What is the maximum amount you can safely lose in a week?

United Arab Emirates
July 28, 2009 10:54am CST
Why do we always hear that 2 pounds per week is the maximum amount of fat one can safely lose? What if you want to lose faster? How do you explain the fast weight losses on The Biggest Loser? Discuss.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@devmitra (274)
• India
29 Jul 09
In the first week ,you lose weight very easily.My brother lost two kilograms in the first two days.Later on it becomes difficult.You need to have a strict diet regime also.Besides,you have to have continuity in your regime.
1 person likes this
@cncity (46)
• China
29 Jul 09
I am very glad to see this post! I think the safely weight loss is at most 2 pounds,because too much your weight loss,your body will be physiological disorder,that will let you have no spirit and always want to have a rest,to the worst,you will be ill or sick.it not saying thing just to fighten people only.I am a expetrienced people to instruct other people to lese weigth. ok,have a nice day!If you have time ,please visit my new blog about health diet and weight loss.http://www.cncityflixya.flixya.com.Thank you very much!Oh,my english is not very good to write articles because it not my native language,but I will practise and practise!
@Jean25 (343)
• Philippines
11 Aug 09
I don't know. i haven't done any exercise for months. but am still ok. with it i haven't gain any weight.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
28 Jul 09
The show Biggest Loser is more geared toward exercise and water. I have went to a gym and started eating the right foods and drinking lots of water. I did lose 6 pounds my first week and about that the same week. The trick is that the first week you will lose more because you are getting rid of the water weight in your body. If you exercise and change your eating habits then you will lose weight. I promise.
• United States
11 Aug 09
WW last I knew said only 2 lbs not sure why.
• United States
28 Jul 09
I don't know anything about the methods used on The Biggest Loser, but I can tell you that, when you first start losing weight, a lot of it is water weight. I have lost 20 pounds since April. I have not been actively TRYING to lose weight, I just decided it was time to change some habits. Over the last 6- 8 weeks I had been dropping 1-2 pounds per week. I think I have finally hit my end weight. I have cut out all soda, even diet soda. I drink a LOT of water and tea. I do not eat fast food anymore. These steps alone will allow you to lose weight with little to no effort. I have added a lot of fruit to my diet, apricots in particular. They are low calories and full of necessary fiber that fills you up. I have also added dairy products to my diet. I eat cottage cheese with blueberries or grapes, or raspberries, etc. I snack on string cheese and more fruit. I eat a normal dinner. I am never hungry, I snack A LOT. I think this is important to keep you body fueled and then you won't binge on the bad stuff. I TRY to work out three times per week, but lately I have not been. I recently started working at Curves a couple nights per week, and since I have become an employee, I find I am not working out anymore. I need to fix this. I do try to get out an walk and have been making regular trips to the beach. My bikini fits again!!! I don't believe in diets, I think they are only temporary. I believe you need to change your eating habits and be consistently active.
@ysame9 (2)
• Philippines
12 Aug 09
True, studies show that only 2 pounds is the max weight you can lose in a week. More than this, its no longer healthy. You'll only lose water or electrolytes from your body and this can be very unstable because once you replace it with liquids, your weight can go up once again. It can happen but it can also be very dangerous if you lose more than 2 pounds in a week because a lot can happen in your body such as fat oxidation which can be very toxic or muscle wasting that can definitely harm your body. Consult a medical expert if you intend to lose more.
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
31 Jul 09
I attend weightwatchers and they tell us .5 to 2 pounds a week is a safe amount to lose in one week. If you lose it more rapidly then its a strain on your body, it can even effect your heart rhythm. The people on the biggest loser are closely monitored at all times by a medical team where we are not, its better to be on the safe side. Plus studies have shown if you lose the weight too quickly, then you are more likely to gain it back. Small weight losses do add up. I started Weight Watchers last October and to date I have lost 50 pounds from losing .5 to 2 pounds a week.
• United States
10 Aug 09
I've heard the maximum amount of weight to lose each week is one pound but I've tried losing 3 pounds a week and nothing seems to be wrong with my health. I think there shouldn't be a limit but just exercise and diet and see how the weight loss is.
• United States
28 Jul 09
The Biggest Loser is a unique program. It is highly monitored and regulated. They also are doing massive amounts of exercise. It's not safe to do all that on your own. 2 pounds a week doesn't seem like much but that's 8 per month and it is a safe amount. It is also easier to keep it off if it is slow. Fast weight loss is usually gained back rather quickly.
• United States
11 Aug 09
Visualize this for a minute: A 2 pound hand weight, or a soup can in your hand. Relatively that is A LOT of fat to be burned, and you have to consider that your body "burns" foods that you recently ate for energy first rather then fat. So if you over eat, exercising will only use the extra food, and not use the fat. However if you don't eat anything, or almost nothing, and your body just uses fat as energy, you can gain fat simultaneously because it's not the main energy source. Losing weight doesn't just poof off your body, it has to be burned off in moderation along with a balanced diet. That's why it isn't very likely or safe to lose large amounts of weight in a small period of time. Trust me, taking it slow and steady and losing half to a pound a week may not seem like a lot, but you are more likely to continue to shed the weight at that rate and stick with it then if you starve yourself in an attempt to lose as much weight at once.