Considering revising my goal

My surgeon never asked me to set a goal, so when I first set up my OH ticker, I picked the middle of the normal BMI range for my height. I'm starting to think about revising it now. My trainer doesn't think I could get to 130 without losing a significant amount of muscle and thinks 150 would be healthy for me. I've also hit a major plateau at 170, and I have a feeling even another 20 lbs will be quite difficult. I'm wearing most clothes in a medium right now; some in a large and some in a small (although I bought a cardigan from Old Navy today in an X-small). If you were me, would you consider resetting your goal? Or should I not worry about an end point and just see where my body winds up comfortable (even if that winds up being where I'm at now)?

You are only 5 months post op. I think this line of thinking is way premature. Also trainers are not really trained in this area. They are there to help you exercise. Not a lot of educational requirements for the job. I have heard some wild advice to RnY patients over the years from trainers.

Good luck,

Deb T

Thanks for the input. I know I'm only 5 months post-op, but my dietitian warned me I might have a different course post-op due to the 80 lbs I lost pre-op. I'm glad to know you think I can still keep going though!

You can get to 130 without losing a significant amount of muscle if you eat high protein and work out. You are in the honeymoon period of surgery where you still have malabsorption. That 170 will be much harder to maintain when your body is absorbing many more of the calories.

If you continue to follow a high protein, low carb and low calorie eating plan and continue to exercise you will be doing good to lose a pound a week and that wont happen every week.

Your end point would most likely be at 150 and the very top of normal BMI for you. That 150 is after all weight loss and bounce-back regain and the time frame for that will be about the beginning of year three.

You have done great so far, please don't let people talk you into giving up this gift of malabsorption. Use your surgery for the purpose of getting rid of as much weight as your body will release. One thing that I would suggest is buying a smart scale that measures weight, body fat and BMI and using it daily.

After my six month mark there were weeks and months when I had no loss at all. But I stuck to my food and exercise plan and celebrated each pound that did go away.

What kind of scale do you recommend? I am assuming you use this type....

I have a Withings scale and love it, but if I ever get a new one I will get the Aria by fitbit since it would sync with my fitbit account.

You cannot fool yourself when your stats are saved forever online.

I agree with the others. Keep following your plan. Have you had your body fat measured? Ae WhiteDove suggested, get a scale that measures body fat. They are not the most accurate way to measure it but work on improving that number on the scale.

And remember sizes are screwey. Do not convince yourself you are a size extra small.

I have a couple times, and depending on the type of measurement (finger-to-toe in my surgeon's clinic or a handheld device at the gym), it's still 33-39%

I hear you about sizes -- I have pants from sizes 4 to 14 that all fit right now!

I wouldn't worry so much about the weight on the scale as much as how you feel an how you look. I'm 5'3 and I usually weigh 138-142 (size 4, small top). That's a perfect range for me. When I got sick earlier in the year and dropped down to 132 (my all time low) I thought I would like it but I didn't. For the first time I agreed with people I really did look to skinny and not healthy. When you get to a weight where you like how you look and how clothes fit then you will know. You're body has a way of telling you.

I agree with the others. Keep following your plan and see where your body wants to stop. You can get to 130 without losing muscle mass if you eat plenty of protein and workout. I originally had a goal of 160 then lowered it to 145. I just kept on plan and my body was happy at 120. It made me feel better because if I have bounceback regain I will still be a normal bmi. Your body will let you know the weight it likes. You have done amazing! Congratulations!!