Repost: 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.

 

Unfortunately this doesn't help me understand any better my weight loss as a success or not. I am revision to RnY from old Ring.
I am 5ft tall and my highest weight was 270lbs.
I now weigh 171lbs.
Where does that leave me % wise?
Mikimi in Israel

Okay, first off, revisions lose slower.

At 5' tall...your BMI at 25% would be 128 lbs.

You started at 270 and had 142 lbs to lose. You lost 99 lbs.

So 99/142 equal 69%. Which, unfortunately still makes you a success because you lost over 50% of your excess weight.

Liz

 

Think you for your response.
But why "unfortunately" if I am still considered a success?
And why the heck do we have so much "faith" in the stupid bmi charts?
I am wide and with a large ribcage due to lung problems so even after my tummy tuck and breast lift - I still look big when if someone were to compare me to what I used to look like, I look worlds apart.
I would be happy if I weighed 150-155lbs.
I hate feeling defined by a number on a chart or scale.
Mikimi

Because in the medical world they still define us using that chart.

And while I hate it, it hasn't been replaced with anything better and MORE accurate.