Current Events > Is it realistic to lose 20 lbs in 2 months?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Obviously not consistently, but if someone is starting at 50 lbs overweight without much exercise or a good diet, can 20 of those lbs be realistically lost in the first two months without destroying your body? Asking for a friend.
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2.5 lbs a week. Yeah that's unhealthy.
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It's ambitious. Healthy weight loss is 1-2lbs a week.
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I Like Toast posted...

It's ambitious. Healthy weight loss is 1-2lbs a week.

Normally, yes. But you're starting at a really bad point, the initial loss can be more than that ans still healthy.
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To my understanding, it's not unrealistic, but it requires an incredible amount of devotion to do it in a healthy manner. Someone that doesn't diet or exercise often will lose more weight than usual the first few weeks, then the weight loss will dramatically slow down; this is when many give up.

"To lose 2.5 pounds of fat per week, you must create a deficit of about 1,250 calories per day by increasing your daily calorie burn and decreasing the calories you consume"

http://www.livestrong.com/article/48248-good-diet-plan-lose-lbs/

I am not a dietitian, only a personal trainer; this type of weight loss isn't for everyone, since it is difficult to commit to, and not everyone is ready for that right off the bat.
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DarkChozoGhost posted...

the initial loss can be more than that ans still healthy.

No, not really.
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If you start very overweight and transition to a workout plan designed to increase your metabolism while feeding your body properly, losing 20 pounds in 2 months is easy as fuck.

LOL @ 1-2 pounds a week. So if somebody is 100 pounds overweight they're supposed to take a decade to lose it? I lost ~170 pounds in 15 months about 6 years ago.
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DarkChozoGhost posted...

Normally, yes. But you're starting at a really bad point, the initial loss can be more than that ans still healthy.

Pretty much.

Most people drop 5-7 lbs when they attempt some major lifestyle change because they tend to cut down on the carbs and sodium-rich foods which means less retained water. It's not fat loss, just mass loss.

From there it's 2 lbs a week which is doable but aggressive and very likely unsustainable. Assuming they're "in a bad point" there's no major risk to destroy their body though.
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MasterGakke posted...

LOL @ 1-2 pounds a week. So if somebody is 100 pounds overweight they're supposed to take a decade to lose it?

quoting before you edit this gem of bad math
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philsov posted...

MasterGakke posted...

LOL @ 1-2 pounds a week. So if somebody is 100 pounds overweight they're supposed to take a decade to lose it?

quoting before you edit this gem of bad math

google 'hyperbole' and get back me.
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philsov posted...

From there it's 2 lbs a week which is doable but aggressive and very likely unsustainable.

Yeah, sustainability isn't the issue. This issue is looking decent by late October, then steady weight loss is fine.
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2.5 pounds a week is a pretty extreme weight loss. People who are really obese can lose that much weight a week maybe.

DarkChozoGhost posted...

This issue is looking decent by late October,

Halloween costume, or wedding?

Either way, I'd say 30 lbs overweight still isn't in the spectrum of decent looking (especially height pending), but vastly superior to 50 lbs overweight. But you do you (or friend does friend, whatever)
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If you are already significantly obese, 20 pounds in 2 months is reasonable.

If you're only a little overweight, 20 pounds in 2 months would be a little on the high end. I'd just urge to make sure you're eating enough protein as you don't want to metabolize your own muscle tissue.
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philsov posted...

DarkChozoGhost posted...

This issue is looking decent by late October,

Halloween costume, or wedding?

Either way, I'd say 30 lbs overweight still isn't in the spectrum of decent looking (especially height pending), but vastly superior to 50 lbs overweight. But you do you (or friend does friend, whatever)

Decent in this case is defined by lack of a double chin and maaaybe size 34 waist
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Yeah, weight loss really lenses around your current shape. Losing weight when you're significantly obese is fast if you do it right. Losing weight when you're barely overweight can be extremely difficult, as to convince your body to kick your metabolism up will probably take enough effort that you start building muscle tissue, which weighs a lot.

That's why weight isn't a very good indicator of health beyond broad strokes. The same person can look very different at the same weight, depending on how much of it is fat and how much of it is muscle.

Losing a double chin is a much better goal than losing X amount of weight, yeah. Remember to get your protein so your body reduces extra skin! That part can kinda suck.
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Yes, especially if you just started. A lot of that will be water weight though. Being significantly overweight, you'll lose more than that in the first few weeks. After week 3 or so, it'll even out to 1-2lbs per week average, though again if you are very overweight you'll lose it faster on a solid diet.
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10 pounds in a month would be possible if you were on a very strict diet and remained in a caloric deficit the whole month, but as your weight goes down you'd have to adjust your calories to maintain a high rate of loss. That also would be mostly "off the top" water weight. The easy weight to lose. Also, loose skin is real, so you definitely don't want to drastically lose weight that fast without maintaining or building muscle to fill out your body. This isn't a question that can really be answered in a generic manner. You have to plug in the numbers, exercise, see how your body reacts to it, and apply weight loss principles.

Get comfortable with the process of dieting and exercising too. When you do that for your lifestyle, you become more satisfied with progress you're able to achieve rather than crash dieting/exercising.
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I'm fairly certain it's easily attainable assuming you're strict with it. It's been a few years, but back in college I got an underage my first semester freshmen year lol. I got it in early October and stopped partying so that I wouldn't get in trouble again, so I just hit the gym 5 days a week with one of my friends. And by the time Christmas had come I had dropped 25-30lbs.

I was very strict with it though: controlled eating, didn't drink at all for three months, and no weed (I can't control my eating when I'm blazed xD). Of course, it's a lot easier in those circumstances since I had so much free time to myself since I wasn't working at the time, just school.

For reference, I'm 6'0, I was about 200 when I started and 170-175 by the end of the semester. I would imagine being 50lbs. overweight, the first 20 would be very easy. The first 10 lbs I remember were super easy. The last 5lbs. were a pain in the ass though.
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