What 1 pound a week REALLY looks like

  • OK, so in the last 7 weeks (plus 2 days) I've lost 7 pounds. For everyone who freaks out because of the doggone scale, here is what those 7 weeks looked like:

    Week 1: -1/2 lb.
    Week 2: - 1 lb.
    Week 3: 0
    Week 4: 0
    Week 5: - 4-1/2 lbs. (whoa!)
    Week 6: 0
    Week 7: 0
    Today: - 1 lb.

    What's more, in the middle of some of those weeks there was actually a gain.

    So, I guess you could say that my pattern is plateau - drop - plateau - drop. I expect that by next week I'll have lost another pound or two. And then, probably I'll hang at the next weight for awhile.

    The point of this is that weight loss isn't linear, at least for me. I don't know why that is. I've gone back in FitDay and looked at calories in/out for each of those weeks, and there is just no pattern! Yes, variation, but not anything that would account for those differences. But, my body must know what it's doing!

    So if anyone is having one of those "stuck" places where they don't know WHAT is going on--stay with it! Don't give up!

    Jay
  • Oh Jay... I hate to say it... I really really do....

    but...
    Quote:
    pattern is plateau - drop - plateau - drop.
    I think that's MY pattern too. And I'll be it's a LOT of patterns for folks here.

    Geesh. I need a quick pick-me-up. Think I'll go googling for some pictures of "the Rock" hubba-hubba!
  • Jay..
    I am the same way.. knowing this has really helped me from getting very MAD at the scale..
    you did great with 7 pounds! and when you do it this way.. it's really FAT.. not muscle and fat and water...

    Beach Patrol we (my husband and I) met Dwayne Johnson in Hawaii last year..
    he is Samoan and of royal linage!.. and just as nice as he is hot..
  • My weightloss follows a similar pattern for a 10 lb loss over 13 weeks:

    W1: -1.5
    W2: -.5
    W3: 0
    W4: -2
    W5: 0
    W6: 0
    W7: -1
    W8: -2
    W9: -1
    W10: 0
    W11: -1.5
    W12: 0
    W13: -.5

    The plateau weeks stink, but if you stay with it and attain calorie deficits every week, the weight does end up coming off. In some of those weeks, I even had gains but I only count losses (my loss as deducted from my last lowest weight), rather than counting my weight on a particular day of the week.
  • Gosh, thanks for this thread. It is nice to see that in writing. It would be nicer to see a nice steady 2 lb per week drop, but the overall goal must stay in sight!
  • I wouldn't say you were on a plateau unless it goes on for weeks and weeks and weeks.You are averaging one pound a week if you do that consistantly it adds up to 52 pounds a year.You are almost at goal what are you worried about?
  • Hey bargoo,

    I'm not worried at all--but I see so many posts from folks who are worried because they have been on plan but are not seeing any results. And this shows how that can happen.

    Jay
  • We are all different, no telling what are bodies will do.It is the bottom line that is important.Sometimes we don't lose when we are positive we will and other times we might binge and it won't cause any harm.As long as we are doing the right thing, eating fewer calories and exercise we will lose. Maybe not in the way we think we should but we will lose.
  • Okay point taken. I've only changed my lifestyle to healthy eating and exercise 14 weeks ago and have lots 19 lbs. That is more than one pound a week. So I will keep going and I will eventually start losing again. Thanks Jay.
  • That's right, Bargoo!

    Keep on keepin' on, sharonrr!

    Jay
  • JayEll, You must be my twin. I lose the exact same way (with the occasional little weight gain in the middle of the week too).

    It seems to be a popular way to lose. I think I'll keep doing it!
  • Poo on the scale. I broke mine hehe not really.. my little girl broke it, she was standing on the face plate trying to brush her teeth. I dont care really.. it was the best thing.. for instance.. at work we have a scale and it hasnt moved and I *know* I have lost weight. I see it in my clothes and I can just see it. I dont even care what I weigh. As long as I look thinner, Im good to go.
  • Wow! Ready to Shed,
    You have lost a lot of weight! I bet you feel great! 102lbs! Congrats! How have you done it? Keep up the great work! You should post before and after photos. There are so motivating for us beginners,
    Lisa
  • My weight loss pattern is very similar to JayEll, too. It is not uncommon for me to lose 3 pounds one week, and none for the next two-and so on. That is why I often only weigh once a week, and sometimes 2 weeks between weigh-ins.

    I never lose a consistent 1-2 pounds per week, every week, on the dot-EVER.