Am I doing this right?

jennb2096

So I started logging and trying to lose weight August 17th. I weighed myself this morning and have lost a total of 11 lbs. Is this ok? It tells me to eat 1500 calories a day but I add 300 because I am breastfeeding my 11 month old. I used to eat very poorly before. I am happy with how much I lost but am concerned it's too much too fast. I am hardly ever hungry and I even have treats as long as they fit into my calories for the day. I exercise 5 days a week for a half hour. This i am either walking or I just started doing CIZE. I figure my weight loss will slow down, I just want to make sure I'm eating enough.

mitch16

I'm assuming you're not exclusively breastfeeding? You don't give your statistics or how much you're trying to lose... Your weight loss is averaging nearly 3 lbs per week, which is a tad fast unless you are obese.

jennb2096

Oops. Sorry. I started at 205 and my goal is 125ish. I am 5'1" my son is eating and doesn't breastfeed as much as he used too.

Gena575

I think for your first month, you're doing fine. I started heavier and taller and lost 12.6 in my first month. A good bit of that was the initial water weight loss that came from reducing my carbs from probably 500gr a day to around 200. I've leveled off now to right at 2lbs/week the past 6 weeks. As little bit weans or slows breastfeeding you'll probably want to adjust those calories...but your loss over 3-4 weeks will show you when that needs to happen.

clicketykeys

Yup. If you KEEP losing at this rate, maybe be concerned. But when I started out, I lost 16 lbs in the first 2 weeks. After that it eased up a LOT!

mitch16

jennb2096 wrote: »

Oops. Sorry. I started at 205 and my goal is 125ish. I am 5'1" my son is eating and doesn't breastfeed as much as he used too.

You're probably fine then. The first few weeks are usually the biggest with water weight, but it should stabilize and taper off a bit. If you are consistently losing at this pace then you might want to add some calories back in to slow it down--if you lose too aggressively you run the risk of poaching muscle and other ill-advised effects.

jennb2096

Thank you all for your input! I'm in it for the long run.

ashcky

It will slow down. I'm your height and I started at 215. I've lost almost 30 lbs since the end of June. My first 2 weeks I lost most of the weight and then it slowed to 2 lbs a week.

Purplebunnysarah

I found that breastfeeding took a good 400-600 calories until we dropped to twice a day, at which point I stopped adding them. The averages for breastfeeding are just that - averages. You could add more calories if you want, or not. As long as your milk doesn't suffer, you're golden.

AnnPT77

Ignore the first couple of weeks (because of the water weight issue). If you average losing more than about 1% of your body weight per week after that, then I'd suggest eating a bit more.

"1% per week" is one rule of thumb; another is to also consider how much you have to lose. You do want to lose more slowly as you get closer to goal weight, to give yourself the best odds of preserving muscle mass. Under 50 pounds to lose, maybe 1.5 lbs/week might be a good maximum loss rate; under 25, 1 lb/week; under about 10-15 to lose, 0.5 lb/week or less.

The weight loss rate calorie calculators (like the one built into MFP) are close for most people, but can be materially off for some, either high or low. (It's a narrow bell curve; most of us are close to average, but some farther away.) Your own loss rate is always your best guide to a sensible calorie level, since it's inherently customized to you. Don't be afraid to adjust your calorie goal to get a sensible loss rate.

Sounds like you have a great, healthy attitude, favoring a long-term, moderate loss - keep it up!

middlehaitch

Just want to add to the great advice you have received so far.....

Don't forget to add your exercise calories!

That is the way MFP is designed. Start with 50% and adjust up and down as needed.

Please don't think- well I have a lot to loose, or I am only doing 30 min walking.
Even if your exercise is only 50 cals a day that is 350 a week. Not much now; but as you get closer to your goal it really does make a difference. It also makes a difference if you can't exercise, get ill, or decide to exercise more.

If it is not accounted for now, unless you are certain what you do now is part of your daily activity- for life, it is hard to add it in later.

I am 5'1 and every calorie in and out counted as I got close to my goal.

I agree, you do have an good attitude moving forward.

Cheers, h.