2 lbs a week only is a joke - Weight Loss Message Board

needasolution · 11-18-2003, 08:51 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!

maak823 · 11-19-2003, 07:20 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, 07:28 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, 07:35 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!

Gobi · 11-19-2003, 07:37 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.