too fast! (Warning-this post might annoy some ppl)
I just posted this on my blog, but wanted to get some feedback. Sorry if it seems silly.
I’m having a little bit of a freak out because I realized if I go by my weight this morning (which was before breakfast and after working out but after drinking 20oz water and—TMI alert–more than 24hrs after last bowel movement), I’ve achieved the goal I set for myself by LABOR DAY, which is still 6 weeks away. That’s 7lbs in 2 weeks, which maybe doesn’t seem like a ton for someone ppl, but for me, that is approaching scary levels. I have been counting my calories and ALWAYS come in over 1,000 and probably average 1600 going by 2 months of fitday data (and that’s probably under counting). That seems like a healthy amt of calories, and I don't feel deprived, but I feel like my rate of loss is UNHEALTHY and SETTING ME UP FOR FAILURE. I have been working out a couple extra days a week, but the increased exercise doesn’t seem that significant when you think about how much you have to work out to burn enough calories to create the kind of deficit you need to see results.
I’ve started going to the gym before work, and am worried this is a habit I won’t be able to keep up for life, but I actually WANT to go, so should I not go just because it is something I might not want to do regularly in the future?
Should I force myself to up my calories, even if I don’t really want to eat the extra food? I've recently found making healthy choices to be easy, but if in the future they're going to be hard, should I mix in some unhealthy choices too?
Some background: I've been trying to lose weight since July 07 without a specific plan, had some success spring-summer '08 to the tune of about 15lbs; then put 5 back on during winter, and then starting in March 09, rededicated myself and put off about 10 through May. At the beginning of June, I started coming here and counting calories, and my weight loss rate doubled. Even assuming my weight this morning was low, I've lost 12lbs in 6 weeks which is twice as fast as I was going before and just seems...scary. I've also flirted with anorexia in the past, but haven't had that issue for 10 years.
Should I just shut up and not look a gift horse in the mouth?
I'm long-winded today (but neurotic all the time )
I'd say this to someone who has not lost any weight as well as someone who has lost weight.
Two weeks is too short of a time period to judge. Your weight loss may slow down or it may not. You aren't setting yourself up to failure as long as you are establishing a maintainable lifestyle.
I'd also say that my eating/workout routines have changed over the years but I've just had to find the right maintenance or weight loss groove. If I changed them in such a way that was negative (ie gaining weight), then I'd have to reverse pretty quick.
I can tell you now that the many people will tell you to eat more...but if you were at a stall and not losing they would also tell you to eat more... Seems like eating more makes you either lose faster or slower depending on your situation.
So do you feel like you want to eat more? Your average of 2 pounds a week is totally acceptable, but if you feel like you are losing too fast than you need to revamp and maybe discuss your situation with your physician.
You are eating a healthy amount of calories, of presumably healthy foods. You are exercising. You are getting lots of water. Your body is rewarding you with a slightly high, but not unhealthy, rate of loss. So take a deep breath!
When people say that rapid weight loss isn't sustainable, it's less about the speed of the weight loss itself and more about the WAY that weight is lost. If you're drinking cayenne pepper and maple syrup in water and not eating anything, you'll drop weight fast...then put it right back on. Any sort of fast/fad/starvation diet is going to drop the weight faster than a more moderate plan, but you're going to put it on more quickly. But this DOESN'T apply to you...you're doing things in a sustainable way, and you'll be able to sustain your new habits after you hit goal.
7 lbs in the first 2 weeks is not all that uncommon for some people, a fair bit of it is probably water. Any 2 week window is not representative of a weight loss plan whether you lose 7 lbs or gain 2.
If after a month you are still losing 3.5 lbs a week, then it will be time to re-evaluate. There is nothing wrong with 12 lbs in 6 weeks...if you are truly eating 1600 calories and feeling satisfied. Double check to make sure you arent "overestimating just in case"(i.e. if you have a smear of peanut butter and you think it is a bit over 1 TBS do you always round UP to 2 tbs just to make sure you dont eat too much)
And yes, you should definitely go to the gym. Not going because you MIGHT not want to go in the future is just guaranteeing you WONT go in the future.
While weight loss is most successful with trying to achieve something you can maintain for life, exercise is something your body NEEDS independent of weight loss. Trying to establish a healthy habit is always good. Use your enthusiasm now to explore lots of different exercise options so that when the gung-ho newness abates you have ideas for what you like the most and what is easiest to "just do it. "
1-2 pounds a week is a very reasonable and accurate way to lose weight. This is not my opinion, this is based on my nutritionists facts. The big issue with most people who lose weight is they deprive themselves, sometimes strave themselves and that causes them to regaing the weight. With your situation, you are by no means doing either of these drastic matters. Furthermore, you are not hungry. Since you have joined 3FC Im pretty sure the reason that you are becoming so successful in your weight loss is because you are learning the RIGHT WAY to lose weight and receiving useful tips, advice and links. You are probably eating 5-6 times a day, you are exercising and consuming a good amount of water...all of these things speed up your metabolism and we all know...a faster metabolism equals greater weight loss results...so kudos to you. As far as you exercising before work. Keep with it, I was never a morning person, until I "trained" my body. Now, even on the weekends when I dont go to the gym, I still wake up early, because my body is trained. Now...its not 530 a.m. like during the weekday but it is 7 a.m.
I wish you the best of luck...I would not worry about this too much, it sounds like your right on track.
Thanks Nelie, Lori, and Mandalinn (ETA and ennay and lucky)...you're right, 2 weeks is not really adequate to judge anything; I dunno, I guess I was just having one of those moments and it was coming on the heels of 4 weeks already greater than average loss. I've just yo-yo'd so many times and I don't want to go back there. But you have really calmed me down
Last edited by forestroad; 07-14-2009 at 12:55 PM.
I can tell you now that the many people will tell you to eat more...but if you were at a stall and not losing they would also tell you to eat more... Seems like eating more makes you either lose faster or slower depending on your situation.
You're doing great. Slow and steady doesn't always win the race - sometimes it's just the plain old steady that wins the race.
As long as you're willing to continue eating healthy foods in healthy portions and exercise - you're weight will remain off. It hasn't a thing to do with how fast you lost it. Consistency and willingness to continue, that's what's needed.
You are eating a healthy amount of calories, of presumably healthy foods. You are exercising. You are getting lots of water. Your body is rewarding you with a slightly high, but not unhealthy, rate of loss. So take a deep breath!
When people say that rapid weight loss isn't sustainable, it's less about the speed of the weight loss itself and more about the WAY that weight is lost. If you're drinking cayenne pepper and maple syrup in water and not eating anything, you'll drop weight fast...then put it right back on. Any sort of fast/fad/starvation diet is going to drop the weight faster than a more moderate plan, but you're going to put it on more quickly. But this DOESN'T apply to you...you're doing things in a sustainable way, and you'll be able to sustain your new habits after you hit goal.
I always LOVE reading your posts!!! I agree 110%, just live in the moment, you're doing awesome!!!
"When people say that rapid weight loss isn't sustainable, it's less about the speed of the weight loss itself and more about the WAY that weight is lost."
I agree... think about the biggest loser folks. While not ALL of them kept it off a good handful of them did and they all lost super-quick and what you're doing is MUCH healthier.
I aim for 3lbs a week I hesitate to tell people this because I feel like sometimes I'll have people jump down my back about it being too quick too.... yet I'm eating healthy and exercising a lot (not excessively just in training) and I keep a close eye on my running deficit. I don't always hit the 3 a week but it's just a wishful goal.
I think as long as you're losing with what your doing your fine. If it slows you can reexamination later.
I use Fridgegraph and a bunch of other online gadgets to track my loss. In looking back, I lost a little over 2 lbs from July 1st-July 7th and then from July 7th-July 14th, a little under 2 lbs. It all averaged out to 4 lbs exactly. I am not starving myself or doing anything that would put me in danger of losing too quickly either. It has been steady like this since I started in May. I think I did drop 3 or 4 lbs in one week for the first 2 weeks in the beginning, but after that it evened out at about 2 a week.
I think you are doing just fine. I, too have had pro-longed anorexic episodes in the past and I think by nature, those who have had some type of eating disorder are always going to freak out a little, whether it is weight loss or gain. Just that control thing trying to rear its ugly head
too fast! (Warning-this post might annoy some ppl)
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Seems like eating more makes you either lose faster or slower depending on your situation. 
I agree 110%, just live in the moment, you're doing awesome!!! 
