Still losing weight too fast?

So, I've been reading a lot of the posts here on cc, and I've been comparing the "common wisdom" to my own experience, and it got me to thinking; am I losing weight too fast? I had dinner last night with my wife at The Melting Pot and we ate until we were stuffed. Knowing it was our early Valentine's Day dinner, we both knew we would probably eat a lot more than normal, but it was one of those very rare occasions where we figured "what the heck." I figured I'd slow or stop my weight loss when I weighed myself this morning. Instead, I lost even more weight.

I now weigh 286.5 lbs. I've lost 20.5 lbs in 35 days. I started at 307 lbs. I am not exercising, but I am getting more and regular sleep and I watch my calories religiously. I am never tired, run-down, or hungry. Every time I eat, I get full. I eat all day: three major meals with snacks in between. I don't cheat, and even in situations where the food is not the best, I eat much less making sure my calorie intake is reasonable. I've yet to go past my daily recommended calorie intake as recommended here on cc.

However, the problem I have been running into is that even though I try to get to my recommended limit (I expend around 2900 and my recommended is around 2600), I have a very hard time doing so. I even went to a higher-calorie breakfast and I even eat more at lunch, but I don't want to feel stuffed. Feeling full is enough for me.

Now, if I were feeling tired or hungry, I'd be concerned, but the strange fact of the matter is that I haven't felt this good since I was in the Marines. I have more energy, I feel better, I actually feel lighter when walking up stairs, and I have been literally walking on clouds. Losing weight as fast as I have been has made me actually feel the weight loss on my knees and legs which would protest to me in pain every time I had to climb stairs, get up from a chair, get in or out of my car, etc. Now, those pains are down to almost nothing.

So, my question is this: should I be worried or concerned that I'm losing weight so fast? I'm thinking that since I was so heavy to begin with (over 300 lbs), most of the weight I'm losing now is literally just falling off me because even though I'm not exercising, keeping this large mass of fat at 98.6 degrees takes up an inordinate amount of calories. I'm exercising by just being. I am thinking that at a certain point, it will begin to be more difficult to lose weight without actively exercising, and once I hit that point, I will begin to exercise. However, I am still losing anywhere to between .5 to 1.5 lbs a day for the past week or so. Prior to that, I slowed my weight loss a lot in my third week of my new lifestyle, but it's picked up again as I've done more to increase my calories. Who'd a thunk that eating more calories would make me lose weight faster?

Anyway, should I be concerned? Should I see a doc? Or should I just be happy with the weight loss and since I'm feeling okay and not suffering any negative side-effects (that I know of)? I know this is a new lifestyle and not a diet, and that this is for life. I know I'm not working toward a weight goal and then I can return to my previous eating habits; that won't happen. However, I want to make sure I do this in as healthy a way as possible, and I don't want to get sick.

What do I do?

If you're extremely overweight then weight-loss can start off at a bit of a lick, especially in the first one or two weeks when excess fluid tends to be the first to leave.  You've covered the usual concerns.... e.g. not eating enough, a poor-quality diet, over-exercising.... and you seem to be taking things sensibly.   You mention seeing a doctor.... that's never a bad thing to do before starting a weight-loss programme. 

You did the right thing, increasing your intake to an appropriate amount.  That alone can gee up the metabolism and you'll find many threads where people are surprised to find that eating more has resulted in weight-loss..  If you struggle to get 2600 cals a day, add in more 'high-calorie, low-bulk' foods to your day e.g. oils, nuts, nut butters, oily fish and trim back on the 'low-calorie, high-bulk' foods like vegetables which can be too filling.

The only thing I'd suggest is that you start adding in gentle exercise now rather than waiting until things slow down.  If you get into a habit of walking for half an hour a day, for example, it'll keep things moving along and it''l benefit your general health (blood-pressure, cholesterol levels).

Well done so far and best of luck

Thanks, gi-jane!

I did see a doctor prior to starting my weight loss, and I even had a physical stress test (which I passed with a far better grade than he expected). I had all sorts of blood work done, and the only thing that concerned my doctor was the fatty liver, but he said that would correct itself when I lost weight.

I was thinking of going back just to make sure I'm not putting any of my physiology out of whack with this loss.

As for exercise, I just need to try to make some time. The only problem is that I only have about three hours of free time a day from the time I get home to the time I go to bed, and that is typically spent eating dinner, using the restroom, and spending time with the kids and my wife. I need to get sleep sometime, too, and with my long days, it's very hard to get it all in (but I'm going to try to find a way).

As always, gi-jane, you're a wealth of information and the voice of reason when we have questions, doubts, etc. Thanks again!

Thanks... that's very kind.  How about the wife and kids all come with you for a walk around the block after supper?   Spend time together, get some fresh-air and a little gentle exercise at the same time...   Just a thought.

You are losing weight, eating healthy, feel great........I wouldn't change a thing at this point.

I agree with everything gijane has said, especially the bit about involving your kids in getting some exercise - I'm sure they would be very excited if Dad spent some quality time with them by getting outside and playing catch, or flag football, or bike riding, etc etc etc - you get the idea - and you'll be teaching them good habits for life so that they don't end up in your situation when they are adults.

wow ya just read that post that would have been awsome if i was a kid still and my dad wanted to go for a walk with me after dinner,  less tv more dad time is great, my dad and i did tae kwan do together,  thats so much fun,  and my dd was a really heavy guy too

My boyfriend is losing at about the same clip as you-- 20 lbs in January alone-- and started at about 260. He doesn't seem to be having any adverse effects from it, although unlike you we both are making an effort to average 20 minutes of moderate-effort exercise a day. If you're feeling good, I wouldn't worry about it-- and before you know it, you'll be much closer to a healthy weight and the loss really will slow down to the rate of "common wisdom".