Question:
Why do liteweights not lose as fast as others, I'm concerned becasue

I'm considered to be a liteweight, and I'm afraid I won't lose anything? Stupid I know but I am curious on why we lose slower or is that not true?    — Maryellen C. (posted on November 20, 2002)


November 19, 2002
Hi, Maryellen. I too was a "lightweight". My starting weight was 258 lbs. I am 5' 6" tall. I had my surgery (lap RNY) on 9/27/01. I am now at 154 which is my Dr.'s realistic weight for me. I have set a personal goal of 146. I am in a size 8 and sometimes a size 6. I did lose slower pound per pound, but not percentage-wise. Don't measure yourself against those who have a lot more to lose, just as they should not look at you and feel they are discouraged. It will work out to the ultimate goal, a good healthy weight for you and that is the true goal isn't it? I am just starting to look into plastic surgery. I wish you the best. Patti Meadows
   — peppermintp

November 19, 2002
There's an old saying.. "To the steady goes the race.." Slower weight loss isn't a BAD thing.. It gives your skin a better chance to catch up with your loss. At 238 lbs (5'0") I was a 'lightweight' also when I had my surgery December '02. In the timeline of my life, that wasn't long ago AT ALL. A month ago, I weighed 110 and I'm wearing Size 3!. Be patient.. it will come... and you'll be SO glad you did this..!!
   — Diane E.

November 19, 2002
I guess I am considered a light weight. I started at 5' 7 and 264 pounds. Had open RNY on 9-30-02. I'm still 5' 7 (lol) and am down 42 pounds to 222. This may be slow, I'm not sure, but I feel a whole lot better!
   — Lesa H.

November 19, 2002
Maryellen - I am a lightweight too. I'm 4'10-3/4 and weighed 203 the morning of my surgery (10-14-02). I now weigh 186 which isn't a big loss for 5-1/2 weeks, but I have been assured by my doctor and dietician that I am doing GREAT! I've been told that WLS patients lose 70% of their excess weight and keep it off. Well, 70% for lightweights is just as wonderful as 70% for those who have more to lose. Either way - we're winning this game and it feels good! A lady I know had her surgery the same day as me and had lost 30 lbs in 3 wks. (I had lost 15) Well, I felt bummed about it until I learned she has twice as much as I do to lose so it all evens out! Don't get discouraged. I'm averagng 3 lbs a week and I never did that before! Good luck! --Pam Nicholson
   — pjnick

November 19, 2002
I started out at 230 lbs/22W/2-3X. I am 5'2". I reached my top goal (145 lbs) in 7 months and my current stats (130 lbs/6-8P/Small) at 10 1/2 months. Don't worry about it! Just follow the "program" (lots of protein, lots of water, stay active, low sugar/white carbs) and you'll do great!
   — ctyst

November 19, 2002
I'm 5'5", weighed 248 on the morning of surgery. It's been 5 months and I've lost 90 pounds. That's not that slow! Don't worry about it, you'll do just fine if you follow your surgeons' advice! Best wishes!!
   — San

November 20, 2002
I was a lightweight. BMI of exactly 40. I am down 106 pounds in six months. I am 6 pounds below my goal. I have gone from a size 22/24 to a size 6/8. I think the only difference with being a lightweight for me was the weightloss looked much more dramatic because it was so fast.
   — Linda A.

November 20, 2002
Hi! I too was a "lightweight" with a BMI of around 43. I was 285 pounds at 5 foot 9. It is just over 3 months since my surgery and have lost 65 pounds! Not too slow, I don't think so anyway! Best of luck to you! Peace,
   — Stacy C.

November 20, 2002
Maryellen, I can only speak for myself, but I started as a lightweight at 5'6 and 253 lbs and I lost very rapidly. By my 4 month anniversay I had lost 100 lbs and by 8 months I had lost 135 lbs. I am now a year post op from an open RNY and I am maintaining at the 135 loss and a weight of 115-120 lbs. Really no one can say how slowly or fast you will lose it all depends on the person. By the way I did not exercise or do anything special to lose either. I'm sure you will do great.....Good Luck!
   — Lynda T.

November 20, 2002
Another lightweight checking in here...5'8" and 261 lbs. the day of surgery. Actually my BMI had dropped a bit below 40. I've lost 86 lbs. in 6.5 months...I don't think that's too shabby. I'm 49 years old. I think (big emphasis on THINK) the reason we don't lose as fast as non-lightweights is because they have much more fluid, and that comes off faster. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 20, 2002
Started out at BMI 43 at age 48, so I was a "lightweight". Took 10 months to lose 100 pounds....and I'm thrilled! The main problem with being a "lightweight" is comparing your weight loss to those who start out heavier. I just kept comparing my post-WLS weight loss with my pre-WLS diet efforts, and that REALLY helped me view the WLS weight loss as very successful!
   — Kathy J.

November 26, 2002
Hi Maryellen! I'm also considered a "lightweight". I have not lost ANY weight in the past 2-3 weeks. I'm not happy about that and I'm not sure what I could be doing wrong. I can't seem to get 64 ounces of water in per day...It's totally impossible for me. Either I get in the protein, and not the water, or get in the water and not the protein~but both, for me is impossible. I walk EVERY DAY and can tell that I've made *some* progress, but not losing as fast as I'd like. Everyone else that's 12 weeks post op by now have passed me by. When you find out what else we need to do or the trick to getting past the plateaus and getting in 8-10 glasses of water per day (to include the protein), please let me know. Until that time, I'll just wait, pray and keep doing what I've been doing. Prayers & {{[[HUGS}}]]~Hadiyah
   — yourdivaness




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