Why is it hard to loose weight in week 2 of a diet?

[yellowparrot]

On 'the biggest loser' last week, it said that week 2 of a diet is notoriously hard to loose weight. Has anyone else found this? do you know why? I started off really well loosing 4 lb last week, but this week nothing!

[ZZMum]

think first week you lose a lot of water so dramatic weight loss that can be replicated in second week - plus the mundanity of the diet kicks in as enthusiasm wanes... or is this just me!

[ZZMum]

can NOT be replicated obviously!

[LingDiLong]

Bizarrely I had the opposite, 2lb first week, 5lb the second week. I expect it to slow right down next week though.

I think as ZZMum says you get rid of a lot of water at first but the actual fat is a lot harder to get off.

[yellowparrot]

I have been really good all week and expecting to loose at least 2 lb, but have lost none! Now feeling a bit demotivated.

[ShowOfHands]

You can only lose 1-2lbs of fat a week. So in the first week you lose a lot of water and it's reflected on the scales, then your body starts to adjust to the new routine and diet and you start losing fat if you're dieting sensibly. This is a slow and steady process. You should expect no more than 1-2lbs a week. Otherwise you're just losing water or lean tissue and not actually getting rid of fat.

[GetOrfMoiiLand]

Is that true re lean muscle?

I lost 5lb week one and 4lb this week.

Mind you I have 2 stone of steroid bloat which I am aiming to lose, maybe that scuppers things a little.

I am exercising and eating well (but just not very much).

I assume that the weight loss will slow down next week.

[yellowparrot]

Thanks for explaining things ShowOfHands. I shall persevere. I know i have been ovulating this week. Could that effect my weight?

[ShowOfHands]

Hormone changes such as ovulation can affect weight a bit yes. Try other measures of how things are going too like measuring your waist and seeing how your clothes fit. Plus energy levels and fitness ability. Weight is actually a limited method of assessing what's happening and if you fall into the trap of feeling demoralised when you don't see dramatic weight loss week to week, it's better to find positives in other areas. Because dramatic weight loss isn't actually what you want.

Totally true Gerrof.

I've lost 2.5 stones since Sept. Some of this is fat. A lot of it was leftover watery bloat type nonsense from having ds. Weight loss will slow down but this doesn't mean you're not losing as much fat as in the first week. In fact lose it steadily and it stays off. When you crash diet, your body loses all sorts of lean tissue which of course goes straight back on again. Fat you lose steadily and theoretically if you maintain a healthy lifestyle it won't come back.

[Snowkey]

I lost a stone last year - the scales only moved once a fortnight - but when they moved it was often by 4-5lbs, frustrating and demotivating but I finally realised that weight loss is not linear you will not automatically lose 2lbs a week but that doesn't mean you haven't burned the fat, it's just impossible to tell sometimes because so many normal bodily functions and reactions cause water retention - menstration, ovulation, salt, carbs, muscle formation etc and you will have no idea what if any effect these things have on you - initially.

Measuring is tricky too, how tight are you pulling the tape, are you measuring the same place each week. A pair trousers that i can no longer squeeze into works better for me.

[deliasmithy]

When people say water loss explains the first bit of weight loss, what they mean is this:

The liver stores energy in the form of glycogen. This is stored in water. Glycogen is the quick access energy we burn if we haven't eaten enough at that day or time, and need quick energy. Lots of people lose 5 or 6 lbs and go oh wow look I've lost my excess weight, job done! They then put it back on again instantly the second they eat normally, as the body automatically starts to replenish the stores.
The trick in losing fat is to maintain that calorie deficit beyond the first week or two without any over eating days.

Forcing your body to access fat stores rather than use liver is much harder and takes longer.