Weight Loss Goals for WLS

Like a couple of others on here, my surgeon didn't even give me a goal. She just said her personal goal was to relieve me of all my obesity related medical issues (migraines, joint pain, high blood pressure, etc) and whatever I want to lose beyond that was up to me. But, if my surgeon had told me what you were told, well I would work twice as hard to get down to 130 pounds just to show them! People on here have already demonstrated that it is physically possible to get to that weight, so screw her "more realistic" goal and work toward what YOU want.

I'm 5'3" (used to be almost 5'4" but age changed that...). My surgeons goal was around 140 which would have put me at the top of the BMI normal range. Mine was 125 which I knew was a good weight from the past. I ended up feeling good at 115-118. As others have said, your surgeon's goal and yours can be different. IMO many surgeons are afraid that if people set unrealistic goals they will get discouraged and give up. I think you should set a goal you are comfortable with and reassess periodically as to whether it makes sense to you or not. My initial goal was the surgeons (140). I changed it once I was approaching it to 125 because it felt that I was going to continue losing. I still consider that my absolute top number but would really like to be under 118.

My surgeon didn't give me a goal; just said focus on healthy and referenced the normal excess weight stats. He also told me if I worked hard, I could be one of the people that exceed 100lbs lost. I set my own goals -- which were medication and health related first, then activity related and now I'm checking off my 6 weight related goals for myself (2 down, 4 to go!)

My surgeon never discussed goal - and my NUT just said to keep doing what I was doing and my body would tell me where it could maintain. I am 5'4 and had a surgery weight of 236. I am five years out and weigh 125 lbs. I have weighed as little as 113 and since 12 months out have weighed 135 or less.

I honestly think it is important to set goals and achieve them. For me my goal was to weigh less than 150. That is still my goal. If 10 years from now I am still below 150, than I am going to be thrilled. If 30 years from now I am still below 150, then I will be a success. It has been relatively easy for me to get to the set goal of 70% EWL, but staying there? Day in and Day out over years, decades? That is the hard part. I think surgeons are very very careful not to discourage us so they use attainable goals that the average patient can achieve with surgery within a year. The next decade is the true test.

Almost 15 Years for me. I work every day to stay at or below 140. I have regained almost 40 twice and managed to lose it back. It is a lifelong commitment for sure. It will take discipline to keep it off.

I had an overall goal and a goal to reach for every post-op visit. I always met them. Doing surgery without a goal seems foreign to me. But I always have a goal for everything I do.

To me it would be like taking a road trip with no map and no destination in mind. Sometimes that seems like it would be fun and freeing.

So you can do the math yourself if you want to see what % you want to be at.

A) Subtract Goal Weight from Highest Weight

B) Subtract Current Weight from Highest Weight

Dived B by A = %

At my 3 month appointment with the dietician, she told me that I have lost a lot of weight fast and that it would really slow down. She expects me to land at about 180. I'm 5'2", I said well, I want to lose another 100 pounds and I want to be in the appropriate BMI category. Her answer was "that would be nice but lets not get our hopes up." lol! I just about died. She also told me I wasn't eating enough and exercising too much. I left angry. My blood work was perfect and I feel great so why do they discourage. They just have their numbers that are given to them and that's what they stick to. Thank goodness for this site. Great motivation.

Seriously! What's wrong with: as long as you stay healthy and your vitamins are on track, and you don't get underweight,we'll support you.