New here with a question of how long?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
New here with a question of how long?
9
Mon, 06-21-2004 - 11:37pm

does it take to lose a 100 lbs? I know that it all depends on sooooo many things but realistically how long does it take? Be honest ladies!


I have about 150 lbs to lose but the 100 is all I am thinking about.Actually I am just thinking in every 25 pounds & I've lost the first 25!! I just want to think about how long this is going to take me.I am not going to let it get me down..just wondering!!


I am doing WW but not joined yet so I am mostly counting calories/fat grams & walking every other day.I am doing good..it's hard.I want to really do it this time!!


 

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-04-2004
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 6:59am
Welcome, Shannon! And congrats on the 25 pound weight loss! You're doing the right thing by breaking your weight loss into smaller goals. It really helps to keep it from being so overwhelming.

That's a good question, how long it will take. And you're right, it does depend on so many things that it's hard to say. We have someone on this board who lost 105 pounds, and it took her 3 years. At the rate I'm currently losing (a pound to a pound and a half a week), I'm estimating a year and a half to two years, but I'm prepared to keep at it as long as it takes. I've learned these past few months that patience is the key. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I wish I could be at goal right now! But I know that I am losing, and as long as I am then I'm happy with my progress, no matter how slow. How long did it take you to lose the 25 pounds, if you don't mind me asking? That might help you figure out how long it will take you to get to goal. Just keep in mind, though, that as you get closer to goal, your weight loss will slow down (just ask Shawna and Amy!). So be prepared for that.

Anyways, welcome and I look forward to seeing more of your posts :)

~~Linda

~~Linda

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-23-2004
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 12:31pm
Hi and welcome Shannon! From what I have seen and read lately,it realisticly takes about 12 to 18 months to lose 100 to 150 lbs. Now, there are those who've done it a lot faster than that. Sorry if that seems really vague, but it all depends on what your eating plan is, how much your exercise and your over all health.

Personally, I can't think of it in terms of time or I'd drive myself bonkers :0)

Vikki

310/295/150

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2003
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 1:35pm
I second these responses. I would say two years (1 pound a week for 104 weeks). However, there will be times where the weight will come off rapidly, and then slow to a crawl. I dropped from 323 to 269 in about six months, but leveled off from there (and gained a little). Now I'm hoping that I'm due for another precipitous drop since I'm cutting back again.

Tony

323/286/220

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2004
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 5:25pm
I'm new here too and am so glad to meet you. Your 25# loss is fab! Sounds like you're on the right track. Did that take you a long time? I think it's fairly impossible to know how long the process will take, but somewhere in the back of my mind I remember reading about aiming for a pound a week?

It all comes down to MATH - my least favorite subject it school.

If a pound is 3500 calories, then you have to figure out how many calories you need to maintain your weight at what it is right now (there's an equation for that out there in the internet world somewhere - just not sure where) and then either exercise enough in one week to burn those 3500 calories (and/or) reduce your caloric intake by 3500 calories. Probably the best bet is a combination of those two though right?

The fact that you can bring it down to that equation written on a piece of paper makes me nuts. Why can't it be that simple in real life? Why is food so strongly tied with emotion and pleasure? I'm SO tired of being ruled by my head rather than my body's actual needs.

AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Anyway, got off on a bit of a tangent there. Sorry. Hope I didn't scare you! Keep up the great work! I look forward to hearing more about you.

Tana
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 5:48pm
Hey Shannon, WTG on the first 25 lbs!! Sounds like you are doing great so far, keep up the awesome work! It is pretty much impossible to say how long it will take each individual person to lose that much weight. My own weight loss has been really slow, I used to get frustrated by it and it is sitll disheartening at times, but I've pretty much accepted that the lbs are just not going to melt off me. It has taken me a year and a half to lose 45 lbs, I've had a lot of personal upheaval during that time and I haven't always felt like putting 100% effort into it. But even in the past 2 months when I've been making a good effort I still haven't lost like I hoped I would.

On the other hand, a lady I see at Curves quite often has lost 60+ lbs since December and has gone from a size 22 to a size 12. So there's just really no way to know how your body is going to react until you do it!

I wish you much continued success on your journey and welcome to the board!

Amanda

285/239.5/150

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 6:51pm

I would have to agree that the average would range somewhere between 18 - 24 months.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 7:51pm
You're right, it depends on a lot of things. How many calories do you plan on consuming? What kind of eating (low fat, or whatever) do you plan on doing? What kind of exercise do you plan on doing? How often? Not to mention, that great catch-all category called "other." There are just too many variables to tell you exactly "how long" it will take you to lose 100 lbs or more. But one thing is certain, if you start now and keep up healthy eating and exercise habits....it will happen. And if you don't, then it won't. Don't worry about the time-line, or how it worked for other people. Just do your best, and you'll get there!

Personally, I didn't use any one else's plan but my own. Something clicked, about a year ago, and I just started counting calories, paying attention to fat content, and getting some normal walking in (and then later branched out). I did just fine, and one thing is for sure....what a difference a year makes!

You may want to get hold of June 7 issue of Time Magazine, for more information too, as that issue is a special "obesity in America" issue, and it may help to answer some of your questions.

forte

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 8:41pm
Welcome to the boards Shannon!
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-16-2004
Wed, 06-23-2004 - 10:20am

Hello Shannon :)

 

  Shawna