Has anyone here ever been really overweight and lost a lot therefter?

[manlymatt83]

I've noticed something...

I was 260, and fairly quickly, I lost 50 pounds, to level out at 210. Those 50 pounds made me feel better and look better, but not by a LOT. I didn't get as much benefit as I wanted.

Once I came down from 210 to, say, 190, only 20 pounds this time, that made twice the amount of difference that the first 50 pounds did.

Is there some kind of magic number one must cross before they really see a benefit? Were the first 50 pounds worth it, but not major?

Also, I still want to lose 10 more pounds. Target weight goal is 180. Will these last 10 pounds be even more significant?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[StevenYoo]

I used to be 250, and went down to 200 and felt like a million bucks.

I'm back up to like 215 and I'm also trying to get down to 190 or so.

Every bit you lose makes a hell of a difference.

 

[SynthDude2001]

I'm not sure what you're asking...

I started off at around 220 pounds two years ago (and I'm only 5'7"), about 135 now. Once I started noticing any decent amount of weight loss at all (say, 10-20+ from my starting point), it was motivation to keep at it. Obviously at that point I wasn't at my goal yet, but it was a step in the right direction.

 

[dullard]

I think what you see could really be true for a lot of people.

First of all, you have to consider water weight.
[*]Lets suppose you were previously carrying around say 20 lbs of excess water. In that case, you were really 240 lbs + 20 lbs of water. When you lost 50 lbs, you lost 30 lbs of fat and 20 lbs of water. So really, you lost 30/260 = 11.5% of your body.
[*]Now, what happens when you lose another 20 lbs? You've already lost that easy to lose bloated water. What you lose now is pure fat. You now lost 20/210 = 9.5% of your body.
[*]See how in each case, you lost about the same percent of your actual body. The 50 lbs was just exaggerated in number due to the water you lost.

Second, if you exercise to lose weight, you are probably adding muscle.
[*]Lets suppose you added 10 lbs of muscle in that latter phase. So really, you lost 30 lbs of fat, added 10 lbs of muscle, and total weight change was 20 lbs.
[*]So, I'll redo the math. You lost 30 lbs of fat from 210 lbs: 30/210 = 14.3% of your body was lost. You lost actually MORE in terms of percentage in your second phase.
[*]Not only did you lose more, but you gained attractive muscle that makes you feel fit and makes you feel good.

Ok, these numbers were just picked out of thin air. But they do go to show that what you experienced could be true. Yes, the first bit of weight might make you look smaller, but it may have just been water. Thus, you aren't healthier, stronger, or more fit after the first phase.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I'm not sure what you're asking...

I started off at around 220 pounds two years ago (and I'm only 5'7"), about 135 now. Once I started noticing any decent amount of weight loss at all (say, 10-20+ from my starting point), it was motivation to keep at it. Obviously at that point I wasn't at my goal yet, but it was a step in the right direction.

At what point did you REALLY see a difference?

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: dullard
I think what you see could really be true for a lot of people.

First of all, you have to consider water weight.
[*]Lets suppose you were previously carrying around say 20 lbs of excess water. In that case, you were really 240 lbs + 20 lbs of water. When you lost 50 lbs, you lost 30 lbs of fat and 20 lbs of water. So really, you lost 30/260 = 11.5% of your body.
[*]Now, what happens when you lose another 20 lbs? You've already lost that easy to lose bloated water. What you lose now is pure fat. You now lost 20/210 = 9.5% of your body.
[*]See how in each case, you lost about the same percent of your actual body. The 50 lbs was just exaggerated in number due to the water you lost.

Second, if you exercise to lose weight, you are probably adding muscle.
[*]Lets suppose you added 10 lbs of muscle in that latter phase. So really, you lost 30 lbs of fat, added 10 lbs of muscle, and total weight change was 20 lbs.
[*]So, I'll redo the math. You lost 30 lbs of fat from 210 lbs: 30/210 = 14.3% of your body was lost. You lost actually MORE in terms of percentage in your second phase.
[*]Not only did you lose more, but you gained attractive muscle that makes you feel fit and makes you feel good.

Ok, these numbers were just picked out of thin air. But they do go to show that what you experienced could be true. Yes, the first bit of weight might make you look smaller, but it may have just been water. Thus, you aren't healthier, stronger, or more fit after the first phase.

Ahh makes sense.

My frustration is finding the right weight. So when I first started, I was 30% body fat. Now I'm 21% body fat. A significant change, but its still saying "obese" on the meter.

I'm 5' 9", with broad body build definitely (thick shoulders, etc.). What would a good weight and/or body fat percentage be for me?

 

[dullard]

I'm 5'9" myself. But I've always been a sickly looking stick. I've recently worked my way up to 150 lbs. I would like to stay at 150 for a while, but I do think ultimately 160 lbs would look better on me (if it where 10 lbs more muscle). I'm just not ready to go up that high yet. If you are a stockier build, I would estimate that you'd look best in the 170-180 range.

Look at my photos here in the first post. As you can see, 150 lbs will still be a bit like a stick and definately would be too light for you.

 

[leftyman]

this topic reminded me of the book and movie Thinner...

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I'm not sure what you're asking...

I started off at around 220 pounds two years ago (and I'm only 5'7"), about 135 now. Once I started noticing any decent amount of weight loss at all (say, 10-20+ from my starting point), it was motivation to keep at it. Obviously at that point I wasn't at my goal yet, but it was a step in the right direction.

At what point did you REALLY see a difference?

It's hard to say because it was a pretty gradual change. If I had to pinpoint a time when I really noticed a striking difference in how I looked then vs. in the past, I'd say it was once all my clothes started being too big to wear anymore. Not just "pretty big", but "I can't even wear this stuff anymore". That was probably once I passed 150 pounds or so (that is, after losing 70+ pounds). So, I guess I share your observations somewhat.

Also, I did feel a huge sense of accomplishment at losing the last 10-15 pounds, as those are always the hardest.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: dullard
I think what you see could really be true for a lot of people.

First of all, you have to consider water weight.
[*]Lets suppose you were previously carrying around say 20 lbs of excess water. In that case, you were really 240 lbs + 20 lbs of water. When you lost 50 lbs, you lost 30 lbs of fat and 20 lbs of water. So really, you lost 30/260 = 11.5% of your body.
[*]Now, what happens when you lose another 20 lbs? You've already lost that easy to lose bloated water. What you lose now is pure fat. You now lost 20/210 = 9.5% of your body.
[*]See how in each case, you lost about the same percent of your actual body. The 50 lbs was just exaggerated in number due to the water you lost.

Second, if you exercise to lose weight, you are probably adding muscle.
[*]Lets suppose you added 10 lbs of muscle in that latter phase. So really, you lost 30 lbs of fat, added 10 lbs of muscle, and total weight change was 20 lbs.
[*]So, I'll redo the math. You lost 30 lbs of fat from 210 lbs: 30/210 = 14.3% of your body was lost. You lost actually MORE in terms of percentage in your second phase.
[*]Not only did you lose more, but you gained attractive muscle that makes you feel fit and makes you feel good.

Ok, these numbers were just picked out of thin air. But they do go to show that what you experienced could be true. Yes, the first bit of weight might make you look smaller, but it may have just been water. Thus, you aren't healthier, stronger, or more fit after the first phase.

The whole water weight thing drives me nuts. For one most of the time it's the first couple days you experience this quick loss, but if you are hydrating properly you are going to gain a bit more in the fluids.

Losing weight is hard for the loser. You see yourself everyday. Others would be pretty impressed with even the most obese dropping 50lbs. It would be noticable.

Now does that 50lbs put you in the shape you want to be in...probably not. You probably still have more rolls than you know what to do with.

Once you start getting down to decent bodyfat percentages you will start noticing it on yourself. You begin seeing cuts and rips that you never knew you'd have.

I stay pretty fit but I don't go for uber cut anymore. Today, I can float around 180-190 lbs and look good. 165-170 is pretty cut. My problem is inactively piles the wieght on me. However, activity burns it off fast.

My biggest gain/loss was going from a ripped 190 to a fat 240...in three months I was down to 155. Now the biggest problem with that loss was I ended up losing about 25lbs of muscle I have yet to gain back due to not having the time to spend in the gym I did in my teens/20's.

 

[Cobalt]

Was 210 at 5'9" during most of high school, changed my diet end of Junior year, dropped to about 195, senior year 180 by 2nd semester. End of 2nd semester when I graduated I was at 160 and in great shape. Shit happened this summer and I am now at 135 at 5'11"... Trying to get back into shape once I get some stuff sorted out...

 

[freeway]

I'm 6'2" and weighed about 230 in high school. By the time I graduated from law school I was 25 and weighed 280. After I took the Bar I finally had some free time on my hands and decided to lose weight. I ate less, cut sugar, and exercised. I dropped about 50 pounds in 3 months. I have to say that I started to feel better right away. I could tell a difference after the first 10 pounds. The more I lost, the better I felt. I took 100 pounds off in less than a year, but I actually began to feel bad again when I was 180. I'm 30 now, about 215 and feel pretty good.

It is indeed true that the last few pounds were the hardest and honestly they were the least rewarding for me - your mileage may vary.

 

[FearoftheNight]

well i wore this suit to my high school graduation pic then i lost 50 lbs in 5 mo i'm 5' 11" went from 236-182 i tried on my old suit....felt like a poncho...

 

[dirtboy]

Depends on how you lost the weight. If you are obese, and at 260 you were, and maybe at 190 you are. Oh don't cry, lots of people are obese -- even skinny people.

It's all a matter of your body fat %. If you didn't have much muscle mass at 260 and you just lost fat, you aren't going to see some great shape underneath.

Now if you are losing weight and building muscle -- every fat loss plan should have a basis in weight training, then at some point you will notice the weight loss drop off as your body takes a shape to the muscle.

So, it's quite possible you will never see a magic number depending on what's underneath the fat.

 

[OpenThirdEye]

I've posted this a few times on this forum related to weight loss, but I guess I can post it one more time.

Back in 2001, I used to weigh roughly 380lbs. I'd always been pretty heavy, but I finally decided to do something about that year. Over the course of the next 3 years, I'd lost roughly 190 lbs. I still weigh close to 190-200 today. I'm 6'1", so by the gov't standards, I'm still obese...but I'm confortable with myself. I'm about 8% body fat and I do my best to stay that way.

Congrats for the weight you've lost! It's definitely no easy task! Is also good that you set your goals on the realistic side. Keep it up and I always tell people to lose the weight they want to lose and just go with what feels confortable to them and try to keep your expectations realistic.

Hope you enjoyed my bit of rambling there.

 

[Cstefan]

Originally posted by: OpenThirdEye
I'm 6'1", so by the gov't standards, I'm still obese...but I'm confortable with myself. I'm about 8% body fat and I do my best to stay that way.

If you have 8% BF the BMI chart does not apply to you

I was 360ish now 240-245 and will work my way down to 190. I have 175lb lean body mass so as long as I keep up weight training I will not lose any and if anything gain some.

I didn't start feeling a difference till 300 and every 15lb or so I feel much better. All of my health problems have dissapeared so the last 40-50 is for vanity reasons at the moment.

 

[EGGO]

I used to be 200lbs during high school (Text) and lost about 70 in half a year (it was bad, and it was too fast, don't do it). I'm back at a healthy weight at 148-150 with more muscle (bad picture). I never recalled feeling lighter, I just recalled feeling better after all the exercise. So I don't think there's a magic number, since you reach your goal slowly and steadily, it's more about how you find yourself running farther without feeling tired and having more energy (I ran for 60 minutes and was still hyper as anything).