Thread: First timer - Need some advice for quick weight loss

Hi all,

Didnt know if this was the right forum to post in, if it isnt please feel free to move it to the correct forum.

I am a 23 year old guy from the UK, and I really want to lose some weight quite quickly to be trim for my university graduation. Im 5'8/9 and weight just under 12 stone. I know that isnt extreme, but im fed up of constantly having the spare tyre and slight man boobs, I know I could have a good physique and long term I want to work towards that, but for now I need advice of a healthy way to do that.

My graduation is in 3 weeks so ideally id like to lose between 7-12lbs by then for my grad photos, grad ball etc. Now my dilema is I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) a while back and havent had the surgery yet so am very limited to what gym work I can do, so its almost wholey restricted to diet. I can do some bike work and upper body weights though. Essentially i know nothing about the body and what is the right thing to eat. Im dont really eat sweets but im addicted to the naughty foods, sandwiches, takeaways etc.

So for the next couple of weeks I have the time to make an effort and eat right, almost crash dieting to eat pure healthy stuff and then do some work out stuff to compliment it. Any advice? Im basically going to do a huge online shop so i have all the food in my fridge/freezer so I cant be lazy. Also any advice on weight loss at the gym that you think I could do would be useful. Help me lose my spare tyre and semi man boobs!

Many thanks in advance for whatever you can offer me

Originally Posted by SSC

Hi all,

Didnt know if this was the right forum to post in, if it isnt please feel free to move it to the correct forum.

I have moved your thread to weight loss discussion.

I am a 23 year old guy from the UK, and I really want to lose some weight quite quickly to be trim for my university graduation. Im 5'8/9 and weight just under 12 stone.

For your height at 5' 9" and 12 stone you would have a BMI of 24.8 which is normal.

I know that isnt extreme, but im fed up of constantly having the spare tyre and slight man boobs, I know I could have a good physique and long term I want to work towards that, but for now I need advice of a healthy way to do that.


My graduation is in 3 weeks so ideally id like to lose between 7-12lbs by then for my grad photos, grad ball etc. Now my dilema is I tore my ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) a while back and havent had the surgery yet so am very limited to what gym work I can do, so its almost wholey restricted to diet. I can do some bike work and upper body weights though. Essentially i know nothing about the body and what is the right thing to eat. Im dont really eat sweets but im addicted to the naughty foods, sandwiches, takeaways etc.

Cutting down on fatty take away foods or better still getting rid of them altogether as they contain a lot of salt which is not good for you and eating whole meal bread instead of white, include a selection of fruit and vegetables and lean meat and fish which would be more healthy options and help shift a few pounds.


So for the next couple of weeks I have the time to make an effort and eat right, almost crash dieting to eat pure healthy stuff and then do some work out stuff to compliment it. Any advice? Im basically going to do a huge online shop so i have all the food in my fridge/freezer so I cant be lazy. Also any advice on weight loss at the gym that you think I could do would be useful. Help me lose my spare tyre and semi man boobs!

Gynaecomastia (more commonly known as ‘man boobs’) is a common condition where tender breast tissue grows under the nipples. It is usually caused by an imbalance of hormones during puberty and usually disappears without treatment within a couple of years. ‘False gynecomastia’ is when men and boys develop breasts as a result of too much fat on their chest, which is usually helped by losing weight, through a combination of healthy eating and regular exercise.

Channel 4, Embarrassing Illnesses, Health, Gynaecomastia, Conditions, Man Boobs, Breasts, from channel4.com/bodies


Many thanks in advance for whatever you can offer me

Congratulations on your forth coming Graduation.

It is probably best to ask your doctors advice about your "Man Boobs" as a doctor should know for sure if it is a case of hormones causing your "Man Boobs" or perhaps that you do really need to lose a couple of pounds and tone up with some exercise.

Either way for health reasons alone it would be no harm to cut out the take a ways as they have a lot of fat in them and salt.

Include whole grains, vegetables, fruit and lean meat into your diet and daily exercise like you said you could do.


Also cut out the alcohol as there are a lot of calories there as well that you don't need and one of the main causes of bear bellies in men.

By making some small adjustments to your diet and life style you could easily lose 7lb over the next three weeks.

Here is a link to SlimFast Recipes which are very tasty and easy to make.

SlimFast - Recipes

All meals are less than 600 calories each.

For a man of your age and height you should be consuming around 2,840 calories a day.

Anne Collins Calorie Calculator

Please try and not to worry too much about your weight and go and enjoy your Graduation as you have worked hard to get this far and you deserve now to enjoy your big day.

Love Mini xxx

Here are my top 6 weight loss secrets:

1. Eliminate (or cut way back) meat, dairy (esp. cheese, butter and ice cream) from your diet
2. Have one meal per day be a big salad and make your own salad dressing from mustard, a bit of honey and red wine vinegar. Have a slice of whole grain bread (no butter) with your salad
3. Drink nothing but fresh water--no sodas, and cut way back on beer or wine or other alcoholic beverages--and drink nothing that contains high fructose corn syrup
4. Let your snacks be low calorie such as pretzels, apple slices, grapes, carrot strips. No fast food (too high in fats, sugars, and salt)
5. Eat a good breakfast such as oatmeal, whole grain cereal and fresh fruit
6. Walk or swim or do a treadmill or elliptical for 30 minutes 4-7 times/week