What is the average number of pounds to lose per week?

monih10
monih10 Posts: 577 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Some people say 1-2 pounds per week....but then I have heard that it's not unusual to lose up to 5 or more per week. Losing 5 pounds per week seems like a lot to me. What do you think?

Replies

  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    The less you have to lose the smaller that number would be. with the amount you have to lose you should expect 0.5 to 1lb/week and I would not set my goal any higher than 1 lb/week given the amount you have to lose.
  • Tonnina
    Tonnina Posts: 979 Member
    The more obese you are the faster your weight loss will be... and thus the more pounds lost in a week. It could be anywhere from .5lbs to as many as 4or 5lbs a week just depending on activity level, amount of weight to lose, calorie intake and metabolism.
  • Marks5710
    Marks5710 Posts: 4 Member
    1-2
  • GeekMom17
    GeekMom17 Posts: 51
    When I had a lot more to lose it was usually 2 or more pounds a week but, now that I'm closer to my goal I've stalled and before that I was losing about a pound(ish) a week.

    I've been reading that if you stall you need to kick up your work out and that a lot of problems stem from too much cardio and not enough strength training but, I can't stand lifting weights!
  • GaiaGirl1992
    GaiaGirl1992 Posts: 459 Member
    when you first start, you may be losing water weight. I easily lost 5 lbs at the start of this, but now I think I'm closer to 2-3 a month later
  • megarooni
    megarooni Posts: 50 Member
    I lost 5 lbs in my first week and a half. I was not totally surprised by it, because I had not been getting any quality exercise. I also had no idea what kind of calories I was taking in each day. I am now watching what I am putting into my body a lot closer and I do not expect to have a week where I drop that much again for awhile, if ever. But the heavier you are the easier it will be to lose in the beginning. If you've ever watched Biggest Loser, in the beginning they have massive numbers, and as the season goes on the numbers get smaller and smaller even though they are working as hard.
  • SpaceMarkus
    SpaceMarkus Posts: 651
    Everyone's pretty much said it. When you finally get to losing fat you don't want to go above 2 lbs a week. Your body needs to adjust.
  • monih10
    monih10 Posts: 577 Member
    Thanks everyone!! I think I am going to set my goal to about 2 lbs per week....I was just concerned because I had lost 3-5 pounds per week in the first 2 weeks....
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Thanks everyone!! I think I am going to set my goal to about 2 lbs per week....I was just concerned because I had lost 3-5 pounds per week in the first 2 weeks....

    where you have less than 15 lbs to lose your should not set your goal to lose more than 1 lb/week (recommend 0.5 lbs/week) otherwise you risk burning a large % of lean muscle mass, not just fat.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    For me, Average would be a little over 0.5lbs. I would say unless you are very overweight, 2 lbs a week loss is too much.
  • monih10
    monih10 Posts: 577 Member
    My current weight is 149 lbs....and I'm 5'3".....so....1 lb a week should be sufficient!! Thanks for all the info!!
  • monih10
    monih10 Posts: 577 Member
    Thanks everyone!! I think I am going to set my goal to about 2 lbs per week....I was just concerned because I had lost 3-5 pounds per week in the first 2 weeks....

    where you have less than 15 lbs to lose your should not set your goal to lose more than 1 lb/week (recommend 0.5 lbs/week) otherwise you risk burning a large % of lean muscle mass, not just fat.

    Thanks so much for the info!!
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