I've lost 15lbs in 18 days. Should I be worried?

Adui13

I have been following the calorie counteer, and as a byproduct chaninging what I eat so I can eat enough quanitity to not feel rediculously hungry. My reports say I am actually averaging about 40 calories more per day than the 2lb a week weightloss recommendation.
I feel great, well as great as a 200 pound man who is really only supposed to weigh 150 +/- anyhow, but definitely better than I did this time last month.

My concern is because everything I read suggests no more than 2 pounds a week loss to remain healthy.

janejellyroll

Have you just started counting calories? It's relatively common for people to lose rapidly at the beginning, some of it being water weight, and then slowing down to a more normal rate.

quiksylver296

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you just started counting calories? It's relatively common for people to lose rapidly at the beginning, some of it being water weight, and then slowing down to a more normal rate.

That^^

Adui13

I just started again. I was counting, but not really changing anything a year ago and just stopped. This time Im actively making changes to remain within the calory and nutrition goals. Also, until I started this I was drinking pretty heavily. In order to stay within my caloric goals I can no longer drink nearly as much, (which is probably a really good thing anyhow) so I limit my alchohol to once or twice a week and try not to blow the calories that day with it, which limits me to one or two drinks a week or so

janejellyroll

Adui13 wrote: »

I just started again. I was counting, but not really changing anything a year ago and just stopped. This time Im actively making changes to remain within the calory and nutrition goals. Also, until I started this I was drinking pretty heavily. In order to stay within my caloric goals I can no longer drink nearly as much, so I limit my alchohol to once or twice a week and try not to blow the calories that day with it, which limits me to one or two drinks a week or so

This sounds totally normal, given what you've shared here (and that you're feeling great), I wouldn't worry about it. If you continue at this rate of loss over a few weeks more, I would adjust calories so that you're eating more. But for now, I'd just say enjoy the loss!

mariameats

I'm glad you made this topic because the exact same thing happened to me this month. I just started counting calories (i'm not even exercising right now), but I lost 5 pounds within a week. I was wondering if it is just water weight and will come back which would be discouraging.

AnnPT77

The first two weeks-ish can be unusual. However, if that kind of loss rate continues, eat more. If you have 50 pounds to lose and weigh 200, you're kind of at the border where 2 pounds a week becomes more aggressive rather than sensibly moderate in the first place. (1% per week, slower as you get within about 50 pounds of goal - that's a common rule of thumb around here.)

If you start to feel fatigued, weak, find yourself doing a bit less in daily life, maybe not getting your usual exercise intensity easily - definitely eat more as soon as you see that happening.

The so-called "calculators", like the one built into MFP or TDEE calculators, just give you calorie estimates that are the average value based on large-scale population studies, and a few key demographic facts about you. Reality is more complicated. While (by definition) most people are close to average, thus close to the calculator results, some people can have different experiences, either high or low. Once you start to see your average weekly weight loss begin to stabilize **, believe that, not the calculators.

** Note to other readers: OP is male. Weekly weight lost is more likely begin to hover around a typical value per week, up a little some weeks, down a little other other weeks depending on exercise, sodium, carbs, etc. For premenopausal women, hormonal factors can make things a little weirder for some, makng it more rational to look at weight loss from one benchmark point in your menstrual cycle to the same point in the next cycle, and averaging that over the intervening weeks.

Adui13

Thank you all for the insightful responses. I will monitor and not be too concerned as long as it slows down

Adui13

No longer worried. my caloric intake has been consistent. The only change is Im eating a bit more carbs in that due to the holiday foods. My weigh in yesterday put me at 202.8. So Ive gained 2.8 pounds of that 15 back.. I suspect that my body is now used to this whole diet and exercise thing and has adjusted accordingly.

Tacklewasher

Adui13 wrote: »

No longer worried. my caloric intake has been consistent. The only change is Im eating a bit more carbs in that due to the holiday foods. My weigh in yesterday put me at 202.8. So Ive gained 2.8 pounds of that 15 back.. I suspect that my body is now used to this whole diet and exercise thing and has adjusted accordingly.

Sounds like you've been somewhat low carb. Carbs normally get stored in you body as glycogen in the liver and muscles. For every gram of glycogen stored, you store 3-4 grams of water. Deplete the glycogen and the water goes away. So, if you eat less carbs then normal, you lose glycogen and water.

Have a thanksgiving dinner with carbs, you replenish the glycogen and add more water.

All perfectly normal and pretty typical when people start watching what they eat.