Losing 3-4 pounds a week too much?

Porshiana
Porshiana Posts: 20 Member
edited October 2017 in Health and Weight Loss
I started dieting on September 1st.it's October 11 and I've lost 19 pounds. My fitness pal suggested I eat 1200 calories a day to lose 2 lbs a week.

I generally eat between 1200-1500 a day. Only 3 times have I went under, coming in at 1125-1175.I also attend a weight loss support group. I weigh in on Thursday and if I've lost (I always have) then I go out for Macy's yogurt with all the toppings I want. That alone comes to like 900 calories, so I hit like 1800-2100 calories on Thurs.


Yet I'm losing 3-4 pound a week. So, why am I losing so much? I have no idea, but I'm certainly not starving or anorexic or on a fad diet. All these warnings about losing too much too fast scare me. Has any one else experienced anything like this? Do you think it's unhealthy?

Thanks

Replies

  • Unknown
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  • belleflop
    belleflop Posts: 154 Member
    If you are eating to mfp settings and still losing this much it's probably normal. When you first start dieting or exercising it's not uncommon to see big loses the first weeks and months. Just don't expect to keep losing this much so fast as you continue your journey as your weight loss will eventually stabilize to a slower pace. Remember weight loss is not linear.
  • davidylin
    davidylin Posts: 228 Member
    An initial rush in weight loss when beginning a dietary reduction is not uncommon. A reduction in electrolyte intake (sodium, potassium, etc.,) and good bowel movements can push a lot of junk and retained water out of your body. I would be concerned if this rate of weight loss continued over another few more weeks. Are you feeling alright day-to-day and have no trouble getting through your days? No dizziness, faintness, or extreme hunger, etc?
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    How much do you weigh?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Unless you have over 100 lbs to lose that's more than you should be losing each week. Faster isn't always better. Being healthy should be something you want to achieve along with the weight loss. Now with that said if you have over 100 to lose - 1200 is probably way too low of a calorie goal but larger losses can be achieved without as much worry.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    Unless you weigh 300-400 pounds to start, an average weight loss of 3-4 pounds weekly is probably not the healthiest plan. (Ignore the first 2-3 weeks when you average, if they were especially high losses.)

    Calorie needs calculators, like the one built into MFP, give you an estimate based on large-group research studies. Essentially, the calories it gives you are the average for people your size/age/etc. Most people are close to the average. A very few aren't.

    Once you have 6 weeks or so of actual results, you should adjust based on your own results. Losing 1% of your body weight weekly (less if within 25-50 pounds of goal) is a conservative target. The calculators just give you a starting estimate.

    MFP gave me 1200 to start, too. I lost steadily at a pound and more a week eating 1400-1600. I'm 61, 5'5", sedentary outside of intentional exercise, weight in the 120s now that I'm in maintenance. MFP thinks I'd maintain somewhere around 1500 net calories. I actually maintain somewhere in the mid-2000s.

    You might find this article interesting:

    https://examine.com/nutrition/does-metabolism-vary-between-two-people/
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    OP, are you exercising and not eating the additional exercise calories? Are you more active than what you've set MFP for (perhaps more active than you realise) in your day to day (non-exercise) activity? How are you tracking your food intake? Are you using digital scales to weigh your food, or are you guessing (yes, some people do overestimate calories rather than underestimate!)? And also seconding Kriss's suggestion that a 1200 calorie goal may not be appropriate for you.

    But, we need more info before we can help you, otherwise we're just guessing.
  • ShawShaw34
    ShawShaw34 Posts: 3 Member
    Porshiana wrote: »
    I started dieting on September 1st.it's October 11 and I've lost 19 pounds. My fitness pal suggested I eat 1200 calories a day to lose 2 lbs a week.

    I generally eat between 1200-1500 a day. Only 3 times have I went under, coming in at 1125-1175.I also attend a weight loss support group. I weigh in on Thursday and if I've lost (I always have) then I go out for Macy's yogurt with all the toppings I want. That alone comes to like 900 calories, so I hit like 1800-2100 calories on Thurs.


    Yet I'm losing 3-4 pound a week. So, why am I losing so much? I have no idea, but I'm certainly not starving or anorexic or on a fad diet. All these warnings about losing too much too fast scare me. Has any one else experienced anything like this? Do you think it's unhealthy?

    Thanks

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