Question:
Can someone tell me what is the percentage of excess body weight
you should lose having have the open RNY. Im post-op 4.5 months down 58lbs. My goal is 160lb but my Dr goal for me is 138lbs. I think i will look to thin at his goal weight, i have lost alot of inches i weigh 202lbs i wear a size 14/16w from 22/24w. Im thinking 75% is good ,that is keeping me at 162lbs, but at 138lbs that is 100% of excess body weight. Pleae someone give me the true number.thanx — sexysag37 (posted on July 18, 2003)
July 17, 2003
Not every surgeon is an expert in bariatrics...if by excess body weight, he
is basing what you should weigh on some insurance chart, you have an
ignorant doc. My doc said because of the length of time I had been
massively overweight (400-500 pounds), I had thicker muscles and bones and
targeted my ideal weight at 180. However, he revised that when, at 236, my
body fat content was 23% which is at the 'fit' level and not overweight.
So, my recommendation is to disregard your doc's target, lose what you can,
then have a body fat content analysis. When you are in the 'fit' range,
don't worry about it anymore.
Good Luck!
— merri B.
July 17, 2003
In my opinion, I think my surgeon is great, but his specialty is that of a
surgeon, not a dietician, etc... I found that you need to find out what
works for you, we all can't follow the same regimented "diet" for
our whole lives, we are not built the same. You need to do what feels
right for you. When you get to 160 lbs. see how you feel, if that's where
you want to be, try to eat more to stay there. My original goal was to be
in a size 14, I didn't care what the scale said, just to be in a normal
size again. Well, I got into a size 14 and still couldn't eat enough to
stop the weight loss. I am now in a size 8 and very content, the scale
still keeps creeping down very slowly, but I have added an extra protein
drink that I load up with a few extra calories and I am working on it. The
insurance charts still say that I am overweight by 16 lbs, but I only have
22% body fat, so you can't go by them charts. Talk to your family Dr. you
will get a more realistic goal. But, I still believe that our bodies know
where we are supposed to be, just get in tune and you will know where your
magic number is. Not by some chart, but by how you feel. Good luck!
— Dana B.
July 17, 2003
My doctor and the group he works for are among some of the leading doctor's
for this surgery. Dr. Pories has been a leading researcher in this field
and Dr. Chapman (my doc) trained under him and Dr. MacDonald who is also
considered fabulous in this field. They expect a patient to lose between
70-80% of their excess body weight with this surgery. I've already lost
77% and they consider me a success and anything further is just gravy. I
know there are people who lose 100% of their excess weight, but I think
they are the exception more so than the norm. I still weigh 181lbs, but I
feel great. I can't imagine ever getting down to 138 which is what
insurance says I should be. I think for my age and the amount of wrinkles
I would then have, I would look absolutely terrible. I hope with plastics
to get to 160-165 and I think I can be very happy with myself at that
point. Keep up the great weight loss. I think it should be your goal and
not your doctors and what makes you feel good and not a number on the
scale.
— Tparker
July 18, 2003
You know, it's funny to hear you all talk about your doctors weight goals
because my surgeon never once mentioned a goal weight only suggested that
most people lose 75-85% of their excess weight. When I 'pinned down' my
primary on the issue, he said probably around 100 pounds, at least that's
what he's generally seen. Not that 100 pounds is bad, but now that I've
lost 91 pounds, I can definitly see where I could stand to lose another
30-40 pounds - which would put me just at, or slightly under, my
"ideal" weight - which, it has been suggested that I will never
get to. So, in the end, you have to be happy with you - no matter what
anyone tells you they 'think' you 'should' weigh. Good luck!
— eaamc
July 18, 2003
I'm sorry that I can't remember exactly where I found this statistic in my
pre-surgery research, but it was a reliable source (maybe the American
Society of Bariatric Surgeons or the National Institutes of Health?) that
said the surgery is considered a success if the patient maintains a weight
loss of between 50% and 65% (or greater) of excess weight for a period of
five or more years. I think where the goal is in that 50 to 65% range
depends on a number of factors including beginning weight and length of
time having been obese. I agree that it's unrealistic to expect many
(maybe most) of us to get to the insurance chart weight ranges. I know I'd
be setting myself up for misery, disappointment, a sense of failure, and
possibly even health problems to have a goal of losing 100% of my excess
weight. My surgeon will be happy with 60 to 65%; I'm aiming for about 70%.
I agree with the others: this surgery is about getting you healthy. When
you are at the weight you want to be, and are healthy again, then you are a
success, no matter what anybody else says.
— Vespa R.
July 18, 2003
The average is about 65-70% that people can expect to lose. Is it possible
to lose 100%, yes I did in about the first 6 months. I went from a size 24
to a 4. 268 pounds to 138 pounds. Read my profile for more info.
— Linda A.
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