Is it expecting too much to want to lose 10 lbs a month?

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Replies

  • getalife9353
    getalife9353 Posts: 100 Member
    Depends on you.

    MFP recommends 1 lb per week and a max of 2 lb per week. I think this is a little ridicules as a 150 pound person trying to lose 2 lbs per week is a lot different than a 250 lb person trying to lose 2 lbs a week.

    A better goal would be to base it on % of your current weight. From what I have read on several websites it seems that 1% of your current body weight per week is the maximum healthy weight lose. And even this may be difficult for most people to achieve.

    So a 150 lb person losing 1% per week is going to lose about 6 lbs per month. (1.5 lb per week)
    A 250 lb person losing 1% per week is going to lose about 10 lbs per month. (2.5 lb per week)

    I’ve been averaging .8 % per week since the beginning of Dec 2011.
  • neaneawy
    neaneawy Posts: 146 Member
    My goals sound similar to yours. I'm 5'9" and started at 220. I've been doing MFP for 35 days and I've lost 15 lbs so far. I have my weight loss set to 2 lbs per week. I try to exercise 6 days a week and I eat back by exercise cals. I find it difficult to stay under my cals if I don't. Sometimes it doesn't work out though. I have 3 little ones at home I chase all day. I do go over some days, but I think I underestimate my activity levels most of the time. I also include a sweet almost every day, skinny cows, natures best cookies. I feel like if I don't let myself have any sweets then I'll completely blow it. I know the weight loss will probably slow, but for now I really want to get down under 200 so I won't be obese anymore. I'm hoping to be at 170 by June. That's the top end of a healthy weight for me. Then we'll see where it goes from there.
  • brookelittle
    brookelittle Posts: 32
    I have to eat a sweet per day too! I was told by another weight loss program that, based on my nutrional needs and the way certain food make me feel, that I was a "slow oxidizer". That basically means that I don't break down the big heavy meaty meals as well and that I process carbs better than the average person!! YAY ME! So fruit, a portioned sweet, or some sort of bread is a must for me! If you feel bloated and sleepy after a steak dinner and can't do the low carb diet without DYING (like me) then you might be in the same boat as me! Just thought I'd share!! You could probably do some research online about it if you want. I thought it was neat but you may not?
  • tnorth82
    tnorth82 Posts: 186
    I set a goal of 14lb in 5 weeks.... never hapened, only got 5 off! I used to lose 14 like that *click fingers*

    best of luck to you xx
  • CallmeSbo
    CallmeSbo Posts: 611 Member
    It happened once for me. The week i began this journey. And i was eating a mere 1200 calories if i was lucky. Now im loosing between 5 and 6 pounds a week :-( my intake is now 1400 to 1600
  • CallmeSbo
    CallmeSbo Posts: 611 Member
    I have to eat a sweet per day too! I was told by another weight loss program that, based on my nutrional needs and the way certain food make me feel, that I was a "slow oxidizer". That basically means that I don't break down the big heavy meaty meals as well and that I process carbs better than the average person!! YAY ME! So fruit, a portioned sweet, or some sort of bread is a must for me! If you feel bloated and sleepy after a steak dinner and can't do the low carb diet without DYING (like me) then you might be in the same boat as me! Just thought I'd share!! You could probably do some research online about it if you want. I thought it was neat but you may not?
    me too. So thats what it is? I should get this tested so im sure. I even went vegetarian for a year and i was very happy. Im allergic to fish, dont like red meat much and can only eat chicken(it has to be the breast part).
  • yuckidah
    yuckidah Posts: 290 Member
    I've lost 15 in 5 weeks, so no 10 is not asking too much :smile:
    I lost 7lb in the first 2wks but then came on here whinging about gaining 0.5lb at my week 3 weigh in. Then I lost nothing else (except that 0.5) in week 4 (even though I was exercising and eating under 1200 every single day). Finally though (thank goodness!) everything that needed to kick in has kicked in and this morning I had lost a further 7lbs.
    All my hard work is finally paying off, and it's such a better feeling that how discouraged I was at weeks 3 & 4.
    So, what I'm trying to say, lol, is don't feel disappointed after 1 month if the scales aren't saying what you want/hope they will - it might take another week or two for the results to even out.
    Good luck!
  • yuckidah
    yuckidah Posts: 290 Member
    It happened once for me. The week i began this journey. And i was eating a mere 1200 calories if i was lucky. Now im loosing between 5 and 6 pounds a week :-( my intake is now 1400 to 1600

    5-6lbs a week & you've got a sad face?
    I'd be THRILLED!
    (What's the secret?)
  • houstonmacbro
    houstonmacbro Posts: 99 Member
    When I first started I lost about 10 pounds a month. But I was VERY overweight. Now I am lucky to lose 4.
    So I think it really depends on how much you have to lose.

    Ditto ... my early weight loss was 2+ lbs a week for the first 20 ... it has now slowed down to .5 - 1 lb a week, which is okay with me. Just remember, this is not a race and it didn't get ON your body in a week, so it's not all going to come off in a week.
  • hannata86
    hannata86 Posts: 57
    I would say its possible in the first month, but after that it does settle into a normal pattern. I personally think most people would be hard pushed to lose 2lb a week every single week. Human bodies don't work that way...
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I lost 10 pounds a month for the first three months, but the rate has slowed down substantially since then. The pace was nice while it lasted - gave me some momentum, but the body has it's own rhythms and for me it wasn't sustainable to keep that pace going. It's okay though. I'll still be here however long it takes to reach my goal.
    Same here - I got spoiled and thought this was how it was going to be.
    I was losing about 5 lbs a week for 3 weeks...:drinker:
    My progress stabilized to a 2 lb per week loss, then 1 lbs.
    I reached my goals right on schedule.

    I set new goals, then upped my calories, ate to maintenance for 2 months and am now losing about a half pound per week.
    Slow is better than fast.
    Remember, it's about optimal health more than mere weight loss.
    Healthy, permanent weight loss beats that alternative of stifled metabolism, unhealthy skinny fat which becomes fat fat once the weight creeps back on.

    I want to avoid that trap.
  • CallmeSbo
    CallmeSbo Posts: 611 Member
    It happened once for me. The week i began this journey. And i was eating a mere 1200 calories if i was lucky. Now im loosing between 5 and 6 pounds a week :-( my intake is now 1400 to 1600

    5-6lbs a week & you've got a sad face?
    I'd be THRILLED!
    (What's the secret?)
    Im sorry thats a typo error. I now lose 5to6pounds a month NOT a week.
  • SusanRenee35
    SusanRenee35 Posts: 182 Member
    I guess I'm just gonna work my tail off at the gym, eat right & see what this body does! OH! and drink more water! I am sure as I get closer to goal it will slow down...hoping it doesn't for at least a few more months :drinker: :bigsmile: :wink:
  • tegla
    tegla Posts: 132
    Might I just add for everyone who is complaining about losing 10lbs per month... It is safest to lose 1-2 lbs per week... There are 4-5 weeks in each month which equals 8-10 lbs of weight loss per month... I have lost 12 lbs a month for the last 3 months and did not starve myself.. did not over excercise... I walk sometimes... I use my elliptical sometimes... mix that with a really unstable performance of P90X and cleaning the house liberally atleast twice a week and my weight is coming off!! I was a size 22 and am now a size 18 and the new pants are getting loose. Just do your best and forget the rest... My suggestion is to only set a goal on overall weightloss..ie. I started at 5"11 264lbs and I won't stop until I'm 165lbs.. When you set monthly goals you will be discouraged because we all hit a point where we will have to work harder to lose weight and at first (if your working out) you will even gain weight because the volume of muscle vs the volume of fat weighs more! Think about how small your 16oz steak is vs if you tried to scoop a pound of crisco!! Measure yourself... never give up! Have fun with it... if you get tired of walking then try dancing while you get ready for work... anything to get you moving!!! I'm no professional and I can only tell you what has worked for me. I hope this helps!

    THIS ! I'm just a regular woman and it works!
  • mollyjackson82
    mollyjackson82 Posts: 128
    That used to be a healthy amount each month & now it seems it is only 5...I want & have set my goals to go down each month 10 lbs....am I being unrealistic?
    Yes, you will fail in the end more than likely.
    Starvation diets don't work.
    Why?
    Because if your calorie deficit is too great you can easily suffer from
    loss of muscle mass (slows down your metabolism) and impaired general progress.
    You have to find what is right for you but you also need to remember that your body
    is a machine and without the right type and amount of fuel there could be problems
    either with loss of muscle, loss of energy, less weight loss/plateaus, etc.

    Stick with the MFP recommendations.
    Set your goals for 1 lb weight loss per week.
    NO MORE!
    And eat lean meats, low fat dairy, nuts, whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies.
    Do both cardio and resistance exercise.

    AND EAT BACK YOUR EXERCISE CALORIES!
    Remember, this is not a race, and you can reach your goals if you stick to a good plan as recommended on this site.

    You have many people here ready to lend support, answer qustions and discuss any challenges.
    You can do this.

    All Is Possible!

    exactly. this is the healthy way and most likely way to keep it off in the long run. make it a lifestyle change and not a diet.
  • mollyjackson82
    mollyjackson82 Posts: 128
    Might I just add for everyone who is complaining about losing 10lbs per month... It is safest to lose 1-2 lbs per week... There are 4-5 weeks in each month which equals 8-10 lbs of weight loss per month... I have lost 12 lbs a month for the last 3 months and did not starve myself.. did not over excercise... I walk sometimes... I use my elliptical sometimes... mix that with a really unstable performance of P90X and cleaning the house liberally atleast twice a week and my weight is coming off!! I was a size 22 and am now a size 18 and the new pants are getting loose. Just do your best and forget the rest... My suggestion is to only set a goal on overall weightloss..ie. I started at 5"11 264lbs and I won't stop until I'm 165lbs.. When you set monthly goals you will be discouraged because we all hit a point where we will have to work harder to lose weight and at first (if your working out) you will even gain weight because the volume of muscle vs the volume of fat weighs more! Think about how small your 16oz steak is vs if you tried to scoop a pound of crisco!! Measure yourself... never give up! Have fun with it... if you get tired of walking then try dancing while you get ready for work... anything to get you moving!!! I'm no professional and I can only tell you what has worked for me. I hope this helps!

    THIS ! I'm just a regular woman and it works!

    I would say more like 4 weeks in a month and that is 4-8 pounds a month. even 5 weeks in a month would be 5-10 pounds a month not 8-10.
  • brookelittle
    brookelittle Posts: 32
    Yes you succeeded in making me look like an idiot but I was calculating MAX weight... you got the point. lol! : ) But if we get technical there are 52 weeks in a year, divide that by 12 and you get 4.3 months... equals a range of 4.3 lbs- 8.6 lbs... I'm very friendly but I discourage you to throw numbers my way.. I am very capable of simple addition and subtraction and lack none in the algebra department either! Obviously we are both sarcastic if you want to be so please just do not respond... I do not think I am smarter than you or anyone else on here and you should not either. The only reason I responded to the message board was because so many just assumed that she was losing weight in an unhealthy manner and jumped down her throat instead of offering simple advice. And opinions are like an *kitten*... everybody's got one! What we should be offering are are self stories.. so that others can take them for what they are! Compare their situation to the stories offered and make their own decisions based on what has or hasn't worked for others! Science is wonderful but no one is capable of sticking to a PERFECT diet! You have to combine things that work for you and be able to feel good about the decisions you make! If she is losing 10 pounds a month it is not our place to hate on her but to encourage her to make sure that she is doing it in a healthy manner IF that is what she desires! Soap dish END!
  • egordon81
    egordon81 Posts: 6 Member
    Like many have said before, it really depends on your body and where you're starting. I started in September, being 5'11" and 378. I have since lost on average 15 lbs a month. I have my weekly goals, but some weeks are better than others. Don't go weighing yourself multiple times a day. And overall, I wouldn't focus on the numbers. Go with how you feel. Work hard, eat healthy, surround yourself with great support and you'll get there.
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