The longer you're overweight, the harder it is to lose?

jonzo21

Hey guys, I recently heard something and I'm wondering if its a myth or fact.... I heard that the longer you've been overweight, the longer it takes to lose weight... I've been overweight since childhood, and I'm almost down to my high school weight (which was still about 20lbs overweight) and I'm wondering if I'm going to run into problems losing that 20lbs because its been 10 years since I've been that weight.

When it comes to motivation, I've really gotten into fitness the past few years (I've dropped 50lbs), and I consider fitness a hobby and really enjoy exercising and tracking food etc, so motivation won't be a problem. Unless of course I'm working my butt off and am not seeing any changes because of this.

AllTehBeers

I think maybe mentally it may be harder, and as one gets older it gets harder. Though, if you're just speaking of the last 20 pounds, that's hard for everyone. It takes longer because it takes a very small deficit and dedication to those calories. Also, it's probably the same amount of time to lose those last few pounds as it does to lose the first 50.

Duck_Puddle

I think it may be harder because over time you learn certain behaviors and habits and if those behaviors and the longer you practice those habits and behaviors, the more difficult it is to do something different. If you've learned habits and behaviors that have led you to be overweight and you've followed those same behaviors for 20/30/40 years, it will be difficult to relearn new patterns of behavior and new habits. But that's just my guess. This process is largely mental-regardless of how long you have been overweight. But there's "security" in what we know-stepping into the unknown is challenging to that sense of security & comfort.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

That sounds true to me. I was only at my heaviest for a few months and once I got out of jail I lost all of that weight without really trying. The weight I lost after that was MUCH harder but I hadn't been below that weight for a good 3-4 years.

icimani

I agree that it may be that it gets harder because the unhealthy behaviors and habits have been there for longer. And part of it may be the age factor - it does get harder as we get older.

gr8pillock

It's all mental. In fact, I would say the longer you've allowed your body to become accustomed to a certain line up of habits, when you do finally change them, it's an H-bomb. Perhaps some of the early changes aren't immediately apparent, but they WILL happen and will happen fast.

When I stopped eating after 6PM, I lost 35 lbs without making ANY other changes. I started at 268lbs.

Then I started doing Weight Watchers (old WW) and when I was pristine with my habits (Eating only my points, maybe under by one some days) worked out but didn't add those points to my count for the day, I lost 10lbs a month, like clockwork, til I got to 185... I'd been big for almost a decade by the time I made changes. 230 or bigger.

vanguardfitness

I think it may be harder because over time you learn certain behaviors and habits and if those behaviors and the longer you practice those habits and behaviors, the more difficult it is to do something different.

That is something I agree with. From a physiological stand point, I haven't come across anything like this. If you're in a true calorie deficit you will lose, no matter what.