I HAVE To Lose Weight Quickly - Any Advice?

As I mentioned in another thread - I have become quite overweight in the last couple of years and obviously need to lose weight. However a new circumstance has entered the picture and for health reasons - I need to lose weight as quickly as possible.

Over the last couple of months, I have been having extreme sharp pains going down my leg, which I have learned through having an MRI last week is being caused by two herniated discs in my back. I am probably going to need surgery ASAP to correct the problem - but they will not do the operation right now because of my weight (350 pounds). Either way - I need to lose weight fast to take the pressure off my back and get my self ready for surgery if physiotherapy doesn't fix the problem.

So beyond just not eating - what would be the best diet to lost weight in a hurry. I have done Atkins in the past and was losing 10 pounds a week which was great. But I found it hard after a while to stay away from breads and other carb related foods. I will probably end up doing Atkins again, because I HAVE to lose more weight than 1 to 3 pounds a week to deal with my back problem and get me ready for surgery if need be. However if someone can recommend a diet that is similar to Atkins in that you lose weight quickly, but there is a little more variety in the foods you can eat - I would greatly appreciate hearing about it.

Thank you

Why don't you basically do Atkins but just cut down the amount of carbs you eat to a minimum? That's basically my default mode of eating. Any time you try to completely cut something out of your diet, you are going to crave it disproportionately, so allow yourself some of everything, just less of the carb-laden stuff.

Eat less, exercise more. There's nothing sacred about Atkins, it's just a method. The important part is to spend more calories than you eat.

South Beach is a fairly smart alternative to Atkins that has more variety. Whatever you do, no more than one "substitute" food like a bar per day... good quality shake + fat source is a good substitute, but don't get caught in all of the low-carb products stuffed full of sugar alcohols.

can you exercise with 2 herniated disks?

Originally Posted by m@T

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can you exercise with 2 herniated disks?

I've had "bulging" disk problems in the past. Exercise that does not place stress on the spine is possible and even helpful. Walking was very helpful, especially with a conscious effort to lengthen the stride a bit beyond what is one's norm. The same was true of riding a stationary bike (real biking riding was more problematic because of the posture required). If one stretches well before and after the exercise, the effect is to help lessen the pressure on the spine by warming, loosening, and stretching the leg and lower back muscles.

Of course, I may just be talking about ******, so the OP should listen to his doctor, not me.

On the diet front there has been some good advice given. In addition to that, I'd recommend finding a few foods that you enjoy but that, in the greater scheme of things, are relatively inconsequential from a caloric/carbs point of view. Maybe it's frozen strawberries, maybe it's romaine in good vinegar, maybe it's pickles and onion slices with pepper, maybe it's low-fat split spea soup spiked with tabasco. Whatever. But it's helpful to have something that not only helps you feel full physically, but also lets you psychologically feel that you're still allowed a few "indulgences" and are not completely in deprivation mode.
Anyway, good luck.

I'm not overweight and never have been, but loosing weight at a rate of 10lb/week has to come with a real risk of nutritional deficits. Asking for advice on a forum is fine, but in a case where your health is at immediate risk, you should also find a nutrionist that can work out a specific diet and hold you accountable. Any time my weight begins to drift up, I find that keeping a food diary pinpoints the problem and gets me back on track.

I agree with the modified version of atkins as a good way to lose pounds. Also look into Eat Right For Your Type Diet. It is based on your blood type. I eat based on this and seem just to naturally drop weight after those periods of overindulging. You don't have to skimp on anything either. Just eat the foods that go with you blood type.

Before, you start on anything, you must be prepared to change your lifestyle.

I am very opposed to the Atkins diet, but I have heard that for the very obese (I'm not sure if you fall into this catagory) it can be a good way to lose weight for the initial weight loss. If you started with that for a few weeks then moved to something less extreme like the South Beach diet, you might find the results you are looking for. Talk with some professionals about it. Good luck

Originally Posted by edmond

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Before, you start on anything, you must be prepared to change your lifestyle.

YES!

On a sidenote, the South Beach diet is healthier than Atkins but the crux of the matter is still that you must consume less calories than you burn. Good luck!

Originally Posted by kever

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I am very opposed to the Atkins diet, but I have heard that for the very obese (I'm not sure if you fall into this catagory) it can be a good way to lose weight for the initial weight loss.
Yeah, Atkins tends to lead to yoyoing, but that's not an issue here: the faster Hey Man loses the weight, the faster he can get surgery, and then have a lot more exercise options. Hey Man, I'd see if you can't get your doctor to proscribe something like an ECA Stack (although the heart of someone at your weight might not be able to take it?). Who cares what the side effects are if you're only taking it for a few months. After your operation, South Beach + exercise is the way to keep it off.

Lots of long duration, low intensity exercise. Walking is best, or if that hurts your back try walking in a pool. Completely eliminate all sweets, including fake sweets.

Work with your doctors.

Almost anything you do that causes you to lose weight too quickly may create health problems that could continue to prevent you from getting your surgery.

A 350 pound sedentary man requires about 5000 calories per day to maintain his weight. Cutting those calories in half would result in a weight loss of about 5 lbs per week. Walking for an hour at 3 mph would burn about 350-400 calories. That's less than 1 pound of fat burned per week.

During the first 2-3 weeks you can lose considerably more due to water weight.

In short, don't set unrealistic expectations and work with your doctors.

It is unhealthy to lose weight at a rate of greater than 2 lbs/week. **** these stupid ******* diets, go talk to a dietician or high-level certified personal trainer (NSCA or ACSM) and listen to what he says. Do it. As a dietician and high level CPT I command you.