30 pounds in 40 days.

[Mistics]

I don't know how to start. I've been off/on Atkins for many years. Have never really lost or been able to stick to the diet for longer than 7 days. First when I started Induction, I went all 14 days, but later I realized that I had eaten many foods that weren't Induction friendly. After that 3 years of never succeeding. I always cheated. And when cheated once, then went on cheating for months. I've gone through long depression periods and sometimes felt like going crazy because of not being slim/healthy. I planned to spend all summer to lose weight and then be all pretty and happy! Well guess what! I gained some 8 pounds! I planned to spend September and October to lose weight finally! Yeah, it's 27th of September and I am still same weight. I started many mornings, went ok till evening, when I just gave up. This is last time I'm going to do this. If I'll cheat then I will stop Atkins and just stop eating. I have made a goal - 30 pounds in 40 days. It used to be 60 days, but I didn't have strength to start diet earlier. I know this might be a crazy goal and many people would see it sarcastic, but I need to do it. After 40 days I'm having an important event and that is why I need to make it in so little time. I will do exercises, drink tons of water, watch calories, anything! I'd more than appreciate if anybody of you could give me some good tips on how to lose those 30 pounds better. Suggest me some exercises, foods, amounts of water, when to wake up, what to avoid - anything! Please? I am 100% to lose those pounds in so little time and any tips on how to better and easier lose those pounds would be a blessing. I am starting tomorrow & will post my weight changes every day. Please help?

[MsManners]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

I would never want to discourage someone from a goal. But...

Why are you starting tomorrow? Why not start right this second? I spent many many years "starting tomorrow" or "starting Monday" or "starting after the holidays" and then something would come up and I would give myself a new start date.

Giving yourself such a completely ridiculous target dooms you to fail. Why? Because the first plateau you hit, the first day that you don't drop a pound, will toss you into depression and throw you off completely. From your own words this has happened in the past and giving yourself this completely unobtainable goal is an excuse to fail.

I am sorry that you feel that if you go to this event as you are or a more reasonable 10 or 15 pounds lighter. And I completely understand “last minute desperation” but you have to see that this is not a reality. Instead, why not make a real effort to get on plan and get the weight off quickly, but practically?

Alex

[Mistics]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

I know it's dumb to always "start tomorrow". I remember myself posting in many people's diaries and telling - do not start tomorrow, start RIGHT NOW. Though in real I make all the common mistakes that other people do. Do you think this is an impossible goal since I am not obese and don't have much weight to lose?

[MsManners]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

No, I think that it is an impossible goal because your body is designed to resist drastic weight loss by throwing itself into starvation mode and holding onto every ounce and I think that it is an impossible goal because it is not realistic. From your own words, as soon as something goes a bit off, you cheat. And while you may have a termendous amount of will power this time, if you set yourself an unrealistic goal, as soon as it seems that the goal won't be reached (as in a few days without a pound drop) you will derail.

Now I personally have lost 17.5 pounds in 27 days, which is tremendous I think. I did cheat in the first week, but since then I have not. I have both watched my carbs and calories, excersied a tremendous amount and drank a sea full of water. BUT even with excercising 3 times a day, keeping my carbs and around 12 and keeping my calories at 1500, i am still losing a pound every 3 days, average. If there was some magic way that I could lose 1 pound a day, i would. But it is just unrealistic.

If you don't have much weight to lose, what is the big deal with just losing sensibly and not freaking out about having to drop 30 pounds by this event?
Alex

[misplaced southerner]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

wow...i am overwhelmed just reading your post. 30 pounds in 40 days???? everyone is different. i know there are people who have lots to lose who have followed the plan diligently and have great results in 30 days but i have been around the board to know that it is not practical to expect such results.

i myself have lost 70 pounds........over a year and a half. the body stops and starts with the loss. there are plateaus. i have had to adjust my eating time and time again, adjust my exercise time and time again. WEIGHTLOSS IS NOT LINEAR

i say that because you have to plan for that and accept that.

ATKINS IS NOT A QUICK FIX

i originally started (for the second time) with a goal in mind....my wedding. but the ultimate goal is good health FOR LIFE. if you don't have that mindset, i really do believe that you will not have the same results you desire.

my wedding was over a year ago. today i weigh 10 pounds LESS than my goal.....because i stuck with it and it became a lifestyle. my ultimate goal is 140. i have gone from 39% body fat to 24%. i am down almost 80 pounds.

good luck with the weight loss before your big event. that always makes us feel better and more confident. but please don't set yourself up for failure by setting unreasonable expectations. like many people, it is easy to quit when things don't work the way you think they will

atkins works. i am proof. but it is not a quick fix....again, this is a LIFESTYLE

good luck!

[blueberrylady]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

The way to stick to the diet is to make sure you eat something with fat and protein every 4-5 waking hours and drink plenty of water. It also helps to get the junk food out of the house.

I think that once you succeed in losing some pounds, no matter how many, you will feel so much better that it will keep you going to lose even more. Wanting to lose for just one event is not a good motivator. You need to really want to lose, no matter how long it takes.

For your depression, I would suggest you see your doctor about it because there are lots of medicines that could help you with it. Good Luck!!

[SueSue1212]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

I don't know about setting that kind of a goal, but I will tell you this. I started induction on May 17th and in one month had lost my first 48 lbs. Since then it has been a slow process, but definately ongoing. Now, here is the key and if you don't meet this then your going to have to really work. The heavier you are the quicker you will lose up front. The heavier you are when you table off you will lose slower.
This is just my opinion, however, several of my friends have done the same thing with
10lbs to lose up to like me needing to lose 200lbs. and it has been true. Good Luck, but remember if you make yourself sick you will be a lot more likely to quit. Just take your time and if you only lose 15 or twenty people will notice. Take Care and Good Luck, but be safe.

[Mistics]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

Thank you everybody so much for posting in here. You're right MsManners .. 30 is too much in so little time. Just that I was so desperate that I made myself believe I could do anything. I believe when you want something so much then you stop thinking with head. I don't plan to lose quick and then get back to binge eating. I want to lose some weight and then make Atkins a lifestyle, like I always wanted. I should change my 40 day goal to 20 pounds. At least 20? I don't know why I set such goal to lose exactly 30 pounds, I guess I thought that this would be weight when I look good. If I could convince myself that I look good after losing like 10 pounds - I'd stop of course. I've recently stopped taking drugs for my PMS, because it made me gain some weight. All I want is to look good ..

[IrishSarahHB]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

40 lbs in 30 days seems a little extreme to me ... Im lucky if i can lose 10 lbs in 30 days ...

I only say that because i dont want you to set your goal too high and then become discouraged if by chance you dont lose the whole 40 lbs in 30 days ... but be happy you lost some of it.

[Mistics]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

40 lbs in 30 days seems a little extreme to me ... Im lucky if i can lose 10 lbs in 30 days ...

30lbs in 40 days

[cruisergal]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

Setting unrealistic goals can be discouraging. Why use a number to determine weight loss, afterall it is just a number. Why not look at the inches that you will lose, and that is what people see. The way that dress, or those pants will fit you. If you look just at that number loss, and you don't make it, you will be disappointed. Remember this is a WOE that we are doing, not a fad short term diet. Also try setting yourself some mini goals, within that 40 day period, taking it 1 week at a time, and make sure you exercise regularly to tone up your body. Good luck and hope to hear about your upcoming successes.

[Elizellen]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

I always worry when I see people setting them self any kind of 'losexx pounds in xx days' goals, as the body might not co-operate no matter how much you stick to plan.

Why not set goals that you can achieve by your own actions instead?

Some might be:
Eat only to plan for xx days.
If you eat off plan get back on the very next bite of food and dont give up the whole thing because of one bad choice.
Exercise xx minutes x days a week.

[KingLeonidas]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

30 pounds might be a bit agressive given your starting weight of 152, and goal of 125? that level of weight loss is sometimes achieved, but only for the obese ( my first time on atkins I went from 270 to 240 in 5-6 weeks, but again, I was MUCH heavier than you ) nonetheless, even if your actual number loss is more modest, you will FEEL and look so much better, and you will know you have made the right decision, and you can't put a price on that confidence.

just follow the rules, never cheat, and eat eat eat ( just the right things ), following atkins properly will ELIMINATE cravings, hunger, and a desire to "cheat"

[Asclepius]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

I applaud you for looking to change your habits but also add my voice to the cautionary words of others here. Not only is your goal unreasonable, it is also dangerous. It is that type of rapid weight loss that causes rebound gain and more importantly HEART DAMAGE. You've already offered that you don't have much weight to lose as it is. Be sensible and strive for HEALTH - not a magic number.

I'm sure the Atkins community here would be happy to help you construct a healthy regemin that will best facilitate your success.

[Kansas Deb]

Re: 30 pounds in 40 days.

I always worry when I see people setting them self any kind of 'losexx pounds in xx days' goals, as the body might not co-operate no matter how much you stick to plan.

Why not set goals that you can achieve by your own actions instead?

Some might be:
Eat only to plan for xx days.
If you eat off plan get back on the very next bite of food and dont give up the whole thing because of one bad choice.
Exercise xx minutes x days a week.

Just what I was going to post. I gave up a while back of setting goals that I can't control. I only set goals that I can control like eating on plan for a certain number of days. I know for a fact that if I try to set a goal of even 1 pound a month my body will sabotage the whole plan and I would probably gain a pound even though I had no cheats.