Losing faster than expected?

deceived1

Hey guys. I set my calorie goals to -1.5 pounds per week. Started on April 19th of this year. Since then, I've gone from 209 pounds to 188.8 pounds this morning. This comes to around 2.66 pounds per week.

I'm obviously incredibly excited for the weight loss, but I'm confused at why there is such a dramatic difference in prediction weight loss vs actual weight loss. I'm logging everything digitally and accurately.

Any ideas on why this is happening? Is this pace okay if I'm hitting my calorie goals still? Should I up my calorie intake by a few hundred to slow this down a bit?

I've noticed so far on this journey that I hit around a 3 day "plateau" (hate using that word) where my weight will stay the same, and then right after that, the following 3 or so days, the weight drops off. However, this most recent time, I've stepped on the scale three days in a row and it has gone down between 1.2-1.6 pounds each day. Seems excessive.

Thanks for the input.

futuremanda

I don't see any logged exercise. Do you workout? MFP intends you to log that and eat those calories back, because it doesn't factor that in up front.

You may also average a slightly higher activity level than you set. Like if you said sedentary, you might be lightly active.

And finally, the calculators are just starting points based on averages and such. Your body may just burn more than the calculator assumes.

You may want to up your calories a bit, or you can up your activity level, or start logging exercise and eating that back. Either way, if you're aiming for 1.75 (750 cal deficit) and getting 2.66 (1330 cal deficit) then you need 1330-750 = 580 more per day.

deceived1

futuremanda wrote: »

I don't see any logged exercise. Do you workout? MFP intends you to log that and eat those calories back, because it doesn't factor that in up front.

You may also average a slightly higher activity level than you set. Like if you said sedentary, you might be lightly active.

And finally, the calculators are just starting points based on averages and such. Your body may just burn more than the calculator assumes.

You may want to up your calories a bit, or you can up your activity level, or start logging exercise and eating that back. Either way, if you're aiming for 1.75 (750 cal deficit) and getting 2.66 (1330 cal deficit) then you need 1330-750 = 580 more per day.

My exercise levels have been very minimal the last few weeks. I ride my bike at a moderate pace for about 3 miles every other day - which may account for some of the discrepancy.

I have my activity level set to Lightly Active which I think is pretty accurate and adjusted my weight loss to -1LB per week to see if it will slow it down just a little bit.

Will try eating a bit more per day.

Isn't 1.5 = 750cal though and not 1.75?

Appreciate your response, thanks!

SergeantSausage

Because estimates.

Both directions.

Bshmerlie

I personally wouldn't adjust up at this point unless you are hungry all the time. When we first start a diet we dump a lot of water weight the first few weeks. You will find that it will slow down. You should log your exercise and eat some of those calories back.

callsitlikeiseeit

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Because estimates.

Both directions.

that.

as long as your health is good (hunger levels steady, energy levels good, blood work, etc) keep doing what you're doing!

When you first start, you'll experience a lot of water weight lost, and then it *typically* levels out, although like others have said, if your activity level is higher than what you have set, you may lose a little quicker (that is the case with me - I have it set as sedentary, but in reality im a LEAST lightly active) but I'm not hungry and work out and *usually* eat back at least some, if not most, of those calories. I can lose anywhere from 1-3 pounds a week (have lost almost 50 pounds since mid january). If I were hungry all the time, or had other symptoms that demonstrated a lack of nutrients or food, I would adjust. But for now, I feel great!

So... as long as you are feeling good.... take it and enjoy it!

GreenValli

Also, MFP may not take into account that you are male when calculating what you might weigh in 5 weeks. You lose faster. I guess it is up to you if you want to increase your calories. As long as you are eating healthy foods, I would not worry about it.

cwolfman13

SergeantSausage wrote: »

Because estimates.

Both directions.

these calculators aren't gospel...they are estimates based on statistical averages...you still have to use your brain and make adjustments as per your real world results.

cwolfman13

GreenValli wrote: »

Also, MFP may not take into account that you are male when calculating what you might weigh in 5 weeks. You lose faster. I guess it is up to you if you want to increase your calories. As long as you are eating healthy foods, I would not worry about it.

It does...why wouldn't it...