What % of your excess weight have you lost?

[jacileggs 402]

Doing research online I found that studies show gastric bypass patients lose and average of 70% of their excess weight. Is that pretty accurate? What are your results?

[DLCoggin 1,788]

You have to be a little careful when reading studies that quote average weight loss percentages. Some will indicate a percentage of "body weight" meaning total body weight. Others, like the one in your example, will indicate a percentage of "excess body weight" - generally considered to be the amount of weight that would need to be lost to reduce your BMI to less than 25. Obviously, excess body weight percentages will be higher than total body weight percentages. I lost 130 lbs which was 45% of my body weight, but 100% of excess body weight.

Averages should be considered with some caution. A 70% average says that some lost considerably less than 70%, and some lost considerably more. One of the most amazing things about bariatric surgery is that it puts you in control. Follow your plan and there is no doubt that you will lose weight. The laws of science and the universe cannot be denied. Sometimes you'll lose quickly, sometimes more slowly and sometimes not at all for a period of time. How much you ultimately lose is often a combination of your doctor's recommendation and your personal preference.

[Fancie57 50]

100 percent.

[ahanson82520 29]

I was at 340. Now 195 so if my math is right roughly 43% of body weight. But by the way I look and feel it was 100% of my excess weight. ????

[KittyKat848 93]

First you must figure out what your excess weight is. The way the medical community does it is by subtracting your ideal weight (based on a BMI of 24) from your current weight. Now, many people do not consider their "ideal weight" to be a 24 BMI and that is fine -- in that case, choose what your personal ideal weight is and subtract that from your current weight. However, for the sake of this response, I have chosen to use the BMI of 24.

So, I started with a weight of 344 pounds and my ideal weight is 138 pounds. Thus, my “excess” weight is about 206 pounds. The medical community views a loss of 65% of excess weight as "success." For me, that would have been a loss of 134 lbs and a weight of 210 pounds. If I were to lose 100% of my excess weight, I'd need to lose 206 pounds and end up weighing 138 pounds.

I am 11 months and 10 days out. I have lost 169 pounds. This means that I have lost 82% of my excess weight thus far. I hope this helps.

[jacileggs 402]

I have lost 96% of my excess weight. Highest weight 250 lbs aug 2013

Surgery weight 210 lbs jan 2014

Current weight 144 lbs.

Happy happy happy!!!

Edited December 12, 2014 by jacileggs

[Fancie57 50]

I have lost 100% of my weight. Went from 265 to 151. How much you lose and how far you go is completely up to you.. The surgery is just a tool. The surgery will work for you, but you have to work for it..