I learned to hate the term excess weight loss. To figure how much excess weight you have, it means you first need to know what the 'ideal" weight is, right? And I have never, ever gotten a straight answer to that question. Is it smack dab in the middle of the healthy BMI range? Is it based on body fat percentage? I've never gotten anything but vague and evasive answers.

I would characterize "underweight" in your question as being below healthy in the BMI scale. I think there are very, very few that end up with a BMI below 18.5. Of those, some are because of physiological, medical issues and complications, but my sense is that's pretty rare. From the few other people I've seen on here with underweight BMIs, I'd have to say they have developed an eating disorder. They have gone from one eating extreme to another.

From watching others and my own experience, to get as far as even the low end of healthy BMI, much less to get to underweight, would require much, much more effort. Barring medical reasons of course. Getting to the middle of the normal range is serious work. Getting below that would be a full time job, and IMO just doesn't happen without the above medical or psychological component.

Agree 100%.

My surgeon also considered and expected only 65% EWL, which really disappointed me at the time.  I didn't change my anatomy for 65%!!!  That being said, I started at 256 (size 2X/20)and my goal was 150, changed it to 135 and now I'm 117 (size xs/0-2).  I am about 25 months post op.  I didn't do anything special to lose it, but I did stick to my plan and I still and always plan to eat protein forward, no drinking with or after meals, water only and lots of it.  I have occasional treats that aren't on plan, but since I'm at goal, I just keep an eye on the scale.  I am only 5'1, so I can't afford to gain much.  My plan is to keep an eye on the scale and adjust accordingly.  The people that I know of personally that didn't make it to goal or gained back a significant amount did not follow plan, graze all day, drink with meals, etc. 

Thank you. I didnt change my anatomy for 65% either

Keep in mind that the "65%" number is usually referring to weight loss maintained after 5 years, NOT weight lost initially (although some surgeons do use it that way... but there is no reason that someone should not be able to lose much more than 65% of their excess weight in the first 2 years!).

Lora

Me! I was considered a "light weight" but am now a normal BMI and loss all of the weight. My surgeon doesn't expect 100% to get to normal BMI.

I should say the only issues I had was with iron and that's now under control (I ended up having a hysterectomy and the WLS was only a contributing factor to the iron issue).

MEZ..you and I are at the same weight and are the same height.

We should share clothes!

Too funny! Yes, we do wear the same size!

I think the numbers are for longer term weight loss.  Many can lose 100% at a year or two.  The real challenge is still having 100% weight loss at 5 years and beyond.

You really can't judge much in the first few years.  Many are very enthusiastic and gung ho...for a while anyway.  But we get busy and distracted and the fact that we had WLS moves down the list of priorities, along with all the things we've done to lose all that weight.

I was one that lost too much weight in the beginning.  I wasn't too terribly worried because I know that for me it would be a cinch to gain weight.  I've done it a million times.  The challenge for me is to gain weight without abusing food.  To learn how to eat in a way that my weight is in a healthy range and stays there without much fluctuation.  Something I have never managed to do in my life and I have no clue how to do it.

That is why I stick around.  Because there are people here who are like me and have managed to keep the weight off year after year.  That is what's important to me.

The newness does and will wear off.  The applause and admiration won't last forever.  After a while being a normal size is, well, your new normal and people won't even mention it anymore, if they even remember you being obese.  And wearing a small size is no longer the 7th wonder of the world but just what you wear.

That is when the hard work starts.  Learning to live in a normal size body and how to feed it to stay that way is one of the hardest things I've had to learn.  

And this is why I appreciate the real vets of WLS.  Their perspective isn't focused on the short term success and validation received when we're losing weight.  

Thank you for posting this, LadyTazz.  You and Kim are truly inspirational