Is it unhealthy to lose more than 2 lbs a week?

tiffanyrcarpenter
tiffanyrcarpenter Posts: 4 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Some background: i joined my mfp simply to improve my diet as I have a lot of dietary issues (ie wheat/flour and dairy intolerance) I was tired of feeling sick due to accidental consumption of gluten products and dairy and when I cut it out completely I would feel fatigued. With the aid of mfp I was able to ensure I was consuming enough nutrients, fats, protein, etc while avoiding these foods that cause my stomach issues and visits to the ER.

So, I've felt 100% healthy again without the stomach issues of fatigue. With that said, I also decided to factor in weight loss and restrict my calories. I am eating approximately 1200 calories a day with the occasional 1600 calories per day. I am constantly full as my diet is very balanced. With that said, I was expecting to lose maybe a lb or two a week at most.

I'm only 16 days in, feeling great. After about a week 1 to my surprise when I stepped on the scale after the first week I had lost 1-2 lbs.

Since then, I am seeming to be losing weight at a rather shocking rate... I don't weigh myself daily so I can't say how many days exactly I lost this weight today, day 16, I stepped on the scale and to my complete shock I have lost a total of 6-7 lbs.

Is this considered unhealthy?

I'm 5'7 started at 146lbs and am down to 139-140 range. I hadn't been exercising much (desk job) until I decided to start jogging yesterday and today.

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    Not to be a downer, but it is probably mostly water loss. It should slow down as you continue. If it doesn't slow down, then you might want to consider eating more.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,392 Member
    As u are already at a normal weight (I.e you are not overweight and do not have corresponding quantities of available fat to lose) you should not be losing much faster than 0.5% of your body weight per week.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    When you first sstart losing weight you drop a bit of water weight pretty quickly. Your will likely slow down. At your height/weught, eating only 1200 calories is silly. What is your goal? Your activity level?
  • brdnw
    brdnw Posts: 565 Member
    edited May 2015
    i lost about 10lbs a month for a 6 month period, i was perfectly healthy doing it. I should say that's on average, so early on i had multiple weeks i lost 4+lbs
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    It's normal to drop initial water weight. It should stable off.
  • sandryc79
    sandryc79 Posts: 250 Member
    I lost 10 lbs once on the first week of a diet. Water weight really over inflates starting loss. However some of the loss is fat, so good job. I too would recommend a more sustainable approach than 1200 calories though. Just a tad more healthy protein or some fats to help reduce muscle loss seems a good idea. Have you factored your TDEE?
  • tiffanyrcarpenter
    tiffanyrcarpenter Posts: 4 Member
    My main goal is to simply ensure I consume the necessary protein, fat and nutrients on my restricted diet due to my gastro intestinal issues so I don't feel fatigued from lacking essential fats and nutrients.

    I "forced" myself to eat more today, 1450 calories, and I am to the point of feeling way too full. I cook all my meals myself, ensuring I meet my protein and nutrient goals. I don't cook with oils or butter as these ingredients make me feel sick as well.

    My "issues" with certain foods cause me to develop rash and bloat and at times vomiting and severe headaches. As long as I avoid certain foods mainly dairy, gluten and excessive fat from oils im ok.

    With that said, I did manage 1450 calories today despite feeling "super stuffed". But, I also exercised today just for general health and burned an extra 550 calories. So I may be yet again in a deficient. Seems like the only way to keep from losing more weight at this rate is to eat more but again, the foods I eat aren't high in calories.

    My protein involves ground turkey, chicken steak, and shrimp. I eat rice, potatoes to pull up my carbs. And my vegetables are a bit excessive as I make a vegetable and fruit smoothie each morning and snack on the throughout the day.

    I don't mind the weight loss, is a perk but my main concern is is it unhealthy for my body to lose this much weight at such a fast rate? I know I can be in the mid 130 range without being too thin, I do still carry extra weight as it is, but am on the light side I think do to lack of muscle from being bed bound sick on and off for a year before I was able to pinpoint the foods that were causing me to be sick.
  • tiffanyrcarpenter
    tiffanyrcarpenter Posts: 4 Member
    Good to hear some of you did lose this much weight initially and felt it was still considered healthy. I will try and up my protein to sustain a better calorie goal and I guess I will see how this progresses over the next few weeks. It sounds like the weight loss is just my body adjusting to the reduced and much healthier diet? I used to drink liquor a bit excessively as well and have sobered up completely. If I move towards just a pound a week from here, it would be fine by me but was a bit shocked to see myself nearing the 130s which was my more longtime goal, definitely not expected it this quick. The 6-7 lbs is definitely noticeable. Thanks for not "bashing" my diet as others do! (Coworkers esp) I do feel much better and full of energy. I do think my body would be signaling me if it wasn't enough and it sounds like my body will begin to lose at a slower rate. I don't want to be really thin... I prefer a bit of "meat on my bones" per say. Thanks!
  • Kaylinerst3663
    Kaylinerst3663 Posts: 33 Member
    Nope. There is no such thing as unhealthy weight losses as long as you are eating properly. There are rules about 1% of your weight loss or how aggressive you are allowed to be based on how much you wanna lose, but I don't really pay attention to any of that.

    I have been losing a lot in the last couple days (almost 4 lbs in 4 days) and I have been eating my fill. I figure I should just enjoy it, I know as time goes on losing the lbs will be a lot harder to do.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    Not to be a downer, but it is probably mostly water loss. It should slow down as you continue. If it doesn't slow down, then you might want to consider eating more.

    This.
    @tiffanyrcarpenter, you don't have much to lose, and you're also small, so yes losing over 2 pounds a week would be unhealthy. In fact, it sounds like you don't need to lose any weight at all.
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