27 replies to this topic

[deluxmary2000]

So.... hypothetically....


If you wanted to lose 6 lbs in 2 weeks, without starving yourself into a coma, how would you do it?

(Go ahead and assume overall maintainability of the diet is not a factor.)

[road2freedom]

Lots of cardio, stay around 1500 calories/day intake, avoid sugar, sodas, and excessive carbs, drink a lot of water.

It's basically a numbers game for most people. 1lb = 3500 calories. Figure how how much weight you could lose by eating 1500 calories/day (recommended minimum). Say it's 2 lbs/week. Then you have another 7000 calories to go via cardio.

Edited by road2freedom, 02 July 2012 - 03:59 PM.

[Sniper762]

Kick it off with a good colon cleanse. You can do it.

[SplashMom]

Lots of water, lots of cardio, no sodas (including diet), and big decrease in carbs. If only I would follow my own advice. I did this in 2009 and lost 50 pounds in six months. A trip to Europe was my incentive. Unfortunately, knee problems and a subsequent knee surgery as well as a lack of willpower has me back almost to where I was. I have been going to the Y and riding the bike, doing the elliptical and participating in a few water aerobic classes.

ETA: If you have a smart phone, try the 'Lose It' app that easily helps to keep record of all food, exercise, etc. I used that faithfully during my big weight loss and I think it helps to see everything in black and white that goes in your mouth. There were times when I would avoid eating something just because I didn't want to have to list it. DH and I did this together and he lost 60+ pounds. It is really nice to have someone dieting/exercising with you as a source of support.

GOOD LUCK!

Edited by SplashMom, 02 July 2012 - 05:26 PM.

[Cosmos Human]

Lots of cardio, stay around 1500 calories/day intake, avoid sugar, sodas, and excessive carbs, drink a lot of water.

It's basically a numbers game for most people. 1lb = 3500 calories. Figure how how much weight you could lose by eating 1500 calories/day (recommended minimum). Say it's 2 lbs/week. Then you have another 7000 calories to go via cardio.

This is what I would do. But I go to 1200 calories.

[Cosmos Human]

Kick it off with a good colon cleanse. You can do it.

I did this once, it is only temporary.

[Echo_X]

6 pounds in two weeks without starving your self?

I think PeeWee can help you out.

[Tigz]

Actually, 6 lbs in 2 weeks is very do-able. Like the others have said, decrease caloric intake, increase caloric burn = weight loss.

3 lbs a week consistent weight loss would not be good, but for 2 weeks, it wouldn't hurt.

[iH8cra]

I'd work out more. 3500 calories = 1 pounds. You want to burn 21,000 calories.

A 140 lb person burns about 100 calories per mile. Run, run, run. 210 miles in 2 weeks is begging for an injury, though, I'd need to add other stuff. Swim. Bike. Play basketball (where you sweat, not just play HORSE).

Even with that, that's still a lot of calories to burn. You have to decrease calories. You'll be working your derriere off so you can't cut back a whole lot or you'll go ravenous and binge.

In short, it's possible but not easy to lose 6 pounds of body fat in 2 weeks.



Please note this refers to actual weight loss and not dehydration/starvation that a lot of people do. These cause water loss, muscle loss, or temporary loss through your intestines being empty. These are transient and do you no good.

[Nemeweh]

Use the weight loss program Neen told us all about. Michael Thurmond's Six Week Body Makeover. You drink half your weight in water, avoid ALL oils, and ALL salt and have limited carb intake for your body type. (like I can eat potatoes, but not pasta for my body type) But you eat 5-6 times a day. There is even a 10 day Ultra-loss program. I have no idea where my recipe cards are at the moment, but it's pretty straight forward and it works. It is/was Neen approved. I lost 20lbs in one month (5 weeks) on it. ymmv

[Tigz]

Use the weight loss program Neen told us all about. Michael Thurmond's Six Week Body Makeover. You drink half your weight in water, avoid ALL oils, and ALL salt and have limited carb intake for your body type. (like I can eat potatoes, but not pasta for my body type) But you eat 5-6 times a day. There is even a 10 day Ultra-loss program. I have no idea where my recipe cards are at the moment, but it's pretty straight forward and it works. It is/was Neen approved. I lost 20lbs in one month (5 weeks) on it. ymmv

Dang, I need that!

How long does the loss stick with you? (I am figuring it is temporary)

[deluxmary2000]

Thanks everyone!!

Nem, I will have to check that program out.

Honestly, I already eat pretty healthfully and exercise A LOT. And I'm already at the middle/low end of my "recommended weight" for my height, so losing these last 6 is going to be tough. But I could definitely stand to drink more water and cut out more salt from my diet. And wine. Damn.

[sirrowan]

Get to as close as you can to zero carbs. Don't watch fat or protein. You will SHED the weight and probably lose even more than 6 lbs in two weeks.....

[VibrantEcho]

Get to as close as you can to zero carbs. Don't watch fat or protein. You will SHED the weight and probably lose even more than 6 lbs in two weeks.....

This, plus water, water, water. And more water.

[iH8cra]

I personally think there is an abundance of bad advice in this thread. Why not just tell her to go get in a dry sauna for an hour and then not drink anything? Could lose 6 pounds pretty easily that way.

[Nemeweh]

Use the weight loss program Neen told us all about. Michael Thurmond's Six Week Body Makeover. You drink half your weight in water, avoid ALL oils, and ALL salt and have limited carb intake for your body type. (like I can eat potatoes, but not pasta for my body type) But you eat 5-6 times a day. There is even a 10 day Ultra-loss program. I have no idea where my recipe cards are at the moment, but it's pretty straight forward and it works. It is/was Neen approved. I lost 20lbs in one month (5 weeks) on it. ymmv

Dang, I need that!

How long does the loss stick with you? (I am figuring it is temporary)

Meh. I am up 10lbs since I did it 2 years ago I think it was. Which means I am still down 10lbs. It's supposed to be a lifestyle choice that you stick with along with regular exercise. Once you start reading those labels on your food and actually seeing how much sodium is in them (and we all know Americans ingest way too much on average) it does make you more aware. I am very active but I drink too much beer (empty calories and carbs that covert to sugar) and have a horrible sweet tooth. I am erratic with my exercise and not consistent, as in I will walk/run an hour a day for two weeks then get lazy for two weeks.

So YMMV. If I were a more consistent person I am sure the weight would have stayed off.

Limiting sodium and drinking water will never be a bad thing, neither will eating 5-6 small meals a day (2 or 3 of them are considered "snacks") has also been proven effective. I believe after 6 weeks you do get to add oils, more carbs (depending on body type)but I think sodium is always restricted. I love my Olive Oil so I shelved that since I figure my brain needs all the help it can get.

1H8cra - why not just say "I disagree with X, y, and z and think it's bad advice" instead of being all full of Snark and innuendo. I swear you are such a chick sometimes.

[deluxmary2000]

I personally think there is an abundance of bad advice in this thread. Why not just tell her to go get in a dry sauna for an hour and then not drink anything? Could lose 6 pounds pretty easily that way.

Could I?

Remember... I said overall maintainability is not a factor.

Maybe I should give more details.

I'm in an exercise program that runs on 8-week cycles with two week breaks in between. At the start of every 8 weeks we have a "weight loss challenge". It's $20 to buy in, and you weigh in every week and pay an extra $1 if you gain or don't lose weight each week. At the end the winner (highest % loss) keeps all the money.

Anyway, I never enter because I really don't have much weight to lose. But I entered with a friend this time because we figured it would be a good way to support everyone who wanted/needed to lose, and also keep ourselves accountable for not gaining any weight. But after 6 weeks, I am somehow in 2nd place out of 40 people. And now I want to win because a) I think I can and it's a LOT OF MONEY.

So I think I would need to lose about 6 lbs in the last 2 weeks to do that. I don't really NEED to lose 6 lbs, and don't care if I gain it back. But I'm also training for a marathon so I don't want to do something stupid that would make me too weak to run.

Adding more exercise isn't much of an option... I already work out a ridiculous amount. So I guess I just need to clean up my diet. We'll see.... I've cut out sugar completely, all drinks but water, and most carbs except those found naturally in fruits and veggies. The scale doesn't seem to be budging but I've noticed that when I DO lose weight it comes off all at once in a day or two.

[iH8cra]

1H8cra - why not just say "I disagree with X, y, and z and think it's bad advice" instead of being all full of Snark and innuendo. I swear you are such a chick sometimes.

You know what? You're right. In my defense I've worked with 95% women for close to 20 years.

I personally think there is an abundance of bad advice in this thread. Why not just tell her to go get in a dry sauna for an hour and then not drink anything? Could lose 6 pounds pretty easily that way.

Could I?

You know how wrestlers and fighter cut weight to make weigh-in for a match? Google that. If you're really determined to temp drop then that's probably the safest way to do it.

eta: I did a weight loss challenger once. If they had any sense, they would have figured the results by % lost instead of simply body weight. I made almost $800. Suckers.

Edited by iH8cra, 05 July 2012 - 10:40 AM.

[Nemeweh]

1H8cra - why not just say "I disagree with X, y, and z and think it's bad advice" instead of being all full of Snark and innuendo. I swear you are such a chick sometimes.

You know what? You're right. In my defense I've worked with 95% women for close to 20 years.

It's the estrogen effect. Dangerous stuff.

[giraffy]

I personally think there is an abundance of bad advice in this thread. Why not just tell her to go get in a dry sauna for an hour and then not drink anything? Could lose 6 pounds pretty easily that way.

Agreed

I personally think there is an abundance of bad advice in this thread. Why not just tell her to go get in a dry sauna for an hour and then not drink anything? Could lose 6 pounds pretty easily that way.

Could I?

Remember... I said overall maintainability is not a factor.

Maybe I should give more details.

I'm in an exercise program that runs on 8-week cycles with two week breaks in between. At the start of every 8 weeks we have a "weight loss challenge". It's $20 to buy in, and you weigh in every week and pay an extra $1 if you gain or don't lose weight each week. At the end the winner (highest % loss) keeps all the money.

Anyway, I never enter because I really don't have much weight to lose. But I entered with a friend this time because we figured it would be a good way to support everyone who wanted/needed to lose, and also keep ourselves accountable for not gaining any weight. But after 6 weeks, I am somehow in 2nd place out of 40 people. And now I want to win because a) I think I can and it's a LOT OF MONEY.

So I think I would need to lose about 6 lbs in the last 2 weeks to do that. I don't really NEED to lose 6 lbs, and don't care if I gain it back. But I'm also training for a marathon so I don't want to do something stupid that would make me too weak to run.

Adding more exercise isn't much of an option... I already work out a ridiculous amount. So I guess I just need to clean up my diet. We'll see.... I've cut out sugar completely, all drinks but water, and most carbs except those found naturally in fruits and veggies. The scale doesn't seem to be budging but I've noticed that when I DO lose weight it comes off all at once in a day or two.

I was side-eyeing you at first, because chick, I've seen you, and know you don't need to lose 6lbs. But for a LOT OF MONEY, I'd be down for the same thing.

yeah, what iH8 said - the way wrestlers drop weight is quick and easy.

eta: marathon training made me the hungriest EVER. I can't imagine trying to drop 6lbs by restricting my calories while marathon training. Probably not even for cash.

Edited by giraffy, 05 July 2012 - 11:08 AM.

[iH8cra]

I personally think there is an abundance of bad advice in this thread. Why not just tell her to go get in a dry sauna for an hour and then not drink anything? Could lose 6 pounds pretty easily that way.

Could I?

Remember... I said overall maintainability is not a factor.

I was side-eyeing you at first, because chick, I've seen you, and know you don't need to lose 6lbs. But for a LOT OF MONEY, I'd be down for the same thing.

yeah, what iH8 said - the way wrestlers drop weight is quick and easy.

eta: marathon training made me the hungriest EVER. I can't imagine trying to drop 6lbs by restricting my calories while marathon training. Probably not even for cash.

Wait, is deluxemary the tall chick? THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICS.

When I was marathon training, I gained weight. Most people do I think. Dean Karnazes has talked about eating two large pizzas while running (literally, holding the pizza boxes and eating while running) and still being hungry.

[giraffy]

Wait, is deluxemary the tall chick? THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICS.

When I was marathon training, I gained weight. Most people do I think. Dean Karnazes has talked about eating two large pizzas while running (literally, holding the pizza boxes and eating while running) and still being hungry.

Yeah. She's, like, 8 feet tall or something. And skinny. I don't know where those 6lbs are going to come from.

I didn't gain any weight, but I sure as hell didn't lose any. I was starving, all the time. I am still kind of training, for San Francisco in a few weeks, but I guess my body's adjusted, and those 20 milers don't make me want to eat all the things any more.

[iH8cra]

Wait, is deluxemary the tall chick? THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICS.

When I was marathon training, I gained weight. Most people do I think. Dean Karnazes has talked about eating two large pizzas while running (literally, holding the pizza boxes and eating while running) and still being hungry.

Yeah. She's, like, 8 feet tall or something. And skinny. I don't know where those 6lbs are going to come from.

I didn't gain any weight, but I sure as hell didn't lose any. I was starving, all the time. I am still kind of training, for San Francisco in a few weeks, but I guess my body's adjusted, and those 20 milers don't make me want to eat all the things any more.

I'm ramping up the mileage for a half and trying to lose some weight at the same time. My body is telling me to FOAD because even for training for just a half, I'm starving with a calorie reduction. Maybe I should rethink my plans.

[cljohnr]

Adding more exercise isn't much of an option... I already work out a ridiculous amount.

That could actually be a problem in this scenario. You might be building muscle. A better measure would probably be biggest decrease in % body fat.

[deluxmary2000]

Wait, is deluxemary the tall chick? THIS THREAD IS WORTHLESS WITHOUT PICS.

When I was marathon training, I gained weight. Most people do I think. Dean Karnazes has talked about eating two large pizzas while running (literally, holding the pizza boxes and eating while running) and still being hungry.

Yeah. She's, like, 8 feet tall or something. And skinny. I don't know where those 6lbs are going to come from.

I didn't gain any weight, but I sure as hell didn't lose any. I was starving, all the time. I am still kind of training, for San Francisco in a few weeks, but I guess my body's adjusted, and those 20 milers don't make me want to eat all the things any more.

That's the thing about being ridiculously tall... I have almost 8 feet (5'11" to be exact) to pull those 6 lbs from

And didn't you post a picture in our Tinkerbell Half thread of us after the race... the one where I'm standing next to all you 3'6" chicks and look like I escaped from the circus?

Edited by deluxmary2000, 05 July 2012 - 12:38 PM.