Losing 2-3 pounds per week

Bob314159
Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
edited November 25 in Social Groups
I started doing Keto a few weeks ago with my primary goal not being weight loss. My digestion has improved incredibly - e.g. I can eat meat without getting acid stomach and gas. I also happened to have lost 18 pounds at about 2lbs per week. I don't count or limit calories - just limit carbs. I don't get hungry, but am still eating more than I should when I'm satiated.

In the last week - things have changed, that I now have more of a drive to lose weight. I need to go to a family event at the end of December and I would like to up my weight loss to 2.5 or 3 pounds per week. That gets me to a nicer position (though still not my goal weight) to get a new suit.

How I do this?

Replies

  • creepykbear
    creepykbear Posts: 69 Member
    Limit your portions (maybe about 6oz meat, 1 cup veggies).
    Sub in a protein shake for a meal or two
    Reduce some of the higher fat foods
    Increase protein even more
    Exercise -or if you already are kick it up a notch either length or intensity
  • lodro
    lodro Posts: 982 Member
    Increase protein even more? I question the general wisdom of that. Also the "reduce some of the higher fat foods". If you want to lose weight, eat at a greater deficit 2lbs/week is really plenty. The new suit might fit regardless because of body recomposition. Track inches as well as weight.
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    How much do you currently weigh?

    Unless you are extremely overweight, it is not recommended to lose more than 2lbs a week as you will be losing lean body mass (muscle).
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    It's not necessary to eat less fat and more protein. That sounds like habitual "eat less fat to lose weight" thinking to me.
    You will need to track calories and resist any desire to overeat to achieve further weight loss long term. I wouldn't go into it with the thought of losing 2.5-3 lbs consistently every week as an expectation though. You could do that, but who knows. You may not need to lose that much to see a big difference though, like @lodro mentioned. That's a suite aggressive goal, and depending what your current weight is, might be a bad idea.
    Use one of the macro calculators to set a decent calorie goal and start tracking. Or just be more aware of your eating beyond being satisfied and stop earlier. You've been losing very well so far, if you just can make that simple change, it might be enough to keep your success going at a good rate.
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    Currently 251, target for year end 225, final target 180 - daily walk 4K [really should be 8k but I can't find the time to do it], kettlebell work out 3 times per week - but not intense
    bluefish86 wrote: »
    How much do you currently weigh?

    Unless you are extremely overweight, it is not recommended to lose more than 2lbs a week as you will be losing lean body mass (muscle).

  • JodehFoster
    JodehFoster Posts: 419 Member
    what is your avg carb intake per day? You mention you are "limiting" them, just wondering if you have some wiggle room to drop them lower.

    Even though that rate of loss is not recommended, with your current weight & exercise, your goal for year end could easily be obtained.
  • Jbarnes1210
    Jbarnes1210 Posts: 308 Member
    I think that loss can be attainable in the beginning, but the more you loose, the slower it will get. In the beginning of my weight loss journey I was able to loose 5lbs some weeks, my first month was 27lbs! Now I've lost 105lbs, and sometimes it takes a whole month to loose 3lbs!
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    Yeah I have carb space - I'm running about 25 carbs a day - with some restraint I could get it to 20, 15 sounds too hard
    what is your avg carb intake per day? You mention you are "limiting" them, just wondering if you have some wiggle room to drop them lower.

    Even though that rate of loss is not recommended, with your current weight & exercise, your goal for year end could easily be obtained.

  • AngInCanada
    AngInCanada Posts: 947 Member
    I would be VERY hesitant to drop your fat intake and up your carbs. For me and I think most others, it would be the opposite. Could you drop your carbs to 20 and add a couple HIIT sessions a week in? That might help drop a little quicker.
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    Honestly, I would focus on the tape measure. The scale means almost nothing. I have dropped only 20 pounds since the beginning (262 to 243/245) since January, but I HAVE DROPPED 3 PANTS SIZES!!! Focus on sticking with your dietary changes, keep that fat up, and you will continue burning fat. Push those carbs as low as you can each day (it will help with managing cravings, making binge damages minimal, etc.)... Don't drop your cals... You'll swell/retain water if you add in workouts for about the first month, but the body recomp would be worth it in 2 months...

    Up to you how to take it, but forget the notion of losing faster. Your body has found it's pace. Allow it to keep progressing, and I bet it will surprise you.
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    Yesterday I had to punch another hole in my belt - 1" less, and I need to go to a lower size in pants. I've lost 3 or 4 inches since since June. I went one size lower in shirt last month. I have no plans in lowering fat intake, will try to drop 5 carbs a day.
    KnitOrMiss wrote: »
    Honestly, I would focus on the tape measure. The scale means almost nothing. I have dropped only 20 pounds since the beginning (262 to 243/245) since January, but I HAVE DROPPED 3 PANTS SIZES!!! Focus on sticking with your dietary changes, keep that fat up, and you will continue burning fat. Push those carbs as low as you can each day (it will help with managing cravings, making binge damages minimal, etc.)... Don't drop your cals... You'll swell/retain water if you add in workouts for about the first month, but the body recomp would be worth it in 2 months...

    Up to you how to take it, but forget the notion of losing faster. Your body has found it's pace. Allow it to keep progressing, and I bet it will surprise you.

  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    edited October 2015
    Bob314159 wrote: »
    Yesterday I had to punch another hole in my belt - 1" less, and I need to go to a lower size in pants. I've lost 3 or 4 inches since since June. I went one size lower in shirt last month. I have no plans in lowering fat intake, will try to drop 5 carbs a day.
    KnitOrMiss wrote: »
    Honestly, I would focus on the tape measure. The scale means almost nothing. I have dropped only 20 pounds since the beginning (262 to 243/245) since January, but I HAVE DROPPED 3 PANTS SIZES!!! Focus on sticking with your dietary changes, keep that fat up, and you will continue burning fat. Push those carbs as low as you can each day (it will help with managing cravings, making binge damages minimal, etc.)... Don't drop your cals... You'll swell/retain water if you add in workouts for about the first month, but the body recomp would be worth it in 2 months...

    Up to you how to take it, but forget the notion of losing faster. Your body has found it's pace. Allow it to keep progressing, and I bet it will surprise you.

    5 grams of carbs isn't necessary, unless you're doing a test run of carnivore... Just focus on doing what you can, and don't allow that food creep beyond full. Because what you're doing is obviously working, and sometimes when we tweak things, we screw it all up! LOL
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    I'm now seeing this is not so easy to make the adjustments and keep all in balance. I'm on a modified keto plan, where I have 5 tbs of coconut oil a day - that's 600 cal of a total caloric intake of 1500- can't cut that. If I cut other fats it removes a lot of possible food. I can't cut protein to much as I'm not eating enough of it right now. The carbs I eat have few calories. :s

  • karlaweymier
    karlaweymier Posts: 7 Member
    Even if the carbs have few calories - they will have the sugars that can throw things off. Make sure any carbs you eat are not table sugars that have nothing good for your body. Also - are you counting total carbs or net carbs?
  • DittoDan
    DittoDan Posts: 1,850 Member
    Water fast once a week.

    Dan the Man from Michigan
    Keto / The Recipe Water Fasting / E.A.S.Y. Exercise Program
    Current weight: 198.5, 115.5 pounds down, 19.5 to go. 13 months on diet
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    Why that rather than eat daily 6/7ths of what I now eat?
    DittoDan wrote: »
    Water fast once a week.

    Dan the Man from Michigan
    Keto / The Recipe Water Fasting / E.A.S.Y. Exercise Program
    Current weight: 198.5, 115.5 pounds down, 19.5 to go. 13 months on diet

  • DittoDan
    DittoDan Posts: 1,850 Member
    Because water fasting has another dynamic to it. Try it you'll like the results.

    Dan
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    I have been heading in that direction - some days I skipped breakfast, forgot lunch and had dinner at 8pm. So it's do-able.
  • KnitOrMiss
    KnitOrMiss Posts: 10,103 Member
    edited October 2015
    There is a boost of ketones and fat burning you get when water fasting. It's hard to explain until you do it... It basically allows your whole sugar/insulin system to reset and restart, lower, etc. I personally thing the fat burn and energy increases exponentially due to the continuous burn. It's hard to lower your day by 15% or so - regularly and continuously (that much of a deficit wears you down and wears you out!!), but relatively easy to incorporate some type of intermittent or extended water fast in your week... Good luck!
  • totaloblivia
    totaloblivia Posts: 1,164 Member
    Bob314159 wrote: »
    I have been heading in that direction - some days I skipped breakfast, forgot lunch and had dinner at 8pm. So it's do-able.

    I agree with Dan. It's simple, saves time and money and has proven health benefits.
This discussion has been closed.