I Need to Lose 5-10 Pounds in the Next 6 Weeks.

Updated on November 03, 2008
A.F. asks from Ogden, UT
27 answers

I know people ask about diets and weight loss ideas on here all the time. I feel my situation is a little different than most and haven't found my answer in the other responses, so here goes: I'm not overweight. My personal healthy weight where I feel like I look right is around 120-125 pounds (I'm 5'4"). Right now I'm on a medication that rearranges my fat stores so that my face and midsection look "round" (It's prednisone). I weigh about 133 pounds. It may be a little vain, but the reason I want to lose 10 pounds in the next six weeks is because we are going to visit family that I haven't seen in a year, and the medication is making me look different, especially in my face. If I lose the weight I want to, it won't be quite as noticeable. I don't have a problem with over-eating (or cutting back on calories), and I have started exercising in the last week - I run every other day, and do strength exercises (crunches, pushups, leg lifts, small weights, etc.) every other day, and I have changed my diet to cut back on fat and calories. I don't have time or opportunity to go to the gym, so I'm looking for something that I can do from home with minimal equipment because I don't have any gym equipment at home. Anyone have a great method that has worked for them? Or if anyone knows any good foods I should incorporate that help raise metabolism or are easier calories to burn. Thanks.

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N.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I lost 3 inches off my waist in 6 weeks this summer. I was having a hard time controlling the sweets so I limit myself to one day a week that I can have whatever I want. I don't hold back at all on that one day a week and I can choose which day it is as long as it is only one per Sun thru Sat. I also walk vigorously for about 30 minutes each day. That's what worked for me! and now I'm only 2 lbs away from my goal weight!

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S.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Try Sxinney water, they also have a product called Crave. It is good for you and works GREAT with loosing inches.

http://www.zxoom.net/

My girl friend sells it, if you are interested let me know and I will forward you her info.

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P.A.

answers from Denver on

Look into the Mayo Clinic 14 day diet. You lose quite a bit of weight by following their diet exactly. Only down side is lots of spinach and tomatoes, if I remember correctly, but it works!

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T.B.

answers from Colorado Springs on

You have gotten great answers... I would also like to add. Try really hard to get good sleep and drink plenty of water. Don't forget your fiber!

If you don't have the $$ to buy any equipment... use what you have. Use soup cans as hand weights, a broom as a resistance bar, do situps with your baby on your lap, or extra weight for leg lifts. Be creative and make it fun. This is a great age to teach your kids healthy habbits!

What ever you do....! Don't beat yourself up if you have a bad day. Get up the next day and start over!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.F.

answers from Denver on

Hi A.,

I would contact your physician. My daughter has been on and off Prednisone for a chronic disease for the last two years. I don't believe you can lose the "moon face" with exercise. We have noticed that when we lower her prednisone to a certain level her puffiness goes away. There may be a better dose for you or even a better medicine.

We put my daugter back on Prednisone a week ago to stabalize her but we will take her off as soon as we can because of the bad side effects (not just moon face).

Best Wishes!

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D.W.

answers from Boise on

Check out website: www.slimbodycoach.com. It's a wonderful lifestyle change diet that makes you healthy (and skinny at the same time). I was the Round 1 Winner in 2007. It works and it's wonderful!!

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C.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

it's completely possible to lose that weight in 6 weeks. 1-2 pounds a week is considered a healthy weight loss. So go for it. I use Sparkspeople it's free and I can track everything online, there are groups to join with challenges or start your own up. Also articles about the foods and other questions you are asking. and it won't cost anything. I have done a couple of other online support groups and paid for them and I have found SP to be better or as good as the others. Last year I lost 36 pounds--I put it back on suddenly this year and then had to get my gallbladder out. So I understand how you are feeling--love yourself through the process, be gentle with yourself and don't beat yourself up as you are going along. Sometimes the meds make it hard to lose the weight, make sure you are completely hydrated!! That probably the biggest thing I keep messing up on. Bad idea too since I get kidney stones...but check out Sparkspeople and let me know if you need a friend on there. :)

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J.H.

answers from Billings on

Weight watchers works best for me. I have been really bad about it since summer, but when I really dedicate myself, it works. Try something that is easy for you to do. If not, you won't stick with it. Also, I agree with the last post--your family will understand, and they will not care if you look different than the last time you saw them. They love you for who you are!

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N.R.

answers from Denver on

medifast - you can buy it online

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P.L.

answers from Denver on

Taking a spinning class for me was what got me off of my plateau from losing my last 15 pounds of baby weight! It was coming off like 1-2 pound a week, and that's the healthy way. I also watched what I ate and counted my calories online. I didn't eat past 7-8 at night, usually three hours before I went to bed. If you have a bike or know someone who does, ride it! I'm telling you, you will lost that weight so quickly! It's an amazing workout!! OH and crack up the resistance by going uphill instead of down! What a workout!

-P.

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

I finally found a weight loss program that’s easy, fast and really works! It gives you great nutrition while helping you cut calories to lose weight, helps you boost your metabolism to give you energy, and calms the hunger and stress of dieting all at the same time. Check out the website www.kristindean.myvi.net

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M.H.

answers from Missoula on

I know there is a lot of skepticism about the Atkins diet, but have you looked into it? I do a life long program called Atkins for life and it is very closely aligned with a diabetic diet. It is a total life long life-style change, but upon starting I lost those little x-tras from the anoying areas within 3 weeks. There is a 2 week induction period, which is like a carb detox, then each week you add carbs back in by food groups and the book gives a lot of information about what and how much of certain kinds of foods to eat on average and has about 100 pages of tons of delicious recipies along with their varb caounts etc.. They are set up with breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack for each day with different carb levels based on different peoples ACE carb level.(total carb intake for each day)

I don't want to write a novel on this, but if you are interested the book is called Atkins for Life and I lost 12 lbs in 4 weeks and continued to lose about 2 lbs a week for about 2 months. I feel grate and occasionally fall of the wagon, but it isn't hard to get back to it, I love it. Started at a healthy 160 at 5'5'' after baby # 4 and am now a size 5 at 135 lbs. My weigt may seem a little high to you, but I am a very heavy boned, athletic, thin(now) woman.

Anyway, hope this adds to the options you are looking into, good luck.

M.

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D.K.

answers from Denver on

If it is family, and you are on medication, I am sure they are going to understand. Seriously.
There is no magic to do it in six weeks. I do drink green tea twice a day, it burns extra calories and is a great anti- oxidant. I would swear it helps me lose weight if I walk a lot and drink it twice a day. I think it has upped my metobolism. Just you running is great. Walk your kids, the dog or whatever.
I am thinking if the weight is caused solely on the medication, as long as you are taking it you aren't going to be able to do a lot about it.
Don't stress out your body to so a quick fix if it is medical related, ask your Dr about these side effects and see what he or she can suggest. Just my opinion.

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L.L.

answers from Denver on

The only way to lose the weight is to get off of prednisone. I've had asthma all my life and have had to take prednisone off and on and it always causes the bloated look because it is a steroid. It is not good for your body to be on prednisone long term either. Please talk to your doc and see about getting off of the prednisone and on to something else. If they won't work with you find another doctor! My doctor only uses prednisone in short bursts because it is so bad for your body. Here are some side effects...

(From medicinenet.net) Side effects of prednisone and other corticosteroids range from mild annoyances to serious, irreversible damage, and they occur more frequently with higher doses and more prolonged treatment. Side effects include retention of sodium (salt) and fluid, weight gain, high blood pressure, loss of potassium, headache and muscle weakness. Prednisone also causes puffiness of the face (moon face), growth of facial hair, thinning and easy bruising of the skin, impaired wound healing, glaucoma, cataracts, ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, worsening of diabetes, irregular menses, rounding of the upper back ("buffalo hump"), obesity, retardation of growth in children, convulsions, and psychiatric disturbances. The psychiatric disturbances include depression, euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and even psychotic behavior.

I am not trying to scare you but you need to get this out of your body ASAP!

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J.N.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Since you know that it is caused by a medication, I would ask your doctor for advice.
I also looked up Prednisone on webMD (my doctor has often recommended this site for good information). It looks like there are other medications available to treat asthma (I'm assuming thats why you're taking it) but they are also inhaled steroids, so they may have the same effects. It does caution against prolonged use, so again you may want to talk to your doctor.

(And remember, your family will love you no matter how you look. Just don't stress - that can also make it harder to loose weight!)

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S.B.

answers from Denver on

I just started doing the Pilates with a ball. the pilates was good and made my back feel great. but then we did it with a ball and wow!! I do go to a class at a rec center when one of my children are in schoola nd the other in the center care area. but I bet you could do a balance ball DVD. the balls are about $20 and the kids love playing with it too..it is not like this obnixous thing sitting in the room...it is a play toy! And if your kids are big enough, get the Gaiam Yoga Kids. I started that about age 2 with them. they mostly watched then whie I did the silly exercises but it is fun to get active with them and make them laugh. Lastly, I saw on Oprah that Gyneth P. dances for one hour every other day for aerobics. I was like duh...I loved dancing in college. so get Kidz Bop or Gold and dance as many silly songs as the kids will allow...great for the winter time!

PS. I am right there with you on the weight. I can't get rid of the last ten after baby two and turning thirty.

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D.W.

answers from Fort Collins on

Hi A.,
My name is D. and I'm a Weight Loss Coach with the Weight Loss Challenge Team where you can be the biggest loser and win the biggest cash and we'd love to have you. We have been conducting Weight Loss Challenges all over the country with amazing results. Sean in Hawaii was scheduled for gastric bypass surgery at the age of 16. He reluctantly joined a local Weight Loss Challenge weighing in at 353 LBS..After 4 months and 10 days in our program, he LOST 128 LBS. Sean continued to lose 30 more LBS in 3 1/2 months which brings a grand total of 158 LBS LOST in 7 1/2 months. He is now a healthy 195 LBS ( you should see the pictures I have of his weightloss...all I can say is oh my gosh.) Angie in Michigan lost 92 LBS in 7 months and the list goes on. We do offer a Weight Loss Challenge that you can do online. If you would like more details, please feel free to email me back.

Enjoy the Day,
The Weight Loss Challenge Team - Team Coach
D.

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D.B.

answers from Provo on

I didn't read all your other responses, so I hope you didn't get this answer yet. This is what I did at one point, but I was probably 20 lbs over where I wanted to be, so I don't know if it will work as well were you're closer to your ideal weight.

It was the beginning of December and a friend and I decided to cut out ALL sugar for at least the whole month! (It was rough) We didn't eat jam, candy, cookies, anything with sugar, and I think we cut out a lot of white flour foods too! No white bread, and I can't remember what else. (These things are hard for your body to digest, so I think they turn to fat a lot faster and easier than other foods). Anyway, in just 4 weeks I lost 6 lbs. After December I did start to eat a little more sugar, but not much, and I still lost a lbs a week. - it really made me feel a lot better too because I wasn't weighed down w/all these crazy sugars! It was refreshing! Hope this helps. Good luck!!! and I hope you find something that works!:)

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M.B.

answers from Denver on

Weight watchers works. Start right away and attend the meetings. Walking also works, in addition to your exersize regimen add some nice long walks. Good luck. By the way, 120 to 125 for someone 5'4 is really thin, I am 5'3 and am 120 and wear a 4, and I think I am pretty small. Have you alway's been thin, is that your natural weight?

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N.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You'd have to ask your DR. first since you are on medication...but...You might be able to do a body cleanse. There are a lot of them out there. The one that I like the best is called Isagenix. Two days of juice with every vitamin and mineral you need. Then five days of shakes and regular meals. Then you end with two days of juice. I lose 7-10 pounds in 10 days every time. There are other ones too.. just find a healthy one. Not one that starves you of what you need - all vitamins and minerals and such. I don't like the ones where you just drink lemon water and honey every day for a week or whatever.

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D.H.

answers from Denver on

A.,

There's a book out there called the six day total body makeover. There's a website called the six week total makeover it's from the guy that was the fitness coach on extreme makeover. I lost several lbs and inches in just a couple of days. It is a bit of a challenge to make all of your own food and measure everything. It's only for six days and will make a difference.

I agree with the others about checking with your Dr. and seeing if there is an alternative to the medication that you are taking without the side effects.

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B.F.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Oh my Gosh, I would love to connect with you. I have just the thing. Please call me at ###-###-####
<3 Happy Saturday!

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R.F.

answers from Salt Lake City on

You totally need to try this stuff. I've lost 12 pounds in three weeks. check out my blog...I talk about it. www.fordeverfamily.blogspot.com

good luck
R.

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O.F.

answers from Provo on

There's some alternative natural herbal supplements that can help with your asthma if you want to try and get off the prednisone. If you're interested in getting good foods and the right nutrition for you to lose that little more weight, I can do a free body composition analysis for you. We can find out what your metabolism is and your Lean Body Mass to know the recommended protein intake and much more info. We could do this over the phone since it sounds like your a busy mom, or we can try and meet. My phone number is ###-###-####. I'm a Personal Wellness Coach by the way and coach people on all sorts of health and wellness situations. We can reach your goal in 6 weeks. I myself dropped 5% in body fat and know a great way to boost your metabolism.
-O.

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T.B.

answers from Denver on

A.-
Wow, you are busy! I would strongly recommend purchasing resistance tubing/bands to use as your weight resistance. We use these in the Stroller Strides class I teach and they are awesome tools to use in every workout. They can be anchored to your own body or pillars/railing in the house (just as long as it's secure). The key to burning off the fat is interval training, incorportating plyometrics and strength training. For instance, alternating cardio exercises (1-3 min.) with strength training using the tubing. Between sets of strength, do cardio. Your RPE (rating of perceived exertion) should be between 6-8, on a scale of 1-10 - one being sitting on the couch and ten being a full out sprint. Plyometrics are exercises where you explode off the ground (exagerated skip, drawing knee up to waist height, or doing hinny kickers, etc.) Always end each workout with abs and stretching (core building abdominal exercises help blast fat away).
Hope that makes sense! If you ever have time, I think you'd really enjoy a Stroller Strides class.

Good Luck,
T.

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L.B.

answers from Provo on

A.,

You have gotten good advice from everyone, but please be aware that because the distribution of the weight that you are trying to elminate is being caused by the prednisone, no diet or exercise routine will eliminate it. The puffy face and waist is one of the effects of prednisone. As long as you are on it long term, you will be dealing with those effects. Either get off it, with your doctor's approval only, or be assured that your family will still love you even if you have that prednisone look. For some conditions, the prednisone look is better than the alternative - not being around to be loved by your family.

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C.J.

answers from Provo on

hi -- I did just fruit & veggies for breakfast & lunch and thr pounds fell off -- stll do it to keep weight in check when i need

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