55 and not sure what to expect

No procedure mentioned. The weight loss your doctor mentioned in probably with a lapband. For a larger weight loss, you'll probably want a RNY or other procedure for better weight loss. Ask you doctor about your options on weight loss surgery. If your insurance  is OK with the lap band, I'd imagine that at least the RNY is OK with them too. A nurse at my doctors office mentioned to me that many people had been requesting the lap band surgery recently. But when they went to their doctor consultation, they chose the RNY when the found out more facts.

Alice, Welcome to the greatest support board on OH and I think many times doctor's give their lowball figures, so that we are not disappointed with the results and based on the "average" findings.  So, as has already been said, this will work and work very well if you adhere to the rules, which basically amounts to taking your supplements, getting in your protein, water and exercise.  I am a slow loser, but I am losing and feeling awesome, I feel as though someone turned my physical clock back 20 years and that alone makes me feel like it has been worth it. I wish you a successful WLS journey and believe that this will work for you and keep a positive mindset, we are all here to support one another through this journey and find such warm caring and positive reinforcement, so again, welcome to OFF. Hugs, Laureen

Hi Alice,  I know even on OH here they say typical weight loss after RNY iw 65%. Perhaps that is where he was getting his figures?  I weighed 320 at my highest and right now hover in at 170.  I went to a low of 155 and have gained back 15# but I am healthy, I  look good, wear a size 10-12 pants and 12-14 tops.  Good golly, at almost 56 years old, I am in smaller sizes then I have been in at least 25 years and probably longer!  The best thing is how much more energy you have and how much better you feel.  Yeah, we still ache and Arthur visits all the time, but hey, it's a ton better then at 320 let me tell you! My main goal was to get under 200 for the first time in many years and to be able to play with any grandkids (if my son ever gets busy....) I may have and to feel better.  That goal was met in about 6 months.  Something huh?  At 5'5" and in the over 50 age range, I'm betting you will feel good and look great with about a 100" loss.  I keep making the mistake of thinking because my BMI is still considered overweight that I didn't lose as much as others.  One of my friends at work is a dietician and she keeps telling me not to think like that.  BMI is based on "perfects" and no one is perfect.  I'm healthy and that's the most important part!   Welcome aboard!  I'm a nurse too!  I no longer work at the bedside but have for the past 7 years done nursing informatics.  Lot's of nurses here! 

Alice, I would ask the surgeon how much intestine does he bypass.  Maybe he only bypasses 75cm.  The more bypassed the more pounds lost.  I was bypassed 150cm.  Good luck with your surgery.

This is good information.  I had no idea there was a difference!  Thank you

Hi Alice: I was 49 when I had my RNY done. It took me three years to lose half my weight to get to my goal ... I was a slow loser. But I did it. I have kept it off and lost a little more (it goes up and down) this past year. My goal was to get to 170 pounds; I started at 347. Today I was 169; I have been as low as 162 (like I said, it goes up and down).  Perhaps he was saying 70-80 percent? But even that doesn't sound right, because most docs say 50 percent ... half of your weight ... that's what my doc considered a success, or realistic.  As for exercise, you say you don't feel brave enough to be in a swimsuit. I was in a swimsuit and working out in a public pool when I was 347 pounds. I was swimming more often then ... now I feel I have more pain than I did back then. And you know what, I saw lots of other obese people in the Y pool, people even fatter than I was. No one judged me, and if they did, too bad! They could look the other way. I was exercising to feel better, and if they didn't like it, they didn't have to look. I applaud anyone at the gym who's working out ... I don't care what they look like. So go for it! Now that I've lost, I have all this saggy skin and do I care? Nope.  Good luck to you, and let me know if you need any help.