Saying I Love You To Early

I've been thinking about this topic a lot recently. I think our generation is messing up the meaning of I love you. Saying it the first day you go out? How is that love. In my current relationship I said it the first week. Only because he said it, and I wasn't ready to loose him. He only said it because we were in a fight and he didn't want to loose me. What happened to those old days. When it took months to say it because they wanted to mean it. How are you suppose to show or tell someone that you love them if you already told them that you love them. I recently actually relised I love my guy. But there isn't a special way to say it. What are your thoughts on this topic?