Am I losing weight too fast?

Hi - I could use some advice from more experienced members. I have lost 36 pounds in 8 weeks. I started out at around 335 pounds and I've just gone below 300 (Yay!). I'm thrilled, not least because this new way of eating (plus using this site) feels like I something I could live with, rather than a crash diet.

But....I've read all the advice on this site which says you shouldn't lose more than 2 lbs a week. Is losing an average of 4.5 lb a week too much, or could it be just because I've got a lot to lose? I've analysed my food for the last month and I average 1500-1600 calories a day. I am sedentary but I'm walking for 45 mins every day and have just started going to the gym to do some weights and cross-trainer/elliptical. I'm 47.

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks , MC

2lbs a week is a long term average for your typical dieter. Many people will lose quite a lot initially because their bodies give up a lot of retained fluids but then it settles down to 1%-ish of their total body weight.  In your case, therefore, 3lbs a week wouldn't be unusual.    1500-1600 sounds a little low for someone your size...  If you walk 45 mins a day then you should do a recalculation using the CC tools and set it to 'light' activity.   If you start doing more than an hour a day you'd be looking at 'moderate'.  I think it would make a difference to what you should take in.  Well done so far and good luck

From what I understand, at your weight, that's not too bad the first couple of months.  I seem to recall reading somewhere 10% of your weight a week is OK at higher weights.  So, you haven't done any damage, but you don't want to keep it up long term. 

You didn't give your height, so I ran your stats at 5'5".  At sedentary you burn 2400 per day.  Add probably 200 for your walking, and you get 2600 burned per day.  Not sure how much you'd burn doing the weights & elliptical, but I'd guess it would be quite a bit.

Therefore, you do seem to be a little low on how much you eat, as you are getting well over a 1000 cal deficit a day.  Go ahead and eat a few hundred  cals more per day.  Besides, it's really hard to maintain that 1000 cal deficit long term, because as you lose weight, you'll get to eat less.  You don't want to feel deprived later when all you can get is a 500 day deficit. 

Congratulations on losing so much weight
As you may already know, you will have a lot of "water" weight to lose. Althoughg this stage could be over, generally speaking; the heavier you are, the more weight you will lose at the start of a diet. If you have watched biggest loser, you will see that some guys lose 6lb and girls 4-5lb for a few weeks every week so this is not uncommon.
You will find that eventually you weight loss will slow down and you may only lose 1-2lbs a week but this is fine.
Are you finding that your hungry? As i am 18 and 143lb and i am suppose to be eating 1500 at a sedentary lifestyle. I would presume you could eat more at a higher weight (don't hold me to that, i could be wrong). If your getting hungry, just add 100-200cal a day and you will be perfectly fine due to your weight loss amount each week. If not, then your doing great and you will probably find your weight loss will eventually slow down as your body adjusts. Keep up the great work

It would help to know your age and sex. But, only to give more detailed replies. The comments here are right on target--not so bad for someone really heavy and at the outset of their new lifestyle. You will want to pay attention as you lose to your burn and intake, to make sure you are not exceeding a 1000 calorie deficit.

Congratulations; very inspiring!

Thanks for all this advice - much appreciated.  In response to the various questions, I am female, 47 years old and 5' 5" tall.  I don't feel hungry, I guess because I am eating lots - it's just very different from the food I used to eat.  I'm cooking good food at home rather than buying convenience food and eating loads more fruit and veg than I used to.   But I do find that going to the gym makes me v hungry!And also v tired....

Thanks for all the encouragement too - this site is brilliant.

MC

If you change to a healthier diet of homecooked foods it's easier to take in fewer calories but still eat very well so you're doing exactly the right thing.  But eating too little can be a problem if you've got a long way to go.   Appetite can die away and you can feel rather tired.   Lack of energy can also make it more likely that you overeat at some stage... just to catch up.  The body gradually gets used to less food which can result in some discouraging 'stalls' in your progress. 

According to your stats you need about 2800 cals to maintain your weight.  So you could afford to increase your intake to 2000 a day and you'd probably find you lost weight almost as fast  but that you'd have more energy at the same time.  An extra snack or slightly bigger portions would do the trick.  When you hit 250lbs or if you start doing more exercise redo the calculations.