Realistic Goal?

I met with the NUT today and we discussed my goals. She said I have 94 lbs of excess weight. So I should expect to lose between 47.5 lbs (50%) to 75 lbs (80 %). It didn't seem that losing 100% was doable!!

If I try and aim for the 80% is that a realistic goal? I am 5'1 and weigh 220 now - so my goal would be 145.

Thanks
Jen

Jen,

There are a number of shorter women on here who have lost more than 100 pounds. They sit at around 120 and have had many types of surgeries. I can't speak to it because I'm much taller. But, setting an ambitious goal is a good thing in my opinion. The challenge is good. The key to remember is that regardless of what you lose you are better and healthier than before.
 

There is a time to listen to your NUT and doc, and a time to listen to people who have lived it.

Good Luck

Lauren

Honestly, unless you have some sort of condition that would prevent you from exercising or a severely damaged metabolism, I think 80-100% is completely possible.

I am 5'1" and was 225 at my highest weight and I'm 121 as of this morning. That means that technically I lost more than 100% of my excess weight since they count it from a BMI of 24.9 (or some programs use 24) and mine is 23.

I think that's not that unusual for a lightweight. It's a lot harder for the SMO who have been obese a lot longer and have a lot more to lose. Statistically they don't tend to do as well as we do.

That's great to hear! I couldn't imagine losing 100 lbs ....that would just blow my mind lol

I know they don't want you to be upset if you don't get  to 100% but I think you can unless there is a medical reason.  I am 4'11" and was 220 at weigh in.  I got to 111 and have settled at 124.  If you follow the rules and keep on keeping on, you will be surprised how low you can go.  My first goal was 140, which I breezed by, then 124, normal BMI, but just kept on.  I have ended up at 124 but am glad I went lower because bounce back is real. 

Thanks everyone - I realize everyone is different and I am certainly looking forward to my own journey!

Jen, those are AVERAGES...and include severely morbidly obese in the figures. Lightweights are far more likely to lose 90 -100+% of their excess weight.

Actually at 5'1", normal BMI of 25 is 132. the 145 is a good initial goal but go as far beyond that as possible. I got as low as 121 for about 10 mins...and then headed back up. I am SLOWLY getting some of it back off...got back up to 147 which at my CURRENT height is considered overweight. But this time is MUCH harder, doable but harder.

Jen - I'm 5'3" and hit my goal of 125... yes, my initial goal was 150, and I breezed by it... then set 5 pound increment goals for myself until I settled where I and the surgeon agreed (just happened that way!).  I have "bounced back" up to 135, but am working on getting 5 more pounds off.  I'm pretty happy sitting at 130. 

So yes, 80-100% is a very realistic goal!  You can do it!!  Just let your body decide where to stop.  Many folks get feedback they are "getting too skinny", "look gaunt", etc.  But it redistributes, you will have a little bounce back and in the end it all works out. 

Congrats on your upcoming surgery!

 

 

I am 4'11 and started out at 210. I had to lose 10 percent of my weight to qualify for surgery. I lost that plus even more because I was on a mission to get the weight off. At the time of surgery, I was on the cusp, bmi wise. I went through with surgery, because I could never maintain weight loss. Not only did I surpass my surgeon's goal of 130-140, but I ended up at 109-110, because that is the weight that my pcp recommended. Today, I weighed 103.2. I had about a 4 pound weight gain late last year, so I have lost that plus more due to clean eating, weight training, and regular exercise.

you are a lightweight, so I believe that you can reach a normal bmi. I would encourage you to start a regular exercise program NOW and get some weight off. This will help you to lose enough to get to a normal bmi.

 

 

That's a good idea about starting an exercise program NOW, while I am waiting