Question:
I don't know if I'm going to ask this in the right way, but here goes. If a person

has 400lbs to lose and they lose say 300, what happens to a person who has 250 to lose from losing to much.    — hannah R. (posted on August 27, 1999)

August 27, 1999
Hi. Each person's body is different but the body knows at what weight you need to be to survive. I had gastric bypass surgery in Oct. of 1998. I weighed 305 pounds. I am 9 months post op and I weigh 178. At first I was losing anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds a month. I have slowed down considerably at this time. I only have about 40 more pounds to lose. The closer you get to your ideal weight the harder it will be to lose. I don't think anyone really knows what the ideal weight is but I do think that your body knows what that is. If that makes any sense. Good luck.
   — Kathy K.

August 29, 1999
Goodmorning Hannah, The way that I explain it to family is to picture yourself in realtion to the amount of food you are able to eat. Picture a balance scale, with the amount of weight you lose way up there, and the amount you can eat, way at the bottom. When you are first out of surgery you weigh 400, you can eat very little.... as you go down in weight and can eat more your body begins to balance until eventually, your body and the amount of food is on an even plane. The scales begin to balance, you are eating the right amount of food to maintain the weight of a smaller person. I did weigh 400 lbs, I am 6' tall.... I now weigh 175 and have balance my scale... I eat the correct amount of food to maintain 175 lbs. Have a good day. Mary Anne
   — Mary Anne M.

September 8, 1999
im sorry i dont know the answer but i need to iknow also because im starting to loose a little to much so if you find the answer please e-mail me back an [email protected]
   — dee S.

September 27, 1999
The body has a homeostasis mechanism which prevents too much weight loss. Typical "success" is the loss of 70% of the excess weight. Over loss is very rare.
   — Bruce B.