Something my surgeon said made me a little blue...

I was at the bariatric center ALL day yesterday and my DH stuck with me through the whole day, bless him.  Lots of testing, lots of good information, an overall good but exhausting day. 

I really like my surgeon (this was the 3rd time we'd met) but of course we got down to the nitty gritty yesterday.  He told me he thought I would have a great surgery and no complications but he added one caveat that has bothered me a bit.   When asked how much I want to lose, I told him 78-80 pounds.  He said he did not think I would be able to do that, that as a  "lightweight" it was statistically not likely.  He said he thought I would easily get below a 30 BMI but not much else.    

I told him I am determined to get well past that and that my "normal" weight up to age 32 was less than 110.  He was very nice and said "well then you will be ahead of the curve," but still seemed skeptical.  Was this reverse psychology, you think?  

I have not been through 2 years of all this for a 30 BMI!!!  That would certainly be an improvement but NOT the results I want.   Am I being unrealistic at age 59 to think I can get back to 110-115 pounds?  I know I have developed MANY bad habits over  the last 25 years or so and it will be hard to break many of them but I do hold hope that the ghrelin will dissipate and I will form new, healthy habits.

Kat70  

No - you're NOT being unrealistic.  I find it difficult to believe that surgeons would say things like that - mine wouldn't give me a goal.  As I lost I set my own. 

Reverse psychology?  Maybe - I would immediately want to prove him wrong!!

You'll get below 30BMi - I guarantee it.  I wanted to hit 150 lbs - I'm now 125 - I NEVER figured that would ever happen!

Although I do appreciate the skills our surgeon's have, they don't know our heart, mind, and body. We know what we can and can't do. One thing I have learned is that "impossible" and "never" no longer exists in my vocabulary. Also, as a LW, I think we are more unpredictable than others as we can achieve wonderful things in our wls journey...bmi's not thought possible, etc. 

Is it possible for you to reach YOUR goals. ABSOLUTELY!! 

Hang in there and stick to the plan. You'll achieve great results. 

I don't think he was using reverse psychology, but probably what he typically sees in his practice.  That being said, I think your goals are realistic and achieveable.

What I have seen in our local support group is that many don't hold the course.  They start out llike gang busters, and then they loose something and stop doing all the right things after a while.

I think it will TOTALLY be up to you and your determination. 

I started out with a goal of 130, I am 5'6", which is realistic, but thin for me.  At 178, I am feel/look oh so much better, I may settle at 150, (nl BMI) we'll see.  I'm just gonna keep doing what I have gotten comfortable with and see where it takes me.  Your goals may change too.  But I do believe we can pretty much achieve nl BMIs...or at least those are my thoughts.

Hang tough...you can do it.  Hope your surg date is soon so you can get started on the loosers bench.

When I met with my surgeon I was unsure about whether I wanted the VSG or DS.  So when discussing the options, he said the same thing to me.  That more than likely, I would not lost *all* my excess weight with the VSG, especially if I have some metabolic issues going on (which I do...like PCOS etc). 

It does not mean it is not possible....you can DO IT!  It just means that the average lightweight loses about down to a 30 bmi.....some more some less.  Don't be discouraged.  Work your tool!

I was like you and didn't want stats like that and decided (mostly b/c I had failed with the LapBand which is restriction only) that the more aggressive DS was for me.  Lots of people can get down to goal with VSG.  If you put your mind to it, you can do it.  Good luck!

 I just got back from my visit with the surgeon too, I weighed in at 197 today. He told me with the VSG he expects me to easily get to 120... He said he can see me being at 120 even with the lap-band this time next year, but he said this will all BE UP TO ME!  He told me to set my own goal, and try to exceed it by 1-2 lbs.  My goal weight is 140.  I felt my best at 140, anything lower than that will just be the icing on my WLS cake!!....KAT70..... YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

Thanks for all the encouragement, friends.  I really am determined to prove the exception to whatever rule this may be.  I am a little scared because I have failed so miserably in my diets over the last 25 years and I know my body will be very resistant.  But, as my DH reminded me, he never thought he'd see me stick to a workout regimen this long (2 years and counting) and my stamina has increased 4-fold in that time though the weight has stubbornly hung on.  

Thank you all for being such encouragers!

Kat70 

Living proof are the people who have lost more than what your doctor seemed to indicate. Don't let it bother you. Keep determined, I am a light weight and I am hitting for the same weight as you. We can do it together.. when I have my surgery

I don't know much about the VSG but I do know that just because he thinks it doesn't make it so.

At age 55, I had the RNY and my Surgeon told me I would probably lose around 50 pounds but I set my personal goal at 75 pounds lost. I hit that 75 at about month 7 and since then I have lost another 19 for a total of 94. 

I swear posting on the LW board gave me the knowledge and encouragement to get to a normal BMI.  I have friends who are starting to gain back their weight because they have strayed away from all of the basic rules like Protein first.  They got bored with what they were eating, got tired of taking the vitamins, and have forgotten  that this is a lifetime commitment.  It's important to be accountable to someone and I think it's important that the "someone" understands completely what we are going through.  Someone who has experienced it and lives it every day.

My Surgeon moved to Alaska right after my surgery so I can't show him what a success I have been, but you can show yours.  Prove him wrong!!!!

If you look at the stats for each surgery, they all give "average" % of weight loss of extra weight.  I don't think he was trying to be discouraging, just realistic.  The average means that so many folks lost more and so many lost less.  If you are committeed and willing to make major life changes, you shoud be able to loose whatever.
I would love to be at a normal BMI but will be happy with all the health changes that come along the way.