Short term weight loss tricks

[Jemmons]

Well, it's almost that time. Two weeks left of work, then a week of travel, and I'm off to MEPS to ship out.

I have a question about short-term results. Before I get a lot of responses answering the wrong question, let me provide some background info:


I know how to lose weight in general. This time last year, I weighed about 340 pounds, and am now down to 230 or so. Most of this was the result of eating healthier, as my exercise routine started only recently.
I am already running every second or third day. I am currently running two miles or so, but don't want to push that too much more than I am because of a recent sprained ankle that I don't want to reinjure (I'm OK holding steady until training if necessary).
I eat a very healthy, very balanced diet, and though I drink some diet sodas, am already planning on going cold turkey on that to lose the extra water weight.


So while I recognize that the typical advice of "eat healthier" and "run more" is perfectly valid, you'd be preaching to the choir. ;)

Here's the thing. I've been taped three times recently, all within about 10 days of each other. I was measured at 24%, 26%, and 28%. So clearly, a lot of measurement error as my weight didn't change during this time. Unfortunately, my max allowable body fat is 26%, and the 28% was the official test at MEPS, so I had to take the ARMS test (which I passed). I would REALLY rather not have to take the ARMS test again when I report back to MEPS.

There is no way I could pass the height/weight test before I ship (I would need to lose about 25 lbs, and as my weight loss due to healthy changes has leveled off, I don't expect to lose the rest until I'm going through the rigors of BCT. So I need to make sure I pass the tape test when I go back.

I know that I can move my tongue to make my neck slightly bigger, and **** in just enough to make my gut shrink a little without getting noticed. But even then, the measurements are so inconsistent that I can't be sure that I'll pass.

So.

The question is, what I can I do in terms of a short-term fix to get "over the hump" when it comes to passing the tape test? I don't need a sustained weight loss, just something I can do in the days (or hours?) leading up to MEPS that will help me out with the tape test.

For example, drink lots of water so that I lose any extra water weight.

But what else? Are there any tips or tricks to losing that extra inch, even if only for a few hours, that people could share? I know I'm in pretty good shape now, and can pass the ARMS test again if I have to . . . but I was so nervous about it last time I almost got DQed because of my initial heart rate. I don't want to take any chances this time, and just need to pass the flipping tape test so I can go on and do what I signed up to do.

Any advice is appreciated. :)

[letzrock]

I'd say there is really nothing "Healthy" you can do to loose a few pounds in a matter of hours. Your weight loss looks great from what I read. I myself have to loose 30lbs before I head to MEPS. I started 1 month ago and I have lost almost 17lbs. The only thing I have done is cut out carbs (almost all carbs) NO sugar, NO soda. Stay away from fatty foods and drink alot of water, at least 1 gallon per day, and the usual jogging & weights.

The only thing I could say is you might try to take a laxative, but make sure you're not going to be some where you have to be and can't leave when the "Urge" hits. Good luck :cool:

[Jemmons]

Yeah . . . important to note that I'm not necessarily trying to lose weight that quickly, just trying to tighten up my waist measurement. The water thing will work; since I've been a little less strict about drinking caffeine lately, I should be able to shed some of that in the week or two before hand by flushing it out.

Any others? One of my problems is that given my relatively quick weight loss, I have a lot of loose skin that's throwing things off (it's not fat so much as it is that my skin hasn't tightened back up yet now that there's nothing keeping it stretched). Any ideas on that front that might work as a short-term fix?

[letzrock]

Loose skin can be a problem. Most people I have known that have it or had it, had to have surgery to get it removed. Loose skin is hard to get rid of by exercising alone. Other than that, I have no idea for you.

[Jemmons]

Well, it's certainly going down as I continue to work out and lose weight, I just lost a little too fast. :) Won't be a long-term problem, it's just getting in the way of my tape test at the moment.

[Jemmons]

Well, I think I figured out a trick on my own . . . get the flu! Yes, folks, for only two days of intense nausea and other fun, you too can lose a couple of pounds without any additional effort! If you can't eat food, after all, how can you NOT lose weight? :)

On the plus side, I got to eat my first Reese's candy bar in a year today, trying to make up for the lack of calories I've had lately. That was nice . . . that one was tough to give up for the diet. ;)

[WIBecky74]

Not to discourage you, but a lot of times weight loss from a sickness is gained back very quickly. Even if you cut back on food intake after starting to feel better it can still come back rather quickly. Hopefully not in your case, but it is normal body behavoir.

Ace bandages+hemroid type cream=shrinkage

Watched a recruiter wrap a potential recruit, unwrap just before entering Meps and it did its trick. Not suggesting it, just mentioning something i've witnessed and saw work.

Those ab rollers you may have seen advertised really do wonders. I forget how much time you have left but I noticed much improvement in just a week...although that was ten years ago when I had a younger body too, but seriously, I saw tone goin' on in a week from it plus they are very reasonably priced these days tool

[gambero]

Ace bandages+hemroid type cream=shrinkage

I have heard that works too. I was told plastic wrap not the ace bandage. And do it the night before you should go tape. I am having the same problem. I have been body building for a few years and have gone from 135lbs to 210 mostly muscle. I use the fat calipers weekly to assess my BF comp and it says 15% BF. My recruiter taped me and because of my small neck it says 22%. I taped at MEPS and it said 28%. I know I am not even close to 28%. So just in case I am going to do the prep H thing.

Also, a trick body builders do before a contest is to drink excess water (1.5-2gallons a day) for a week and then 2 days before start decreasing the water intake like 3 days before only 1 gallon. 2 days before 1/2 gallon. Day before only 1/4 gallon. This in conjunction with some water pills and caffein the last day before will give you some amazing results (albeit temporary) without hurting yourself and taking some laxatives. Good luck!

[Jemmons]

Okay . . . I'm intrigued by the body wrapping deal, but Google so far has only turned up a bunch of day-spa sites aimed at reducing my cellulite and improving my girlish figure . . . not quite what I had in mind. :)

So what's the scoop? How long before-hand do you do it, and how long do you need to let it take effect? How much cream? Is it going to be a problem if you smell like medicine when you go to MEPS?

I need details, people. ;)

[gambero]

I heard to do the prep-h the night before and to not shower or wash it off. Just wipe off the excess. Sleep with the wrap and take it off when you wake in the morning. As far as smelling, Im not sure. I dont even know what the stuff smells like. Im not sure of the amount. I would guess the more the merrier?

When do you go in? I can talk to the person that I heard it from on Tue of Wed!

[josborn1012]

Gambero- any more info on this wrap thing would be greatly appreciated. How dramatic are the results?

[JrBiem691]

Well I happen to be in the same boat. I took my first trip to MEPS this week tuesday and wednesday. They measured me 1% over the limit for body fat (27%) :mad: so I qualified for the ARMS test which I failed when my right quad cramped up so bad that I couldn't even walk.:eek: My recruiter says I only need to lose 1-2 inches around my gut before I go back in 2 weeks on the 21st. He told me about the prep H and saran wrap method. I'm wondering if this will even really work and if so how effective it will be. Enough to shave off that 1% so I dont have to do the ARMS test again? I'm also cutting out all soda and sweets as well as doing 500 crunches/day. Has anyone ever effectively used prep H and saran wrap at MEPS or heard stories of people who it has worked for?

[Jemmons]

JrBiem691 - Make sure you're drinking a LOT of water between now and then. If you can drink a lot of water, you'll actually LOSE water weight (sounds backwards, but it's true). If you've been drinking a lot of soda before now, you may just see a drop of a couple of pounds on top of whatever else you're doing between now and then . . .

[JrBiem691]

Thanks for the advice Jemmons. I have been drinking quite a bit of soda as of lately (it's free at work) so I think that cutting it out all together will help tremendously. How much water should I drink a day to lose water weight, like a gallon/day?

[Jemmons]

Well, there IS such a thing as water poisoning . . . but you'd have to be forcing it down to get to that point. Just keep a full pitcher nearby and drink it as often as you can remind yourself to. Maybe shoot for a glass an hour, or something reasonable, so that you're getting a steady intake throughout the day.

Basically, if your pee isn't crystal clear, you're not drinking enough water (this is also a good warning sign when you're exercising or out in the sun, as yellow or orange pee indicates that you're getting dehydrated).

[JrBiem691]

I guess I don't understand how drinking excess water now will help me lose water weight in the long run. Wouldn't you need to be dehydrated to lose water weight? :confused: And if drinking excess water helps you lose water weight, will I lose enough in the next 10 days to make tape? And do you know of anything else that will help me to lose that 1% just so that I can make tape? I don't care if the weight comes back on afterwards cuz I figure I'll lose a lot of weight in BCT anyways. I just need to get past that tape test so that I am qualified to ship out.

[letzrock]

Cut out ALL sugar intake like soda, sweet tea, candy, ect. Lots of people I know have also cut out almost ALL carbs. No potatoes (chips), rice, pasta, white bread, mayonaise, and fried foods. Eat whole wheat bread, skinless chicken, salmon, lots of salad with fat free dressing and a good supply of veggies. Like Jemmons said above, drink at least 1 gallon of water a day, more if you can. I also drink diet citrus green tea. It helps with your metabolisim.

I have done the above and I have dropped 21lbs in 5 weeks with a good exercise routine. Exercise ! Jogging and walking will burn calories. Good luck :cool:

[25C]

I guess I don't understand how drinking excess water now will help me lose water weight in the long run. Wouldn't you need to be dehydrated to lose water weight? :confused:

Because the more water you drink, your system knows it's getting enough water on a constant basis and won't store it (as water weight). Same goes with food, by the way -- if you eat smaller amounts steadily throughout the day, your body doesn't tend to store food as fat. If you eat only one or two large meals a day, your system goes into survival mode and starts storing fat because of the long times between meals.


And if drinking excess water helps you lose water weight, will I lose enough in the next 10 days to make tape?

You might get rid of 5-10 pounds with that.


And do you know of anything else that will help me to lose that 1% just so that I can make tape? I don't care if the weight comes back on afterwards cuz I figure I'll lose a lot of weight in BCT anyways. I just need to get past that tape test so that I am qualified to ship out.

I don't know of anything else...sorry. Well...you could do a small salad for lunch each day with some light dressing. That will cut out a lot of calories but still be nutritious. That should eliminate another 3 pounds a week, depending on what else you're eating. Just drink water for your drinks and that will help a lot too.

The tape test is a crock of ****, btw. I know a lot of people that are well under the fat percentage when measured with legitimate methods (i.e. not tape) and still tape as WAY over the percentage. The tape method is about the least accurate of those available, especially with the wide variability in the methods of those doing the taping.

Good luck...

[Jemmons]

You beat me to the response on the water weight question . . .

Your body basically hordes what it is not getting enough of. If you aren't getting enough to drink, your body stores water as a self-defense mechanism (you don't lose it through waste, hence the yellow pee). Drinking a lot of water basically tells your body that it's OK to flush the excess.

Caffeine in particular will cause you to retain water, because it tends to dehydrate you. Same is true with excess sodium (salty snacks, for example).

Note that these are, in effect, one-shot items. If you drop 2 pounds of water weight in a week, don't expect to drop 10 pounds in five weeks . . . it doesn't work that way. If you were only carrying two pounds of excess water weight, and five weeks later if the weight is still off, you can't lose it again. Similarly, if you switch back to caffeine and back off the water, you'll find yourself gaining a little bit of weight very quickly (even if it's diet soda), and you'll probably feel bloated.

Think of it like ballast in a ship. The idea is to drop the excess right before you tape in order to give yourself the best chance possible. While keeping hydrated is always good, it's especially important for times when you need your weight to be as low as possible.

[JrBiem691]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'm using a lot of the advice offered because I really want to pass my physical the next time around. Hopefully all goes well...

[JrBiem691]

Just thought I'd give ya'll an update. I've been drinking water like crazy since yesterday, and haven't had a drop of soda or any sweets since wednesday. The water thing seems to be working already, I pee like a cocker spaniel now. I used to only go like 1-2 times daily. I've gone today more than I've gone in the last week combined and it is crystal clear! And I did my 500 crunches yesterday and today and my abs are feeling that good burn. I'll keep ya posted on how I do when I go back to MEPS on the 21st. Wish me luck!

[JrBiem691]

Unfortunately, I have no insight as to whether or not the wrap actually works because I did not do it for my 2nd time around at MEPS. I lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks which was enough to drop my measurement to 24% body fat instead of 27. No arms test for me, and I ship to Fort Jackson on Nov. 21st. Hopefully sooner, my recruiter is looking into getting me an earlier ship date so we shall see.

[Eddie]

Congrats! Keep up the good work! Continue in your exercise( lots of runnning, push-ups and sit-ups) and diet regiment. Layoff the pogey bait, stop eating fast foods, and study your Army knowledge. Where are you going to basic? You'll need to get acclimadated to the time zone (West coast vs. East coast) These are helpful pointers to succeed at basic. Welcome to the Army! Hooah!

[Phantom]

Keep running and doing PT before you ship, dont slip on that now. Some MEPS give you another Height/Weight on the day you ship. Keep up with the water and diet. Its a good thing to learn your Soldiers Creed, General Orders and Army Values before you ship. It will help take some of the stress off Red Phase. Just keep running!!! Good Luck and thankyou for your service.

[letzrock]

I saw first hand some try the prepH + saran wrap. It didn't work for him :( . He was still off on his tape test and didn't pass MEPS becouse of it. It might work for some, but not for all. My suggestion is make the weight so you don't have to worry about the tape test. Put off MEPS till you are at least 3-5lbs below your requiresd weight to be safe :rolleyes: . Waiting a extra month to loose weight will be easier than failing the test and having to return to do it all over again. Just my thoughts :rolleyes:

[Darkman7]

Drink three bottles of water with apple cider vinegar 2 table spoons each bottle. Then switch the next day with 3 bottles of water this time use lemon juice. Same amount. When eating a salad, do not use salad dressing. You must substitute it with lemon juice instead. Do this until you get measured again at MEPS. Guarantee you that you will love it.