Question: does unintentional weight loss count?

rheddmobile

I would like to know what everyone else thinks. I started losing weight last year after an ovarian tumor, and about a month later, a diagnosis of diabetes. I know exactly what I weighed the first time I went to the ER because it's in my records: 272. The month between that and my surgery, my diabetes was undiagnosed and I lost weight constantly as a result, almost 25 lbs. After my surgery, I came home, went on medication and a diabetes-appropriate diet, and when I was cleared, I joined MFP and started trying to lose weight. The starting weight I entered at that time was 247. I'm now down to 181. (And off most meds, due to the benefits of weight loss on my diabetes.)

So, my question is, when people ask "How much weight have you lost?" should I include the 25 lbs I lost due to illness? It seems almost like cheating to mention it, since I wasn't trying to lose weight, but on the other hand it does reflect the total amount of weight I've lost since my highest weight. Should I add my weight in the hospital to my weight history?

JeromeBarry1

I only 'count' the pounds lost since I started using MFP in 2016, but sometimes I mention the pounds lost since my "AHA" moment at midnight of Dec 31-Jan 01 Y2K.

In your case as well as mine, nobody cares how fat we used to be and most of them don't want to know what we did to lose weight unless they can buy it from Dr. Oz.

SCoil123

It's weight you lost regardless of how. I lost 86lb my first time around. The first 20lb of that fell off effortlessly when my thyroid disease got treated. I still lost it though and count it towards my total.

seltzermint555

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

I only 'count' the pounds lost since I started using MFP in 2016, but sometimes I mention the pounds lost since my "AHA" moment at midnight of Dec 31-Jan 01 Y2K.

In your case as well as mine, nobody cares how fat we used to be and most of them don't want to know what we did to lose weight unless they can buy it from Dr. Oz.

Yes to absolutely all of this, yes yes yes.

If someone asks I usually say I've lost "about 130 lb". I say that because from my a-ha moment in 2007 to when I started MFP in 2013, I lost 51 lb. And then I lost 92 lb using this site between 2013-2015. SO that's 143 lb.

I've gained back a solid 10 lb, unfortunately, but I bounce around a little bit (up or down 5 to 7 lb for two years now). So it's "about 130".

MegaMooseEsq

I guess the answer is, it depends on what sort of conversation you're having. Is this a friend who last saw you at your heaviest? An acquaintance interested in how you've lost weight? Someone you'd feel uncomfortable mentioning the illness to? It's really your choice - you're not cheating either way.

Lounmoun

If you were talking to me I would not care if you lost all the weight through hard work or not. You lost it. You can can explain that you lost some of your weight through illness and the rest through diet changes/calorie counting.
It would only be cheating if there was some kind of calorie counting competition and you included your non-calorie counting loss as part of your total to get the prize. Are you taking part in such a competition?

lorrpb

How often do you get asked this? There is no correct answer, you can say whatever you want if nothing at all.

Machka9

lorrpb wrote: »

How often do you get asked this? There is no correct answer, you can say whatever you want if nothing at all.

This!

It's no one's business but your own.

Tell them whatever number you want.
Tell them nothing.
Tell them you're back within your normal BMI range.
Tell them you've lost enough to make your Dr happy.
Tell them you're back into a Size __ now.
Whatever you want to say.

clark59j_99

Tell them you haven't lost any weight because when you lose something that means you're looking for it and want it back.

VeronicaA76

If they knew you at your heaviest, include the weight lost from illness (they will also know you were ill). If not, it doesn't really matter. It's not cheating, it's a battle that you won and only costed you 25lbs. If you want you can say you lost 25lbs when you were sick, the rest is all you working hard. Either way, whichever you feel most comfortable with. Also, since most people regain weight they lost beating an illness, I would say keeping it off is a win and should be included.

YaGigi

Just answer that some weight you lost due to your health issues and some weight you lost due to changing your lifestyle and diet.

I also lost some weight because of the changes I've had in my lifestyle (less sweets and carbs, healthier food choices, I don't really count calories). And some weight I lost recently due to dental work. I had surgery on my gums and it was difficult to chew, was mostly on liquids, soups, shakes, etc. It's fine now but within 2 weeks I lost 2 kilos (5 pounds maybe?). After that I went to vacation to Côte d'Azur and was stuffing my face with all the seafood I could find and gained 0,5 kilo back.

TimothyFish

When people ask how much weight you lost they aren't asking to find out how good you are at counting calories. They are asking because they want to know how much of a weight differences exists between what you were before and what you are now. To not include the unintended weight loss is to give them only a partial answer.

rheddmobile

Thanks for the responses everyone! I have two situations where I am asked how much I've lost - friends who want to know how much smaller I am, and fellow dieters who want to know how successful I have been at losing weight. It's the second category I was wondering about. It's not perfectly truthful to say I have lost 93 pounds by eating at a deficit and exercising, when some of those were lost by my pancreas failing to produce insulin!

I think I've decided what I'm going to do as far as entering my original weight into MFP. MFP is a tool for helping people meet their goals, so I should do what helps motivate me the most. In my case, that's seeing intermediate goals come up as victories. So I'm going to hang out for another couple of pounds until I hit the 70 lbs mark, and then enter the start weight so eventually it will show me that nice, big inspiring 100 number. It seems silly, but this is hard work, so anything that will keep me keeping on is a good plan.

tabletop_joe

Why not? Is there some kind of merit system involved in how you lost weight? I say include it.

4legsRbetterthan2

I also think it depends on the context of the situation.

If its just a general how much have you lost question, I would include it all.

If you were having a weight loss techniques discussion with someone and talking about using MFP then I would just include the MFP weight or specify the two different categories so as not to mislead them. Depends on the situation and how much detail you care to go into at the time.

Nykkismommy21

rheddmobile wrote: »

I would like to know what everyone else thinks. I started losing weight last year after an ovarian tumor, and about a month later, a diagnosis of diabetes. I know exactly what I weighed the first time I went to the ER because it's in my records: 272. The month between that and my surgery, my diabetes was undiagnosed and I lost weight constantly as a result, almost 25 lbs. After my surgery, I came home, went on medication and a diabetes-appropriate diet, and when I was cleared, I joined MFP and started trying to lose weight. The starting weight I entered at that time was 247. I'm now down to 181. (And off most meds, due to the benefits of weight loss on my diabetes.)

So, my question is, when people ask "How much weight have you lost?" should I include the 25 lbs I lost due to illness? It seems almost like cheating to mention it, since I wasn't trying to lose weight, but on the other hand it does reflect the total amount of weight I've lost since my highest weight. Should I add my weight in the hospital to my weight history?

Haa ha, how funny I struggle with this too last year i was my heaviest, without being in the pregnancy state. I was 212 after walking for about 4 to 6 months was down to 200. But I walked because I had to. Wasn't really doing it intentionally. I needed to be somewhere for medical reasons daily. Didn't change my diet. And then i lost another 4lbs sometime this past year or recently or who knows before i started dieting and weighing in for Mfp. So I just say 196 is what i started with before mfp. But one day I wi tell my whole story somehow somewhere. And that weight I carried last year will be a part of it. But to me I lost hella weight since last year lol. Sorry for te long story . I get caught up lol. Sooo include your 25 lbs girl. You were there suffering through it!! Congratulations on your loss lovely lady!!

Gisel2015

Just tell them "enough to make a difference in my health." Nobody should ask or care about numbers; that is only for you and your doctors eyes and ears. Well done and good luck!

usmcmp

When people ask how much weight I have lost I tell them the highest I have ever weighed. Intentional weight loss or not, you still lost that 25 pounds.