Is this really possible?

rebprest
rebprest Posts: 149 Member
in Getting Started
My diary is open, could someone tell me if it is seriously possible for me to have lost nearly 8 lbs in just over a week? I'm very suspicious, thinking maybe my scale is inaccurate. I'm eating like 1900 calories a day, and even at 260 (now 252.8) lbs, I find it hard to believe my level of exercise is taking the weight off so quickly. I do maybe 1.5 hours of cardio with some basic weightlifting. I thought for sure I was going to need a biggest loser workout with kettle balls and what-have you. Or is a recently added layer of weight easier to take off? I did gain 10 lbs in about 6 months before this, hence my weight-loss journey's beginning.

I know I should just accept this as good news, but I feel like I'm getting my hopes up and I don't want them to be dashed if I find out there is some temporary explanation like it is all water-weight or something.
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Replies

  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    What usually comes off at the beginning is water weight. Trust me, if you stick with it, the weight loss will slow down.
  • JoeyFrappuccino
    JoeyFrappuccino Posts: 88 Member
    If this is your first week, a large amount of it is almost certainly water weight. If you ate at a deficit, though, some of it will be fat. You'll get a better idea of how much you'll be losing in the following weeks after the initial drop which is usually steep.
  • Chickee8586
    Chickee8586 Posts: 155 Member
    Hi, If you just started as you say, then yes, it's possible to drop a large amount in the first week or two. It should get to be a smaller consistent loss over time. Also, if your weight continues to fluctuate by unreasonalbe amounts, check the battery in your scale (if you have a battery operated one, that is).

    If you are staying in a calorie deficit, then you should see some loss, but don't be surprised if now and then you show a small gain. It's normal. Our bodies react to anything we do differently.
  • quigz90
    quigz90 Posts: 44 Member
    I lost 6/7lbs the first week of getting back on my diet. It slows down after that. It is usually mostly water weight that causes big losses at the start, but you are going in the right direction. Well done, keep it up
  • rebprest
    rebprest Posts: 149 Member
    Thanks guys! So should I assume it is real (fat) weight I'm losing this week, or could it still just be water-weight?
  • JoeyFrappuccino
    JoeyFrappuccino Posts: 88 Member
    Thanks guys! So should I assume it is real (fat) weight I'm losing this week, or could it still just be water-weight?

    I'd assume it's water weight for now. If the loss stays consistent you'll know that it wasn't, but it'd be unusual if you didn't lose about that much water weight initially.
  • Chickee8586
    Chickee8586 Posts: 155 Member
    Probably a mix of the two. Water and some fat loss. But whatever it is, it's good.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    Thanks guys! So should I assume it is real (fat) weight I'm losing this week, or could it still just be water-weight?

    There could still be a little water weight left to come off. Make sure you're getting enough protein and incorporating some kind of resistance program so you can preserve as much lean body mass as possible. You want the weight that does come off going forward to be fat and not muscle.
  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    It is mostly water. When you start eating at a deficit, you deplete your glycogen stores, along with the associated water. There may be some fat loss.

    But depending on your starting weight, you should only be targeting about 0.5 to 2 pounds per week loss in general. And weight loss isn't linear.
  • rebprest
    rebprest Posts: 149 Member
    So do you not stop losing water weight at some point? Is it always some water and some fat and (unfortunately) some muscle? Sorry, still just a little bit confused. Is there a point at which I can feel confident that I am done losing water weight? I'm drinking 100 oz a day...
  • butlersoft
    butlersoft Posts: 219 Member
    It'll vary ....

    Eat plenty of protein to reduce the loss of lean muscle.

    There will be days that you eat higher sodium content and maybe don't drink enough water. You'll seemingly GAIN 2-5lbs overnight of water in this instance....and spend the next few days losing the water again.

    Don't weigh yourself daily otherwise you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

    Keep eating at a deficit and drink plenty of water ...... it'll come of gradually enough ......

    and YES .... you need to DRINK WATER to LOSE water weight ;-)
  • eganita
    eganita Posts: 501 Member
    Sounds like you are making a lot of healthy choices! You may find that taking measurements will help track your progress. You still wouldn't be able to tell exactly how much fat/water weight/muscle you're losing, but I think it's helpful.
  • lindasusan57
    lindasusan57 Posts: 2 Member
    It doesn't matter weight is weight so long as you continue drinking lots of water Congratulations to you! The exercise is key to success.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Some of that weight will be water weight that you've lost, but just keep at it :-) congratulations on your loss! :-)
  • smoksendahl
    smoksendahl Posts: 1
    Keep it up:-) As long as you are sticking to your cal each day and working out it will keep coming off...
  • StephF3692
    StephF3692 Posts: 27 Member
    I second the taking measurements; take pictures too; i've been taking pictures every few weeks (month, maybe) and that confirms that I am losing weight. You might not see it like you want on the scale, but you'll definitely feel it in the way your clothes fit.

    Congrats and good luck!
  • Mbierschbach
    Mbierschbach Posts: 94 Member
    So do you not stop losing water weight at some point? Is it always some water and some fat and (unfortunately) some muscle? Sorry, still just a little bit confused. Is there a point at which I can feel confident that I am done losing water weight? I'm drinking 100 oz a day...

    Honestly - don't concern yourself. Eating a smart deficit, you're going to lose fat...and yeah, a little bit of muscle. Given your loss goal (95 lbs according to your ticker) ignore WHAT you're losing, and just focus on eating right, exercise, and that 100 oz of water your drinking. Pay attention to the weeks not the days. In 4 weeks when your pants fit better, you feel better, and you SEE a difference do you really care if it's water or fat? If you're doing the right things you'll have the right results.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You tend to lose a lot of water at first. Additionally, your consumption is less and thus the amount of waste in your system is less. It will level off in the coming weeks. Ultimately you just have to track the overall trend of things...you're going to make yourself crazy trying to figure out what is water, what is fat, what is muscle, etc....
  • rebprest
    rebprest Posts: 149 Member
    So do you not stop losing water weight at some point? Is it always some water and some fat and (unfortunately) some muscle? Sorry, still just a little bit confused. Is there a point at which I can feel confident that I am done losing water weight? I'm drinking 100 oz a day...

    Honestly - don't concern yourself. Eating a smart deficit, you're going to lose fat...and yeah, a little bit of muscle. Given your loss goal (95 lbs according to your ticker) ignore WHAT you're losing, and just focus on eating right, exercise, and that 100 oz of water your drinking. Pay attention to the weeks not the days. In 4 weeks when your pants fit better, you feel better, and you SEE a difference do you really care if it's water or fat? If you're doing the right things you'll have the right results.

    Lol, thanks. You're right, I'm probably over-thinking it. I will take your advice :), thanks to everyone who responded!
  • Alastair007
    Alastair007 Posts: 673 Member
    Your food diary looks good. Lots of protein early on and calorie tapering towards the end of the day. Your loosing weight so continue. Everyone looses weight differently but in general you loose water weight first. (remember to drink and log lots of water, it will help you loose weight). A one percent weight loss for someone 200 pounds is 2 pounds. A one percent weight loss for someone 100 pounds is only one pound.
    In the beginning weight can come off rather easily especially if you have not been eating correctly or exercising for some time. It doesn't take too long before weight loss slows down and it becomes more and more difficult to shed the pounds. So enjoy loosing weight now. Get used to logging and communicating now, because later when it becomes more difficult to loose weight you will be grateful for the advice and friendship. Good luck
  • cdlaperle
    cdlaperle Posts: 2
    I lost 7lb my first week
  • cwoyto123
    cwoyto123 Posts: 308
    I lose 12 pound over night on occasion.
  • gecho
    gecho Posts: 426 Member
    not unusal but don't be surprised if you plateu (sp?) for a week or 2. That happens to me...when i don't fall off the wagon and screw myself up anway...
  • mevvies
    mevvies Posts: 21
    I lost 5 lbs the first week, then 2 lbs for a few weeks now 1-2 lbs a week. I always used to be obsessed with the scales, but now do once a week and this is the only way I have been able to lose weight and keep it off. Well done and keep it up.
  • LadyEllieoftheHouseofKor
    LadyEllieoftheHouseofKor Posts: 9
    I had weight loss surgery in April so I have had extremely fast weight loss. I still have to watch my diet carefully and my exercise and water intake very carefully. Believe me it is NOT a quick or easy fix. I still takes work and dedication to succeed. Keep at it! :flowerforyou: We are all doing well or we wouldn't be here!
  • JoeyFrappuccino
    JoeyFrappuccino Posts: 88 Member
    A few people here have recommended weighing yourself weekly so I thought I'd give a different view. I weigh myself most days and it's just another part of my morning routine. Wake up>weigh>shower. Takes less than a minute. My weight regularly fluctuates up to 2.5 lbs in either direction day to day, as do most people's, so looking at a graph over the course of a week can look pretty crazy. If you weigh yourself once a week you may land on a day when your weight has spiked and assume you've gained or maintained weight, and then you may think you did something wrong for a whole week. If you're eating at a deficit, though, you will be losing weight so don't let it bother you.
  • jasonmh630
    jasonmh630 Posts: 2,850 Member
    I started out at 317 and the first week, I lost about 10 pounds... I'd say at least 8 of that was water weight. After that first week, I've consistently lost between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds per week (a couple of weeks I lost less or no weight). So, I'd chuck it up to water weight and see how it plays out in the next couple of weeks. :)
  • w2bab
    w2bab Posts: 353 Member
    My husband and I consistently lost 3-5 lbs. per week for the first five months or so. I think it depends on how drastically you change your eating and exercise habits. We went from very sedentary and eating really badly to working out every day and eating very healthy. It did slow down after the first several months, but by the time we were 5 months into it, he had lost 100 lbs. and I had lost almost 70. Everybody is different, and we all lose weight at different speeds. Just don't think you can return to your old habits. Stick with it even when it does slow down, and enjoy the journey.
  • Ronni66
    Ronni66 Posts: 43
    I don't want to discourage you , so i will throw you some of what i have learned from experience.

    The more you weigh the easier it is to lose weight in the beginning, so if you started watching your calories, and doing some exercise , especially if you have had a sit around kind of lifestyle , the weight will drop off.

    Yes, some is water ...but I do not believe it all to be water and no fat loss, some fat loss is in there too. WW fluctuates SO much it's insane, so i don't even bother with wondering if it is water or fat...i just smile at the scale and be done with it...besides..Water "weight" can be put back on by drinking...you guessed it, water lol .

    Warning though, after a bit of super losing you will slow down and maybe even not lose any for a long while. That's when you increase exercise and cut more carbs/sugar out of the diet to kick start it again.

    BTW, if you are doing weight training...muscle burns fat as well. This is why men lose a butt ton of weight when they stop eating or drinking...or say...beer and it falls off them. it's because of their muscles...damn them! lol


    Good luck!
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    Thanks guys! So should I assume it is real (fat) weight I'm losing this week, or could it still just be water-weight?

    I'd assume it's water weight for now. If the loss stays consistent you'll know that it wasn't, but it'd be unusual if you didn't lose about that much water weight initially.

    I think it does vary by person. I started at 262 lb and lost only 1-2 lb the first week and 1-1.5 lb per week for months thereafter. No initial drop.

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