Average Weekly Weight Loss

I am 4 weeks post op having had the RNY at Huntinton Memorial Pasadena.  I lost 6 lbs last week and I'm curious if this is normal.  The first few weeks had faster weekly weight loss, and so far I've lost 44 lbs.  So to further the question, could I get your collective experience about weekly weight loss?  For example, weekly expected weight loss during: Weeks 4-12 Months 3-6 Months 6-12 Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, David

David,

From what I've seen, 6 per week would be the max, with most people losing 2-3 per week for the first few months, tapering to 1-2 and then sometimes 0. Many people also experience pateaus of 0 loss for 3 or more weeks and then start to lose again (provided they are sticking with the program).

Good Luck,

Dave 

David, Rate of loss varies a good bit. And it has more to do with % of overall weight than anything. For example- 2 men, both 6’ tall- one weighs 300 the other 400. The 300 pound man losing 5% of his weight would lose 15 lbs. The 400 pound man losing the exact same 5% of his weight would lose 20 lbs. Both men would be “losing at the same rate” even though the numbers were different.  Yes? Also, the amount of “Excess Weight-To-Be-Lost” is the big factor…… Sorry to “Copy & Paste” this in---------------- But it saves on typing……. This is a Re-Post, So skip it unless you’re curious. Since writing this I’ve Gone on below my Goal weight By 6 or 5 pounds, depending on the day of the week, But it was a way of thinking of my loss along the way That kept me from “worrying” about my progress. Hope it helps some one-

 

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So Often we see the Posted Question- “Am I still Losing?” Or- “My Weight Loss has Slowed to nearly Nothing!” Well, for those who are nervous about Missing out on the window of opportunity Afforded by their “Honeymoon Period,” Think of it as proportions or ratios. For me, I was at 385 pounds to start. My Ultimate Goal was to lose 200 pounds. The first two weeks I lost 20 pounds! 10 pounds a week! Yahoo! Who could be happier? That was a loss rate of 5% of my Goal Loss - Each week. So that left me with 180 pounds left to lose. By the 6th month, I had lost 90 pounds And had only 110 pounds left to lose. During the 7th month I was losing at a rate of approx. 5 pounds each week, some weeks 6. I “thought” I had slowed so much. Until I thought of it in ratios. With only 110 pounds left to lose, 5 pounds a week was roughly the same percentage. 5.5 pounds per week would be 5% of 110 each week. Once I had lost down to only 50 pounds left to lose, At around 12 months, I was losing about a pound a week on the average. Which once again “Seemed” incredibly slow Compared to my previous rate of loss. But having only 50 pounds to lose, I was still dropping at approximately 5% Of the Goal weight each week. Yes? At One Pound from Goal at about 14 months out. It once again “Seemed” that I’d stopped losing. But 5% of 1 pound is less than one ounce each week. At my Triumphant rate of 5% each week- (I had been so thrilled about in the first month,) It should take me nearly 20 weeks to lose this pound. So Why should I expect to lose faster at 16 months than I Did in the first 2 weeks? The Tool was still working, I’m still following the Plan, And the weight loss, In proportion to the amount of Weight left to lose, Is still as fast as ever. It’s not really any harder now than it was before, And as long as I keep in mind, the long term goal Of a healthy life, I’m not disappointed. Whenever you find yourself worried that your Weight loss has slowed too much, Think of the ratios and proportions. Your probably Right on Schedule! Just a thought! Stay the course, and don’t be impatient with The natural order of things. Nature, Even the seemingly Un-Natural Nature of WLS Follows a schedule That may not adhere to your wishes and desires. You can’t Push the River! Best Wishes- Dx 385/180 5 pounds below goal! For over 2-1/2 years now…

 

 

As always, Dx is right on.  Thanks I needed that post Dx.  I had been losing 5-6 lbs a week for the first 12 weeks then slowed to 2-3lbs.  I'm now down 81 since surgery 15 weeks ago, but the last couple of weeks it has slowed.  Knowing I have about 65 to go to my goal my slowdown is to about 4.4% a week of the weight to go.  I hadn't looked at it that way before.  Sounds like I need to get a spreadsheet working. My profile here chronicles my weight loss per week.  This might help you at least for the first 3 months expectation.   http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hepaid4that/ Keep up the great work!!!  You are doing terrific. Greg

Hey David, I can speak for myself.... and taking everything int account.. me-45yo at surgery 5'6" tall bmi 59+ weight 365 I lost right a a pound a day for the first 100 days...give or take a pound at 20months I had lost 205#.... hopes this helps Russ

i used to be the platue king. i would stay at one weight then lose 5 pounds but forever! Dx posted that percentage advice a while back when i was still losing and that made the most sense about the subject. it's all a matter of percentages. i'm smaller and lost slower but kept up percentage wise. of topic, i used to live down the road from you in montecito heights off the pasadena freeway! I had a glass house with all decks on stilts hanging off a canyon up there! it took me a year to sell it because people would come in the front door, look at the drop and walk out! anyway, keep up the great work.....Carbonblob

Hey guys - thanks for the doog advise. DX - you seem esp. knowledgeable and I appreciate your contributions here. Carbonblob - I just lvoe Pasadena, but I live in Upland.  Where did you relocate to?

Hey David, I live on the west side a couple miles from the ocean in a place called Westchester. I love it! I used to live all over the valley. had several businesses out there. I'm so spoiled now. no more heat! I live right next to marina del rey if that helps. You're right about one thing too, Dx is the yoda of this board so he'll always have an answer for you. Oh, do you listen to talk radio? KFI has Bill Handle on in the mornings. He did a great series on his show about his wls. he and i have the same doctor. so in a lot of ways we have more men out here getting the surgery because of him. Handle and KFI sponser of the surgeons seminars from time to time. very cool. take care.....Carbonblob

David, 44 pounds in 4 weeks is fantastic.  You’re doing it right. What everyone else has said is on target, but the rate of weight loss varies for everyone.  Just remember it is not a race.  It’s a journey to better health. I have tracked my weight daily with Fitday since day one and here is a summary of my weight loss. Week 1:  11.5 pounds or 7.3%.  This was mostly excess fluid from all the IV’s in the hospital. Weeks 2 – 4:  5 – 7 pounds per week or about 5%. Weeks 5 – 11:  4 – 5 pounds per week, about 5% Weeks 12 – 28:  about 2 pounds per week, about 4% Then in late October I really slowed down with very little loss for several weeks in a row. Weeks 29 – 39:  Only 3 pounds in 10 weeks.  I had a couple of frustrating plateaus. Weeks 40 – today: about a pound per week or about 3% of my excess weight. If I can maintain a pound per week loss for the next six months or more I’ll be happier than a pig in sh*t. Keep in mind that other things change the further out you get.  You will soon find that your appetite is returning and you will be able to eat a wider variety of foods, and you will also be able to eat more; sometimes more than you should.  Don’t worry about it if it’s for only a day or two. The other thing you may have already noticed is that you have a lot more energy to enjoy life again.  Take advantage of your newfound energy and seek out the fun things in life you have been missing for the past few years. We’ll be expecting a few FART’s from you in the near future, so don’t be a stranger on the board.

Paul - thank you so much - what a great reply.