lose 15 lbs by next week?

[dancing barefoot]

Hi everyone,this is my first post here and i'm hoping you could all give me some much needed advice.

There's a very important event that i must attend on August 4th and i know just how bad i'll feel if i still look how i am right now.I'm considering cancelling the trip if i don't lose weight by then and i'd hate to lose another life changing oppurtunity just because of this body.

I'm 5'3 and weight 145,most of the fat comes from my enormous thighs and arms.Not only do i have to work on losing weight,but improving my skin as well.Procrastination and laziness had led me to all this.

I'm thinking i could lose 10 lbs this week and maybe 5 lbs the next one.I eat two servings of fruits and 3 servings of veggies daily.I haven't been doing much exercise,just walking a mile in the morning and then i go home and fall asleep while watching tv.I need to do something that will take up the whole day since i am currently umemployed and spend my whole day indoors.I can't get much sun or else my blemishes will leave brown spots behind.What would you all recommend i do to achieve my goal?


Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you everyone.

[codajess]

I suggest being realistic. If there were a way to lose 15 lbs off of your body in a week, it would not be healthy that's for sure.

I suggest eating healthily, exercising and seeing what comes off. Keep up the habits and odds are you'll lose the weight within 4-6 weeks. A week flies by, it really isn't that long.

[Liserpiece]

Barefoot! Shift your focus!!! Do something for YOU, not August 4th. Being raw will provide sooo much more than weight loss. You as a whole can become heathier/happier. Goals are great and all, but first just think about being RAW. The weight (and many other issues) will naturally resolve itself if you let your body do its thing in its own time. Changes take time and to expect a drastic transformation over night (or 2 weeks even) will only lead to disappointment. Don't do that to yourself!! There are many threads with great info on accelerated weight loss, but if you are new to raw, be careful. You don't want to be too restrictive right out of the gate. To start, just EAT RAW!! You will see, even in the first couple of weeks, awesome changes and benefits. Get Alissa's book, if you don't already have it. This will provide you with invaluble info, along with the inspiration to keep you going! Take care, and don't you dare cancel your trip... go and enjoy! :)

[JAusten]

I agree with codajess- you are being unrealistic.

Instead of trying to lose 15 lbs. in a week, I recommend that you go shopping and find something that makes you feel attractive. Take a friend maybe, try on lots of things and you will find something to hide your flaws and make you feel better. I wouldn't wait until the night before- I would start today and look until I find something great.

[Veganforlife]

I concur with the previous posters. Focus on what you are eating, making it 100% raw. Two words - Green Smoothies...

[jenjen]

this sounds like hog wash, i know it does, but get this:
you will never be the person you want to be forever, unless you strengthen your self, deep inside. If you do not lose all the weight you want by aug 4, go to the event anyway...for this one reason:
know inside your self, that by going and wearing something that makes your body look beautiful (as it is) AND believing that inside of you is a growing strenghtening, changing person...no matter what other poeple think or say, or what you think they'd think or say about you. you are changing and your body IS becomming what you want it to be.
start with raw 100% and try to stay raw through your trip...by the time you get home, you might be at your goal. if not, you ARE on your way.
use your self will/stubborness (that you would've used to stay home-again) to force your self to do good for yourself, to treat yourself like a queen. be stubborn about treating yourself like a QUEEN!

by treating yourself like a queen on a cellular level (with whole raw healing clean foods) every inch and every cell will respond accordingly.
you don't need aug 4th to be "the day" you need "the day" to be every single day of the REST of your life!
bless you! love yourself completely,
all the best and i pray you find all the happiness that you're looking for,
j

[Coriander74]

I agree with what the others have said.

Do this for YOURSELF, not for anyone else. If you want to be Raw to be healthy, wonderful. It does take time to lose weight on any eating plan, though.

Losing 15 pounds in a week and a half is dangerous. Very dangerous. That means your body isn't getting enough nutrition, enough food, to even live on. Please reconsider your goal to lose this much weight and consider living life in a healthy way, and love yourself for who you are :)

For your skin, I'd suggest tea tree oil products. I use them and they work wonders for me. It's not going to happen overnight but improvement will happen quickly if you let it.

Finally, start loving yourself for who you are. Nobody's perfect. I'm not happy with my thighs or arms either, but you know what? You can change them. It just takes patience and a little time. You can do it :)

[StarFire]

There's a very important event that i must attend on August 4th and i know just how bad i'll feel if i still look how i am right now.I'm considering cancelling the trip if i don't lose weight by then and i'd hate to lose another life changing oppurtunity just because of this body.

I'm 5'3 and weight 145,most of the fat comes from my enormous thighs and arms.Not only do i have to work on losing weight,but improving my skin as well.Procrastination and laziness had led me to all this.
What would you all recommend i do to achieve my goal?

Your help would be greatly appreciated!


WELL... my dear dancing_barefoot... Aloha and Welcome to RFT! ;) You asked and as you can see from the many posts.... we keep it real and honest here. WE also really do care about everyone that asks for help.

one thing about RFT... if you don't want to know the truth - don't ask - because we DO CARE --- we will honestly try to give you the best advice we can... advice that we ourselves would want to hear if we were asking.

please take a look at what you wrote above...

"i'd hate to lose another life changing oppurtunity just because of this body."

DB... lose ANOTHER life changing opportunity?? If this is truly a life changing opportunity - then NOTHING should stop you from taking this chance... You should grab it... embrace it.... thank God for it....

your body is not causing you to lose this opportunity - you cannot blame your body. It does not feed itself. It does not sit and watch TV by itself, it is not on 'auto pilot'.

sweetie... YOU feed yourself, YOU decide what goes into your mouth or not... YOU make the choices whether to exercise or not, (and not all exercise is done outside - you can do pilates inside, Tae-Bo inside - DVD's are very inexpensive at Walmart, Target - and they have TONS of exercise dvds).

Your BODY does not make the excuses... YOU DO.

All your body wants to do is keep you alive. It is doing the best it can with the nutrition YOU give it to work with... it does the best it can with the exercise YOU give it...

you feed it junk - it's got to find someplace to stick the fat, cholesterol, putrid meat, clogging cheese, sugars.... so desperately trying to keep you alive - your body sticks it here (in one arm) or there (in the other arm) or over there... one butt cheek! untill... one day we 'wake up' and look in the mirror and say...
OMG... WHAT HAPPENED? :eek:

you see dancing... we can say these things #1 - because you asked... and #2... because WE ARE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU... we understand - we KNOW... every day we have to decide - exercise or not... eat raw or not...

you've gotten some wonderful advice here... I may sound harsh - and please forgive me if I do -- I certainly don't mean to sound harsh - but I just understand -- truely understand. (weird thing is I was thinking the same thing...I'll be 51 in 2 weeks and I was thinking last night - if I could just lose another 15 pounds by then I would be sooo happy....!) and then I realize that's so unhealthy - and unrealistic, but that nagging thought was still there this morning - and I open up RFT and the first post I see is yours... and I read all the advice from all the rawbies I've grown to know and love and it's as though they were speaking righ to me too....

and I appreciate the words they spoke and I take them to my heart also.

Morn just posted her newest pics - if you go the general discussion area and see her transformation - you will ALSO see - it did not happen OVERNIGHT. It has been months of hard work, effort, determination, loving herself, respecting herself... and raw foods.... but it happened! She made it!! She really did it... and you can too.

Apply yourself 100% until August 4th.... jump in with both feet - we will be here to support you and cheer you on http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/cheer1.gif ... Start to seriously exercise ...

and believe in yourself - YOU ARE WORTH IT! 5'3" and 145 is not that bad - I'm right there with you (again)... you can make amazing strides if YOU CHOOSE to.. but it's all up to you.

a life changing opportunity.... don't let anything stop you from embracing that!

blessings on your journey...;)

[dreamrawalwz]

I'd just like to add a few things.

Going raw is not about weight loss. Well, for some it is, but even for them it changes into a lifestyle once they see the amazing healing benefits by following a raw vegan diet. That said, don't let your WEIGHT influence how you feel or hold you back for a certain event. I know how that feels and it's lousy. Go to the event and know you're working on getting healthier. As others said, get an outfit that fits and makes you feel beautiful and confident in it. Don't think "i don't weigh xxx. I suck. I fail...." blah blah blah, and feel bad during the event. :)

People are all saying that you can't lose 15lbs healthily in 1.5 weeks. Well, you can, but those that do are VERY overweight/obese and have a lot more to lose. Mostly water weight too. It depends on your current weight, and the diet that you are coming off of. Don't compare your weightloss to anyone elses'. One more thing...it didn't take you 1.5 weeks to put on that 15 extra pounds. It ain't coming off that quickly either. Haha, did I just say "ain't"? Don't worry, I don't usually talk that way lol.

[belleadonna]

I too agree that trying to lose that much weight is so little a time is unrealistic and dangerous! Do it in a healthy manner. A raw food diet is not a fad diet. It is a lifestyle. :)

[snowdrop]

i feel the panic in your voice (words)
and i hear you sister friend.
as 'unrealistic' as 15 # asap is
...have you considered a stop gap measure?
the gap before you lose in a healthy way- but in time for the event...
i would try something like the Master Cleanse to get
less bloated & fluffy until aug 4th
after that transition into a good raw program
the fast will kick start you into the right direction and you will feel a whole lot better about your outsides.

i'm sure i will incur the wrath of the many, but it's a short enough period of time where you will not harm yourself (many fast for longer periods of time)
and give you enough time to get a grip on what's really important in life
and come up with a sensible battle plan to achieve it.
peace & success to you

[SmilingRawDancer]

It's possible to lose 15 pounds in a week and a half:
but it won't be fat, most likely.
It will be water and poo that's being cleansed from your colon.
So you could do a watermelon fast type thing. But if you're only starting raw to lose weight temporarily, and then plan on eating unhealthy foods again....I guess I can't support that.

[KatK]

I'd be delighted if weighed just 145.

[GoingtoRAW]

Dancingbarefoot,

You should focus on the event - not on a quick fix weight loss scheme. If you are following a raw diet, you will probably lose some weight by August 4th. You may not lose 15 lbs. but I can almost guarantee you will just naturally feel better even within the short time frame that you have to work with. Also, if you can, buy a great outfit that makes you look like and feel a million dollars and just enjoy the event!:p

[GoingtoRAW]

KatK,

I'm with you. I would be thrilled to death if I weighed anywhere in the vacinity of 145 lbs! I'm so jealous!!!!:eek:

[rawzeit]

Like the others have said, going raw IS the life-changing opportunity. You couldn't do anything better for yourself. (Of course, you should also being exercising.)


I need to do something that will take up the whole day since i am currently umemployed and spend my whole day indoors.
Learn to play the piano! :)

[Nurse in the Raw]

145 is not that much for your height. If you eat too little you are going to feel like crap and probably slow your metabolism. If it were me, I would suck it up and buy a smashing outfit. :D

[raven]

You won't lose the weight by Aug. 4 but you will lose it within a few months. Everyone has given you great advice. I do understand how you feel. People respond more to how you present yourself than to your physical appearance. You don't have very much weight to lose. There are people on this forum who've lost more than 100 lbs. Even if you don't lose the weight by then, you'll have a lovely raw glow and you'll know that you're getting better each day. Just keep it at and we'll keep you motivated if you get discouraged.

Suzy

[beppa66]

I think a great goal would be to eat raw until Aug 4th. And by then you will have more energy, a clear vibrant complection, a lift in your spirits, and will most likely have shed about half of the weight you wanted to. When I started I doubted I would last a day or two - but I feel better than I have since I was 12. That radiates and people notice...even over the phone. PS. that's what's attractive! Go get em'!

[elfinbaby]

There's really good advice/support for you on this thread. Lots of wisdom. I hope you are open to it.

Having said that, there is a way to shed pounds quickly as someone mentioned - the master cleanse. If you do it and follow it to a "T" you'll at least shed 10 lbs. Maybe more. Now, I don't want to contribute to any issues you may have about yourself or your weight so please heed the words of the other posters and listen:

I've been on and off the raw food wagon for a year. I'm on - I feel GREAT! I'm off (stress eating i.e. fast food) I feel like crap and bloat up like a balloon. To get myself geared up for raw food again I do a cleanse. It's usually a green smoothie cleanse (which will also shed lbs. but not as quickly HOWEVER it gives me lots of energy, a positive outlook, and my skin is as soft as an avocado), juicing or MC.

I know how you feel - lots of us do. Carrying baggage sucks. I recommend the master cleanse IF your desire is to begin a healthier lifestyle, get your mind on track, and want to go raw. Otherwise, you'll lose the weight, gain it, feel bad again and on and on. You should make a commitment to your health and it is possible to start off with MC. Go ahead and do it. Spend your time reading about raw food (definitely buy Alissa's book) and outdoors. Get some sun, take some easy walks (don't over do it on a cleanse). Start feeling good about yourself and turn off your tv.

If you decide to go for the MC know that is a 10 day cleanse and when you break it you'll be drinking OJ for a couple of days. Then you'll have to do light meals - fruit, salads, etc. Nothing too rough. And chew well!!!! Your body has to readjust. Please keep that in mind. You can't fast for 10 days and then haul off and eat a hamburger. It WILL hurt. So plan wisely.

I hope you find some peace with this.

April

PS I feel like it needs to be said that this is a raw food support forum. There's plenty of posts about weight and fasting/cleansing. However, the raw food diet and fasting/cleansing are not about "How can't I lose as much as weight possible as quickly as possible." That's not mentally or physically healthy. Think about it and take care of yourself.

[StarFire]

i'm sure i will incur the wrath of the many, but ...



HEY SNOW.... http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/tomato.gif .... heheheeeeee!!! :D jes kidding!!!! ;)

dancing barefoot... you are getting a lot good information here. The Master Cleanse is a good option... but I do hope that you will take this beyond the August 4th date... and choose to a lifestyle of health and healing!

again... blessings!! :D

[145ish]

Good advice everyone. JenJen really hit the nail on the head.

I started raw 9 weeks ago in the hopes to lose 2 pounds a week. Yes....I went raw for weight loss. :eek: Well here I am 9...almost 10 weeks later and if I averaged it out I have lost less than one pound a week and I have or had 50 pounds to lose. 145 is my goal...as you can see by my name. So....as JenJen so eloquently pointed out...do it for yourself.. be proud...and rejoice in the courage you have taken to becoming a healthier person.;)

[KissyKate]

Hang in there barefoot, I know these answers aren't what you were looking for, but think about the positives you've gotten out of hearing or should I say reading them.

I've many a times in my life have used a special occasion to motivate me to loose weight, as we all have I'm sure. We put off until two weeks before we are panicked about losing weight.

My suggestion is to take everyone's advice and go raw for your health's sake and for the sake of all the upcoming unforeseen events in your future.

For this event, focus on projecting what is truly most sexy, self confidence. Buy a dress that makes you feel great and accentuates your curves, and love them. If you project that image to others they will see you as beautiful. No need to cancel your event or go into hiding. Life is too short for that. So go, enjoy yourself and start eating raw now, in two weeks you wont loose 15 pounds, but you'll surely loose some weight and be feeling much better. And your skin will look better by then too.

Also, start working out. Whatever way you can. Whatever way you enjoy. Sweat, get rid of some of those toxins in your body. Get your heart rate up. For me its swimming, weight training, taking my kids on bike rides. Experiment and see what physical activity is for you.

Good luck girl, and keep us posted on how much fun you have at this event!!

[GlimR]

I've tried losing for a particular event and nine times out of ten I wind up making myself so crazy I usually gain weight...there is so much good advice here...I am going to copy some of it for myself. The ONLY true long term success comes from staying steady...from staying the course and not getting side tracked or bargaining with yourself.
I know how much we weigh is all relative and that a person at 145 who used to be 120 can feel just as crappy as one who is at 200+ and used to be 145...all because THAT is our experience. I'd love to weigh 145 right now..the question is what will I do to get there?
I went to a wedding, a very formal wedding last month...I bought and returned 9 dresses before I settled on one that really looked on the outside the way I see myself on the inside...I looked beautiful...heavy as hell but nice. I had to just accept the reality that this is me right now..truly and honestly me...and people love me. They do not define me by my weight...why should I? Why should you?
Wishing you a deep and inner peace regarding this~*hugs*

[GoingtoRAW]

AMEN GLIMR!!!:) :)

[Shoney]

went from stomach growl to stomach growl I lost a pound a day. Of course, despite our being the same height, I weighed a bit more than you do now. :) Getting all the way to a stomach growl is not terribly comfortable at times; I suffered from bad headaches and blood sugar crashes. But then at mealtime I was able to eat only until my stomach was full, which was around 7-12 bites of food. And boy did that food taste good! The nice thing was, I found that when I was full the desire to eat would LEAVE, which for me is nothing short of a miracle!

I did this, however, eating SAD, which I would not recommend. I had symptoms of dehydration and mineral loss, did not sleep well, etc. BUT. I wonder what it would be like to go from growl to growl on raw. The neat thing for me about waiting for the growl is that it doesn't matter if I want something fatty, like an avocado, or clear and light, like an apple. It also didn't matter what time of day the growl came. During the two and a half weeks I did this I threw out my "rules" about when mealtime was "supposed" to be, so I ate at 1 a.m. if that's when my stomach growled.

But because I was listening to my body about when it was hungry, the weight loss was rapid.

Presently I am trying to get back to the growl now using raw food. It's going to take awhile, I think.

Don't hurt your body for the weight loss, I know you are panicked right now but life will continue once this upcoming event is over, and you will have to deal with however you've treated your body in the meantime.

Be nice to yourself! And let us know how it goes . . .

[codajess]

People are all saying that you can't lose 15lbs healthily in 1.5 weeks. Well, you can, but those that do are VERY overweight/obese and have a lot more to lose. Mostly water weight too. It depends on your current weight

I agree with this. I did not mention it because the OP already stated she's 5'3" and 145. She is not going to healthfully lose 15 pounds in 10 days.

[juliebove]

That's not likely to happen unless perhaps you are morbidly obese. 2 pounds a week is a more likely scenario. Of course you could always get yourself dehydrated and lose like...10 pounds right away. But that's not healthy. You'd be better off just to accept yourself as you are and make the best of it.

[aililiu]

&remember to enjoy life! yourself, your loved ones, the process of gaining better health...... because stress and negative emotions cause our bodies to hold on to weight!! being stressed all the time can be very unhealthy. and luckily, going 100% can bring about a great happiness and peace of mind. i used to be full to the brim with negative thoughts, depression, self-loathing... suddenly, full of raw food, i am so much more positive, enlightened, and loving myself and those around me! (not allll the time yet ;) but i know it will get better and better)

[NightOwl]

I am very new here and just starting to eat raw again. I think if you concentrate on eating the most healthfully you will glow and feel great and people will notice that rather than fifteen pounds. I could lose that much in one or two weeks but that is because I have so much to lose and it is water weight.