How much can I lose in 3 months?!

[Bodenbabe]

I've just started Weightwatchers and the odd bit of exercise. I'm currently 3.5 stone overweight - how much do you think I could lose in 3 months? I'm thinking I'm very unlikely to lose more than a stone by then - what do you think? I know you can lose it quicker the more you have to lose but what do you reckon for someone 3-4 stone overweight?

i lost 20 kilos, 10 in 2 months and haven't put it back on. i took up exercise though (once i'd lost the weight)

Wow, Well done you! That's about a stone and a half, I think? That would be good

The healthy way to lose weight and to lose fat not water/muscle mass etc is 1-2lbs a week. This is considered to be a sustainable and efficient loss.

Probably 1.5 stones or a little more I reckon is a good amount.

the healthy (slow steady) way of doing it relies on you permanently changing eating habits and weight stabilising as a result.

you could go on a fairly low calorie diet and lose more faster, but no good if you put it on afterwards. i have more or less given up cheese for example and my portions are half the size.

i did start on a fairly restrictive diet to give me a bit of a shake up but then added things gradually back in.

fishie is right. Changing your lifestyle and habits so they are normal and sustainable for good is the way to go. Appropriate exercise and sensible eating are what most people should be aiming for. The weight loss is a lovely and expected bonus.

fishie and showofhands, yes I completely agree about the long-term thing - but that isn't going to help me fit into the dress I need to wear to a wedding in 3 months time

If you were really strict you could lose 2stone in three months, but 1.5 stone is probably more realistic. Depends on how badly you want to do it. I lost 17lbs in 7 weeks before Christmas and have maintained that for a few weeks now. I have just gone back on a stricter diet in an attempt to lose another stone before a family event in six weeks time. Same problem as you - dress I need to fit into. It fit me this time last year.
Give yourself a goal, but break it down month by month - first month you could easily lose 10lb for instance, and once you have hit that target then aim for the second month. What are you aiming to do re dieting?

LadyGP, not sure if you mean how am I aiming to diet (am doing WeightWatchers) or what sort of loss am I aiming for? I am trying for the upper end of the healthy weight range for my height, which means I have about 3.5 stone to go (though I lost 3lbs this week, so slightly less to go now!) Not fair how it goes on so quickly but takes so long to come off, isn't it?!

Bodenbabe, yes. Although how I managed to put nearly 3 stone on in a year is somewhat beyond me. I must have been eating in my sleep.
Last time I dieted, after DD3 was born, I did WW and lost 4stone in 8 months. Why I didn't keep it off is another question.