VSG Maintenance Group
Hi, new here...
Hi all. I find it hard to believe I'm actually posting on the maintenance board, but here I am :)
I had surgery on September 15th of last year, and hit my first goal of 155 a couple months or so ago. And set a new goal of 145, and now I'm approaching that.
Im having a hard time knowing if that's where I should be? If I need to lose more, if what I see in the mirror is just messed up body image, just the results of thewrath of loosing 134lbs relatively quickly, or if I still need to lose more?
It really messes with my head when people make the "don't lose anymore, you don't want to look sick" comments. Makes me feel like I can't see what they're seeing? I even got a comment about my "Madonna arms" the other day. Referring I guess to the fact that my arms are kind of bony.
So how do you make that decision? I've never been this weight in my adult life. There's a big part of me that says 10 more lbs, but that's also the part that said that at 155 and 165. I don't want lose the momentum and I do want a bit of a buffer for any rebound as I try to transition into Maintenance.
Im 5'7" btw and started at 280. I still feel fat in my stomach and my butt. Granted attached to a lot of lose skin, but still fat. 130-135 wouldn't be ridiculous right?
I had surgery on September 15th of last year, and hit my first goal of 155 a couple months or so ago. And set a new goal of 145, and now I'm approaching that.
Im having a hard time knowing if that's where I should be? If I need to lose more, if what I see in the mirror is just messed up body image, just the results of thewrath of loosing 134lbs relatively quickly, or if I still need to lose more?
It really messes with my head when people make the "don't lose anymore, you don't want to look sick" comments. Makes me feel like I can't see what they're seeing? I even got a comment about my "Madonna arms" the other day. Referring I guess to the fact that my arms are kind of bony.
So how do you make that decision? I've never been this weight in my adult life. There's a big part of me that says 10 more lbs, but that's also the part that said that at 155 and 165. I don't want lose the momentum and I do want a bit of a buffer for any rebound as I try to transition into Maintenance.
Im 5'7" btw and started at 280. I still feel fat in my stomach and my butt. Granted attached to a lot of lose skin, but still fat. 130-135 wouldn't be ridiculous right?
Welcome!
I find I see myself better in pictures than in the mirror. Have someone take some good pictures of you. Is the "fat" in your stomach and butt actually fat? The stuff that is attached to the loose skin isn't really going to go away.
130-135 might be fine at 5'7" if you have a light bone structure, but might be too low if you have a large bone structure. Pictures will help, I think.
Highest weight: 335 lbs, BMI 50.9
Pre-op weight: 319 lbs, BMI 48.5
Current range: 140-144, BMI 21.3 - 22
175+ lbs lost, maintaining since February 2012
Hey Britiajon!
You & I have the same stats, I'm 5'7"- started at 280 (all time high 300+), and aimed for 155 then 145 and hit that one.. I even have been going through the same internal battle of when to stop, same comments... 155 was the lowest I ever was as an adult, so I too am in new territory..
I have a med/small frame per wrist and elbow joint measurements (couldn't get a good measurement till I lost the fat though).. I thought I was a large frame- but nope. Something I did do recently, when I got to 145 was get into a facility and get my body composition tested.. I had a BodPod, and posted about the results on this board a few weeks back. I weighed 147 that day, and my bodyfat measured at nearly 28%. For the first time, I feel like I can achieve some really far-reaching (for me) fitness goals, so I reset my goal for under 25% bodyfat (dream range is low 20's) and have been plugging away at that goal now, while building some muscle with weightlifting. The nice thing is- without the fat covering the muscles, I can see the results starting after just three weeks.. and it will help the Madonna arms a bit- though now they just look boney and muscled (and wrinkly as all get-out!)
Getting your body composition tested is a great idea, it will really help dial in things for you health wise.. I get the fat-belly feeling too- and that is where my excess is, but just in the last few weeks between losing some weight and gaining some muscle, it's shrunk noticeably.. more skin, but less fat in it. The skin def plays tricks though, so having a concrete number helps.. some of us started with more or less muscle, so going just by weight is hard.. plus, I know I don't see myself as others do. My self-image is bigger than reality.
You & I have the same stats, I'm 5'7"- started at 280 (all time high 300+), and aimed for 155 then 145 and hit that one.. I even have been going through the same internal battle of when to stop, same comments... 155 was the lowest I ever was as an adult, so I too am in new territory..
I have a med/small frame per wrist and elbow joint measurements (couldn't get a good measurement till I lost the fat though).. I thought I was a large frame- but nope. Something I did do recently, when I got to 145 was get into a facility and get my body composition tested.. I had a BodPod, and posted about the results on this board a few weeks back. I weighed 147 that day, and my bodyfat measured at nearly 28%. For the first time, I feel like I can achieve some really far-reaching (for me) fitness goals, so I reset my goal for under 25% bodyfat (dream range is low 20's) and have been plugging away at that goal now, while building some muscle with weightlifting. The nice thing is- without the fat covering the muscles, I can see the results starting after just three weeks.. and it will help the Madonna arms a bit- though now they just look boney and muscled (and wrinkly as all get-out!)
Getting your body composition tested is a great idea, it will really help dial in things for you health wise.. I get the fat-belly feeling too- and that is where my excess is, but just in the last few weeks between losing some weight and gaining some muscle, it's shrunk noticeably.. more skin, but less fat in it. The skin def plays tricks though, so having a concrete number helps.. some of us started with more or less muscle, so going just by weight is hard.. plus, I know I don't see myself as others do. My self-image is bigger than reality.
welcome to maintenance and take a moment to bask in your achievement. life is good at normal weight.
most people *****ach goal go through a phase of confusion about whats the right weight, are they too thin or thin enough and so forth. so take it a day at a time, lose a little more if you like (believe me its easy to put it back on) and get to where you feel good. don't let others tell you that you are too thin (except your doctor) because they are not the expert. you will probably drop a few more as you find your calorie level to maintain on. keep tracking food and keep your protein up as you transition.
i ended up about 15 pounds below what doctor said but he says this weight is fine too and l like being on the thinner side. may not last but its good for now. you will find where you feel best so put your energy into figuring out how many calories you need to maintain. enjoy your life as a slim person!!!! diane
most people *****ach goal go through a phase of confusion about whats the right weight, are they too thin or thin enough and so forth. so take it a day at a time, lose a little more if you like (believe me its easy to put it back on) and get to where you feel good. don't let others tell you that you are too thin (except your doctor) because they are not the expert. you will probably drop a few more as you find your calorie level to maintain on. keep tracking food and keep your protein up as you transition.
i ended up about 15 pounds below what doctor said but he says this weight is fine too and l like being on the thinner side. may not last but its good for now. you will find where you feel best so put your energy into figuring out how many calories you need to maintain. enjoy your life as a slim person!!!! diane
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Thanks for the feedback. Pictures don't work because I hate how I look in them. I actually have a phobia with pictures. I HATE them. I have to work myself up to having one taken. I am not at all photogenic lol.
The body fat thing makes sense. I haven't been able to do much in the way of exercise other then walking, because of a very large hernia that I'm waiting to have fixed, I'm on the waiting list but who knows how long that will take. I'm sure tightening things up will help actually see what the final me will look like.
I think I will go for another 10 lbs or so and see what I feel like then. :)
The body fat thing makes sense. I haven't been able to do much in the way of exercise other then walking, because of a very large hernia that I'm waiting to have fixed, I'm on the waiting list but who knows how long that will take. I'm sure tightening things up will help actually see what the final me will look like.
I think I will go for another 10 lbs or so and see what I feel like then. :)
