"Fast" can be a relative term, but in general, healthy weight loss means dropping 1 to 2 lb. a week. When you first begin to diet and exercise, the pounds may come off more quickly, though your loss will typically level out after a few weeks. Additionally, if you are on a doctor-supervised very low calorie diet, you may lose weight more rapidly. Your doctor can help determine the weight-loss rate that is healthiest for you.
Initial Weight Loss
During the first few weeks of your weight-loss regimen, it is normal for your weight to drop rapidly, even if you are on a healthy diet and exercise plan. The initial loss is coming from water weight. By depriving your body of calories, you force it to get energy from its supply of glycogen, a carbohydrate stored in your muscles and liver. When glycogen is released, water is as well -- in fact, for each 1 g of glycogen burned, you lose about 4 g of water. This rapid loss may continue for the first few weeks, until your metabolism adjusts, and then you will begin losing pounds from fat, which is a slower process.
Very Low Calorie Diet
If you are obese, your physician may put you on a very low calorie diet, either to jump-start your weight loss or to have you continue on it for several weeks. Typically, this type of diet will require you to replace your food with shakes or bars for several weeks, or you may be limited to only lean protein. A very low calorie diet will result in a loss of about 3 to 5 lb. per week, on average. However, this diet must be followed under the direct supervision of a health care provider to ensure that you are getting an adequate amount of nutrients.
Healthiest Pace
Once you have eased into your healthy diet over a few weeks, or if you are simply overweight and not obese, you should aim to lose 1 to 2 lb. per week. This pace helps to make sure that those lost pounds are coming from fat, not water or lean muscle tissue. Furthermore, a slower rate teaches you the lifestyle, exercise and dietary habits you will need to maintain your goal weight once you have reached it.
Unintentional Weight Loss
If you are losing weight rapidly without intending to, you may have an underlying medical condition. Cancer, depression, AIDS, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, diarrhea, infection and several other conditions can result in unintentional weight loss. If over a 6- to 12-month period you have lost 5 percent or more of your normal weight without trying to, seek medical attention.
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