If you're not overweight...

nicole716
nicole716 Posts: 43 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it harder to lose weight if you're not overweight? According to my BMI, i'm not overweight, but i still want to lose a few pounds. Will it be harder for me to lose weight since i'm not overweight? Or will it take longer?

Also, if there's anyone else that only has a little bit of weight to lose (like me) , feel free to add me! i'm in need of some more friends on MFP :)

Replies

  • kennie2
    kennie2 Posts: 1,170 Member
    it will be longer and harder as your body knows that it doesnt technically NEED to lose weight. but it is doable
  • Heather75
    Heather75 Posts: 3,386 Member
    Yes, it will be harder and yes, it will take longer. You can still do it, though.
  • yanicka
    yanicka Posts: 1,004 Member
    oh yea!!! You really can't have a big calories deficit. In the last 6 months I lost 14 pounds. It is very hard to make sure to lose fat instead of muscle when you only have a few pounds to lose. Good luck to you.
  • thecanface
    thecanface Posts: 1,180 Member
    yes! i only have 1.6 lbs left to lose and its been 3 weeks.. i lost nada :(

    but i haven't been trying as hard in the food department :(
  • Russellb97
    Russellb97 Posts: 1,057 Member
    Yes it is. The lower your bodyfat percentage the less your body is willing to give up.
    This is where it's helpful to really increase protein and trick your body by zig-zagging calories and spike days.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Is it harder to lose weight if you're not overweight? According to my BMI, i'm not overweight, but i still want to lose a few pounds. Will it be harder for me to lose weight since i'm not overweight? Or will it take longer?

    Also, if there's anyone else that only has a little bit of weight to lose (like me) , feel free to add me! i'm in need of some more friends on MFP :)

    Yes, in a way. If you have less to lose you should set you goal for a smaller amount per week to ensure you are not burning a high % of muscle while losing weight. If you have less than 15lbs to go you should set your weekly goal to 0.5 lbs/week which will give you a daily deficit of 250 calories. Large deficits may lead to muscle loss and is more likely if you don't have much to lose.
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    The best bet when you only have a few pounds to lose is to lift heavy weights. You will not bulk up, conversely you will become more toned and it will look like you've lost weight.
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    If you are within a healthy weight range, I have found the most sucess keeping my settings for less than a pound a week (I range from .5lb- .75).

    When you are around this weight your body is more guarded about it's fat stores (since they are dwindling and those are emergency stores) so just remember to cut your calories slowly and carefully. And remember to be patient. Even if it takes longer than you expect, once it's off and you can be sure you've changed enough to keep it off, the amount of time you spent trimming down won't matter very much.
  • JMCade
    JMCade Posts: 389 Member
    Yep true. I know the less you weigh, the less calories you burn too. Say if a 125 pound woman does 60 minutes of running and a 175 pound woman does 60 minutes of running, the 175 lb. person will burn more calories.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I'll send you a request to add you. I'm like you, I'm not actually considered overweight. You'll still do the plan of losing 1 lb per week (that's the safe way to keep the weight off for good, and also the healthy way that doctor's recommend).

    My goal is to fit into clothes that I used to wear (the work clothes especially). I eat very healthfully (so I did not change that) and I lead an active lifestyle. MFP has helped me to really track what I eat every day in an easy and free manner (love the app as well). So I eat the same, just less. It has also made me super aware that it's the free food at work and while on business trips that led to my weight gain in recent years.

    Also, it's an age thing for sure. It really does get harder when you get into your 30s and 40s. I never believed that until now.

    So, slow and steady...set it up for 1 lb per week. :)
  • woja9640
    woja9640 Posts: 450 Member
    I have heard that it is harder. The more weight you have to lose the more falls off when you really start trying. The closer you get to your goal the harder it is.
  • TurboChels
    TurboChels Posts: 69 Member
    Great info thanks for sharing :) I sent you a request !
  • doobabe
    doobabe Posts: 436 Member
    Ohh yes... I have never been "overweight", but I have been wrestling with 3-4lbs for a while and it is not easy. I guess I dont know what it is like to lose a larger amount so I couldnt say that is "easier" because I simply dont know.

    One thing I have noticed, the smaller you are the less calories you burn and the less calories you can consume. So- a larger person will be able to "hypothetically" do 1/2 the work and eat more while still losing weight... Just an observation.

    Good luck!
  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    It is harder for you to loose weight more quickly... Average people like myself have a harder time loosing the extra pounds that just never seem to go. I guess we are all here not to just drop pounds on some crazy fad diet... Rather to learn how to eat right. At least that is what I hope to gain.

    :) - Kait
  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    Yes it is. The lower your bodyfat percentage the less your body is willing to give up.
    This is where it's helpful to really increase protein and trick your body by zig-zagging calories and spike days.

    VERY TRUE! - I am loading up on the protein and trying... to lower my carb/sugar intake. This new approach hopefully will help with my energy level and developing lean muscle. Last year I trained for a marathon and developed the "no carb left behind" mentality. It really hurt any weight loss that I was hoping to gain by running a marathon. I actually gained weight instead of loosing it. :(

    - Kait
  • thedreamhazer
    thedreamhazer Posts: 1,156 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/113609-relatively-light-people-trying-to-get-leaner?hl=relatively+light+women

    Check out this thread :)
  • jakemg
    jakemg Posts: 42
    I disagree that it's harder, but you do have to be patient. I wanted to lose 11 pounds and the first 3-4 weeks, I was kind of standing still. Then I started upping the tempo and frequency of workouts along with tracking my food. Now I've dropped 8 pounds in about 6 weeks (after that 4 weeks of nothing). I think my body caught up or something. This sounds like not a lot, but I guess it's actually fairly rapid. Just stick to it and work out hard. You can do it!!!
  • kentlass
    kentlass Posts: 325 Member
    it's not harder...you still do all the same stuff as someone with a higher weight, but it does take alot longer!

    i dropped 48lbs so far...the first 40 came off within 9months...the last 8 has so far taken over 3months! :(
  • emmaline8
    emmaline8 Posts: 70 Member
    I started out right on the edge of being overweight, but my BMI was still in the healthy range. I've lost about 25 pounds in the past few months and I'm still in the healthy range, and I've done what MFP told me to :) It wasn't hard for me, but I guess others have a more difficult time.
  • inafit16177
    inafit16177 Posts: 84
    I have been trying to lose 3lbs for weeks...my husband says I should accept it...I just can't....Please friend me....
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I wouldn't say it's "harder," but it's definitely slower.

    I'm burning a lot of calories through exercise, and I might have to do more to burn as much as I did before, but for instance, I don't feel like I'm going to keel over if I run a 5k now. I haven't had to pause my EA Active Sports game, like I had to do when I first started, even on a harder level.

    It's slower, and it should be slower. Each pound is a larger percentage of your total body weight.
  • KrystleZia
    KrystleZia Posts: 17
    I'm in the same boat. I've been 115 lbs for about 8 years and in the past year I've gained 5-10 lbs that are very stubborn. I started exercising more and restricting my calorie intake but like others have mentioned it's like my body is clinging to those extra pounds for dear life. I'm going to start to do more weight training. But yeah, I totally hear you on this. So if there are others who are in the same situation please friend me too :) Would love to see what you're learning.
  • MaryKatU
    MaryKatU Posts: 146
    I started a little over 4 weeks ago and was at the higher end of my healthy weight range for my height but not overweight. It has not been difficult for me nor has it been slow. I've lost almost 12lbs. I've been eating 1200 calories a day, doing cardio and weights. Don't get discouraged by people telling you it will be harder and slower for you, everyone is different. I suggest you give it a try and see how your body reacts. Good luck!
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I came here with just 10-15 lbs to lose. I lost that fairly quickly & easily once I figured things out. But once you get to a certain point the last 2-3 pounds often times aren't easily achieveable without REALLY tedious balancing your diet & exercise. Plus you are going to run into natural fluctuations.
    Also for me, I had to set a very small deficit(1/2 pound per week) and I lost easier than at 1 pound/week.
    Good luck, and don't get discouraged if it doesn't go as planned, you are young and only have a little to lose, just focus on setting a healthy lifestyle base that you can carry with you for a long time.
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