Situation: My husband and I are having a debate and we’d like you to give us the answer. We will be celebrating our twenty-fifth
wedding anniversary with a large party in six weeks. I say that I should be able to lose 25 pounds for the party, and my husband says that 10 to 15 pounds is more realistic. Who’s right?
Strategies: Ever hear the expression “Yard by yard it may be hard, but inch by inch, it’s a cinch?” In all my years with Weight Watchers, I have found that having realistic expectations about how quickly weight can be lost is key to a successful outcome. Here’s what the experts agree on: After the first couple of weeks (when loss can be higher due to the loss of water), an average weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is healthful, realistic, and most important, achiev- able. Losing weight at a greater rate—even if it can be achieved—is not a good idea because it is highly unlikely to be sustained, and the health risks of rapid weight loss rise quickly when weight loss exceeds the 2-pound-per-week mark. Although this may not be what you want to hear, it’s the reality. So your husband is declared the winner of this debate. Why not set a goal of losing 10 pounds by your anniversary party? Then, if you lose 12 or 13 pounds, you will have exceeded your expectations—a lovely situation to be in.
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