Working out

[whiteink]

So I went to sign up for the 20lb challenge today only to find that they changed it from 20 lbs to 12% of your body weight. I did the math on 12% of my body weight and I don't feel confortable trying to lose that amount of weight in 12 weeks. 20 lbs was a challenge - but I think 12% is both unsafe and unrealistic. So I'm going to do the 150min workout challenge.

Comments

[the_rainbow_jen]

Wasn't sure, given the 12% business. 150 minutes a day would make sense then.

[whiteink]

Right? The 150minutes is nothing. Some days I do that in a single day! It's a very slanted challenge - one choice is much easier.

[the_rainbow_jen]

I guess it depends on what level of challenge people are ready for. And if you weighed 150, 12% of your body weight isn't going to be as much as if you weighed 250.

[whiteink]

True - but at 150, your probably don't need to lose 12% unless you're pretty short.

It was better when it was first presented as 20 pounds. 20 pounds over 12 weeks is less that 2 pounds a week, and pretty safe. 12% in 12 weeks just isn't possible for people who weigh more - it's not healthy, and it's setting people up to fail if they try.

[the_rainbow_jen]

The better goals would be consistency, since it takes 21 straight days to develop a habit, sometimes more. People focus too much on the scale and it can be more discouraging than not, especially when you lose weight but don't see it in the mirror /rant

[proseac]

To me neither a set amount of weight NOR a fixed % of body weight makes sense, because it doesn't take into account your starting point.

In order for weight loss to be a safe and healthy challenge option, they should have some sort of proviso that you are more than x amount over your "ideal weight" as defined by the insurance weight tables or some such objective standard. Some people may be only 5 or 10 pounds off their "ideal weight" but they think they are fat and want to lose 20. The challenge as presented is potentially enabling unhealthy choices, and that's scary.

Plus, losing 12% of body weight in that amount of time isn't just unhealthy, it's downright dangerous. Healthy weight loss is done slowly and steadily. Crash diets always fail in the end, and it seems like that's what this goal would encourage.

I think you definitely made the right decision in choosing the exercise option.