Expectations for weight loss

so one of the things I'm struggling with is goal setting and expectations now that I've had surgery. I'm a week post op.

How did you set the weight goals for yourself? I can't even fathom where I will end up weight wise. I have a non-scale goal but not so much weight.

I'm chasing one-derland as my first weight goal. Non- scale is to for comfortably in the seats in my lecture hall at school and be able to use the little desk without it hitting my stomach and sitting funny.

How much do people lose in the first month post op? I'm 5'0, and including my week of opti I've lost 15 lbs so far. Putting me at 245 lbs. I just want to be realistic in my goals. I've never been less than 160 lbs in my adult life. Will I get below that?

Thanks!

amanda

Amanda you will hit that goal if you stick to a plan, weigh, measure and log all of your food. Move your body regularly. Don't "treat" yourself until you are at goal and toying with maintenance. Make the most of this honeymoon phase, don't waste a single day.

At the top of this page, under resources you will find a post-op planner that will let you see typical loss.

I'm going for 10 pounds at a time as a goal. And as per Smoka's great idea, I reward myself with a new charm for a pandora bracelet with every 10 pounds. You will hit stalls and slowdowns. I'm in one now that was driving me nuts but I'm still losing so I just keep sight of that. You will do fine with your goals. We are all different and lose at different rates.

I am loving the Pandora bracelet idea...actually it was oneatatime that got me hooked on the idea!! But anyway, I find that it really is the best thing, because I am always looking forward to the next charm. I just got one the other day and already I am starting to think of the next one. So now it's more than the weight loss, it's getting the next charm too!! I love it. I am a shopper at heart!

Kudos to oneatatime for the idea too! I love planning the bracelet. I have different ones for different themes but this one is going to be allllllllll bling!

Congrats on your surgery!

Everyone loses at their own rate, but I don't think your goals are unreasonable.

setting a final goal is a bit overwhelming, so I never really set one until recently. I just set a bunch of small milestones, and worked towards each one.

Hey Amanda,

Congratulations on your surgery and loss so far!

Expectations are such a funny thing. I used to have them... even with this journey. But my weight loss and NSV's have far surpassed anything i could have ever conceived for myself. Eventually i just found a way to reward myself (the Pandora bracelet referred to above - because i always wanted one bit could never justify it to myself, and decided it would act as a lifelong visual reminder of all my hard work; and and motivator to get to the next 10 lbs - and others have now done it too, which is great!!) and also of course I set mini goals along the way.

For example, I am in Orlando right now. I'm 5'2 (started at 308, lost 10 on Opti, had surgery on Sept 1, tight 3x, tight 24). I had the goal to be at 225 by my Orlando trip, and for into a size 18 jean, because my research said then I could fit on all the rides. I beat my goal: 220 and size 16!!! Who could imagine?! And I fit on every ride so far!!!

My life is different in every way imaginable. I fit in booths with room to spare... so I'm sure in no time, those seats at school will be no sweat.

Hang in there. This is the ride of a life. And like InsertFitness said, an overall goal may seem overwhelming... I still don't have one (and people ask me). I just tell them and myself I'll set one later, when I'm closer a d ready.

You got this girl! Enjoy the ride!!

Great questions MandsKickinItUp (I love your name btw - determined and funky!).

No one has ever talked to me at all about setting a weight goal. But, I figured I might as well have one to set some parameters for myself. I have never been below 140 (I'm 5'4"), but almost always stayed between 148-152 my adult life, pre-weightgain (where my highest was 231). So naturally, I will be very happy once I get to the 150's. (I am 161 today) Also, I am 56 years old, so I figured once I got to 150 then that would be a natural place for me to stop because that is probably all that my body could handle at this age. But now that I am so close to that weight, I really don't see myself stopping now. I'm not sure how it works and how your body just knows to stop losing weight. (I am just over 5 months out). I feel that I am not on a diet and eat mostly eat veggies, fruit and protein. I also do circuit training 3x a week which I love! I am fine with that and feel that the portions and kind of food I am eating is good and have no desire at this point to change what I am eating. So if I keep eating what I'm eating how does the body know when to stop losing weight? I don't know.

Having said all of that, I have put my goal weight at 123. When I use to weigh in the 150's I always wanted to lose that extra 25 pounds. I often wondered what it would be like to weigh 125 like most of my friends at the time. I put down my goal as 123 because I think once you have a goal weight you should expect that you could gain or lose 2 pounds up or down. So that range would actually be 127-123. Anyways, I've spent some time watching Dr. Duc Vuong videos and he suggested, that we ought to aim to lose the weight that we've always wanted to lose while we have the opportunity. It makes sense to me. I don't want to "settle" if there is a possibility to lose more. But, again, I'm not sure how this process happens. So, for today I am going to just keep doing what I'm doing, and when and if I get below 150 then I will take it from there. If I don't get below 150 I'd be pretty happy to!!

Hope this helps.

Barb

Hey Mands

I cannot help you with your goal but this may

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/information/post+op +planner.php

also I weigh and measure and track my food(and I ignore any advantage that exercise gives me) am pretty active and getting more so as the weight comes off. At the beginning I was super focused and I swear I got on the scale ten times a day! What I do now is weigh in on Sundays and take my measurements and on my surgiversary (November 23rd) I weigh myself and include it in my ticker here since I personally have found that to be super helpful when seeing the older members weight loss journeys. PS thanks peeps for doing that!

Thanks everyone! I loved the pandora idea so I bought one today. I used my anniversary today and told my hubby that was what he bought me! Happy 18 years to us

I really need to be careful not to compare and let my journey be just mine. I'm going to focus on nutrition and finding my exercise. Im so drawn to CrossFit though. So we will see once I'm cleared.

This group is so encouraging. Thanks.

Mands