Why is rapid weight loss unhealthy?

sarah2954
sarah2954 Posts: 291 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I started MFP on 1/16/12 and have lost just shy of 40 pounds. So that averages to a little less than half a pound a day, more than the recommended rate. It came off quicker at first, but I'm still losing rapidly. I weigh every two or three days and always lose .5 - 1 pound. My fiance started MFP a few days after me and he's lost 50 pounds (he started at 352, 2200 calories a day - I think - and now he's at 302 and 1830 calories/day). So he's also losing very fast.

I eat 1200 calroies a day and don't exercise, although I'm active - chasing kids and walking around campus and downtown. I'm fine on 1200, I'm not hungry. I eat lots of veggies and low cal foods so I'm full. I was following it strictly until the last month, I've let myself have a few cheat days, three I believe (the highest one I ate 1450 lol).

I'm thrilled with my weigh loss and pace, I'm not hungry, I feel good, and I have lots of energy. So why would losing weight at this pace be unhealthy?

Replies

  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
    IMO it isn't unhealthy as long as you are getting the macro nutrients you need. However, the method with which it's done sometimes (having to workout for several hours a day), may not be something that can be sustained, and thats why people gain back the weight.

    Losing weight by a method you will be able to maintain for life is what's recommended for that reason. If its not a routine you can do day in and day out, it's probably not the best approach to take.
  • Skye1999
    Skye1999 Posts: 29
    Wish I knew what you are doing to lose that much. I eat about 1200 cals a day, but for over a week now I have lost no weight, so getting a bit dispondent.
  • mammothdoll
    mammothdoll Posts: 54 Member
    Sounds as though you have a good thing going. If your body isn't complaining, why worry?
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    It can be unhealthy because it can mess up your metabolism something fierce.
  • mammothdoll
    mammothdoll Posts: 54 Member
    One question--what kind of lifestyle were you leading before deciding to embark on weight loss?
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    IMO it isn't unhealthy as long as you are getting the macro nutrients you need. However, the method with which it's done sometimes (having to workout for several hours a day), may not be something that can be sustained, and thats why people gain back the weight.

    Losing weight by a method you will be able to maintain for life is what's recommended for that reason. If its not a routine you can do day in and day out, it's probably not the best approach to take.

    I agree with this. The problem with 1200 calories a day is that there's not much wiggle room for indulgences. You have to eat carefully to get the nutrients you need. (Less than 1200 and you have to be even more careful). That type of careful eating can be hard to sustain and most people fall off the wagon and gain all the weight back.

    Losing slowly is recommended because your odds of LONG TERM success are higher. You'll lose faster on a high deficit. You'll do better in the long run (most likely) on a modest deficit.

    But yes... as long as you're getting the nutrients you need (note: nutrients, not just calories), you're probably not going to damage your health significantly.

    Your metabolism might slow down... but the studies I've read suggest a drop of something like 15%, which isn't great, but isn't the end of the world either.
  • sarah2954
    sarah2954 Posts: 291 Member
    Losing weight by a method you will be able to maintain for life is what's recommended for that reason. If its not a routine you can do day in and day out, it's probably not the best approach to take.

    That makes sense. When I'm at my goal, MFP says I'll need 1460 to maintain, which is doable for me.
  • sarah2954
    sarah2954 Posts: 291 Member
    One question--what kind of lifestyle were you leading before deciding to embark on weight loss?

    Exactly the same as now, only I ate large amounts of food, mostly crap. I was definitely not getting the nutrients I needed then! I didn't start logging until I started my diet, I wish I had logged a week before I dropped to 1200 to see what I was eating! But knowing what I know now and looking back, I would guess I ate 3000/day on average.
  • sarah2954
    sarah2954 Posts: 291 Member
    Wish I knew what you are doing to lose that much. I eat about 1200 cals a day, but for over a week now I have lost no weight, so getting a bit dispondent.

    I'm a naturally thin person, I didn't carry the extra weight well. My body was screaming to lose the weight. For you, maybe 1200 isn't enough?
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    Sarah do you know how much of the weight loss is fat? I would just be concerned with muscle loss if not doing resistance training and if protein not sufficient.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    The biggest problem with rapid weight loss is that a lot of the weight you lose would be muscle. Reducing muscle will slow your metabolism over time and lead to a plateau. Now keep in mind a lot of you weight loss is water at first. Since you are a mom you should set your goal at lightly active.

    I will caveat with saying if you have 100+ lbs to lose then rapid weight loss isnt too bad but if you have 20lbs to lose then its bad.
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