Everyday Systems

I had an interesting thought this morning while playing stats geek. Since I got really serious about No-S again, I checked out my rate of weight loss, griping to myself that I hadn't lost much.

Now, I'm losing about a half a pound a week, when I take in a moving average. While that feels almost excruciatingly slow, I seem to recall that being the recommended rate of PERMANENT weight loss.

I know I've heard this figure before, but can anyone here back me up on it or am I just insane? (Yes, yes, I know. It's not mutually exclusive. Bear with me here).

LOL! You're not insane. I believe Reinhard quoted that 1/2 pound a week statistic on one of his podcasts.

And FWIW, a half a pound a week has been my average loss this month . I'll take it. At least the scale isn't going up which I'm sure it would be without No S.

That's great, Noel.

I think I originally got the "half a pound a week" from Brian Wansink's Mindless Eating.

I just did a quick google book search and found a (the?) relevant quote.

Reinhard

My goal is 1 ounce a day, which is fairly close to 1/2 lbs. per week.

My goal is one pound per month. As of this morning, I'm 2 pounds away from a 10% weight loss. Given that I had gained 60 pounds in the six years prior to starting this diet, I'm quite content with a weight loss of one pound per month! In fact, reversing from gaining weight to losing weight was in itself an accomplishment!
Kathleen

I know I read of that recommended weight in a book long before Mindless Eating. I can't remember who the author was, but he was saying he was telling the real truth on what made permanent change likely. He also said people should do resistance exercise with very heavy weight only once a week; that it was ideal for the muscle to heal for 6 days. Wish I could remember it.

1% of body weight

10% over 6 months

I found these two sites which may be of some use. I like goals that are more tailored to an individual as opposed to a constant number of pounds for all.

Hum, I lost 32% within a year, lol ! It depends how much you have to lose too, if you are not that overweight 1/2 a pound a week might be awesome, but if you are pushing 300 pounds, 1/2 a pound a week is really sloooooooow ...

I gained 5 pounds back now though in the past 6 months ... working on that if I keep up with the training and the diet I should be alright within a month or two, hehe !

I was thinking maybe it was related to muscles too since I have been training a lot lately. My legs are getting quite muscular from all that cycling, running and sprinting I do almost every day now when the weather is alright.

Cheers !

Marc

38 Years Old, 5'10" Tall
Nov. 1st. 2008 : 280 Pounds
Nov. 1st. 2009 : 190 Pounds
(1 Year : - 90 Pounds)

Current Weight : 195 Pounds

Got pics? Before and during?

Most weight losers regain all the weight or much of it in 2-5 years. The theory of slow loss is that the weight will stay off, usually because the participant has found a lifestyle he or she will continue. You'll have to keep up with us in another year and a half for the two-year mark. Although you mention you've regained 5 lbs., it sounds like you are basically sticking with the program.

Howdy,
And how many forum members drift away because there is such little progress or worse? So is one thing, unfocused is another. Even Nos seems to need many faillures before it sticks. Maintanence is an issue but how much it is tied to the rate of loss I do not really know. I will ask around to the maintainers I know and see if there is a correlation. Annecdotal to be sure.

I do know a lot of what passes for "knowledge"concerning weight management is opinion.

I also think there is as much risk in losing too slow as there is in losing too quickly. It is like paying off debt. The longer one takes to pay it off, the more likely it is to never occur. Life happens which makes the task harder and harder, whether that is money or weight.