Massive weight loss

Has anyone had to loose 250 lbs or more after surgery? If so, how long did it take to loose it? I know it is different for everyone, but I am just looking for some type of timeline. Thanks for any response.

Hi Sally Don't put yourself on a timeline because it could be disappointing. If you have 250 pounds to lose, it is possible that you will lose a lot in the beginning real fast. What is your starting weight? My friend was 600, and he lost 100 pounds in the first month. But everyone is different. The bigger you are, the faster it comes off in the beginning. Marie

Thanks for the response. Actually my daughter (she is almost 20yo) and I are both going to have the surgery this spring (hopefully April). She wants to go first and I don't want to do anything to discourage her so I say fine. I have about 150 lbs to loose but she has at least 250. She is 5'3" and weighs about 410 right now. Most of the posts you read people only have to loose about 150 lbs and they usually can accompli**** in a year. Of course I know everyone is different, but we were talking and just curious how long it took someone to loose over 250lbs. I guess one of my biggest concerns is that she is going to have to have plastic surgery after her weight loss and there is such a time line on my insurance covering her (they will cover her until she is 24 if she is a full time college student). She will be done with her first 4 years of college in May of 2009 (only about 2 years from the time of her surgery). My fear is that if she hasn't lost it all then she won't be under my insurance to have the plastic surgery done. I know I am worrying about alot of things way before I need to, but that is how my brain works and the mother in me is very concerned (it is my baby ya know......lol). Well thanks for the input. Sally

I had about 230 lbs to lose (to get to MY ideal weight) and I am almost 2 years out and I have lost 190lbs. the last 40 are the hard ones!! Honestly, I havent lost anything in at least 4 months...but havent gained anything either. My clothes fit differently,...I guess becuase i am tightening up but the weight is not coming off!! Anyway, do not give yourself a timeline...let it happen as it happens. Im sure you will be very happy with the results!! good Luck!! Lisa

Sally: most lose 1/3 of their wt it is not a surgeyr to get u to ideal wt just less obese! Most lose bulk in 1 yr some few lucky ones get 2 yrs! Here is some info I have shared before! Your daughter may or may not need plastics, insurance coverage for any PS is not a guarantee remember many need it also but many ins co wont cover anything and at best a panni removal is sovered, not what most of us need, arms, breasts, arms, legs, butts we may need much more. Excess skin is a major sideffect of this but u fit in your skin or you dont.. healhtier not fitting in it I always say turnover what you can not control to your higher power, trust!!! WT LOSS DIFFERENCES There are so many factors to consider, heights, starting weights, men vs. women, individual metabolisms, age, and most importantly if you have any other medical conditions or are on medications!!! Remember the heavier people are the more they will lose (but the farther away one will be from an ideal bodywt..) and the lighter one is the closer to an ideal bodywt you will get, but the less they will loose overall! EXAMPLE: After RNY surgery research states most people can/will loose 50-78% of their excess bodywt...lets say both of these "hypothetical" people lose 75% of their excess bodyweight.... 1. A 400lb person at 5'6'' (a bmi of 64) who has 250# of excess wt (ideal is 150#) will lose 187.5# and weigh 212.5# and have a BMI of 34.5, 1 1/2-2 years after surgery. 2. A 300# person of 5'6'' (a bmi of 48) who has 150# of excess bodywt. (ideal also 150#) will loose 112.5# and weigh 187.5# and have a bmi of 30, 1 1/2-2 years after surgery. This is an example just to show that you cannot compare your wt. loss to anyone else's! Listen to your doctor; mine said a 2-7# loss a week. Some weeks I loose 5 others none! Plateaus are also individual, some people get them every other week, others once a month and some never! Go figure...we are each individuals and our bodies are stubborn and are going to do what they want! LOL....As long as you are following your recommendations for food, vits, fluid, and exercise everything will take care of itself! Stay positive and don't get overly focused on the scale and numbers! Get the scale out of the house and weigh once a week somewhere or only when you go to the MD...Do not give the scale all that power! Listen to your body, how you feel, your energy level, how your breathe, how your clothes fit...Measure yourself, many times we lose inches and not pounds! Exercise also adds muscle and this weighs more than fat, so initially you may see no loss or a small gain, muscle in the long run will help you burn more energy and be healthier...So hang in and don't worry! The loss will come; it is just different for everyone! I think many go into WLS with the wrong mindset (all about numbers, comparing and such, ther eis typical but each journeyis different and in fact wt loss shouldnt be the focus, a healthy lifestyle and re****ion of morbid obesity complications would be a better choice!) Those that have goals that are health focused and functionally focused do the best (vs. those that are scale or weight/number focused). I am such a firm believer in not allowing the scale (or hunkametal that it is) to rule or dictate ones life/thoughts/feelings any longer, I agree we want to lose wt but gaining our health and ability to function in life are far more important than any number the scale can read; otherwise if it never reads the number we think, others say, a chart suggests we fail and that is simply not true!!! As I have said before in other forums: Most of our lives we have set RIGID, UNREALISTIC WEIGHT LOSS GOALS for ourselves that are BOTH UNATTAINABLE and CHRONICALLY DISAPPOINTING and lead to DEVASTATION & the slippery slope of self-sabotage...Review the UNDERLYING lifestyle change such as exercise, food choices, self-awareness/monitoring, avoidance of emotional eating, adherence to living self responsibly in a CONSISTENT way that is the foundation to our long-term success. For me I keep telling myself daily that***THE GOAL SHOULD NEVER BE A NUMBER*** Your timeline may just be an unrealistic gage one to set up for failure and sabotage, go with one day at a time! HUGS! Take Care, Jamie 100cm proximal Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh Albany, NY 320(preop)/163 (lowest)/174 (current) 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King www.albanyplasticsurgeons.com http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jamiecatlady5/ "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

You didn't mention which surgery you are having, so I'll respond with a duodenal switch answer. While everyone is different, many DSers fall into the following pattern: By 6 months out : 50 percent loss of their excess weight By 1 year out: 80 percent loss of their excess weight. Many DSers will continue to lose from 15 to 18 months after surgery, some even past that point. I started off needing to lose 320 lbs ( I weighed 492 lbs), I lost 20 lbs preop, and went into surgery at 472 lbs. with a goal weight of 172 (300 lbs to lose). By the time I was 6 months out, I had lost down to 307 lbs. (165 lbs) which was more then 50 percent of my excess weight. I'm now 11 months out and I am down 228 lbs, and still losing at a good clip, I lost 13 lbs for month 11, and should be at about 80 percent excess weight loss by my 1 year anniversary. Your daughter is young, and should lose pretty quickly if she will stick to her surgeons plan, doesn't have some type of metabolic disorder, and exercises. My advice would be not to wait for surgery, but to start exercising and dieting now. It gives you the opportunity to hit the ground running, and those that exercise heal faster then those that do not, plus it helps speed up your metabolism. Scott

I was 551 pounds before surgery and i lost 216 pounds in 19 months but again remember everyone is diferent and males tend to lose faster so dont drive yourself nuts .

I apologize i didnt mention in my prior response i have to lose 311 pounds and lost 216 in 19 months.