For those who aren't THAT overweight

This is basically a reiteration of an old post that no one replied too..i'm hoping i'll get some replies this time cuz well I'm REALLY curious. Is it true that it takes longer for those who aren't visibly that overweight to lose the weight as opposed to a larger person? I've been jumping the scale the last few weeks a couple lbs up ..a couple lbs down but no real results...my BMI is classified as slightly overweight..I'm 5'4-5'5 about..and 145 lbs..I am tryin to lose weight cus I want to fit in to the clothes that I used to wear and love..I'd also love to tone my arms which have always been a lil flabby..even when i weighed 125 in high school..Has anyone else noticed it is harder for ppl to lose weight who don't have to lose a significant amount? I've read that pretty overweight ppl shed the lbs faster and it's easier for them ...what do u all think?

In my past personal experiences, the less weight you have the harder and longer it takes.  One reason is that you can not create as much of a deficit as you can if you are higher in weight. 

Thanks for replying...would you or any one else who reads this help me out with one more thing...I've given my stats up in the original post of mine....would u consider my body weight to be harder to lose as opposed to others on this forum? I dunno what my body weight is considered to be...by the way..i am also medium framed

ooh yeah it sure does take longer to lose if you are not that overweight. Did you watch the movie Supersize Me? After he gained all the weight it was time to lose it and he lost a huge chuck of weight at first and it took him 6 months of very hard work to lose the last 10 pounds!! 6 months for 10 pounds!!

well i must say ..although it might seem frustrating that it takes that long..i'm willing to wait...i actually feel a little better..I thought my slow weight loss was a product of me doin something wrong...now I know i just got to stay patient and keep up with my diet! :)

According to this Dieting Calculator, you are in the healthy range for your height and weight.


Maximum calories/day in order to lose weight: 1368.8

Calories required to maintain current weight: 1868.8

Your BMI (body mass index) is:  24.6

Further analysis of your BMI: Your weight is in the normal range

Desired range in pounds:  112.2 to 147.6

Since you do not have a considerable amount of weight to lose, you could add cardio (to increase the weight loss) and weights (to build muscle and tone) to your weightloss journey.  The combination will help you lose the weight as well as get a nice slim body.  :)

I just noticed your other post about exercise not being necessary for weight loss.  Which is true, you can lose weight without exercising. 

But I think in your case since you are already at a healthy weight some exercise is needed.  You can always lose the weight but you will more than likely still have fat and "flab" if you do not add exercise to the mix. 

I hope you find something that works for you.  :)

hi! I've noticed that it's harder to lose weight when you don't have all that much to lose..I started out at 137 and am 5'3 and have been dieting for nearly 8 weeks and now weigh 124 and I'm just at a slow rate ....sigh.... my goal is 115.  Slow and steady wins the race right?  As far as being a little flabby, do you do any resistance training?  That will help tighten up the flab! Good luck..just be happy that your getting healthier and slowly but surely the weight will fall off..

I think it does come off slower when you don't weigh a lot. I started (this round of weight loss) early May at 120 and I have only lost 10lbs. It's now coming off in .5 a week increments.

I also think that it is harder to stay modivated. I know that I a more modivated when I see the scale jump then when I don't. I have never been very heavy but after I got married I gained 20 lbs and stayed at that same weight for about 4 years (I thought that I was destined to stay at that weight). Since I've done calorie count and exercised. I lost about 10 lbs. but now I am at a plauteu and my mental modivation in lacking!

A personal trainer told me that if you maintain the same weight for over a year, that weight is the weight your body will try to keep you at. Like if you gain a lb over, it will come off easier, or if you lose weight your body will work to get it back given the opportunity.

He said once you maintain your desired weight for a year, it will be easier.

i weight 120 pounds and i want to loose 10 more pounds....but it seems impossible...i've been on a harsh diet for a month and i've only lost 5 pounds !

I read something along the lines of when a skinny person eats more their metabolism goes up and when an obese person diets their metabolism slows down.

i feel like its harder... because the less you weigh the lower calories you need to keep going so the less you have to eat.

I am 5'5" and weigh about 113lbs...
I only want to lose another 5-10lbs... this time last year i was about 130lbs, so i have made some progress. but these last few calories are proving VERY difficult to lose. I keep going from 110-116... its really annoying.

URGGHHH!!!!!

laylamommy you are right! I've heard that too! If you stay at a weight for over a certain time your body tries very hard to keep you there which makes its real hard!!

I feel your anxiety paro, I'm at the same point!! I am between 5'4 and 5'5, weigh 138 now, Started in May at 147 and have only lost 9 lbs since. Goal is to loose 18 lbs more but its just not going down now! First 5 came off easy but have been yo-yoing for last couple of weeks and its sooo frustrating! I am eating so healthy, exercise as often as I can but loose sooo slowly and sometimes gain it back after one meal.. But I know I have to keep up my spirits and work harder to push the scale..

we can do this and we will !!

It took me about a year to lose 10lbs... I've lost 5 in the past 6 months... trying to lose 5 more to get to my dream goal.. hopefully by my birthday!! (december 14th.. lol)

I know this sounds simple...but not eating past the point of being full really helps me. I can't do the 5 meals a day thing...but when I do eat I keep what I eat to a small amount. Just enough so that I am no longer hungry.

I think the closer you come to your ideal body weight...the more your body resists! Like someone who weighs 200 lbs can easily lose 5 lbs a week...because they have a lot more weight to lose. But if you only have about 10 lbs to lose total...losing a lb a week can be SO hard.

Keep in mind that the more body fat you lose and the lighter you get, the fewer calories it takes to maintain; therefore the fewer calories you can remove from your diet as a deficit.  Logically, it will simply take longer to lose. 

ugh! i know how you feel. i have been consistantly excersing and following my diet plan(with the exception of the past 2 day...skool exams and such) and havent dropped even a pound:( probably because i am already at a healthy weight but i just want to lose a little more and tone.

Yes, I would definitely say so. I only have ten pounds to lose, but it is EXTREMELY difficult. I have to go on my elliptical machine for an hour and burn 1,000 calories each morning, then do weight lifts and my two Pilates video tapes for buns & thighs and abs.

It's very hard to stay motivated when I'm losing weight at a terribly slow pace. :(

I am so glad I read this! I lost my first 30 lbs like nothing - Jan to May. Now that I'm at 160 with a goal weight of 143 (I'm 5'7") it hasn't been coming off. I've been on a month and a half plateau! I like the way I look and feel, but really want to reach my goal. I guess I'll just have to be more patient. Apparently the less you have to lose the harder it is. We can do it!