Is 15 lbs of weight loss per month too much, even if you're obese?
I weigh 235-240 lbs (at 5'7"), so I figure that 15 lbs on my body is like 7 lbs on someone who is 140. It's aggressive weight loss but I think if you're obese it should be okay?
I'm very strict about eating 1,500 calories/day. Some days it's 1,100 (I feel really weak and tired if it's that low though), other days it's 1,700, and a few days a month it's 2,000 calories, but the average is firmly 1,500. I lose 10-15 lbs a month just by restricting my calories, more when I exercise. I lost 20 lbs the first month I did this. And I eat mostly what I want, just in smaller quantities. And I'm ashamed to admit this but I still eat fast food 1x/week.
I've lost 40 lbs so far, and I know that the weight loss will slow down unless I start to exercise like Michael Phelps or starve myself, but is it bad to aggressively lose weight if you are obese? To be honest I feel so much better (health wise), every 5-10 lbs I lose. It makes a difference.
I don't think there's a single "right" answer on this one, and I don't think that starting weight is the only or even main factor in the safety or prudence of rapid weight loss. Some people (small and large) seem to do fine with it, other people (small and large) find it undoable, or even detrimental - to their health and/or mental well-being.
A lot depends on your age, existing health issues, activity level, medications, what your eating and how happy you are with your calorie level....
For me, I found rapid weight loss detrimental in the long run. I always ended up gaining back (plus). This is the first time I've tried it any way but fast, and in many ways it's working much better for me. Other times I think I'm not putting enough effort into getting the weight off - but that's all ME.
I really think that a lot of the weight loss equation is completely unique to the individual. What works for you may not work for anyone else, and vice versa.
There are some increased risks to rapid weight loss - from hair loss to heart damage (such as mitrovalve prolapse), gall bladder problems...
I'm not saying that to scare you. The degree of risk is hard to measure. It happens to some apparently healthy people, and yet many very unhealthy people manage rapid weight loss with no adverse effects. If there are ways to predict who will have side effects and who won't, I don't know them.
I think only a doctor can tell you if you have any reason to avoid losing weight at your current pace.
Starting weight has no bearing on what is a safe amount to lose. I lost between 15 and 20lbs per month but I can say I wish I had aimed for about 10lbs per month. 10lbs is already double most doctors recomendation. Lost more than 10lbs per month is dangerous and can really really screw up your body if you are not extremely careful.
I can only speak from personal experience, but the more I weigh when I start, the fast it comes off at the beginning. Like you, I lost about 20 pounds my first month. Nearly 8 months in and 106 pounds later, I now am losing at a rate of about 8-10 pounds a month, which is just about 2 pounds a week and considered safe. That said, I don't think my early big loses were unsafe and my doctor was thrilled even though it was quick at first. I haven't been a big exerciser through most of this, but as the weight loss has slowed quite a bit, I recently started walking 3 miles a day and that seems to be speeding things up again.
I had plenty of fifteen+ pounds months at first, but that tapered off. I think March was my last huge loss month, and I'm losing about 6-7 pounds a month now, as I'm getting much closer to goal. It's frustrating as heck in some ways, but when I look at my FitDay stats, I've been averaging a little over 2 pounds a week, and that falls within fairly safe guidelines, I think. Everybody is different, of course, but I think it's very, very difficult to keep losing in that range once you've been at it for a while.
I've been losing for the past three years. I've had some long stretches without losing during that time. I can tell you this; I lost 80 pounds in 8 months my first year of losing. That's an average of 10 pounds a month, but the first two months I lost more than 10 pounds maybe 15 or so. I also felt so much better after losing those first 30-40 pounds. For me it helped my health to lose quickly at first. So much strain was taken off my heart and other organs!
I'm editing to say this: I think it is detrimental to starve oneself. We need to get enough calories and nutrients every day to keep our health while we lose weight. I never ate below 1,200 calories unless it was for a day or two because of illness.
Is 15 lbs of weight loss per month too much, even if you're obese?
