Do Lightweights lose slower? OR It's not POUNDS, it's PERCENTAGES!

I've seen several people wondering this...some might, don't get me wrong but in general we lose as fast or faster than our heavyweight brethren.

We need to stop comparing ourselves to the heavyweights...which is really hard on the surgery boards when they say they've lost 100 lbs in 6 months and we are "slowly"  down just 50/60 lbs.

Remember tho, we ARE lightweights...we simply do not have as much to lose.

When thinking you aren't losing fast enough, read this...and if necessary, read it again and again.

It's not POUNDS, it's PERCENTAGES!

by Carolyn M.

Two people, both 6 months post-op. One has lost only 63 pounds and feels bad about her "slow" weight loss. The other has lost 96 pounds and thinks she's doing great.

They are both wrong.

Person A had only 105 excess pounds, so she has already lost 60% of her excess weight. She is actually ahead of the game at 6 months out and is on track to lose it ALL.

Person B had 265 excess pounds. At 6 months out she has only lost 36% of her excess weight. At this rate, she will end up retaining 28% of her excess weight, enough to keep her in the obese category.

See what I mean? Don't compare pounds to pounds, that's like apples and oranges.

Percent of excess weight lost: pounds lost divided by total excess pounds
Use a BMI of 25 as a goal weight

On track to lose it all is 25% lost after 2 months, 50% after 6 months, and 80% at one year.

Please note: These are averages. Your mileage may vary.

 

I think like the light weight creed, this sound be posted every so often.  Thanks.

It's frustrating when a doctor, nurse or dietitian tells a lightweight that they will lose slower. {sigh}

 

Thanks for this reminder. Although I  have reached normal BMI (5ft 1 in, 128), 8 months out I've gotten abit discouraged the last several weeks as everything has come to a stand still. Had hoped to shed another 10-15 for a bounce back cushion. Just don't know if this will happen, but feel very blessed to be normal BMI for the first time in my life.

Just keep on keeping on. I reached normal BMI about 8 months out, dropped to about where I am now and then stalled for almost 6 months. Then dropped again. I've added about 8 lbs back the last 8 months but am in a range I can handle.

Liz