Question:
Is there are correlation between slower weight loss and the total amount you lose?

I seem to be losing my weight a little slower than some other folks on here. It makes me worry that I won't end up losing as much in the long run. So is this a sign I'm not going to be that successful, or is it just gonna take me longer? Thanks for your answers! :)    — PaulaJ (posted on May 1, 2009)

May 1, 2009
Paula..I remember when I first had my gastric bypass surgery I felt exactly the same way. I would search for people that had BMIs over 60 like mine and see how quickly they were losing. Eventually I got so discouraged, I quit looking. I thought I was losing so slow, but here I am almost 13 months post op and I've lost 180 lbs. Believe in yourself..you will be successful if you follow all the rules! :-)
   — Brandy H.

May 2, 2009
I am speaking for those with RNY as it is certainly different with other WLS's; Still, we all lose at different rates...and I believe that there are many reasons...Age, height, staring weight,your personal metabolism, how your body adjusts to the stress of surgery, your diet of course, how much you exercise, how much muscle you have, your body type...yada yada yada! The heavier ones (BMI over 50 as I was) seem to lose faster in the beginning than the lighter weights...but in the end, we seem to average out to a near normal BMI no matter the stats... I was over 50 BMI and lost extremely fast the first month and had no plateaus at all the first few months...But my weight did slow down every month gradually til it stopped...So I started with a big bang and it died down slowly!I didn't have plateaus til well into my 4th or 5th month. I also only weighed once a week because it was excruciating to get on that scale several times a day and see little fluctuations...so I decided once a week and no more! That's just me! I needed to stay realistic and not drive myself crazy with worry, I can do that sometimes! LOL So that worked out great for my confidence! Some lose slow and steady and some have many plateaus...But the main thing to know is that by the end of a year...most people will have lost an average 100 lbs...Some much more and some a little less...I started at 315 lbs and after 1 year weighed 158 lbs...I gained back 7-8 lbs immediately and have maintained 165 lbs the last 5 years...So that's where my body wants to be and I am more than thrilled right where I am...I'm not a light weight and never was...So I had a realistic personal goal of 160 and I am within 5-10 pounds plus or minus at differnt times of the year...(winter I seem to gain a little from hibernation! I hate the cold) Summer I lose the winter coat and get nice and trim again...I never pushed to be a certain "number" goal as being a number does not define who I am...It was my goal to be healthy first...thin later! I maintain 165lbs with very little trouble and that's been very pleasant for me for 5 years! Good luck to you and give yourself a year! Don't worry about what others are doing...just follow your basic rules and you'll have the best results for YOU!
   — .Anita R.