Is Losing More than 1-2 pounds a week safe?
Let me just clear the air and answer that question with a resounding YES. The theory that losing more than 1-2 pounds per week is unsafe is false. Its more of a way to shield individuals from going on crash diets and losing a ton of weight using unsafe methods only to gain it back and then some.
Realistically many individuals NEED to lose more than 1-2 pounds per week for their health. They NEED to get the weight off so that many of their medical issues can be resolved. Not to mention that no one wants to wait to see significant results. However it is true that specific lifestyle habits must be instilled before racing to lose as much weight as possible.
Implementing lifestyle habits like planning meals ahead of time, blocking off time for your workouts, and keeping unsupportive foods out of the house. Implementing these and making them habit can take some time so your weight loss during that time can be slowed. However once all components are in place, there is no reason at all that losing more than 2 pounds per week would not be safe. In fact if you have a lot of weight to lose, you had better be losing more than 2 pounds per week or something is amiss.
There is also the thought that the weight will come back on much sooner if it is lost quicker. Well if it is done in a supportive way and not extreme dieting, the weight that is lost whether it is fast or slow, is much more likely to stay off as opposed to taking a year to lose 50 pounds. If it took a year to lose 50 pounds, you certainly have habits in place, but you may also be on the fringe of reverting back to old habits because you may just plain be sick and tired of dieting.
If you have implemented a lifestyle, and executed the lifestyle over the course of the year you might be better off but will most likely be frustrated because the results didn’t come fast enough. The solution? Implement a lifestyle approach where you instill supportive habits and practice them relentlessly. Once the habits are in place, turn it up a notch and accelerate your weight loss by pushing the limits of supportive nutrition and exercise but still not going to extremes. After a period of pushing the limits, return back to the habits you had instilled prior so that you can maintain your success.
Instill habits first then hit warp speed with your weight loss. You will maintain your results and is perfectly safe to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time.
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Comments on Is Losing More than 1-2 pounds a week safe?
7:11 pm
That picture is disturbing!
3:34 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally, someone that makes sense on this subject. Another thing that bugs me about the “establishment” is the notion that it’s not wise or may be harmful to go under 1200 cals. a day. What?! I’m a female bodybuilder, 5′1″. How am I supposed to lose anything on 1200 cals.? I am doing just fine on 800 cals. per day, high protein (for now, with a high calorie day or two put into the mix) and don’t feel deprived or hungry. Obviously protein is filling and the good habits are already there. I can assure you I’m taking off way more than 2lbs. a wk, due to a LOW VOLUME weightlifting program and UP the cardio. I can also assure you that my metabolism is doing just fine. Starvation mode is from endless yo-yo dieting and/or very long periods of deprivation. Also, if you maintain or build on your strength when lifting weights, you’re NOT losing muscle. I’m gaining strength on a measly 800 cals. per day. If ever I were to feel weak or not strong, then I would UP the cals. It’s a no-brainer. However it’s a lot more difficult to tell if you’re losing muscle if you don’t lift weights. –Thanks.