Slow Loss? Really?

This is a Re-Post, So skip it unless you're curious. Since writing this I've Gone on below my Goal weight By 6 pounds, But it was a way of thinking of my loss along the way That kept me from "worrying" about my progress. Hope it helps some one- So Often we see the Posted Question- "Am I still Losing?" Or- "My Weight Loss has Slowed to nearly Nothing!" Well, for those who are nervous about Missing out on the window of opportunity Afforded by their "Honeymoon Period," Think of it as proportions or ratios. For me, I was at 385 pounds to start. My Goal was to lose 200 pounds. The first two weeks I lost 20 pounds! 10 pounds a week! Yahoo! Who could be happier? That was a loss rate of 5% of my Goal Loss - Each week. So that left me with 180 pounds left to lose. By the 6th month, I had lost 90 pounds And had only 110 pounds left to lose. During the 7th month I was losing at a rate of approx. 5 pounds each week, some weeks 6. I "thought" I had slowed so much. Until I thought of it in ratios. With only 110 pounds left to lose, 5 pounds a week was roughly the same percentage. 5.5 pounds per week would be 5% of 110 each week. Once I had lost down to only 50 pounds left to lose, At around 12 months, I was losing about a pound a week on the average. Which once again "Seemed" incredibly slow Compared to my previous rate of loss. But having only 50 pounds to lose, I was still dropping at approximately 5% Of the Goal weight each week. Yes? At One Pound from Goal at about 15 ½ months out. It once again "Seemed" that I'd stopped losing. But 5% of 1 pound is less than one ounce each week. At my Triumphant rate of 5% each week- (That I was thrilled about in the first month,) It should take me nearly 20 weeks to lose this pound. So Why should I expect to lose faster at 16 months than I Did in the first 2 weeks? The Tool was still working, I'm still following the Plan, And the weight loss, In proportion to the amount of Weight left to lose, Is still as fast as ever. It's not really any harder now than it was before, And as long as I keep in mind, the long term goal Of a healthy life, I'm not disappointed. Whenever you find yourself worried that your Weight loss has slowed too much, Think of the ratios and proportions. Your probably Right on Schedule! Just a thought! Stay the course, and don't be impatient with The natural order of things. Nature, Even the seemingly Un-Natural Nature of WLS Follows a schedule That may not adhere to your wishes and desires. You can't Push the River! Best Wishes- Dx 385/179 6 pounds below goal!

What a wonderful post! Thanks! Joy

Hi Dx! I consider myself a slow loser, mostly because I was fairly stuck on a plateau for a good long time (try 6 months). But my body finally seems to have caught up with the weight loss and start losing more. I've lost 17 lbs. since October and hit -150 lbs. on Friday. And this is at 22 months. It was nice to lose so fast in the beginning, but losing it slower is still losing and still getting me to where I need to go.

Are you happy at this weight? Do you want to maintain? Will you try to gain? Me personally (sp) I am at 153 lbs I want to be below 140lbs but when I look in the mirror I think Hmmmmmmmmmmm you have done enough stop now How and when do we decide to stop? Answer that one and my DH will serve you forever Jackie

Thank you much for sharing Dx...I have been on this site for about 3 or 4 weeks now..and without fail you will read a post that someone has posted about weight coming off too slow.... I haven't had my surgery yet, hopefully next month....and I'm sure one day you'll see a post from me...saying too slow,, so please hang onto this, and post it once a month...it's really nice.. thank you. Cheri

Here's my question: You have the surgery, your a year out. You haven't been faithful to the plan, eating regular foods (for the most part), and you keep flucuating between the same ten pounds. You should be losing another 20-30 pounds. Can I get back ont he protein and eating plan and start losing again, or have I screwed up the whole thing? I know it's going to be a little more difficult, but can I retrain my pouch? Tayah

That is NOT retraining your pouch! That is retraining your mind and being disciplined! ~Vanessa~

THANKS! this will help me soooo much. The first 3 months, I averaged 5.5 lbs weight loss per week. The last 3 months, I have averaged 2.5 lbs. per week. Since I still have almost 100 lbs. to go, I was starting to panic. Thanks so much for sharing this! Teresa ;o) Lap RNY/June 8, 2005 350.4/244.0/150.0