How fast?

Elizabeth_C34
Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,

I've been on MFP for about 2 1/2 weeks now, and I've lost 10 lbs already. MFP says I should be loosing 1.5 lbs per week, but my average has been about 4 lbs per week. I stopped drinking sodas altogether about the time I signed up for MFP and replaced soda drinking with water drinking. I am thinking that most of what I've lost sofar is "water weight," but I'm not sure. I've been exercising but only burning an extra 200-300 calories per day and been pretty good about sticking to my calorie limit.

Is this too fast to lose weight? (Apologies if this is a silly question, but I just want to be sure I am doing things the healthy way).

Replies

  • CarolJW
    CarolJW Posts: 8 Member
    I agree its probably water weight. The first 10 lbs always comes off the fastest. It will slow down now and it is better to lose it at 1-2 lbs a week so you will keep it off. Good luck
  • Adsnwfld
    Adsnwfld Posts: 262 Member
    The tools on MFP are not exact. I started on November 1st and have lost 40 lbs to date. The math doesn't work but I underestimate my workouts (if I don't know exact calories burned) and over estimate my food calories (again if I don't know exact numbers)

    I'm just happy with my progress because I've gone down a few sizes in pants and shirts.

    Keep up the good work!
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    If you are eating a nutitionally balanced diet with a sufficient amount of daily calories and you don't feel sluggish and lethargic (signs that your metabolism is shutting down) then I don't think it is too fast at this initial stage.

    If you've replaced fizzy drinks with water then your body has no need to retain exess water (usually held around the abdomen area) as it is well hydrated. In addition, if you have cut back on your calories by about 500 per day your body will start using glycogen stores for fuel first to make up the difference. Glyocgen stores are also made primarily of water. As you've guessed water weighs a suprising amount.

    The real question is have you lost 10lbs of FAT as opposed to weight. Fat loss is the Holy Grail of dieting. The answer is no. Once your weight loss goes down to about 1-2 lbs per week (assuming that you have a decent exercise regime, which is my opinion should always include resistance / weight taining, as well as a good diet) then you will reach the sweet spot: losing fat.

    Give me a 1lb loss of FAT in week 8 rather than a 5lb loss of WEIGHT in week 1 every time...
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I don't feel hungry or lethargic, but rather quite the opposite. I feel great. I'm also sleeping much better.

    I don't know if some of it is fat loss (not sure how to measure this).
  • LifesPilgrim
    LifesPilgrim Posts: 498 Member
    Probably useless information, BUT a liter of water weighs about 2.2 lbs, so I would think that water loss would be a good explanation.

    To figure fat loss, take body measurements, if those are going down, your really heading in the right direction!
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    Probably useless information, BUT a liter of water weighs about 2.2 lbs, so I would think that water loss would be a good explanation.

    To figure fat loss, take body measurements, if those are going down, your really heading in the right direction!

    My waist is definitely smaller. I am in pants I couldn't button 3 weeks ago. My face is also less puffy.
  • LifesPilgrim
    LifesPilgrim Posts: 498 Member
    If I were you,I would go ahead, get some body measurements and use those as a baseline. You should measure yourself about every four to six weeks.
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