"Luna" wrote in message
...
If there is anyone here with good, sound, medical advice on this, please
help me to clear up my confusion and possibly wrong assumptions.

First, what rate of weight loss is healthy? Is it 1% of body weight per
week? More? Less?

Second, is it true that to lose weight you should eat 8 - 10 times your
body weight in calories? So a 120 pound person who wants to lose weight
would eat between 960 and 1200 calories a day? My confusion comes from
thinking that's a mighty small amount of calories. (Not that I weigh 120
pounds, lol)
-Michelle Levin (Luna)


The model you are using to illustrate your premise is inappropriate; that's
where the confusion is coming in. A 120-pound person would not need to be
on a weight loss diet! So yes, of course 1200 calories doesn't sound like
much. It would be downright anorexic!

However, when you're talking about a 300 pound man or 250 pound woman who
wants to lose weight, yes, the 10-to-12-X you body weight makes a lot of
sense (I've always heard that, not 8-to-10).

I don't think anybody can say what is/isn't a "healthy" rate of weight loss;
it depends on how much weight there is to lose; how close to ideal weight
one is, etc. This is especially true of a low-carb approach, where weight
loss tends to be more in "steps" (significant drops and little plateaus)
rather than a steady ramp. I lost 14 pounds in my first two weeks on
induction, and it in no way hurt my health; just the opposite! But other
days/weeks are slower; it varies. Whatever feels comfortable. I don't
think you're in danger of losing weight too fast from LC, lol! Just when
you think you're dropping like crazy you stall. I wouldn't worry about
anorexia!

This certainly isn't medical advise, just a bit of perspective!
--
Peter
website: http://users.thelink.net/marengo