Best for a quick weight loss?

19 years ago

I know all the rules(more or less) but if I wanted to do a drop of 4-5 pounds even for a quick temporary fix what is the best course of action. A get-together in 2 weeks and I would like to be trimmer. Any ideas? Thanks

Featured Answer

shea

19 years ago

The others are correct, of course, that for a sustained weight loss you must simply take in fewer calories than you burn. I realize you understand that, and that is not what you are asking. So that the info I'm going to offer is not misunderstood, I will repeat: for successful weight loss, you must consume fewer calories than your body burns. And the best and healthiest way to accomplish that is with a balanced, nutritious diet and lots of exercise. Those who lose gradually, as opposed to rapidly, usually are more successful in keeping the pounds off.

HOWEVER, what you are asking is, is there any method to drop some pounds quickly. And the answer is yes. By eating foods that are diuretic and slashing calories, you can drop 3-5 pounds in a few days. But be aware that this is water loss, not fat loss, and those pounds will return when you go back to your old way of eating.

I have resorted to this a few times when I've had short notice of a big event and want to fit into a nice dress. I have lost up to 5 pounds in a few days.

Just make sure you eat healthy foods and take vitamins, and only do this for a short period of time.

Eat mostly vegetables and fruits, of course no additions to veggies that add calories, such as cheese or butter. Stay away from potatoes, rice, pasta and starches. Add protein such as tuna or those chicken breast strips that come in packages (I think Oscar Meyer and Tyson make this) in small amounts to salad greens, and top with a little fat-free dressing, no croutons, etc.

Best choice of grains, in moderation, would be a small amount of unsweetened oatmeal, and "diet" whole wheat bread. I like Nature's Own lite wheat bread. Make a sandwich with some mustard, cucumbers, tomato slices.

Limit dairy products and use only fat-free or low fat (1%). You will get a fair amount of calcium if you are eating lots of fruit and veggies. And take a calcium supplement.

Drink plenty of water. Unsweetened tea is also diuretic.

Just focus on fruit such as oranges, berries, pineapple or melon, 2 or three servings a day; and veggies such as asparagus, celery, broccoli, summer squash, tomatoes, as much as you want of these.

Stay away from anything salty! And of course no junk food or sweets. When limiting calories, it is important that every bite be nutritious.

And if you've cut back too much and don't feel well, eat some extra fruit and a slice of lite bread or a few whole wheat crackers, and some protein in the form, again, of tuna or chicken strips.

Once again, I'm only advocating this for short-term, a few days, definitely no more than a week.

For a successful long-range diet, you'd want to use the above suggestions, but add in more whole grains, low-fat dairy and protein (healthy ones like fish, nuts, and lean cuts of meat) until total calories are in the 1200-1500 range. And exercise!

Good luck in finding a way to shed a few in a healthy manner!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (18)

jprakia
19 years ago
Burn more calories than you eat, there is no other trick when it comes right down to it :(
lunchlady1948
19 years ago
When I wanted to do that I did the first two weeks of the South Beach Diet~~I lost several pounds fast but of course gained them all back, because I did not follow the rules for the weeks after that. Just an idea:)
Related Discussions
AVC - Apple Cider Vinegar for migraines or weight loss
Q
Comments (23)
>> "No form of vinegar changes body pH or has any effect on toxins. The body's natural processes, mediated largely through the liver and kidneys, eliminate waste products and toxic substances." It's as if you are still rejecting the efficacy of Cinchona bark for treating malaria because the Amazonian Indians haven't discovered the formula for the quinine it contains. Instead, they say that the bark of the Cinchona tree contains the spirit of the God Xohopichulato, which destroys the evil spirit that causes malaria. If you want to rest in your beliefs that there is no Xohopichulato and therefore Cinchona cannot help with malaria, fine. Just don't pretend it is science. It is arrogant ethnocentrism, not scientific empiricism. Your arguments are based on an arbitrary and artificial definition of the word 'toxin'. You are ignoring the fact that ordinary substances can build up to toxic levels under many conditions - for example, glucose can build up to toxic levels when there is insulin resistance. In such a case, anything that reduces insulin resistance or lowers glucose levels would in fact be a 'detoxification' process. Likewise, immune hormones like the interferons and interleukins are necessary under certain conditions, but at higher doses (ie when there is infection or chronic inflammation) they often cause side effects that range from unpleasant to lethal. In SARS, H5N1 bird flu, and other killer influenzas, the body's immune system destroys the body. Immune hormones that might sometimes be beneficial are produced at toxic levels. This is quite different from your idea of metabolic toxins that are normally handled by the kidneys and liver. The short chain fatty acids present in vinegar (acetate, proprionate, butyrate) have been repeatedly shown to lower inflammatory cytokines (which have been implicated as a contributor to migraines). These simple compounds also affect levels of leptin, adiponectin and other compounds that regulate glucose, and there is research implicating this in the pathogenesis of migraines. You have stooped to pseudoscience by refusing to look at the evidence that vinegar can dramatically change certain chemicals in the body. You seem to take comfort in linguistic tautologies about 'toxins' that have little bearing on the underlying facts of the matter. Here is a link that might be useful: Glucose, Adiponectin, Immune Hormones and Migraine.
...See More
green coffe weight loss
Q
Comments (1)
Beat it, spammer, nobody wants your crap here.
...See More
A debate at work has come up - regarding weight loss.
Q
Comments (46)
You all bring up great points. This is a totally voluntary weight loss challenge – informal invitations are emailed out to 3 departments comprised of about 80 people. It is not officially sanctioned by the company, but not discouraged. We have had various versions of the challenge the last 4 years, and we have found out some things that work, and some that definitely do not – regarding participation. 1st, we needed a $20.00 motivation fee and prizes. Most will not stay involved if they have nothing monetary to lose or gain. Giving it to charity did not work - got the same participation drop out rate as not having a motivation fee. Winner-take-all caused some to drop out if they knew one person was really successful – so then we had 1st, 2nd, & 3rd prizes at the end (splitting the motivation fee proportionally 1/2, 1/3, 1/6.) Furthermore, to sweeten the pot, we had an anonymous donor grant a $5 weekly bonus to the person who lost the best percentage each week. That way, you may not win one of the top three, but you could win a couple of weekly bonuses. Surprisingly, the finalist winners rarely won most of the weekly bonuses, because they were the slow and steady losers, not the quick up and down ones. 2nd, having journals, counting steps, recording exercise minutes or any other form of “measurements” did not work. There were lots of hard feelings about them – some accusations of “fudging” or being too personal. Some people were WAY too competitive – and that also caused hard feelings. We had people chose to lose the way they wished by reducing calories, increasing exercise, or both. We have only one person officially record weights, so no else would know anybody else’s actual weight. We just announce the top finalist’s losses – not current weight. 3rd, we found 4-6 weeks to be too short of a time, and some ladies did silly things to win. 12 weeks was too long and we had a lot of dropouts. 8-10 weeks seems to be the sweet spot time wise – too long for “crash dieters” and short enough not to “burn out”. Now we try to have a 10 week diet challenge, then a 6 week maintenance challenge before another 10 week weight loss challenge. (The maintenance challenge is to kick in $20 and you get double back if you do not gain anything in 6 weeks – normally held over a holiday season.) 4th, we haven’t had many men compete, so that has not been a big problem (of them losing faster). Since we have a wide range of weights (135 – 340), we have tried various versions of % loss or total loss. Last time it was the weekly % bonuses coupled with prizes for the top three total weight lost. This time the main organizers wanted it to be total percentage for the final three prizes. I think this does favor the thinner ones, but I was just asking all your opinions in the hopes to fine tune this continuing completion in the future. Personally, I have lost 35 pounds last year in several of the competitions -- and I hope to do more in the next one. They do keep me motivated. Thanks for your thoughts.
...See More
Healthy Eating, Weight Loss & Fitness Progress Week of 5/22
Q
Comments (58)
Mtn-- I missed your post above until just now. I had very similar experiences through covid-- and they mostly went unnoticed because for a good portion of the pandemic, I was 120% focused on work. I was not nearly as active-- I was indifferent to food and inconsistent with my meals (very likely the reason i lost weight). I didn't take a shower or get dressed every day and I didn't have good sleep patterns -- I would fall asleep around midnight, if i was lucky and then back up and working by 5am. This pattern continues to some degree even now. I never really experienced either depression or anxiety in my past but I definitely had mild forms of both through the pandemic-- and recently a short run with anxiety again. Like Mtn, I didn't know the signs to recognize it or see it creeping in. I think my disinterest in food was likely a sign-- also my inability to sleep or focus on reading. I know now, in hindsight, that when i turn to a run of mysteries, it's a sign that I am not doing my best. Mysteries are my comfort food. My hope is that eating well and taking better care of my sleep and physical self will make me less likely to experience the anxiety and mood shifts. Kswl's post really struck me-- of course, she has more serious challenges and concerns with her DH's and mother's health issues but she is right. Now is the time to take good care of ourselves so that we can face the challenges ahead-- our own and those our dear ones and our communities are facing. THIS keeps me much more motivated right now than anything. (Also the jeans in another size smaller that are waiting for me to try on!)
...See More
ruthieg__tx
19 years ago
salad and protein in small portions and as the first poster said....move...move...move...

there really isn't any secret to weight loss and no amount of pills will help...it truly is about intake and output..simple as that..
dixiedo
19 years ago
mzmint.... I go through this same dilemma when ever a special event is on the horizon. I stress that crap out of myself, saying if I could lose just 5 lbs I will be so much happier, thinner, more beautiful, etc, etc, but honestly... do you think anyone else will notice a 5lb weight loss?? I have come to realize, unless I weigh 15 lbs total, a 5 lb difference isn't going to be very noticeable. Instead, I foucus my attention to some new makeup, hair products, sparkly jewelry, etc, that others WILL notice and go and have a great time!

Eat healthy, stay active, drink water and ENJOY LIFE!!!!
mermaidy12
13 years ago
Hi! After lookign though many reviews (http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/dietclub/msg012254052416.html) I came to a conclusion that proper diet and regular workouts are the best way to lose weight. Actually, if you want to lose weight healthily, you should lose about 4 kilos per month. Not more!
worriedone
13 years ago
Cleanses work for me - but oy, they are taxing on the system. must be done during weekend to be close to bathroom. good clean water.

No sugar ever anymore for me. NONE. No flour/wheat/rye/ either.

I go down to 900 daily cals. Not easy. (lean proteins, tons of veggies, healthy oils/fats) I get grouchy.

I drink a reasonable amount of water for my weight, too. Not too much. To keep hydrated and as a diuretic.

Good luck!! :)
kim30
13 years ago
I use beaded fastin from dramatic weight loss and I have been on it now for a yr and have lost a little over 50 lbs, The pills work fast!
Petunia
12 years ago
Try the Paleo diet. I have lost 10 pounds in less than 7 days.
GrnThum
12 years ago
Have you tried the fat loss for idiots diet? I use it currently and I have already lost 20 lbs in one month.

Here is a link that might be useful: fat loss for idiots diet
sonytana
11 years ago
Hello, recently I became interested in shedding weight , my goal is to lose 20 kg in 6 months , which is why searching the internet for the best tips and I came across a great page that leads you Monica . Check it out : http://losekilograms.com/how-to-lose-weight-2/
Really great I describe it all here . Sonya greet :)
PRO
Healthy At Home
11 years ago
Besides a healthy diet, you need to exercise regularly. I lost 20 pounds in 2 months by following these tips with this weight loss success story http://stayhealthyblog.com/weight-loss/lose-weight-without-exercise-success-story/
lindi49
10 years ago
Hello. Actually exercise has now been determined to be of little importance in weight loss. In toning, yes, absolutely, but not loss. I lost 50lbs last year from Christmas to May simply by following the WW online diet. I'm not able to exercise aside from walking a block or so, so exercise was not part of my diet. So for anyone who simply cannot exercise, or hates it, :), don't ever think you can't diet and lose weight simply by cutting calories. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/16/upshot/to-lose-weight-eating-less-is-far-more-important-than-exercising-more.html
blueheron
10 years ago
Try Dr Phil's 20/20 DIet. For five days eat only the 20 foods on his list. It really works. The foods seem to be helpful in losing weight. Look up the 20 foods on his web site. You want to continue to add foods he advises after the first 5 days. You should continue to lose.
Rebecca Swets
10 years ago
Nothing works better for me than avoiding food for a dinner time. I have my last meal around 5 pm that's all. There are many diets but some women just can't follow them. I am the same, I can't eat what other say I should
sprtphntc7a
10 years ago
Trim Healthy Mama Plan....been on it a month and lost 9lbs., feel fantastic. no sugar highs or lows....

Plan: Low carbs and then only gentle carbs...No sugar not just in your coffee, but in anything, think: ketchup, BBQ sauce, tomato sauce etc...lots of lean protein and healthy fats... i love the way i feel, no 3:00 slump, have energy all day which burns those calories. LOVE this plan!!! so many recipes and everything has been fantastic.
K Cann
10 years ago
A wealth of advice has been given and you, the orignial Poster, no doubt already lost that 5lbs.! Good. Must add to all this good advice that includes avoiding big dinners (or any!), exercise, low carbs, paleo diet, drinking water, no sugar, Dr. Phil's 20/20, the South Beach, 900 calories, etc... NO BOOZE! No wine, nuthin'! My vote is on lean meats, tons of greens to the point of "can't chew anymore", little to no grains, NO sugar, including alcohol with daily consumption near 900 calories plus moving exercise - it's hard but doable!
lindi49
10 years ago
I'm on Weight Watchers and had posted earlier...I still have wine and enjoy a glass now and then and count it towards my weekly "extra" points. I still have a slice of birthday cake when it's offered...I still eat whatever I want on special occasions. Don't "diet"..just eat healthy, and if you are trying to lose weight, count calories, but don't deprive yourself of things you enjoy. Just do it all sensibly.

So far, since Jan 1st, or thereabouts, I'm down just about 30lbs. Hope you're having the same success!

Best for a quick weight loss?

shea

Comments (18)

jprakia

lunchlady1948

Related Discussions

ruthieg__tx

dixiedo

mermaidy12

worriedone

kim30

Petunia

GrnThum

sonytana

Healthy At Home

lindi49

blueheron

Rebecca Swets

sprtphntc7a

K Cann

lindi49

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US