30 lbs loss in 10 weeks. Is it possible?

[SteaknEggs Member Find all posts View Profile Close SteaknEggs]

I'm 5'11, and have lost about 38 lbs in the past 8 months, but I went 2 months with no gain or loss at all and now more than ever I want to focus on my diet like if my life depends on it. What do you think? I'm at 202 lbs, and would put me at 172lbs. I'm currently doing 5x5 and going to start doing cardio on all off days(I also do about 30 minutes of uphill walking after each lift day). 10 weeks is right at Halloween so I'm hoping I look good by then.

Also, how much of the 30lbs do you think is just water weight? In other words, being 5'11, what can my body fat% potentially be at 172lbs?

[Toadstool Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toadstool]

as far as your body composition, it's impossible to tell without *at least* looking at you. There are such people who are 250 and lean. Other people are 120 and obese. So who knows what your weight is divided into.

As far as you losing 30 pounds in 2 and a half months ... yes, it's possible, but it's not recommended. That's a lot of weight in a short time.

[ATP Senior MemberPEGym Hero Find all posts View Profile Close ATP]

Heya, SteaknEggs -

I gotta echo what Toadstool said - losing 30lbs in a couple of months is possible but not recommended. You noted you have already lost almost 40 on a regular fitness program (assuming with a good diet to maintain healthy body comp) before plateauing. Before you jump into a diet and/or fitness regimen that sacrifices lean muscle to lose weight - perhaps you should get a body fat analysis done to get an idea of where you are at currently.

[Toadstool Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Toadstool]

Yea, that, and realize that this is something I would imagine you want to keep up for the rest of your life. If you get to 172 by november, or stretch it out to february, does it make that huge of a difference in 5 years time?

Truth be told, if you're looking for a general fitness regime, then I would advocate a long-term approach. This is done by slowly replacing old habits that serve you poorly with habits that enhance what you're after.
If you make a switch too soon, you are more likely to fall into old habits. This can lead to you gaining the fat back PLUS a little bit extra - Mother Nature's way of tutting you for striving for a quick fix.

Try losing 5 pounds a month. Eat clean. Look at your diet, read the labels, and replace all the crap food with something that promotes health and well-being.

Do it this way, and you'll never be overweight again.

[chajadan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chajadan]

I way want to re-echo what I was gonna say anyway but toad beat me to it:

Weight always takes time to lose, but weight-loss alone in not the right goal. A true win is a lifelong health and fitness habit, and you're just not gonna adopt one of those and not incidentally be able to address your weight issues.

If you get a lifelong habit in place, you'll lose the weight in whatever time that takes, and be good from then on out. So if it takes 3 months or a year, I'd rather be excited by having it over, than "done for now".

I've gained and lost around 40 pounds a couple times due to meds. I'm not quite where my profile pic is, but at the moment I'm damn close after having had to lose more weight for a different reason (I've got about 10-15lbs left to go). It takes time, it takes active work towards the goal, it takes consistency. I can relate to "want it off by Halloween" -- just imagine, I'm only now closing in on my goal, with room to go so I'll uh, I'll be hitting that goal right as summer ~ends~. Peace is the winning response, october is just some other summer. Put more focus into the healthy choices that will get and keep you there, than the specifics. Check out my goal tending article: Patient Goal Tending

[akaTrex Senior Member Member of the Month Jan 2016 Find all posts View Profile Close akaTrex]

I'm 5'11, and have lost about 38 lbs in the past 8 months, but I went 2 months with no gain or loss at all and now more than ever I want to focus on my diet like if my life depends on it. What do you think? I'm at 202 lbs, and would put me at 172lbs. I'm currently doing 5x5 and going to start doing cardio on all off days(I also do about 30 minutes of uphill walking after each lift day). 10 weeks is right at Halloween so I'm hoping I look good by then.

Also, how much of the 30lbs do you think is just water weight? In other words, being 5'11, what can my body fat% potentially be at 172lbs?

You should get Hydro Static weighed.
It will tell you important information regarding Lean Muscle, Body Fat, Bone Mass etc.

The only way to lose weight is a calorie deficient diet. ie. Burn more calories than you take in. Period.
Also as you know Muscle weights more than Fat so the Scale is not an accurate measure of Body Fat / Muscle Mass.

Hell I'm 5'9" and could never get down to 172 without completely giving up weight training as I carry too much muscle mass.

P.S. I once met Jack LaLane at a book signing and overheard a women ask Mr. LaLane how much she should weigh?
Mr, LaLane's response was to strip naked and look in the mirror. Think About It!