Which is best, 1 pound a week, 2, more? long term

I was wondering what the relationship was between long term weight loss and average net calories consumed. I would think that people who were trying to lose 1 pound a week would have an easier time sticking to it for the long term and would lose more weight. Can people please post their personal observations about who tends to succeed, people with unrealistic/painful goals or people who's goals can be achieved in an easier and balanced way?

Also, if anyone has scientific studies related to this I'd be VERY interested. thank you :-)

Replies

  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    Personal experience? I lost 2 to 4 lbs per week eating at the lowest 1400 calories a day, which is faster than recommended. I now maintain on the low end of my BMI at 2000 calories a day, and more on the weekends,, so this is definitely livable and sustainable.

    I know not everybody is like me, but it's just my experience. Losing faster than normal doesn't necessarily mean you can't you can't maintain it, as long as you aren't feeling deprived.
  • majope
    majope Posts: 1,325 Member
    My experience: I used a similar site (MyPlate at Livestrong.com) to lose weight a couple of years ago. Began with it set for 2 pounds a week and lost a little more quickly than that for a few weeks. Started training for a half marathon, and even eating back all (or most) of my calories burned I found the 1000-calorie deficit too aggressive. I felt hungry and worn out all the time.

    So I reset the calculator to 1 pound a week, and that worked really well for me. Lost at a rate of closer to 5 pounds a month. I wasn't hungry, and the calories from running gave me enough to fuel myself pretty healthily and allow for treats so I wouldn't feel deprived (I called it the Beef n' Booze diet--that should give you an idea where some of those exercise calories went!).

    Over the course of six months, I lost 35 pounds and then kept most of it off for over a year and a half. Now I want to lose another 15 or so pounds, but with less to lose (and another half marathon this spring) I've got MFP set for me to lose half a pound a week.