Losing too fast?

amandalcastino

So I just wanted to check in with people going through the same thing about whether this sounds bad.. I've basically changed my entire diet for the last 3 weeks. It said I should eat 2,000 cal/day, but I reset it to 1,500 just to keep myself in check. I'm generally close to that calorie count and have gone over once before. In 3 weeks I've lost 22 pounds. My SW was 280 if that helps, so I know it comes off easier/faster in the beginning especially considering my size. I have always been active (waitress working 12+ hr days 2-3x per wk) but just ate badly and didn't eat throughout the day enough, so I think that's part of the reason it's coming off so fast.

Should I be concerned? Is it okay?? I know that you really shouldn't go below 1,200/day so I thought 1,500 was reasonable.. Just weighing in to get opinions Thanks in advance!

SingRunTing

Too fast. You should be aiming for no more than 2lbs a week.

Losing too fast is bad for your health. Your body can only metabolize a certain amount of fat per day. After that, it starts burning muscle instead.

If MFP gave you 2000 calories a day for 2lbs a week, that's where you should start.

beemerphile1

No worries if you are getting proper nutrition but 1,500 seems low. Do you think the 1,500 is sustainable?

amandalcastino

beemerphile1 wrote: »

No worries if you are getting proper nutrition but 1,500 seems low. Do you think the 1,500 is sustainable?

Definitely. I snack throughout the day at several points and if I'm hungry I eat I don't stop myself, just making significantly smarter choices where I used to eat out every day.

ManiacalLaugh

beemerphile1 wrote: »

No worries if you are getting proper nutrition but 1,500 seems low. Do you think the 1,500 is sustainable?

^This. It should be about sustainability - and 1500 is enough if you're getting the protein, fat, and other nutrition you need. (I wouldn't go under that for a while if you move a lot in your job)

One thing to consider too - since you're in your first few weeks, some of that loss might've been water. So you might not have shed quite the amount of fat you think you did. This is really common, especially when you're a little bigger. I started out at 272 and dropped 15 in two weeks. I experienced a short plateau (a week or two) after that and then settled into a normal loss rate.

afatpersonwholikesfood

It's too fast. Yes, it comes off quickly at first and a lot of it can be water, but you're averaging over 7lbs per week. You're going to start burning muscle, and you're going to start feeling icky and in a brain fog. I once lost 100lbs in 6 months. I was anemic and my hair was falling out. It didn't take long to regain.

Lourdesong

You could keep the MFP recommendation and eat below that at 1500 or so if you feel like it. On days you are hungrier then you have the calories/room to eat more.
I wouldn't use your big loss to gauge just yet whether your deficit is too large. In the beginning people drop a lot of water and waste. Right now I would try to figure out what is sustainable, what level of deficit you can comfortably adhere to.
1500-2000 calories seems like a reasonable range for you to play around with and assess this. In the coming weeks if you're still dropping weight at a rapid pace, then you'll have more reliable history of data to work with when reassessing your deficit level.

Sued0nim

amandalcastino wrote: »

So I just wanted to check in with people going through the same thing about whether this sounds bad.. I've basically changed my entire diet for the last 3 weeks. It said I should eat 2,000 cal/day, but I reset it to 1,500 just to keep myself in check. I'm generally close to that calorie count and have gone over once before. In 3 weeks I've lost 22 pounds. My SW was 280 if that helps, so I know it comes off easier/faster in the beginning especially considering my size. I have always been active (waitress working 12+ hr days 2-3x per wk) but just ate badly and didn't eat throughout the day enough, so I think that's part of the reason it's coming off so fast.

Should I be concerned? Is it okay?? I know that you really shouldn't go below 1,200/day so I thought 1,500 was reasonable.. Just weighing in to get opinions Thanks in advance!

Wait until you've been going for 8 weeks and work out your average weight loss then decide

Is normal to lose a lot of water weight, waste weight at the start

Sued0nim

amandalcastino wrote: »

So I just wanted to check in with people going through the same thing about whether this sounds bad.. I've basically changed my entire diet for the last 3 weeks. It said I should eat 2,000 cal/day, but I reset it to 1,500 just to keep myself in check. I'm generally close to that calorie count and have gone over once before. In 3 weeks I've lost 22 pounds. My SW was 280 if that helps, so I know it comes off easier/faster in the beginning especially considering my size. I have always been active (waitress working 12+ hr days 2-3x per wk) but just ate badly and didn't eat throughout the day enough, so I think that's part of the reason it's coming off so fast.

Should I be concerned? Is it okay?? I know that you really shouldn't go below 1,200/day so I thought 1,500 was reasonable.. Just weighing in to get opinions Thanks in advance!

Wait until you've been going for 8 weeks and work out your average weight loss then decide

Is normal to lose a lot of water weight, waste weight at the start