weight loss - 5 weeks ...

[AnatW]

Hi Guys,

My sister's wedding is coming up in August and I am desperate to lose about 10-12 lbs. I am an intermediate exerciser and the program I was planning on doing is such:

Day 1 - 30 min cardio + upper body
Day 2 - 30 min cardio + lower body
Day 3 - repeat day 1
Day 4 - repeat day 2
Day 5 - 45 min cardio (weekend)

I don't have much time or strength after a long day at work to do anything longer than 45 minutes. Morning workout is also not an option for me. I eat roughly 1500 calories a day and on weekend close to 2000 calories.

I need something to boost my weight loss. Overall I have about 25 lbs to lose, but I would like to see quick results by wedding time. Is this a good plan or do you have any suggesstions for improving it ? Is it realistic to lose 10 lbs in 5 weeks with such a plan ?

Thanks all !!!

Anat.

 

[honeybunch]

To give yourself a teeny break, how about throwing in your 45 minute cardio day in between weight days two and three? What kind of cardio are you doing? Could you also give us an idea of what weight workouts you're doing? Are you doing tapes, or what? Do you keep a food journal?

What is the date of the wedding? A good, safe realistic goal for weight loss is only 1/2 - 2 lbs. per week. We also need to retool your habits so you keep the weight off, and not have it be a one shot deal just for this wedding, right?

 

[AnatW]

answers...

Hi Honeybunch !

The wedding is on August 8. I have been exercising for about a year consistently and on a life-long diet (not being able to keep results or lose more than 10 lbs).

The cardio I was planning on doing is step (Cathe or others) or low impact aerobics (Christi or CIA)or kickboxing. The 45 minutes cardio was intended as Tae-Bo or Reebok Intervals.

I was planning on taking a rest as such:

Sun - day 1
Mon - day 2
Tues - Rest
Wed - day 3
Thurs - day 4
Fri/Sat - day 5

I realize I need to make a life change and I am working on that. But, I would like to speed up my weight loss for the next 4 weeks and then go back to normal routine. I am already in a routine and I am ready to incorporate a temporary fast plan.

Thanks !

Anat.

 

[jgoycoolea]

I once read an article in Oxygen about a fitness (Brandy something...) star who needed to lose 10 pounds in one month for her own wedding. Essentially for the first two weeks she had oatmeal and lean protein for breakfast, and she had lean protein and salad greens for lunch and dinner. The last two weeks, for dinner she only had a protein shake with water. She did a 30 minutes of cardio in the morning and another 20 in the evening before bed. She needed to lose upper body size (muscle included) so she only did abs and legs.

Pretty tough. I've tried it in moments of desperation and have always failed miserably *****making myself feel far worse than I did in the first place*****. Keep this in mind before you attempt a drastic plan.

But hey--more power to you if you can pull it off -- good luck. Jeanne

 

[kristina]

My opinion is that if you are going to loose, you have to up your cardio (either duration or intensity) or lower your calories. Interval training is great to "kick-start" a weight-loss plan. Also adding a walk at lunch. It all adds up.
How about cutting just 150 calories a day and adding just 10 extra minutes of cardio? Avoid starchy carbs & refined sugars (try banana or apple one hour prior to workout instead of breads or pastas) and drink lots of water. Try to always leave a bite or two on your plate, or delete sweets and desserts as best you can if you are a dessert person. Or, switch to better desserts like sherbert vs. ice cream, Healthy Choice vs. Pepperidge Farms, etc.
I am sure you know, as we all do, that making drastic changes will usually result in weight loss but if you immediately go back to the way things were after the "event," you gain it all back plus. THat's why I suggest SMALL changes that you can live with. Also, don't worry so much about it! If you loose it, you do, if you don't, I am sure you will be a hit! Good luck!

 

[AnatW]

Thank you all !

I received some good advice.

I am not planning on a fad diet, it's not for me anymore.
But I will try to up my cardio (perhaps twice a week) and watch carefully what I eat. Hopefully, I'll see some results.

Thanks again !

Anat.