Only lose weight the first week

[Anonymous]

Every time I diet I lose weight the first week (very exciting) and then not at all. At my last physical the doc said my thyroid function was normal though TSH level was at the high end of normal. Many years ago I lost 80 pounds and kept it off for a few years, but gained it back plus some during two difficult pregnancies/bed rest. I was a champ at Weight Watchers to lose those 80 pounds so I know portion control, exercise, etc. I'm currently doing Weight Watchers again. I lost 5 pounds the first week and have lost nothing in the 5 weeks since. I feel good, but wish I could eat more. I know the Weight Watchers program works, but it doesn't seem to work for me beyond the first week. Nothing seems to work for me beyond week one. I've done other diets too and it's been the same every time.

Anyone else in this boat? How do I get past it? I'm 40, very overweight, but in good health and am fairly active (walk a lot).

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of people when they get excited about dieting eat less refined sugar/refined carbs/salt. Eating less carbs and salt can make you drop 5 lbs of water weight, but it has absolutely nothing to do with body fat, it's all water retention.

Then once you've dropped 5 lbs of water weight, you have to actually eat a deficit to lose fat. This is why when people go on low carb diets and say they lost 8 lbs in a week, it's total bullshit.

[Anonymous]

Like PP said, it means you're still eating too much to be able to lose. The first week loss is not coming from a calorie deficit, it's just from your metabolism reacting to you having changed things up.

[Anonymous]

With the new WW, there are a lot of foods with calories that have no points value. You might want to take a look at your calories to see if you have reduced them enough to actually lose weight.