Losing half my weight?

Question

I weigh 218 pounds now, I'm 5'2'' (24 yrs old, female). I checked my BMI and I'm obese. Very close to being morbidly obese.
I reversed the BMI formula, and it says that I have to weigh between 106 and 142 pounds. That means losing almost half my weight!
Is it realistic to expect to lose that much weight?
For now, I would be happy to weigh 169 pounds, because then I would be "only" overweight, but not obese. :(
I'm kind of overwhelmed by the state I'm in...

A week ago I started eating 5-6 small meals a day, drink 2 liters of water a day (I barely drank half a liter a day...).
Now I have breakfast (I rarely ate in the morning), I star my day with a glass of water and an orange, don't starve myself (now I don't even crave for sweets), eat almost everything but in small portions (no cakes and sweets, though).
I can already feel benefits, and it's great. I don't have to sleep as much as I used to, I have much more energy.
Now I only have to make myself exercise.
I have lost 2 pounds, but I know that it's just water.
I just hope it'll be enough to lose it all...

Answer 1

You can do it but it is a challenge of course. A big one. The good thing on your side is your youth and the fact you still have good skin tone.

I know how it is to just kind of move up in sizes and then suddenly hit "rock bottom". As in "OMG I can only buy clothes that look like mumus! I better do something now!"

The most important thing is to speed up your metabolism. After seeing your doc for a check up, it is time to do get serious. You know, of course, you can say good bye to wasted calories. Those are the ones that do nothing for your body. If it ain't healthy it ain't goin' in my mouth!

I know there are a lot of pills one can get at stores or on line that will speed up your metabolism but they are, in the long run, absolutely horrible in what they do to the system. NOT WORTH it. Nor is the surgery if you can avoid it. Been there and had to have it reversed 8 years later cos I was dying on it.

Here are a few more tips I have picked up over the years

Eat breakfast! The most important meal of the day as far as metabolism (and weight loss) is concerned. Breakfast eaters lose more weight than breakfast skippers do, according to studies. Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again, so if you bypass breakfast, your body won't burn as many calories until lunchtime as it could. 300- to 400-calorie meal; it jump-starts your metabolism. High-fiber carbohydrates take longer for your body to digest and absorb than fats; thus they don't cause rapid changes in your blood sugar, so you feel full longer.

Pile on the protein Plenty of protein can boost your metabolism, causing you to burn an extra 150 to 200 calories a day. Protein is made up mainly of amino acids, which are harder for your body to break down [than fat and carbs], so you burn more calories getting rid of them. Those calories should come from lean sources of protein, such as fish, chicken, low-fat cheese, yogurt and legumes.

Nibble all day. Eating five to six mini meals rather than three larger meals every day keeps your metabolism humming 24/7. It also keeps you from getting so hungry you feel you could eat a horse… and then try. Make sure each meal includes protein, for an extra metabolic boost.

Go For Good Carbs Focus on vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, which have less of an impact on insulin levels.

Skip Alcohol Self explanatory

Drink Milk Load up on low-fat dairy: Women who consumed milk, yogurt, and cheese three to four times a day lost 70 percent more body fat than women who didn't eat dairy. Calcium, along with other substances in dairy, actually revs up your metabolism, telling your body to burn excess fat faster

Spice Up Your Soup Sprinkle a few hot peppers into your lunchtime soup or evening stir-fry to speed up your metabolism. Capsaicin, a compound found in jalapeño and cayenne peppers, temporarily stimulates your body to release more stress hormones, such as adrenaline, speeding up your metabolism and thus increasing your ability to burn calories. The pepper-eaters had less appetite, because the spiciness of the food made them feel full.

Pump Iron Weight training is the best way to crank up your resting metabolic rate. Weight training also gives your metabolism a short-term boost. When women lift weights, their metabolisms remain in overdrive for up to two hours after the last bench press, allowing them to burn as many as 100 extra calories.

Rev Up Your Work outs…Adding interval training — bursts of high-intensity moves — to your workout is a great metabolism booster.

Break up Your Fitness Routine Slice each of your workouts into two smaller sessions. You'll burn an extra 100 to 200 calories that day. Add in some stair climbing or short walks throughout the day. Even small bursts of activity are enough to get your metabolism revved.

Sweat out your PMS You'll lose more weight if you exercise during those two weeks before your period. Women burn about 30 percent more fat for the two weeks following ovulation to about two days before menstruating. The reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone are at their peak then and, because they promote the body's use of fat as energy, more fat is burned off when you exercise during this time.

Get Enough Sleep When you're exhausted, your body lacks the energy to do its normal day-to-day functions, which include burning calories, so your metabolism is automatically lowered. Schedule your workouts earlier in the day; exercising within two to three hours of bedtime can keep you awake.

Chill Out When you're chronically stressed, your body is flooded with stress hormones, which stimulate fat cells deep in the abdomen to increase in size and encourage fat storage. This toxic weight, because fat deep within your belly is more likely to increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer." tress hormones spark your appetite, making you likely to overeat.

Good luck. You Can do it but you know it is just a step by step thing. It took forever to get on, it will take awhile to remove. But it IS possible! Suddenly, one day as you walk along you will feel how light your body feels and there is extra spring in your step. Good luck.

Answer 2

Rhana, first of all, congratulations, you're a winner. I have so many friends over weighted, without the power of mind to take the decision. Some of them already heard from their doctors, they're not going much further, without taking the attitude of losing weight. You did it, you're an example to be followed. Better life in all the meanings, body and mind. Please, don't stop exercising, this is something to be done not only during the process, but for life. Try an activity that brings you pleasure and joy and make it part of your life.. For instances, I'm a marathoner and I love running. The wind in my face, the feeling of the ground under my feet, sweating and breathing, really great. About your skin don't worry too much about it. There are several ways that can lead where you want. But you must ask a specialized Doctor to tell you the best treatment. Plastic surgery is the more radical, but there are several other techniques, as lipo and many others. Don't give up, the most difficult you did, now come the details, easy to performe. You'll do it. Good luck

Answer 3

set yourself realistic goals, a bit at a time. It can be so discouraging to have to wait a long time to hit that ending goal. I think that is why people give up. Go for 10 pounds, then a few more and a few more. Keep in mind you will hit plateaus. I have always found using a smaller plate helps, it is psychological (plate looks fuller) and drink lots of water. The hard part is the exercise. It is hard to find something fun and beneficial. I love to swim, works all your muscles groups and is low impact so not too much strain on your body if you are not used t it. There are so many little things you can do, walk more, take the stairs bypassing the elevator.

Good Luck, and remember you didn't put the weight on overnight and it wont come off overnight too.

Answer 4

BMI isn't always accurate as everyone is different (169 isn't necessarily overweight for you). However, 5'2", 218 is definitely overweight and it is possible to lose it.

You don't mention why you are overweight. If it's because of your food choices, then it is within you ability to change your habits. If you have something wrong with your thyroid gland, then you probably need medical help.

Avoid sweets (including soft drinks). Avoid fried food. Exercise as much as you're comfortable with (taking walks is great). You are young, so it is much easier to lose weight. Ten years from now, if you're still overweight, it will be MUCH more difficult to lose the excess.

Be patient. Changing your lifestyle and taking the weight off slowly is much safer and much more likely to be permanent than a drastic diet.

Answer 5

Fats are nothing more than stored acid. If you continue to take acidic food, even with exercise you cannot get rid of fats. Therefore you must solve the weight problem at the source : eating acidic food. By taking alkaline food, you prevent the intake of acid to create more fats. Besides doing exercise, you must eat only alkaline food.

Read the book "pH miracle for weight loss". See photos of people losing weight at ease. If you want to loose weight super fast, there is an alkaline liquid diet. According the book, people are loosing 10 pounds or more within the first 8 days. Go to the website below to see which food (and even fruits) that are acidic.

Answer 6

Just try now to get down to what makes you happy. Don't try for the norm. You'll end up losing that battle. I am 190 and 5'4" I should be no more than 150. I just take it 10lbs at a time. If you try to hard to get to low, you'll only fail. Just do what you can as you can and don't give up. Remember, it took you months if not years to put it on, you will never just wake up and be thin... you have to earn it.

Answer 7

Exercise everyday like jogging around the block
Skip meals. Eat 2 times per day than 3 times per day
Dont eat until you're full
Eat fruits at night if your hungry.
Drinks lots of water and stop all the fast food and chocolate.
I found this on this website. There are more tips and info.
there's a video on success fitness too.

Answer 8

Yes, it's realistic to lose that much weight! Of course, you would probably be on the higher end of the healthy weight by the time you lose.

I'm always curious, how do people get to be obese or even overweight and then act like it's a suprise! I mean, don't you look at yourself?

Anyways, check with your doctor and possibly a nutritionist or personal trainer. Given your size it would be best to do so considering you probably have a few other issues due to your obesity and starting a 'hard core' work out routine and diet so soon might do more harm than good!

Answer 9

You're setting an excellent goal. Once you get down to 169 you'll feel so much better that you'll likely concentrate even more on enjoying life than looking a certain part.

Answer 10

Eat 5 6 small meals a day instead of 3

Answer 11

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