Is weight loss slower if you don't have much to lose?

I had roux n y in August my start weight was 252 I am currently 197. So I have lost but not the hug amount I expected to.   I am diligent about protein stopping when full no liquid calories etc but my loss is so slow. Any ideas?  Also I have been stuck at 197 for over 3 weeks.    Yikes.  Help.  Am I done losing?

No, you're not done losing.  You're having a stall, which is normal.

Weight loss is slower if you have less to lose in term of the number of pounds lost in a certain amount of time.  It's not slower in terms of the percentage of excess weight.

Here's what I mean.  People lose an average of 50% of the their excess weight by six months post op.  So let's say I needed to lose 200 pounds.  That means by six months post op, I could expect to lose 100 pounds.  But let's say you only needed to lose 100 pounds.  By six months post op, you could expect to lose 50 pounds.  You would have lost fewer pounds, but the same percentage of excess weight.

Now, I don't know what your goal weight is.  But you started at 250, and supposing you wanted to lose about 100 pounds, well, you've already lost 55 pounds and you aren't quite six months out yet, so you would be slightly ahead of average.  So your weight loss isn't slow at all.

What a great answer

Dear Kelly,

 

Thank you for the quick response. That was exactly the information I was looking for and I thought in my gut that all of that was true but needed to hear it from someone else. 

 

Thank you again

 

Tanya

Ditto to what Kelly said. You are doing great. You are a lightweight.  Consider the percentages lost. Hang in there. 

I also had RNY in August, starting at 232.5. I am have lost 69.5lbs to date. I really like the way Kelly framed the average loss by six months being 50% of excess weight, that is reassuring for me. I am only 5'1 so I still have 31lbs to loose to get to "normal" BMI, but my personal goal is 125. 

Have you been exercising? 

Someone had posted this a while back and I saved it but I can't remember who the original poster was. Anyways, I thought it was good and pretty accurate, at least for me.


For patients weighing 200 to 250 lbs.
10 lbs. in first 10 days
15 to 25 lbs. in 6 weeks
25 to 35 lbs. in 3 months
35 to 45 lbs. in 6 months
60 lbs. or more in 1 year
70 lbs. or more in 18 months



For patients weighing 250 to 300 lbs.
10 to 12 lbs. in first 10 days
15 to 25 lbs. in 6 weeks
25 to 35 lbs. in 3 months
45 to 60 lbs. in 6 months
80 lbs. or more in 1 year
90 lbs. or more in 18 month



For patients weighing 300 to 400 lbs.
10 to 30 lbs. in first 10 days
25 to 45 lbs. in 6 weeks
35 to 55 lbs. in 3 months
50 to 80 lbs. in 6 months
100 lbs. or more in 1 year
120 lbs. or more in 18 monthsee

For patients weighing 400 to 500 lbs.
10 to 30 lbs. in first 10 days
25 to 45 lbs. in 6 weeks
35 to 60 lbs. in 3 months
50 to 90 lbs. in 6 months
120 lbs. or more in 1 year
150 lbs. or more in 18 months

Thank you so much for reposting this. I had my band removed and had the RNY on dec 18 and have only lost 18 lbs included one week prep liquid phase. I was kinda getting discouraged, because I am following the plan. Well at first it was difficult to get all the water, but now I'm ok with that. I can see I'm right on track now. Bless you!

Thank you sooooo much!!!

Kelly - That was stated perfectly.  I weigh 238 and am 5'6" and have noticed that it seems that the "lightweights" seem to lose slower, but thinking about it on a percentage basis, it makes perfect sense.  Thank you yet again.