I don't agree with the surgeon's goal

I went yesterday for my last pre-op appointment.  The nurse showed me the surgeon's goal, based on all these different statistics.  It was about 40 lbs more then where I want to end up.  Did anyone else have this?  Am I being unrealistic?  My starting weight is right at 300lbs.  My dream goal is 150lbs my "I'd be happy with" goal is 175lbs.  His goal was 190-201 lbs.  I won't be satisfied if I don't get below 200lbs.

Most surgeons set goals based on a certain percentage of Excess Weight Loss (EWL). Usually that's around 60-70%. You can set your goal wherever you want and, as long as you feel good and are healthy, you can get there. What is your height? I'm 5'10" and started at 298. My "I'll see how things are going when I get there" goal is 170. I'm thinking I might eventualy aim for 150. Unless you're freakishly taller than I am, I don't see why 150 would be an unreasonable goal. If you're quite a bit shorter, you may even find that you want to go lower. It's YOUR goal to make!

I started out at 318.6 and am 5'5. My Dr. set me a goal of 190, but my goal is 170 and then I will see. I believe you should know your Dr.'s goal, but if you can prove the statistics wrong!!!

My goal is 10 lbs lighter than my doc's. He said, specifically, that his goal for me is 100% EWL. His goal puts me at the high end of normal BMI. Mine puts me closer to the center of that range. I wanted to have a little more room in case I needed to come back up. I will be happy when I hit his goal; delighted when I hit mine.

Laurie

Did your doc explain how he got to that goal for you?  I'm 5'4" and weighed in at 316 yesterday.  My doc says that I'll be able to reach 180 with "average" results.  I'm determined to be above average, though, so I know I'll exceed his goal.  

 

I'm 5'4" too.  It was just all these calculations.  I don't know that he put his personal opinion on there.  His nurse agreed with me that I should/would do better.

This site has a weight loss calculator somewhere, it was useful to me since it explained where those calculations come from. :)

Surgeon asked me if I would be happy with loosing to about  180, and to expect to mainain at about 190 or so.  Having spent years and years over 300 and more, I was delighted  at the thought of weighing Anything under 200, But in my heart, I set a goal of 150.  Goal is just that...you have heard your surgeon's goal--what is yours?  Goal is a hope- hope is the belief in things unseen.  Time reveals those thing.  Set your goal- work your program- watch hope reveal itself.  Bonnie

Most doc's don't want to set you up for failure so they figure it at 70-80% of your excess body weight.  My surgeon's goal was 189, my PCP's goal is 165 and my goal is maybe 154 which is the high end of a normal bmi.  I am 167lbs and keep fighting the same 2-3 lbs.  I am not giving up on my goal of 154 but I have a lot of outside factors that are keeping me from working out and putting myself first.  It is not an excuse but a reality.  My mother has been in the hospital for over 7 weeks and we almost lost her twice, my sister in law's cancer has returned and it is not looking good long term and my other sister-in-law's father has been diagnosed with 3 inoperable brain tumors and I don't have time to concentrate on me.  I am still happy that my body fat is going down and I am watching what I eat but the scale is the least of my worries at this point.  Basically my surgeon has told me that I will probably lose more than their goal but long term, I will probably stay around the 189lb range on average.  Now it is up to me on whether I want to accept that or not and right now I choose not to.  My ultimate goal will be where I feel and still look healthy and can function.  You can set your goal to what you want it to be and the doctor's are going to set it to what they think it should be but ultimately it is up to you!

He's basing that on percentages. Your weight loss more than that depends on you.