I’ve been pondering this whole “only lose 1-2 pounds a week” thing. I mean, I totally agree with it - especially in the arena that one shouldn’t slash one’s calories too dramatically in the quest for faster success. BUT, I’m wondering if perhaps, given that all bodies are a little different, that the bottom line is losing an average of 1-2lbs a week.
I look at myself. I am very consistent. Week after week, I’m eating about the same amount (around 1700 calories a day) and working out the same amount. Yet I’ve had weeks where I’ve lost .5 and weeks where I’ve lost almost 5! However, when I look at the long haul, I’ve lost about 70 pounds in a little under 40 weeks. That comes out to 1.75 lbs a week. Right on target!!
I dunno, I was just thinking that maybe some of these “rules” aren’t as cut and dried as they appear…especially when you factor in the strange and mysterious ways of the female system.
What do you think?
I wondered about this too because on Biggest Loser some weeks they would give them a goal to lose 5-10 lbs (and they were all being monitored by doctors, nutritionists, trainers, etc.)
Comment by Mandi — April 11, 2007 @ 11:18 am
I think the 1-2 pounds a week thing is supposed to be figured over the long term, like you just did. It’s not healthy to consistently lose 5 or 6 pounds a week, but to have the occasional week when 5 or 6 pounds drops off is okay.
At least that’s the way I understand it.
Comment by Jana — April 11, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
AMEN, sister! I was shocked to see Monday morning that I had lost 2.5 (which is a lot for me lately, especially so close to goal.) Believe it or not, I would have been happier with 1 or 1.5 because seeing the 2.5 pound loss made me think, “is it just a fluctuation? Will I still have a loss next Monday?” And sure enough, I have already put 1.5 back on without cheating or anything. So I just have to remind myself that it’s no big deal and I do need to look at the big picture.
Comment by Brandi — April 11, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
I agree with both Jana and Brandi — that losing 5-6 pounds a week over 5-6 weeks would be extreme, but if you know your body, you know that losing 5 pounds one week is ok. If anything, I think we all need to be focusing on exercise almost as much as eating healthy — building up muscle and bone mass is important!
Comment by Anne — April 11, 2007 @ 12:14 pm
What’s also interesting is how HUNGER fluctuates. Some days I’m not as hungry… yesterday I was STARVING. I ate and ate…but mostly veggies.
I mean, I had protein - milk, a turkey burger, beans, a chicken breast…but when it came to dealing with my ravenous appetite I stuffed on veggies.
Anyway - I guess for some reason my metabolism is ramped up this week… At least that’s what I hope is going on!
Comment by blestwithsons — April 11, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
I absolutely agree that it’s the average 1-2 pounds per week, rather than a cut and dried 1-2 pounds per week, especially for women. It’s crazy how we can do the same thing for several weeks, but have widely different results of pounds lost in those weeks.
And from the other end of the spectrum (pregnancy weight gain), it sure goes on in those wide swings as well……I may have several weeks where I only gain half a pound, or stay the same, then gain 5-6 in one week! It all averages out though.
Something to be said for tracking weight loss over the long term, and not letting those individual weeks of low loss get you too down!
Comment by Lorri — April 11, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
I think as long as you are healthy, it’s fine. Isn’t the risk that your body, if it’s losing too much too quickly, will start to “conserve” whatever you do put into it (slowing down metabolism, or whatever)? I think it’s also to help you avoid yo-yo dieting, which too many people who do “crash” diets fall into.
One of my best “diets” ever was a mean case of hepatitis I contracted when I was 18. I could hold very little down, and I dropped a ton of weight really quickly. But my body totally made up for it when I got better - I was JUST. RAVENOUS. Literally, I couldn’t stop eating. And I went right back to where I’d been very quickly, and I’ve always kept that in mind. But as long as you’re feeding your body responsibly, I imagine you’re fine.
Comment by ali b. — April 12, 2007 @ 8:39 am