Question:
I often read how most lightweight lose

weight slower. I was wondering what was your regime with exercise and diet. Do you lose slower despite following all the rules and excercise?    — Just P (posted on May 31, 2003)

May 31, 2003
I was a lightweight with a BMI of 40 to start. I hit goal in under 6 months and went from a size 24 to a 4. Read my profile for details.
   — Linda A.

May 31, 2003
Hello! I am a recent post-op (4/03/03)Monday will be 8 weeks.My starting weight was 235 lbs at 5'2". So far I have lost 38 lbs. I go to the gym 5 days per week and do the elliptical machine for 45 minutes. I recently started doing some weight training as well. I also walk 2-3 miles a few times per week. I lost a lot of weight the first few weeks, but recently it seems that I consistantly lose about 3 lbs per week. Of course I would like to be losing faster, but realistically 3 lbs per week is better in the long run. I am thrilled with how much better I feel!
   — Barbara C.

May 31, 2003
Lightweights seem to lose slower despite following all the rules. I know, I ARE one. It has been 7 months and I have lost 78 pounds and I'm only 13 pounds from goal. It's kind of a percentage thing. I've not lost as many pounds as my heavier AMOS buddies, but the percentages are about the same.
   — donnamcclure

May 31, 2003
I am considered a lightweight. I started at 251 and 5ft 3inches.. I am almost 11 weeks out and lost 41 pounds so far..alot slower then most .. I exersise 10 hours a week..eat my protien, drink my water ( up to 100 ounces) and still going at a snails pace.. as long as it comes off I am happy!
   — Catherine B

June 1, 2003
I think the answer is (don't kill me for this one)we all lose at the pace our bodies want us to. For me, I exercise 6 days a week and manage 50-70 gm of protien, 64-100oz of water. I do aerobics and weight training combo. I had surgery on February 26 at 242lbs and weighed 174lbs this morning. I am pleased with the weight loss, but everyone is different. Don't get caught up in the comparison thing. Do your program as prescribed by your doc, (allow for being human)and you will be a success. Everyone on this site is!
   — dimpkd

June 1, 2003
It also depends on how much weight you have to lose. Most lightweights want to lose around 100 pounds or so and most achieve their goal or come close within a year or more. Everyone loses differently though, so its never a good thing to compare losses or the time frames it takes to achieve it. Linda Almonte, as a light weight, lost more faster than anyone else I have heard about, so I would not use her loss as an average comparison. Others have lost much less in the same period of time yet achieve their goals eventually. A good rule of thumb is to stick to the pouch rules, drink tons of water, exercise regularly and most of all enjoy the journey.
   — Cindy R.

June 1, 2003
I was a lightweight and lost very fast!! (Check my profile). I've not dieted or exercised once. Maintaining has been a breeze and I am loving this freedom. I am 2 1/2 years post op. Shelley
   — Shelley.

June 2, 2003
I think it is just a very individual thing. I too was a light weight (HAR HAR) and I have lost weight very steadily and at a decent rate. My BMI on surgery day was 41.7 and now at almost 5 months out it is 29.8 and I have, as of last weeks weigh-in lost 87 pounds altogether (11 the week before surgery). With only forty pounds to go I think that is as speedy as I could have dreamed of. I follow all of the rules and exercise very moderately (just walk a few times a week) and have never hit a plateau. I really think it is getting in all of my protein (at least 75 grams a day) and as much water as I can manage (at least 48 ounces, I am working on doing better with that one) that has contributed the most to my loss. I also keep carbs at about 40 per day max. I know that the exercise is going to be more important as I get closer to my goal weight but I am not too great about it yet and my lifestyle is so much more active in general than it ever was before. Good Luck!! You can do it.
   — Carol S.

June 2, 2003
"Lightweights" have less to lose than folks with more excess weight, so the latter lose faster than the former (which makes sense, since they've got further to travel to get to a healthy weight). Nevertheless, lightweights tend to get to goal faster (because luckily, their journey was shorter). While I completely understand the obsession with rate of loss (and fully obsessed about it myself), when you step back from it, it's really kind of nutty how much we obsess about how fast we're losing after years of ignoring how big we were getting (well, I ignored it, anyway). The real goal should how we're doing in preparing for long-term success with the new "tool," not record-breaking, short-term weight loss rates (hello, "diet" mentality). It does little good to be the fastest loser in your class in the first x months, if you aren't building the solid habits needed to be happy and healthy at goal (whatever that is) and STAY there in the long term.
   — Suzy C.

June 2, 2003
Well Sheree, I answered before I realized it was 'lil 'ole *you*. ;-) *You* will lose weight just fine, trust me, if I could do it in a reasonable time, and I'm a lot older than you (creakin' and poppin' here), anyone can!
   — Suzy C.

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