Dramatic weight loss in the first week of dieting

A quick note on how people can lose so much weight within the first couple of days or first week of dieting following on from my recent article Do low carb diets work?

You often hear people say:

'I have only been dieting for a week/xyz days and I have already lost xyz lbs'

This is down to WATER LOSS. Calorie restriction and primarily carbohydrate restriction causes the kidneys to get rid of water due to a drop in insulin and the ketones that are released cause a dehydrating effect on the body. It is not uncommon to lose up to 15lbs (over a stone) in a large individual and around 6-8lbs (half a stone) in an average individual in the first week of dieting. Glycogen in muscle cells will also be lower which will decrease weight further. After the initial drop- your weight loss will slow down as you have lost the water weight and now you can see actual fat loss.

After a carb-up or binge- you will notice a huge increase in weight- again this is not fat but just water storage and glycogen.

So next time someone says they have lost a dramatic and seemingly impossible amount of weight (or maybe you have yourself), think 'Is this just water weight or actual fat loss?'

Thanks for reading, any questions please ask.
Tom x