Since I measure in kilograms, I look for between 500gm to 700gm a week (about 1.1 to 1.75 pounds)... haven't reached 2 pounds a week ever, except when I started WW years and years and years and years ago- when I was much much much much much younger (I'm dreading September- I'm turning 30!)
Aiming to lose X pounds a month is difficult, but on the other hand, it's good. Saying that you want to lose 10 pounds a month is great, but what happens if you only lose 5 one month, and 3 the next? What if you lose 10 pounds in 3 months? We have all beaten ourselves up because we haven't reached our goal.
I learned to lower my expectations for weight loss, since eating varies from week to week for me (there are nights I don't eat dinner, or eat at 9pm, don't eat lunch or breakfast some days. work out more on others). For me, 500-700gm a week is fine. In one year, assuming that I lose 750gm a week, that'll take me down by 39kg or nearly 94 pounds. If I go to 500gm a week, that'll be 26kg or 57 pounds. I'd be happy with either.
Goals should always be SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. 10 pounds in 8 weeks is a good goal. Anything over and above that is a bonus. If you're too unrealistic with the goal, you will *never* attain it, you will get discouraged and you will quit. You goals also need to be dynamic... subject to change.
Aim for between 1.5-2 pounds a week. Some weeks you'll be over, some you'll be under. But average it out to that. Short term goals are fine, but it's the long-term that you need to keep your eye on.
So, firstly, decide on your goal weight (I really like body fat percentage, coz you can be thin and still be "fat"
My goal is 16% body fat, and I'm now 34%). If you currently weigh 325, then the end of the road needs to be... what? 140? 120? 135?
From there, you'll then know how much you want to lose: 185 pounds (for the sake of argument). Then set your mini-goals. 15 pounds by the end of June. Another 15 by the end of October. 10 by the end of Christmas (that's 40 pounds already!).
Okay, last thing: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS celebrate every pound lost... it's gone. Forever. Finito. Byebye. Sayonara and bon voyage. Every pound lost is a victory in itself. So what if the scale didn't say 2 pounds lost? You lost 1. Congratulate yourself.
I'm going to bed now. Had a hard sparring session with the resident black belt and a drilling from Sensei in kendo.