Week 1

Foolishly I thought that I would have this major weight loss in the first week and that I would be be down at least 5 pounds.  That wasn't the case.  I did loose... just not the 5 pounds I was hoping for.  Instead I dropped 1.8 pounds.

According to the Mayo Clinic healthy sustainable weight loss happens by loosing 1-2 pounds on average per week.  And I did just that.  So why was I so disappointed in my just shy of 2 pounds loss?  I think the many fad diets and weight loss shows on television set average people up to fail.

Take the Biggest Loser for example.  Granted the people on the show are starting at a much heavier weight than I am but in all reality they eventually get to my weight and then continue to loose.  And loose at rapid speed.  In the first few weeks of the show the contestants loose 10, 15, 20 pounds in a week.  And as the weeks continue they still loose at an unhealthy rate with 4, 6, 8 pounds.  And while we as average people know those results aren't typical, we still expect them because obviously someone has.  Realistically, they have put their lives on hold, eat very restrictive diets, have personal trainers, and are in it to win it.  They are hyper-motivated.  So the average person trying to loose weight cannot compare themselves to the contestants as hard as that it.

So I go into week two 1.8 pounds lighter and definitely more motivated because I did it.  I lost weight.