Natural Weight...
I picked my goal weight from where I was in my 20's and one that I felt comfortable at. It put me in the middle of the normal BMI range for my height. And I reached it. I worked hard to reach it and I continue to work hard to maintain it. I wonder if part of that is that my body "remembered" me at that weight and maybe that made it easier to get to.
My only problem with this "natural weight" theory is too many people claim this to be their issue when they don't get to their magical goal weight. And when they complain about not losing weight, they usually post about all the wrong things they eat, alcohol they drink, and refuse to exercise or count calories. To me, that is a cop out. If you're not going to try to reach your goal by doing what you CAN and SHOULD do, stop complaining and asking for help that you never intend to follow (veteran rant over now, carry on).
Laura
My only problem with this "natural weight" theory is too many people claim this to be their issue when they don't get to their magical goal weight. And when they complain about not losing weight, they usually post about all the wrong things they eat, alcohol they drink, and refuse to exercise or count calories. To me, that is a cop out. If you're not going to try to reach your goal by doing what you CAN and SHOULD do, stop complaining and asking for help that you never intend to follow (veteran rant over now, carry on).
Laura
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
"My only problem with this "natural weight" theory is too many people claim this to be their issue when they don't get to their magical goal weight. And when they complain about not losing weight, they usually post about all the wrong things they eat, alcohol they drink, and refuse to exercise or count calories."
I agree. It CAN be used as an excuse... just like many people blame excess weight on a thyroid problem (even though they take thyroid supplements and have normal levels with the medication). I think people know deep down, though, whether or not they honestly gave 100% effort. I also know, however, that there are a number of people who select goal weights that are not realistic given their individual physical characteristics. I am glad I listened to my PCP who said that less than 145 (upper end of "normal" BMI) was probably not realistic for me given my chest size and muscular legs, because if I had set it at 138 the way I wanted to, I would not have gotten there and I know myself well enough to know that the evil little critical voice in the back of my head would be calling me a "failure" for not hitting that completely arbitrary weight. I tried like hell to get to below 140 (and seriously aggravated my bad knee in the process), but when I hit 142 at 20 months out, that was "it" no matter what I did. Yet I can maintain the 148 with only moderate effort.
Lora
I agree. It CAN be used as an excuse... just like many people blame excess weight on a thyroid problem (even though they take thyroid supplements and have normal levels with the medication). I think people know deep down, though, whether or not they honestly gave 100% effort. I also know, however, that there are a number of people who select goal weights that are not realistic given their individual physical characteristics. I am glad I listened to my PCP who said that less than 145 (upper end of "normal" BMI) was probably not realistic for me given my chest size and muscular legs, because if I had set it at 138 the way I wanted to, I would not have gotten there and I know myself well enough to know that the evil little critical voice in the back of my head would be calling me a "failure" for not hitting that completely arbitrary weight. I tried like hell to get to below 140 (and seriously aggravated my bad knee in the process), but when I hit 142 at 20 months out, that was "it" no matter what I did. Yet I can maintain the 148 with only moderate effort.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
First, I agree with the doctor; I do believe there is a weight "range" where our healthy body wants to live and that we CAN do things to override it (like extreme dieting or binge eating).
We had this discussion at our local support group meeting last night: how to know when you've made it to goal. We discussed things like WHY it's not realistic to think you (as a long time morbidly obese person) can ever weigh what you did in HS, etc. and I brought up the idea of "good enough". One lady said she'd like to lose another 15-20 pounds (she LOOKED fantastic...slim, healthy) and so I asked her this: how much effort to you want to put into GETTING THERE and STAYING THERE? For me, I don't WANT to have to give up EVERYTHING and exercise like a professional fitness model to maintain at an arbitrary lower number. Where I am NOW looks good and feels good; I am healthy in body, mind and spirit. I don't know that I could say that if I were 10-15 pounds lighter and at my old WW goal....I certainly know that my spirit would be suffering if I could never share a dessert with my husband or have a beer with my super spicy Mexican food!
In my mind, it's all about balance and finding a place where YOU are happy and healthy....not where the doctor is happy; not where your spouse is happy! But sometimes we need the REALITY check other trusted people can give us and use that as ONE PIECE of information in our quest to find a goal weight.
JMHO....
We had this discussion at our local support group meeting last night: how to know when you've made it to goal. We discussed things like WHY it's not realistic to think you (as a long time morbidly obese person) can ever weigh what you did in HS, etc. and I brought up the idea of "good enough". One lady said she'd like to lose another 15-20 pounds (she LOOKED fantastic...slim, healthy) and so I asked her this: how much effort to you want to put into GETTING THERE and STAYING THERE? For me, I don't WANT to have to give up EVERYTHING and exercise like a professional fitness model to maintain at an arbitrary lower number. Where I am NOW looks good and feels good; I am healthy in body, mind and spirit. I don't know that I could say that if I were 10-15 pounds lighter and at my old WW goal....I certainly know that my spirit would be suffering if I could never share a dessert with my husband or have a beer with my super spicy Mexican food!
In my mind, it's all about balance and finding a place where YOU are happy and healthy....not where the doctor is happy; not where your spouse is happy! But sometimes we need the REALITY check other trusted people can give us and use that as ONE PIECE of information in our quest to find a goal weight.
JMHO....
Marilyn (now in NM)
RNY 10/2/01
262(HW)/150-155(GW)/159(CW)
(updated March 2012)
My surgeon left a goal weight up to me. They track excess body weight lost by using a normal BMI.
I definitely believe the theory of natural weight. I like the idea of balance. I have a hard time imagining such a thing, but I like the idea. I'm afraid for me, my head would get in the way. If I get to say 220 and get stuck, what if I don't want to exercise more or eat less? I'm afraid I'd use the natural weight idea as a way to justify not pushing harder. I don't know.
At 3 months out and 270lbs, I have a hard time imagining myself anywhere under 200lbs. I tell people when they ask that my official goal weight is 160 but I'd be perfectly happy at 199. I hope I am satisfied if that's where I land. I had this surgery so I could ride as far and as long as I want to. My horse is definitely capable of carrying 200lbs pretty much indefinitely. I hope I'm happy with that.
My question for you Nik is if you were to put away the scale completely, are you happy? Are you satisfied with what you eat? Are you happy with the things you're able to do? Are you happy with how you look? If your answers are yes, I wouldn't worry about the weight on the scale. People carry weight differently and being a size 10 at 195lbs is amazing.
I definitely believe the theory of natural weight. I like the idea of balance. I have a hard time imagining such a thing, but I like the idea. I'm afraid for me, my head would get in the way. If I get to say 220 and get stuck, what if I don't want to exercise more or eat less? I'm afraid I'd use the natural weight idea as a way to justify not pushing harder. I don't know.
At 3 months out and 270lbs, I have a hard time imagining myself anywhere under 200lbs. I tell people when they ask that my official goal weight is 160 but I'd be perfectly happy at 199. I hope I am satisfied if that's where I land. I had this surgery so I could ride as far and as long as I want to. My horse is definitely capable of carrying 200lbs pretty much indefinitely. I hope I'm happy with that.
My question for you Nik is if you were to put away the scale completely, are you happy? Are you satisfied with what you eat? Are you happy with the things you're able to do? Are you happy with how you look? If your answers are yes, I wouldn't worry about the weight on the scale. People carry weight differently and being a size 10 at 195lbs is amazing.
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