needasolution
11-18-2003, 11:51 PM
I noticed there are a lot of posts that say that people should only lose weight at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week. I later read a medical study that said that it is perfectly safe to lose weight faster than that as long as you exercise. Well, i decided to just exercise and not change my eating habits and I have lost 4 pounds in 2 weeks. And I actually ate more because the exercise made me hungry and AF is here so I will hopefully be losing more. So 2 lbs a week is a joke. If I dieted I'm sure I could've lost more!
Sponsor
maak823
11-19-2003, 10:20 AM
It is true that you can lose more than 2lbs a week- I have done it also. This is just what the Doctors reccomend as "healthy" weight loss. Due to the fact that if you lose it too quickly- you are more likely to gain it back.
DonutsNCoffee
11-19-2003, 10:28 AM
You read A study. Problem is there's a ton of other studies that say 2 pounds a week is the maximum you should try to lose. First, the body cannot metabolize fat at a faster rate. There are limits to how fast fat can moved out of fat cells, how fast it can be converted to usable energy, and how fast the body can burn it. Second, your body is very aware of fluctuations in weight and if it changes too quickly, it will think you're in a crisis. This is why people who try to lose weight too quickly will lost muscle. The body sees you dieting to lose more than 2 pounds a week so it tries to lighten your metabolic load by breaking down muscle. Weight loss requires patience which very few people have. I'm sure if you dieted, you could lose more weight. But don't you want to retain bone and muscle mass?
maak823
11-19-2003, 10:35 AM
It is true, if you lose it too quickly and do not excersize- you will lose muscle as well- I excersized, changed my eating habits, and kickstarted it with and ephedra based supplement- which is good for some, not for others- I did not have any of the negative side effects, however; I took it as directed and only for the 12 weeks that you are supposed to. I went from 226 to 150 in a little less than a year. I have kept it off- but still need to lose 20 more lbs to get to my goal weight. That last 20 is a pain in the butt. I will agree that you must excersize, drink plenty of water and eat right. It is a lifestyle change- you have to change your habits in order to be successful with it. I no longer eat many carbohydrates, only have one soda a day and drink about a gallon of water a day. You don't have to starve yourself or cut out everything that you like to eat either- just reduce your portions- I never starved or deprived myself of an ice cream now and then or some fast food- just stopped the "Biggie" size and ordered a kids meal instead!
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Gobi
11-19-2003, 10:37 AM
I think what your doing right now is fine. You've started exercising which is great and you've up you calorie intake a little which will help you build muscle while you losing fat. I've lost 45 pounds in the last 6 months by doing exactly that. I've got forty more to go so now the diet will have to come into serious play. Just make sure you eat clean (that's the buzz word that weightlifter's use for how you should eat while in training.) by eating a low fat high protein diet with complex carbs to keep your energy up. Don't go in for any of these fad diets like Atkins. It's also a good idea to take a multivitamin to round out your diet.
Don't be impatient. I know it's hard believe me, but the previous posts are exactly right in telling you that losing about 2 to 3 pounds is the max for losing the weight in a healthy manner.
I'm glad I lost all that weight by simply working out and trying to eat less fat. Now I have a whole arsenal of diets to choose from to kill the remaining weight once I plateau. It hasn't happened yet though. I did stop losing for about a week so I just changed my workout routine.
Patience is bitter, but it's reward is sweet.
I know once I get down to my goal I'll have a lot easier time keeping it off thanks to the amount of muscle I'm putting on and a generally healthier lifestyle. Not to mention i lost the weight in a slow controlled manner.
PS - One more thing. Losing the wieght at a slower rate let's your skin re-adjust. Make sure you make weightlifting part of your workout and your golden.
Don't be impatient. I know it's hard believe me, but the previous posts are exactly right in telling you that losing about 2 to 3 pounds is the max for losing the weight in a healthy manner.
I'm glad I lost all that weight by simply working out and trying to eat less fat. Now I have a whole arsenal of diets to choose from to kill the remaining weight once I plateau. It hasn't happened yet though. I did stop losing for about a week so I just changed my workout routine.
Patience is bitter, but it's reward is sweet.
I know once I get down to my goal I'll have a lot easier time keeping it off thanks to the amount of muscle I'm putting on and a generally healthier lifestyle. Not to mention i lost the weight in a slow controlled manner.
PS - One more thing. Losing the wieght at a slower rate let's your skin re-adjust. Make sure you make weightlifting part of your workout and your golden.
needasolution
11-19-2003, 12:29 PM
yes thats the problem with Medical studies-- they all contradict each other.
I believe that you can lose weight in a "healthy" matter faster than 2 pounds a week. Many people have done it and I think that it is very possible to lose more.
I believe that you can lose weight in a "healthy" matter faster than 2 pounds a week. Many people have done it and I think that it is very possible to lose more.
DonutsNCoffee
11-19-2003, 12:57 PM
I believe that you can lose weight in a "healthy" matter faster than 2 pounds a week. Many people have done it and I think that it is very possible to lose more.
Depends what you mean by healthy. I'm willing to bet anyone who has lost weight at a rate of more than 2 pounds per week (the first week doesn't count cause you lose mostly water weight) probably lost something else along with fat. I don't think that's healthy at all. And as someone above mentioned, if you lose weight too fast, the skin can't adjust fast enough. So you end up with loose skin and in some cases, stretchmarks. But hey, at least you're losing more than 2 pounds a week.
Take your cue from bodybuilders. If there's anyone who obsesses about losing fat in the least amount of time but also in the healthiest way possible, it's these guys. And even they will tell you not to try to lose more than 2 pounds per week.
Depends what you mean by healthy. I'm willing to bet anyone who has lost weight at a rate of more than 2 pounds per week (the first week doesn't count cause you lose mostly water weight) probably lost something else along with fat. I don't think that's healthy at all. And as someone above mentioned, if you lose weight too fast, the skin can't adjust fast enough. So you end up with loose skin and in some cases, stretchmarks. But hey, at least you're losing more than 2 pounds a week.
Take your cue from bodybuilders. If there's anyone who obsesses about losing fat in the least amount of time but also in the healthiest way possible, it's these guys. And even they will tell you not to try to lose more than 2 pounds per week.
Lindarella
11-19-2003, 02:29 PM
I agree with you needasolution. If you exercise, you can lose more than 2 pounds a week. If it weren’t possible, people who had bariatric surgery would never lose the fat. My best friend had bariatric surgery last July; she has lost 189 pound in the last 15 months. She exercised roughly 2 hours a day. One hour of power walking and one hour of water aerobics a day.
Of course, the more you weigh the easier it is to lose weight fast because creating that much of a calorie deficit is possible. For people who only need to lose 10-15 pounds, losing 2 a week would be nearly impossible without starving and losing muscle.
Of course, the more you weigh the easier it is to lose weight fast because creating that much of a calorie deficit is possible. For people who only need to lose 10-15 pounds, losing 2 a week would be nearly impossible without starving and losing muscle.
DonutsNCoffee
11-19-2003, 03:32 PM
If you exercise, you can lose more than 2 pounds a week. If it weren’t possible, people who had bariatric surgery would never lose the fat. My best friend had bariatric surgery last July; she has lost 189 pound in the last 15 months. She exercised roughly 2 hours a day. One hour of power walking and one hour of water aerobics a day.
Of course, the more you weigh the easier it is to lose weight fast because creating that much of a calorie deficit is possible. For people who only need to lose 10-15 pounds, losing 2 a week would be nearly impossible without starving and losing muscle.
Well of course you can lose more than 2 pounds a week. That's not the issue here. The issue is whether it's safe for a person to try to lose more than 2 pounds per week. The person who loses weight after bariatric surgery is no different than the person who diets. They've both cut back on calories so much that their body has no choice but to lose weight. But weight isn't the same thing as fat. And however you cut back on calories, if you cut back too much you will lose muscle along with fat.
And as for the idea that a person who has only 10-15 pounds to lose can't lose 2 pounds of fat per week without starving or losing muscle, this is not true. Bodybuilders do this all the time when they're getting ready for competition and need to shed 5-10 pounds of extra fat but don't want to lose muscle or starve. I also managed to lose 2 pounds per week back in the spring when I was 15 pounds away from my goal. I didn't do it by cutting calories. I merely increased my exercise and I didn't lose any muscle mass.
Of course, the more you weigh the easier it is to lose weight fast because creating that much of a calorie deficit is possible. For people who only need to lose 10-15 pounds, losing 2 a week would be nearly impossible without starving and losing muscle.
Well of course you can lose more than 2 pounds a week. That's not the issue here. The issue is whether it's safe for a person to try to lose more than 2 pounds per week. The person who loses weight after bariatric surgery is no different than the person who diets. They've both cut back on calories so much that their body has no choice but to lose weight. But weight isn't the same thing as fat. And however you cut back on calories, if you cut back too much you will lose muscle along with fat.
And as for the idea that a person who has only 10-15 pounds to lose can't lose 2 pounds of fat per week without starving or losing muscle, this is not true. Bodybuilders do this all the time when they're getting ready for competition and need to shed 5-10 pounds of extra fat but don't want to lose muscle or starve. I also managed to lose 2 pounds per week back in the spring when I was 15 pounds away from my goal. I didn't do it by cutting calories. I merely increased my exercise and I didn't lose any muscle mass.
aleve777
11-20-2003, 03:38 AM
I lost almost 35lbs in less than 2months, without exercising. 5ft6in, orignially 170lbs, now back to almost 135. I tried to limit my calorie intake to less than 500 a day, although there were days when it was way above this but I just made up for it the next during the next few days. It's not healthy at all though. I'm constantly sick and always tired, I end up napping at least 2 times a day. I also fractured 6 ribs from a simple cough from the cold I always now have. Yeah, you can easily lose more than 1-2lbs/week wtih diet and exercise, even without exercise. The point however is that no matter what study says that it is healthy, it's not. Scales should be outlawed because our focus should not be on numbers, although it always will be, it should be about feeling good and being healthy. Be healthy, stay happy, and don't believe everything you read.
"We may pass violets looking for roses.
We may pass contentment looking for victory."
-Bern Williams
"We may pass violets looking for roses.
We may pass contentment looking for victory."
-Bern Williams
DonutsNCoffee
11-20-2003, 11:16 AM
The point however is that no matter what study says that it is healthy, it's not...don't believe everything you read.
A few years ago, I read one study that claimed you could lose 5 pounds per week. It turns out the study was being funded by a supplement manufacturer who had just come with a ephedra-based fat burner that also claimed to burn 5 pounds per week. This is why you should be suspicious anytime you read a new study. You never know how reliable it is and what the motives were behind it. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That's especially true in the weight loss world.
A few years ago, I read one study that claimed you could lose 5 pounds per week. It turns out the study was being funded by a supplement manufacturer who had just come with a ephedra-based fat burner that also claimed to burn 5 pounds per week. This is why you should be suspicious anytime you read a new study. You never know how reliable it is and what the motives were behind it. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. That's especially true in the weight loss world.
needasolution
11-20-2003, 02:07 PM
well less than 500 calories a day is a real health hazard-- but my point is that I still think that you can lose more than 2 pounds a week in a healthy way.
DonutsNCoffee
11-20-2003, 07:02 PM
well less than 500 calories a day is a real health hazard-- but my point is that I still think that you can lose more than 2 pounds a week in a healthy way.
Can you explain how you know this? Even bodybuilders, people's livelihood depends on losing fat in the least amount of time, don't think you should lose more than 2 pounds per week. Why do you think they and everyone else who recommends 1-2 pounds per week is wrong? I'm not attacking you. Just want to know how you can be so sure.
Can you explain how you know this? Even bodybuilders, people's livelihood depends on losing fat in the least amount of time, don't think you should lose more than 2 pounds per week. Why do you think they and everyone else who recommends 1-2 pounds per week is wrong? I'm not attacking you. Just want to know how you can be so sure.
needasolution
11-20-2003, 09:36 PM
Donuts N' Coffe--
you're right I don't know this for sure. And I am not saying that everyone is wrong, but I think people are soo different that you can never say anything definite. For example, people say your hair can only grow 1/2 inch per month-- mine grows 1 inch per month. I think that the human body is too diverse to say that you can only lose 2 pounds a week in a healthy way. Maybe thats how I should have worded my post-- sorry.
you're right I don't know this for sure. And I am not saying that everyone is wrong, but I think people are soo different that you can never say anything definite. For example, people say your hair can only grow 1/2 inch per month-- mine grows 1 inch per month. I think that the human body is too diverse to say that you can only lose 2 pounds a week in a healthy way. Maybe thats how I should have worded my post-- sorry.
blondiebiker
11-20-2003, 11:03 PM
don't feel bad...donut needs to learn compassion in replying, but will say notice a bit nicer.
"Take your cue from bodybuilders. If there's anyone who obsesses about losing fat in the least amount of time but also in the healthiest way possible, it's these guys. And even they will tell you not to try to lose more than 2 pounds per week."
first of all, anyone that thinks body builders follow the healthiest lifestyle should look more closely...the top performers cut down to veggies only the last 3-4 days to get the most vein/musle show at competition...most don't post that in their "pre-competition" plans..but it is done by many. They usually cut to fruit/veg then just veg....
2lbs is just a guide...just like height & weight charts...guides...not set in stone...and yes some will react to 500calories dropped off their diet.
depends on the individual, as 2lbs could easily be just water...the point of the "guides" is to ensure weight loss is not affecting muscle mass...and decline of body function in general...not putting to much stress on the system so to speak. insulin response, etc.
it is only a guide as there are so many other reasons the scale could show more then 2lbs that you can't be sure it is "muscle", water etc.
donut is right that 2lbs of actual "fat" transporting out of the cells etc...but there are sooooooooooooooo many other factors that you can't call a lb just a lb of fat...and most of the "studies" aren't including that in their "guide"
"Take your cue from bodybuilders. If there's anyone who obsesses about losing fat in the least amount of time but also in the healthiest way possible, it's these guys. And even they will tell you not to try to lose more than 2 pounds per week."
first of all, anyone that thinks body builders follow the healthiest lifestyle should look more closely...the top performers cut down to veggies only the last 3-4 days to get the most vein/musle show at competition...most don't post that in their "pre-competition" plans..but it is done by many. They usually cut to fruit/veg then just veg....
2lbs is just a guide...just like height & weight charts...guides...not set in stone...and yes some will react to 500calories dropped off their diet.
depends on the individual, as 2lbs could easily be just water...the point of the "guides" is to ensure weight loss is not affecting muscle mass...and decline of body function in general...not putting to much stress on the system so to speak. insulin response, etc.
it is only a guide as there are so many other reasons the scale could show more then 2lbs that you can't be sure it is "muscle", water etc.
donut is right that 2lbs of actual "fat" transporting out of the cells etc...but there are sooooooooooooooo many other factors that you can't call a lb just a lb of fat...and most of the "studies" aren't including that in their "guide"
DonutsNCoffee
11-21-2003, 01:33 PM
Not sure why you need to make it personal blondiebiker. needsasolution made an assertion and I asked for the reasoning behind it.
What you said about bodybuilders is false. While some are foolish enough to eat only veggies right before a competition, most don't. They're too paranoid about losing any muscle so they would never cut out protein at the end.
What you said about bodybuilders is false. While some are foolish enough to eat only veggies right before a competition, most don't. They're too paranoid about losing any muscle so they would never cut out protein at the end.
blondiebiker
11-21-2003, 06:25 PM
made personal because you are often a "my way or the highway" type of poster, and are unkind to others at times.
As for bodybuilders....I am not sure where you live, but I have been around my entire life. To also be honest most of the national and international top builders are also on roids, I suppose now you are going to tell me they don't use steroids? Many ways for them to get around testing and really I know of not one placing top nationally not on roids....
there is natural training and a natural builders that are roid/drug free, but I know not of one that has made it to national levels...
I am suggesting it is not a good thing to promote as it really is a form a handful fall into. Now if you are discussing "performance athletes" something other than actual body building..please clarify. There are forms of body sculpting as well ...
Anyway.....I see what you mean, just think some would look into and get misled to a bad lifestyle
As for bodybuilders....I am not sure where you live, but I have been around my entire life. To also be honest most of the national and international top builders are also on roids, I suppose now you are going to tell me they don't use steroids? Many ways for them to get around testing and really I know of not one placing top nationally not on roids....
there is natural training and a natural builders that are roid/drug free, but I know not of one that has made it to national levels...
I am suggesting it is not a good thing to promote as it really is a form a handful fall into. Now if you are discussing "performance athletes" something other than actual body building..please clarify. There are forms of body sculpting as well ...
Anyway.....I see what you mean, just think some would look into and get misled to a bad lifestyle
needasolution
11-22-2003, 02:48 AM
well I lost another 2 pounds-- actually exercised less this week. 6 pounds total.
leeanne172
11-22-2003, 02:51 AM
2 pounds a week is fine with me, thats 96 pounds a year and that is REALLY fine with me. I have had weeks where I have lost just 1 or 2 but other weeks where I lost 3 or 4 .. I don't complain as long as its coming off and not on ;)
cuddledumplin
11-22-2003, 05:50 AM
I've lost more too. I got sick and lost 15 lbs. in a month, but it wasn't healthy, believe me. It's safe to lose more weight during the first few weeks if you're VERY overweight, but losing weight slowly is better. You get stretch marks and are more likely to gain the weight back. So, the two pounds per week rule is a pretty good guideline.
apatim
11-22-2003, 08:54 AM
2 pounds a week is fine with me, thats 96 pounds a year and that is REALLY fine with me. I have had weeks where I have lost just 1 or 2 but other weeks where I lost 3 or 4 .. I don't complain as long as its coming off and not on ;)
How many weeks are in the Canadian year? In the USA, we have 52. At 2 lbs per week that's 104lbs per year. :p
I'm just messing with you. I'm guessing you cut out weeks like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday, and "I just feel like pigging out" week. :*
How many weeks are in the Canadian year? In the USA, we have 52. At 2 lbs per week that's 104lbs per year. :p
I'm just messing with you. I'm guessing you cut out weeks like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday, and "I just feel like pigging out" week. :*
needasolution
11-22-2003, 10:14 PM
ok now another 2 pounds-- 8 pounds total
leeanne172
11-23-2003, 02:06 AM
Ok so my diet has interfered with my math skills, I guess thats why I stopped counting calories a long time ago LOL
DonutsNCoffee
11-23-2003, 03:37 PM
made personal because you are often a "my way or the highway" type of poster, and are unkind to others at times.
I could easily say the same thing about you. Anyways I'm too tired to argue so I'm not going to bother posting anything on these boards from now on.
I could easily say the same thing about you. Anyways I'm too tired to argue so I'm not going to bother posting anything on these boards from now on.
blondiebiker
11-24-2003, 04:38 AM
awww--donut- come on...debate is good and you would never broaden your beliefs if you weren't challenged on them.
When I finished school in exercise phys. we were taught all about "atkins bad" follow RDA etc. ...and almost all the texts gave great molecular breakdown as to why...and I used to think that was enough proof for me, but real life proof is sometimes different...
I started to try different eating ways etc..as an experiment using myself as a guinea pig and found....often the RDA is not compatible with the poeple.
That atkins was a way (minus induction) to live where I easily felt great and leaned right up even improving workout times..etc.
I like to point out the "human factor" and have told you that before. I just wanted you to stop and think about the bodybuilding factor for the average person that probably comes to this site for advice......
just trying to bring you to being able to word things more positively is all.
sometimes when people read here they take as advice they can follow without checking into...I just was trying to get you to see that if the average person delved into bbuilding it may not have a healthy outcome and there is a better way to promote your beliefs. AND did notice you were doing better and working on...kudos for that...
so when your rested come back. You have great knowledge I just thought your approach could be more postive and obtainable to the average person...
the human body is pretty hard not to give variety too....just can't get stuck in one thought process with it...thats all.
makin ya accountible for your beliefs...debate...
sorry to make you feel like you have come across to others...even if you didn't mean too...just pointing out...
peace
When I finished school in exercise phys. we were taught all about "atkins bad" follow RDA etc. ...and almost all the texts gave great molecular breakdown as to why...and I used to think that was enough proof for me, but real life proof is sometimes different...
I started to try different eating ways etc..as an experiment using myself as a guinea pig and found....often the RDA is not compatible with the poeple.
That atkins was a way (minus induction) to live where I easily felt great and leaned right up even improving workout times..etc.
I like to point out the "human factor" and have told you that before. I just wanted you to stop and think about the bodybuilding factor for the average person that probably comes to this site for advice......
just trying to bring you to being able to word things more positively is all.
sometimes when people read here they take as advice they can follow without checking into...I just was trying to get you to see that if the average person delved into bbuilding it may not have a healthy outcome and there is a better way to promote your beliefs. AND did notice you were doing better and working on...kudos for that...
so when your rested come back. You have great knowledge I just thought your approach could be more postive and obtainable to the average person...
the human body is pretty hard not to give variety too....just can't get stuck in one thought process with it...thats all.
makin ya accountible for your beliefs...debate...
sorry to make you feel like you have come across to others...even if you didn't mean too...just pointing out...
peace
notorious b
11-24-2003, 03:12 PM
hey cuddle-
question for you... you mentioned that a slower weight loss helps prevent strech marks, am i interpreting that correctly?? Are you speaking from personal experience? When I lost 15 pounds in 3.5 months (back in 2201), I still got stretch marks. Is there something I can do to not get them?
question for you... you mentioned that a slower weight loss helps prevent strech marks, am i interpreting that correctly?? Are you speaking from personal experience? When I lost 15 pounds in 3.5 months (back in 2201), I still got stretch marks. Is there something I can do to not get them?
mouse62
11-24-2003, 04:45 PM
errr . . . I worked out for 3 months and cut out all desserts and after 7pm eating, and my weight did not budge. So much for "2 pounds a week is a joke." All I want to lose is 15 pounds.
chipmunkis
11-24-2003, 07:45 PM
Some people are more prone to stretch marks than others... my dd has them and is (and always has been ) thin as a rail, while I, after two kids don't have any... so I don't think it matters much!
never2L8
11-25-2003, 11:27 PM
What you can do and what you should do are two completely different things. The basic belief I live by is that the longer it takes to lose the weight, the greater the possibilty that you will keep it off.
If it takes you 2 years to lose 50 lbs, then you have had 2 years of your new and healthy lifestyle and the lifestyle changes should now be permanent. If you lose 50 lbs in 2-3 months, the chances are that you have made changes you cannot sustain for the rest of your life. You are therefore more likely to put weight back on when you return to your 'real life'.
If it is worth doing, it is worth taking the time to do it properly.
If it takes you 2 years to lose 50 lbs, then you have had 2 years of your new and healthy lifestyle and the lifestyle changes should now be permanent. If you lose 50 lbs in 2-3 months, the chances are that you have made changes you cannot sustain for the rest of your life. You are therefore more likely to put weight back on when you return to your 'real life'.
If it is worth doing, it is worth taking the time to do it properly.
arietianz
11-26-2003, 02:00 AM
I never thought about it that way...