weight loss rumor?

is it true that bigger people loose weight faster?

Don't think so.  Never heard that one before.  I have heard from someone that "her fat was stubborn."

in a way it is true.. the bigger you are the more calories you burn

a 250 pound person will burn (i'm making this number up) 2500 cals in an average day  whereas a 150 pound person will burn (making this one up too) an average of 1900 calories a day.  making it easier for the bigger person to lose weight. 

This does not, however, take into account other factors such as health concerns or level of activity. 

I disagree.

the amount of calories you burn really does not have that much to do with the ability to lose weight -- losing weight is an emotional battle as much, maybe even more so, than a physiological battle.

We got fat because we ate too much -- whether it's because we just consumed the wrong kinds of food, too much food, or too little exercise, or combinations of any 2 or 3 -- the sad truth is, we ate too much. 

In fact, the bigger you are and the more time you've been fat, the harder it is to break the bad habits.

And, added to everything else, we have the enormous fear of failure and returning to our obesity.  If you are 10 lbs overweight and lose and regain, that's bad enough.  But if you lose 150 and then regain -- well that is demoralizing almost beyond comprehension.

But it is possible, and well within the reach of every person.  But first you have to admit that you are fat because you overate, and the only way to correct the problem is to go for a very long time "undereating" -- you either have to cut calories below normal or you have to exercise more or you have to do both. 

Actually, i do agree with that "rumor"

i lost alot more weight when i was heavier.. faster.

now that im lower its damn slow as HELL to lose the last few pounds

simply i think its because when you exercise and you already weigh alot, you burn more calories up.. therefore eating less amount and burning more, makes it easier then having to work your ass off really hard to burn the same amount of calories.

the rumor is absolutely true... once you get closer to your "set point" it gets harder to lose weight

I think it is true, especially in the beginning of any weight loss program.   It always has been for me.

The reason people get fat is because they eat too much of the wrong foods. When you make a drastic change and start eating less fat, less simple carbs and cut your consumption by 2000 cals a day you'll see some big results. It'll tail off as you start getting close to a normal weight for your height and body type. 

Of course it's true! Think about it....an obese person starting a diet will lose weight a lot faster than a "normal" person who's just trying to take off 10 lbs! They're going from eating tons and doing nothing to actually moving and watching what they eat; their bodies will obviously shed the pounds very fast in the beginning. That's why many of us hit the dreaded plateau once we get closer to our normal weight. Plus, our bodies get used to the new diet and exercise routines. 

yeah the rumour sounds true to me.... i mean if you have a much more overweight person who carries a lot more excess fat and perhaps who will sweat out more water when they exercise for the first time in their weight loss challenge then it will add up to more weight loss than a person who has already lost a lot of the weight her/his body didnt need at all.

Call me simple, but this is how I explain it to myself:

A 250 pound man who walks one mile is burning the calories required to move 250 pounds one mile.

After he loses 50 pounds, walking the same mile will burn fewer calories because he's only carrying 200 pounds for one mile.

All other things being equal, weight loss will slow as he gets lighter - only because he's hauling less weight around.  

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!  ; )

I think it's absolutely true.

Look at "Biggest Loser" and similar shows.  There's a reason they measure by percentage lost and not actual pounds.

If you mean faster in terms of pounds then think about it this way.

Losing 1% a week for a 300lb person is 3lbs for a 100lb is 1lb. Both are losing at the same 1% but it's 3x the lbs.

My experience says it's absolutely true.

I found that without trying, I'd lose... ALOT of weight very quickly over the first few months. More than the recommended 2 lbs. a week.

Now that I've been doing this a while, I've been doing what this site says, exercising and losing.. ABOUT 1 1/2 lbs.  a week :)

I've heard that as you get closer to an ideal weight, it's harder to make the weight come off.  I'm not there yet, but that's what I've heard :)

Also, I have to disagree with manewall. A number of people got overweight for other reasons than just because they overate. Personally, I got fat because *I* overate and underexercised, but that's just me.

"I got fat because *I* overate and underexercised"

You overate for your activity level.

*nod* Yes :)

well thank you all, I was alil conserned because i when off a no carb diet for health reasons and started on a strick 1354 cal's i was hating the idea of steping on my scale because i thought that i would gain back the weight i've lost on the no carb phase, but i am still loosing and at a fast rate (that i am completly happy with) but it says you shouldnt loose more then 2 lbs a week and i've averaged almost a lbs a day or so so i was a bit worried

It also depends on how long ago you started... a lot of people drop the first bulk of pounds fast b/c it's built up water weight & not fat.  The fat loss is slower than the water loss.