We all know the 1-2 pounds weight loss rule. Don’t go over this amount or you’re potentially hurting your long term health.

After months of being on a plateau I finally got over it with a cleanse. Now, a few weeks later, I’m dropping pounds like crazy. Just in the last seven days I’ve lost about 5-6 pounds. I’m half trying to lose weight right now, so the suddenly drop is surprising, encouraging and makes me want to really try harder to shed the pounds.

I’m wondering if this rule is more of a guideline for the long term, or if this sudden weight loss will adversely affect me down the road and I should change something I’m doing to slow it down.

Any opinion welcome!

We tend to fluctuate with our weight just naturally (I've heard a range of 5 pounds), then there's scale error, stalls wrought by toxins being released (and your body holding back further weight loss until they are released), clerical errors, different amounts of salt and dropping same.

Perhaps track it beyond this week and see if the losses continue at such a rapid rate.

I think it's long term. I average about a pound and a half a week, but in reality I lose nearly nothing one week and 3-4 lbs the next week, rinse and repeat.

In my experience with my own body, I can safely lose 2+ pounds per week if I'm above about 15% bodyfat. I lose strength, but only a very minimal amount of muscle mass (like maybe 1-2lb per 20-25lb of fat loss), and once I start maintaining/bulking again the strength fully comes back within 4-6 weeks Speed Test or so.