Goal change after last followup visit with surgeon's office

Pre surgery my surgeon advised that most patients lose 70 to 80 percent of their weight after RNY. I heard her (obviously, since I remembered what she said), but in my mind I figured I could get back to a "normal" weight for me of 125 which would be a loss of 120 pounds. Because, you know (tongue in cheek), I'm not most people. I have never even thought of taking my eye off that prize and she never mentioned a goal again. Then, this last visit, I saw her nurse practitioner who started talking about having the NUT talk to me about maintenance. I told her I was still a ways off at 158 and told her my goal. She looked very puzzled and asked if I felt healthy and was I not more active and feeling happy. I assured her I was and she asked at why I wanted to go so very low. I pointed out to her that 125 was right in the middle of the "normal" BMI for my height and it is where I historically had been more than not during my adult life. She shook her head and said, "Well, you know you have at least 10 pounds of skin that won't go away without surgery. I think you need to consider going onto maintenance. We don't want you to be disappointed with your results." I was shocked and a little angry. I'm also VERY disappointed that she was not more supportive of what I want for myself which is to be NORMAL and not overweight. I'm not obese anymore (except on some insurance charts) but I am definitely still overweight and I want to be NORMAL!!!

Am I being unrealistic? I get the 10 pounds of skin... so even with a goal of 135... is that doable?

This morning, after getting on the scale and seeing I've dropped another pound, I did change my goal... but still not very happy with this new idea.

Are you kidding me? Look at how far you have come! Of course it's doable! You go girl. :):) 

There are many on this forum that have lost all their excess weight! At 5 ft 3, my goal is also 130-135 but I still have to have my surgery.

My surgeon's office was the SAME WAY!  I told them I wanted to get to 150, and they pretty much laughed it off.  Well I did it, and now they are always saying I need to not lose any more weight, etc etc....throwing our words like "too thin" and "underweight".  I am sorry but I am NO WHERE NEAR underweight, I am just barley in the healthy BMI range! HAHAHA

Also 10 lbs of skin might be a little much!  There are people here who have lost over 200 lbs and had lots of plastics that only removed 4-5 lbs.

If you want to strive for 125, you do it!!  YOU CAN DO IT

My surgeon's nurse practitioner is the very same way so I know exactly how you feel. Every year at my yearly followup they tell me I am too thin. I was told obese people don't get to a normal bmi. But like you,I didn't have surgery to still be overweight. I am 56 years old,5feet 6.5 inches and weigh 118 to 120 which is the bottom end of a normal bmi. I have rheumatoid arthritis and  my rheumatologist agrees that I need to stay as low as I can since NSAIDS are no longer an option for pain. So I listen to him and wear my heaviest clothes to my appointments at my surgeons office! I also lost over 150 pounds and don't think I have 10 pounds of skin on me either. I just stayed on plan and saw where my body wanted to be and felt most comfortable. You will get there too!

I think your doctor's office has a crappy attitude.

By the end of year 2, the vast majority of people end up bouncing back 10 or so pounds from their lowest weight. Would you be happy 10 pounds above where you are now? It's not inevitable, of course, but it usually happens.

Make your own goal. Take their advice if you can use it, otherwise keep doing your own thing.

My surgeon sets a goal at 24.9 BMI, the very top of normal. He then advises us to go 10, 20 or 30 pounds under that goal during the two year honeymoon period.

Our support groups are "closed" to people who had other surgeons. Letting in outsiders was demoralizing to our support group when we had people who were talking about drinking milkshakes, eating pizza, and being content with low weight loss.

Our diet plan is high protein, and very low carb. Our center also has exercise classes and additional support groups with a psychologist for people who are having issues meeting or staying at goal. The people from our center are quite successful with losing 100% or more of excess weight and maintaining about 80% of the loss.

Ten pounds of skin is ridiculous for someone who was your size. Two or three pounds is more like it.
You can lose all of your weight, lose more as a cushion for regain, and keep it off. I have been doing that since surgery in October 2007.

My doctor's office was the same way. My doctor's goal for me is 150-160 lbs! I am only 5'2"! At that goal, I also would still be overweight! My own goal is 120 lbs, which is normal for my height. Your goal is completely doable...go for it girl! I am right there with you!

My surgeon asked me my goal weight at the initial appointment.  I said, "I don't know...150????" (because the lowest I ever remember being as an adult was 165).  He said, "OK, sounds good."  At my one year check-up, I was around 145, and I half expected to get the lecture about "Don't lose too much weight..."  but he actually said, "Good job, keep it up."  I was almost mad...hahaha.  I'm glad I listened to the advice here and I kept going.  Now my comfort zone is 135-140.  I've been here for 6+ months now.  It's doable, but you have to be really strict, track your calories, and make it your new normal.  Good luck!

Thank you guys for the pep talk. That's why I love coming in here. I'm going to go for the Gold and aim for 125.