Rate of weight loss - too much too soon?

I used to own a Diet Center and losing a lot in the first 2 to 3 weeks is normal. If you drank heavily you probably were retaining upwards to 10 pounds of water. When I was younger and had to diet from time to time I would usually lose 7 pounds immediately and then it would slow to the normal loss on the Diet Center plan which was 1/2 pound per day. I was eating very good foods like fish, chicken, 2 cups + of raw vegies with a low fat dressing and 1 cup of cooked vegies, two bread serviings, and 2 fruits. That was a very healthy way of eating and yet I would lose 3 1/2 pounds per week average or 26 pound in 6 weeks.

I firmly believe it is not about the number of pounds you lose it is more about the quality of food you eat to get there. It doesn't matter how you lose in the end if you go from dieting and reduced calories to adding a ton of bad calories back on you will gain weight. so when you plan on losing weight you also have to plan for your exit strategy by making sure for at least 3 weeks after you are finished with your diet you don't allow anything refined into your body. This will help stabalize what you had lost. So instead of regular pasta you would use whole wheat pasta, instead of white rice you would use whole grain rice, etc.

Don't worry about your loss being too much, worry about making sure you get good nutrition like fruits (lower sugar like apples, oranges, berries, and grapefruits) and lean meats that are lower in fats and healthier for you.

I started on my diet one week ago. I've lost 16 lbs. On one day, I lost 5 lbs over night. I'm doing a low carb diet, and it looks like I have been doing all the right things (QBMontana would probably disagree - I expect I won't touch a fruit for at least a year). All I have seen is that it is water weight that has caused the dramatic loss. I was expecting it, having done this before (sigh, this is not my first time dieting - hopefully it will be my last). Still - it is a shock. As others have said, you should expect it to stabilize and start to follow a normal rate of loss. Also, even if your daily diet is completely consistent and on plan; your weight loss day to day will fluxuate. If you're eating the right amounts and the right stuff, and exercising like you should. The weight will come off; and at a normal rate essentially dictated by your calorie deficit.