Down 8.8 in 5 weeks, is this good?

dobrydney

My husband and I have been doing this together, which is SUPER for the support. He doesn't really need to lose weight, maybe 10 pounds just because it will make him feel better type of thing. It has been an amazing journey so far to figure out those things you thought were healthy aren't, and that the serving sizes you were eating were outrageous. I started at 280 (I'm a female who is about 5'7") and have lost 8.8 pounds so far, in 5 weeks (today starts our 6th week). The counter has me at 1550 calories for a day, and I've been trying to stay right around that since I feel like under that would be far too low. I always put in calories "earned back" for exercise and try to eat good calories to attain my net goal for the day. I guess I'm just looking for encouragement from people who may have been in a similar situation and had success to know I'm on the right path! I've started to notice things getting slightly bigger on me, but it could be wishful thinking too!

SARgirl

Sounds like you are doing a great job! Good luck and keep up that momentum!

cloud2011

I think that's a great success. Pat yourself on the back. Steady loss is great! Keep going!

emilywagers13

Hello and congrats! My hubby is on this journey with me as well although he has a lot less to lose than me. It makes it so much easier to have him doing this with me Feel free to add me I'm here daily lol

JenniLisette

usually at the beginning of weightloss journey the first few weeks you drop a lot of weight and then it begins to slow down. i thinks it's really good, best of luck ^_^

secretlobster

9lbs in 5 weeks is great. There's no great reason to be trying to lose any more or less than that, and it seems to be working for you. Eating too few calories will not necessarily make you lose weight any faster, and there's no good reason to be hungry all the time either. I think you're doing a fantastic job! Keep up the great work, you are clearly making the right decisions

Aliciaaah

That's fantastic. Since you're just starting some of that may be just the beginning boost, but either way it's a good rate. You definitely don't want to shoot for over 2 pounds a week, but that is really hard to do anyway. Keep doing what you're doing until you find it's not working for you anymore, because so far it's doing well.

My only question is how are you finding your exercise calories? If you're using an HRM, great. If you are using MFP calculations then I'd suggest not eating them ALL back, as they can be overestimated. Maybe try 1/2 or 2/3's of them. But this may just be something to consider if you find your weight loss slowing down.

Congrats, keep it up!

angie_sample

ur doing a great job and should be so proud of yourself. It seems u are losing weight in a healthy way. Keep going, u can do it!!

mylovesanotherkind

That's around the same amount I have lost in 5 weeks too! You are definitely on the right track, well done!

izzydino

hey there! I am in a very similar situation! Or I was I started at 283 @ 5'5". I started out eating more :S... I eat back all my exercise calories up to 2000. Now I am at 227.2.

It's not to quick if you have your deficit set to 2 lbs a week. As long as you aren't hungry all should be good.

sshap21712

It;s a great result. I would worry if you were losing over 2 pounds a week. I think what you're doing is great. Keep it up!

cici1028

Sounds like great progress to me!! Hope you're proud of yourself. Well done and keep at it!

missleah26

Sounds like you're doing a great job! Just remember it's not all about what the scale says-- feeling your clothes fit better is a huge deal! I haven't lost much overall, but my clothes fit much better and I have way more energy when I'm really paying attention to nutrition and exercise. Keep up the good work!

amandavictoria80

My husband and I have been doing this together, which is SUPER for the support. He doesn't really need to lose weight, maybe 10 pounds just because it will make him feel better type of thing. It has been an amazing journey so far to figure out those things you thought were healthy aren't, and that the serving sizes you were eating were outrageous. I started at 280 (I'm a female who is about 5'7") and have lost 8.8 pounds so far, in 5 weeks (today starts our 6th week). The counter has me at 1550 calories for a day, and I've been trying to stay right around that since I feel like under that would be far too low. I always put in calories "earned back" for exercise and try to eat good calories to attain my net goal for the day. I guess I'm just looking for encouragement from people who may have been in a similar situation and had success to know I'm on the right path! I've started to notice things getting slightly bigger on me, but it could be wishful thinking too!

That's great! Good for you!

However, in my opinion (and my experience), calories you gain from exercise should not be eaten back. You are creating your deficit with exercise. If you eat back the calories, you have no more deficit.

I also must recommend strength training. Otherwise you will lose muscle mass as well and that's not good.

tabik30

uh hell yes it's good!

And don't worry it'll slow down soon enough! CONGRATS!

katscoots

Sounds perfect - but just so you know, as you lose weight, your suggested total calorie intake will probably decrease once you get into the lower weight ranges closer to your goal. But, by then you will probably have totally figured out the balancing act.

Curvimami

8.8 lbs in 5 wks sounds like a really good pace. Healthy. Anything more than 2lbs a week is considered the "wrong way" although the more a person weighs to start the more they may lose a week, outside of what is considered "healthy"so I guess it really just all depends on each individual. Good luck on your journey. You seem to be off the a great start :happy:

marekdds

Super job. Stay on track. When you have a lot to lose, 2 lb/wk is fine. As you get closer to goal. it will slow down, don't get discouraged. It takes time. Congrats on a great start and good luck. And btw, I lost over 80lbs eating my calories back.

alegrria72

8.8 pounds is great! Shoot, any loss is great! I started on MFP back in the middle of January and am coming up on the 150 day mark. I started at 279 and am a few inches shorter than you so you can imagine. So far I have lost 57 lbs. I can't say it's been easy but it sounds like you've realized what the keys to success are already so I'm sure you'll do awesome. Feel free to add me if you'd like.

lindaschultz45

That's a great start. I lost 10 lbs the first month and then it's usually 2-4 since this. June is my 4th month and so far no weight loss but have lost inches. It should tapper off the next month or so. Lot's of great advice on here and many websites can help too.
Keep up the good work and WTG hubby for doing it with you! That is awesome!

jcamby

Great job! Keep it up!

katscoots

My husband and I have been doing this together, which is SUPER for the support. He doesn't really need to lose weight, maybe 10 pounds just because it will make him feel better type of thing. It has been an amazing journey so far to figure out those things you thought were healthy aren't, and that the serving sizes you were eating were outrageous. I started at 280 (I'm a female who is about 5'7") and have lost 8.8 pounds so far, in 5 weeks (today starts our 6th week). The counter has me at 1550 calories for a day, and I've been trying to stay right around that since I feel like under that would be far too low. I always put in calories "earned back" for exercise and try to eat good calories to attain my net goal for the day. I guess I'm just looking for encouragement from people who may have been in a similar situation and had success to know I'm on the right path! I've started to notice things getting slightly bigger on me, but it could be wishful thinking too!

It's not bad. That's for sure. Any weight lost is good.

But in my opinion and experience, calories you gain from exercise should not be eaten back. You are creating your deficit with exercise. If you eat back the calories, you have no more deficit.

I also must recommend strength training. Otherwise you will lose muscle mass as well and that's not good.

That depends entirely on how you are set up. Eating back exercise calories depends on how you have your total intake for the day set. If you are set at sedentary (ie. desk job), and have your goal weight and how much per week you want to lose set, then that is saying for you to eat XX number of calories if you do nothing but sit on your butt all day and don't exercise. Then, you MUST eat back your exercise calories or you will be at too low of a deficit and won't lose the weight healthily. If you are eating back you exercise calories and still losing - you are doing it right.

shorty35565

My husband and I have been doing this together, which is SUPER for the support. He doesn't really need to lose weight, maybe 10 pounds just because it will make him feel better type of thing. It has been an amazing journey so far to figure out those things you thought were healthy aren't, and that the serving sizes you were eating were outrageous. I started at 280 (I'm a female who is about 5'7") and have lost 8.8 pounds so far, in 5 weeks (today starts our 6th week). The counter has me at 1550 calories for a day, and I've been trying to stay right around that since I feel like under that would be far too low. I always put in calories "earned back" for exercise and try to eat good calories to attain my net goal for the day. I guess I'm just looking for encouragement from people who may have been in a similar situation and had success to know I'm on the right path! I've started to notice things getting slightly bigger on me, but it could be wishful thinking too!

8.8lbs in 5 wks is great!! Keep up the good work! Personally I wouldn't eat back my exercise cals. Neither of my coaches do & they look amazing. In fact one specifically told me not to. He said ur un do-ing the deficit by eating the cals u worked so hard to burn. Now this doesn't mean u can't eat higher. Often u can eat higher than MFP suggests. I find their cal suggestions to b crap honestly.

dobrydney

Thanks everyone! I think deep down I know I'm doing well, but I always feel better to have validation from others who are or have been in my shoes! I have myfitnesspal set to lose 2 pounds a week so I try to eat back my calories (it has me at 1550 a day) and I worry that if I drop a lot below that as net it wouldn't be healthy.

Dwamma

Great success!! Keep up what you are doing becuase it is working and you are right on track! Congrats!! Blessings!! <><

sharpeoplepc

Anything lost is good! Keep it up!

Yes2HealthyAriel

not bad at all, you are doing good. It has taken me 9 1/2 weeks to lose the 18.6 pounds I have lost

kathrynyoung71

Well done, I have been doing this since March and have lost 26lb at around 3lb every 2 weeks. The plan is really good as you have also realised at showing you just what the calories/fat etc are in food and it certainly helps you to make better choices...... some foods are not quite as appealing when you realise whats in them!! I'm also on here every day so add me if you like. I started at 252lb and I am also tall (5ft11in) I get 1740 calories a day on the 1.5lb per week weight loss, I also try to exercise 3-4 times a week either at the gym with cardio equipment or out on my bike (british weather permitting!!)

Linda_Darlene

Seriously? That is awesome! I'd like to do that well! I average a pound a week no matter what I do!