Let's Talk about Goal Weight

What's your goal weight? Why? Where did it come from? I had my 3 month followup yesterday and finally got around to asking about my "goal". We had never discussed it before and I had settled on 140ish because that's what I weighed in HS and according to the BMI chart, that would put me in the "normal" range. My surgeon said, "Well, what were YOU thinking?" I told her I knew somewhere between 135 and 150 was "normal" and she said, "Well, I definately don't want to see you go below 150. I think your first goal should be 170, and we'll go from there." I know that your bone structure and bone density has a lot to do with it, as well as muscle mass, extra skin, etc. but wow, 170 seems so HIGH to me... Not that I've seen 170 in the last 10 years , but still.... for a final goal weight....???? So, how did you arrive at your "goal"?

Vicki, I'm 5' 7" also... I'm glad we're thinking along the same lines... Also - I want to add to my original post, I'm not implying I wouldn't be happy with 170, heck, like I said, I haven't seen that since I was 19 or so... but I guess I'm a little more "goal oriented" and to me, it's not much of a "stretch goal" to utilize "corporate-speak".

Hey Becky, I started at 370. I am down 98 lbs., 272 currently. My goal is 150. I came up with that number myself. I have never asked my surgeon about a goal. My height is only 5' 1", so 150 is still considered on the heavy side. I will actually be happy with anything under 200!!! But losing 200 lbs. would be awesome, that would put me at 170. I think it all depends on what your body decided to do also. Sometimes it has a mind of it's own. It kinda just quits losing after awhile. It's amazing to me how my BMI has gone down. I started at 69.9 and am down to 52.2!!!! Good luck. Tammie Hetland

Becky - I too came up with my own goal weight. My surgeon has never mentioned it. I see him again in October and can discuss it more then. Mine is 135. I came up with it cuz I was 135 when I got married and a size 10. BUT - I've also had six children in the mean time so I don't hold much hope of being a size 10 again. I'm 5/5" and I have no idea if I'm medium boned or what (never did understand that) I'm down to 191 right now. Friday will be my three month mark. My real goal is to hit goal by Christmas. Don't know if it will happen, but that's my goal. Laurie 262/191/135

Goal Weight is calculated by the "attainable factor". The Attainable Factor is a success ratio that WLSurgeons/Nuts use to keep their #'s looking good. For example: If your optimum weight for height is 130lbs and you start your weight loss journey at 300lbs, you have 170lbs of "excess" weight. A 170lb loss would be the equivalent of 100% of your "excess" weight. 100% is very difficult to achieve. 70 to 80% of your "excess" is more the norm. We are not, and probably don't want to be "perfect" specimens. 119-136lbs of loss is concidered a successful journey (70-80%). This means that instead of shooting for 130lbs your medical professional will look for 165-180. Hope this makes sense.... Kate Z

Speak for yourself... My goal is to be flawless.... *adjusts crooked halo*

There's always one in every crowd.... I'd much rather burn out than fade away..... :smoke: Been there... perfection is too hard to maintain.... KateZ

I changed my personal goal weight from 130 pounds to 135 pounds. I am 5-2 and the height/weight chart says this is what I should weigh at most. I think 135 is more realistic because my surgeon said that the standard height/weight charts are artificially low. So, I felt that 135 may be more realistic than 130. Ultimately, it's up to my body to decide when I am thin enough. It may decide that 140 or 150 is as low as it is willing to go. I just have to be prepared to accept whatever that is and not feel like a total failure if my ultimate weight is not what I think it should be.

Well, I am 5'11 and considered big-boned (whatever the heck that means)..and who knows what the nuts think I should weigh. All I know is when I met my current husband, I weighed about 213 and I felt good. So my new goal is about 190..I think that will put me in a 18 or 16 possibly...hey.. that works for me. **honestly though, at my current weight of 253...i feel pretty darn good already!! My daughter actually bought me some Victoria Secret underwear the other day...size LG....which I didn't even know they made! Anyway, I held it up and said...no way...but it actually fit my behind....just my hangin fat in the front snuck out the bottom...but hey...im cool with that!!!!!!

According the the "charts", 160 would put me at an ideal weight (I'm 5' 10'') but I said (and my surgeon) that I would be happy with 170. THEN, I went and underwater weighed last week and he gave me a goal weight of 150. I don't think that I have weighed 150 since Jr. High school!