you don't notice results - you most likely won't, until you look at a picture of yourself from three months ago and then look at yourself now. 😛

Rob

 

[Lucky]

Have you figured out what your optimum # of calories per day is?

For someone who is 6'0, the optimum # of calories per day are as follows:

Small Frame -- 1945-2431
Medium Frame -- 2059-2574
Large Frame -- 2203-2753

Well, I really do have a large frame. It was probably about 2500, but I'm trying to lose weight and not maintain it. I'm glad to know its realistic and certainly hope that it can be more (twice as much? :Q)

I've been able to keep to about 1500-1800 calories if I pick my food carefully and watch myself. Of course some days you go over, but...

 

[malu]

stay away from hydroxycut and any of those fat burner pills, they have long term effects on your heart, even death. best way is to eat health and excercise, it might take longer, but at least you wont harm your body in the process.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: malu
stay away from hydroxycut and any of those fat burner pills, they have long term effects on your heart, even death. best way is to eat health and excercise, it might take longer, but at least you wont harm your body in the process.

Like I said, a physician in the family who takes it himself (and runs his own pharmacy) recommended it to me. I'm well aware of the potential side effect but as the dose I'm taking 3 pills 2x/day, I'm well, well below the 100mg/day "warning level" that I've read up on.

 

[tkdkid]

My advice would be to not take the hydroxycut or for that matter any type of weight loss pill. You can easily lose two pounds a week by eating less and exercising. You should not lose more than two a week. I frequently hear about people who have done permanent damage to their bodies by taking some weight loss pill. It isn't necessary and it's very dangerous.

 

[SnapIT]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Have you figured out what your optimum # of calories per day is?

For someone who is 6'0, the optimum # of calories per day are as follows:

Small Frame -- 1945-2431
Medium Frame -- 2059-2574
Large Frame -- 2203-2753

Well, I really do have a large frame. It was probably about 2500, but I'm trying to lose weight and not maintain it. I'm glad to know its realistic and certainly hope that it can be more (twice as much? :Q)

I've been able to keep to about 1500-1800 calories if I pick my food carefully and watch myself. Of course some days you go over, but...

Aerobics before breakfast and after weight training... when you got no calories but fat to burn... walk fast for 45-60 minutes... will do you a lot more good...

When it comes to building... free weights is the key...

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: Lucky


Well, I really do have a large frame. It was probably about 2500, but I'm trying to lose weight and not maintain it. I'm glad to know its realistic and certainly hope that it can be more (twice as much? :Q)

I've been able to keep to about 1500-1800 calories if I pick my food carefully and watch myself. Of course some days you go over, but...

I'd probably stick to around 1900-2100 calories, because if you cut your caloric intake too quickly and too much, your metabolism will slow down as a survival instinct. That will make it even harder to lose weight.

 

[yobarman]

You're defintately on the right track, make sure to keep carbs way down, protien way up, and make sure to have some fats. just eat less of everything. you'd also lose a crapload more weight if you did some weightlifting too.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Lucky

Originally posted by: malu
stay away from hydroxycut and any of those fat burner pills, they have long term effects on your heart, even death. best way is to eat health and excercise, it might take longer, but at least you wont harm your body in the process.

Like I said, a physician in the family who takes it himself (and runs his own pharmacy) recommended it to me. I'm well aware of the potential side effect but as the dose I'm taking 3 pills 2x/day, I'm well, well below the 100mg/day "warning level" that I've read up on.

I know a lot of physicians who are chain-smoking alcoholics as well. When in doubt, don't take it. It doesn't do jack aside from supressing your appetite and giving you high blood pressure anyway. Exercise happens to be an excellent appetite-supressant anyway.

 

[dirtboy]

A pound and a half a week is alot of weight to lose! Good luck!!

 

[Drakkon]

35 in 6 months shouldn't be a problem so long as u can stick to the routine....
I got lucky...I was 300 at age 16 so doc said i needed to do something or die prettumych....so I went on a major diet (low carb...lotsa veggies....cut back on all soda/fats/most sugars...a man can't live on wheat germ alone!!!) and started routine of swimming and weight lifting...no pills or supplements whatsoever...I've lost 110+ pounds to this day (now 21)...lost 80 within the first year...so 35 is definately realistic in 6 months...

 

[SuperTool]

I am 6' tall.
I went from 280 in April to 240 now. Just biking to work and back and going on treadmill at the gym EVERYDAY. I also went from benching 180 to 240 in that time, if that's your thing.
Just forsake fast food, gratuitous fats and sugars, and burn 4000+ calories a day and eat about 2000 ( no need to cut below that), and you will lose about 2 lbs a week. But be patient, and don't slack off. Even if you don't have time to go to gym or bike, make sure you get at least 1 hour of physical activity a day. I got to 280 by sitting in front of my computer all day and all night, eating twinkies and drinking sugary drinks and eating junk food, and taking my car everywhere. Also don't treat it as a temporary thing. Just change your lifestyle. When I go to the store, about 60% of what I buy now are fruits and veggies, while before it was 0%.
Since you can't afford insurance, I am not sure if you can afford gym membership, but if you can, I recommend Precor machine (elliptical) instead of treadmill because of lower impact and higher efficiency IMO.

 

[Rogue]

I third the cutting out of the Hyroxycut. I've seen people on it and usually they are miserable, suffer from headaches and nausea and all-in-all are healthier without it. Just because a pharmacist (a slang term for a drug dealer on the streets) recommends it, doesn't mean that it's safe. Hell, haven't you watched those commercials lately with all the prescription drugs? They usually have more side-effects than benefits. Keep up the exercise regimen. I have found that "ruck marching" was a very effective weight loss tool. I started at about 5 miles and gradually increased it to twice a week at up to 10 miles. Granted, it's time consuming with the average 5 miles taking about 1:30-2:00 hours, but you'll shed weight quickly. Another big tip is to stay away from soda/pop. I had cut it out for a while and had lost nearly 15 pounds. Recently I starting drinking it again and have put on about 10 in the past few months. The key to everything is moderation and let nature take it's course.

 

[StageLeft]

You have 180 days to lose 35 pounds. That's a pound every 5 days? Can you do it - hell yeah. You don't even need to go at it that hard. Excercise and diet you can easily lose that.

In regards to things like hydroxycut or ripped fuel personally I feel nice on them but I don't think they are all that healthy to be using long term anyway.

 

[Lucky]

Another big tip is to stay away from soda/pop.

I only drink diet pops anyways, so calorie wise I'm OK. I dont know if there is something else in them that's bad or not.

and burn 4000+ calories a day

OK, so my treadmill is telling me I burn 180 calories during my daily mile. Today I did a bit more-fast walked 2 miles and did an 8 min. mile pace for another .5 miles, for a total of ~400 calories. What can I expect to burn the rest of the day, which unfortunately involves sitting at a computer much of the time? I dont quite understand how you figure this stuff out.

That's a pound every 5 days? Can you do it - hell yeah

Well, thats good to know. Theoretically I've been reading that since a pound is ~4000 calories, if I run each day for a mile and burn 200 calories (or about), then thats 1000 calories. Cutting back another 1000 calories (at the least) daily would put me roughly at 1.5 pounds every 5 days ...but I dont know how this stuff works in real life.