What do you think when someone on MFP is losing too fast?

I don't know their story, but when you are over 365lbs like me, even eating right and exercise all the right way. You are gonna just drop more. If someone slightly overweight can drop 1-2 lbs per week someone double or triple their size can easily do 2-4 or more. Its not unhealthy for their weight.

If one does not know all the details about a person's journey, I don't think it is fair to reflexively criticize them or question their methods because they don't follow what you perceive as "the rules".

I know what you mean. I have been actually trying since Jan.3rd.I have lost 10lbs. But I KNOW that is because of a total, complete change in a very unhealthy lifestyle. My weight now should settle in for a couple a week although I would rather it be faster

Well, look at it like this... is it better to be 100+ pounds overweight (killing yourself) or lose a pound a week too fast?? I was 250 pounds overweight and lost 100 pounds in 5 months... yeah, very fast, but I was literally dying. When someone is extremely overweight, I say get it off! I see my doctor every month and they do blood tests, etc and They say everlything (heart, levels, etc) are great! For someone that doesn't have much to lose, I say do 2-3 pounds a week. But otherwise, do what you gotta do to get healthy.

so true! Michelle Bridges from Australias Biggest Loser used to have the opinion that it's not healthy to lose too quickly but now she says that the quicker u get it off the better as u won't lose motivation and, like u said, reduce/eliminate their risks of dying from obesity related issues.

Here's something that I'm frustrated with -

Many, many people on this site are supportive about "smart" ways to lose weight, i.e. don't diet change your lifestyle, aim for 1-2 pounds a week, exercise, etc.

HOWEVER...
I just saw a post of someone's 'success story' with pictures. Now, don't get me wrong, this person looked AMAZING, and I'm sure they (literally) worked their butt off. But then when you read the post, you see they lost 100 pounds in 6 months - that's about 4 pounds a week for half a year. I do realize that everyone is different, and maybe there isn't anything going on here, but it does seem like a bit of a red flag to me.

What really bugged me, is that in hundreds of comments, all I saw was "You go girl!" and "OMG you look HOT I am so jealous!!" Nothing about any health concerns, or asking how she did it. And maybe that's just how it is - that the purpose of MFP is to be supportive of whatever goals people have reached, without digging too deep into the process. But to me it just seems to stink of a bit of hypocrisy - like we're all preaching 'slow and steady' but secretly supporting the idea that the faster you can lose weight, the better.

I'm sure there's many sides to this story, so what are your thoughts? What do you think when you see someone on MFP with "too good to be true" stories?

It could be that they lost a great amount in the first few weeks and then it settled down to between 1 to 3lbs per week.

The heavier somebody is, the faster it comes off at the beginning.

I lost 102 in 6 months......dont focus on the weight. Heaveier people can lose more in a short amount of time. If you lose 100 and youre only 250, maybe a problem---I was 467 and losing the 100+ in a short time was less of a risk than continuing to carry the extra weight. Dont go by established guideleines--they are just that, not hard and fast rules. I still am dropping lately 3 pounds a week and I dont work out 2 days a week and often go to bed far from hungry--everyone is different.

I hear what you're saying and it's understandable to worry about how people are achieving their goals. However, depending on a starting weight and lifestyle, any change in the positive direction can lead to a drastic change in a persons life style.

A person that ate 4,000 calories a day and led a zero activity life goes to a 2,500 calories a day and physical activity 3 times a week is going to shed weight rather quickly...

The fact of the matter is, if you don't eat properly and do the proper exercise, you aren't going to lose weight as efficiently as you would following a proper plan.

I hope people aren't doing things that put their health in danger, but, having the weight to lose in the first place already was...

When I started with almost 100 lbs. to lose as my goal, I lost over 40 lbs. in 3 months (right around 3 lbs. per week avg.), but now that I am almost halfway there I have slowed down to the 1- 2 lbs. per week range. I haven't changed very much in my diet or exercise program, but just assume that the "easy" weight is gone, and now I am losing at a normal rate. Whatever the explanation is, I have felt better every week since I started on MFP, I can now actually run on the treadmill instead of walking at 2.5 mph, and the doctor's reports are all very positive (heart, blood pressure, etc.)

I say, if you feel good and are monitored by a doctor as you take the steps to a healthier lifestyle there is no reason for anyone to judge your particular situation. We are all individuals with our own unique challenges and successes, and the best thing we can do for each other is to offer support and encouragement.

To me there's a difference between advice forums and the success story forum. If someone is asking for opinions then it's ok to me to give them what they asked for. But if they're just saying "hey I did this and I'm proud" then they didn't really ask me anything, so I either say "great job!" or I don't say anything.

I've lost almost 60 lbs since Oct so I'm looking at losing 100 by April. I started out super morbidly obese though so the weight is just melting off. Will it slow eventually, of course but someone lighter and not as overweight as I am cannot compare their weightloss to mine. I am working my *kitten* off and am completely dedicated. Also, don't ASSume someone had weightloss surgery. It CAN be done with good ol' fashioned diet and exercise.

I've lost almost 60 lbs since Oct so I'm looking at losing 100 by April. I started out super morbidly obese though so the weight is just melting off. Will it slow eventually, of course but someone lighter and not as overweight as I am cannot compare their weightloss to mine. I am working my *kitten* off and am completely dedicated. Also, don't ASSume someone had weightloss surgery. It CAN be done with good ol' fashioned diet and exercise.

(CLAP,CLAP,CLAP) Thank you!!

Well, look at it like this... is it better to be 100+ pounds overweight (killing yourself) or lose a pound a week too fast?? I was 250 pounds overweight and lost 100 pounds in 5 months... yeah, very fast, but I was literally dying. When someone is extremely overweight, I say get it off! I see my doctor every month and they do blood tests, etc and They say everlything (heart, levels, etc) are great! For someone that doesn't have much to lose, I say do 2-3 pounds a week. But otherwise, do what you gotta do to get healthy.

PS... I didn't have surgery, I just got extremely motivated. And a larger person tends to lose a lot faster than a smaller overweight person.

that's a misconception that the bigger you are the quicker you lose and more per week...don't know why people think that

It's NOT a misconception... it's my personal experience.

Being a one-pound-a-week girl myself, I also start to wonder when someone on MFP is losing more weight than that. My main concern is if you lose a lot of weight so quickly, will it stay off? Second, what did that other person do to lose so much weight and can I also do it? If I do it, can I sustain it? Will it be safe for me? Etc etc.

I respect the people on the post who said that it's none of our business. And really, at the end of the day, each of us has a very unique way of losing weight.

That's why when someone loses a lot of weight quickly, it's also natural for some of us to wonder if that's okay given all the medical warnings. I'm sure there is no intent to judge or criticize, but only to wonder if WE can also do that safely because wouldn't we all want to lose the weight already?!

MFP is a community: we support each other and we care about all the members who want to lose weight. So, having joined this community, I don't think I'll ever say it's none of my damn business if you have a heart attack while crash dieting. I mean, you have to speak up if you see something's wrong.

Like recently, someone told me about HGC hormone (the kind that a pregnant woman releases and shows up on the pregnancy test) as a way of losing weight fast. She said her friends lost so much weight on it (like 15 pounds in a month) and she was thinking of trying it but was afraid. So I asked a doctor and he told me that hormones are a risky thing because they can trigger cancers, just like the breast cancers that developed on women who had hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause. So I told my friend and she didn't do it anymore.

What I find offensive are people who -- out of envy and spite -- tell you that you've already lost too much weight, when you -- who's constantly looking up your ideal BMI, your proper BMR and who weighs yourself every day -- know that you still have 20 pounds to go. I mean: Hello!! How obvious can your envy get??

There IS a difference between concern and envy, and we at MFP know that difference. So excuse me for now, while I recalculate my BMI and BMR, and weigh myself again.

Well, look at it like this... is it better to be 100+ pounds overweight (killing yourself) or lose a pound a week too fast?? I was 250 pounds overweight and lost 100 pounds in 5 months... yeah, very fast, but I was literally dying. When someone is extremely overweight, I say get it off! I see my doctor every month and they do blood tests, etc and They say everlything (heart, levels, etc) are great! For someone that doesn't have much to lose, I say do 2-3 pounds a week. But otherwise, do what you gotta do to get healthy.

AMEN