Question:
Are their any heavyweights with same stats as mine get to goal...348 5'7

I was wondering if someone with my weight startin out got to goal. I am currently on a plateau. I have been blessed to loose @10 per month. I am 13 months post-op and I hope that I am not done loosing. How long does the window of opportunity stay open for us to use our tool? I have 40 more to go to get to my goal. Plus i have according to my plastic surgeon 20-25lbs excess skin. I am eating right protein first, water the whole nine. Please help, any and all comments are welcome. Thank You, Nicky 348/224-goal 160    — Nicky-28 (posted on July 21, 2004)

July 21, 2004
Nicky, were we separated at birth? LOL I am 15 months post op, 5'7", started at 332 and am currently 222. My goal is also 160. Unfortunately, this doesn't really answer your question does it? Except that I am DETERMINED to reach my goal, no matter what/how long it takes! Good luck to you - you CAN do it! Hugs, Gina
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 21, 2004
i am 2 years out i am 5' 6" i weighted 353 at surg. i am 2years out and lost 205 and lost the last 5 lbs since the 2year mark and would like to lose 6 more lbs but am happy to ecept where i am need to have plastic but the cost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   — cheryl D.

July 21, 2004
Hi Nicky, I started at almost 100 lbs more than you (442) and am only 2 inches taller (5'9) and yes it is possible to make it to goal. My goal weight was 200 and right now I hang around the low 190's for a total lost of 252 lbs. I am about 10 days short of being 18 months PO. I have had 22 lbs of skin removed through 2 plastic surgeries and also 4 liters of fat lipo'd out of my legs in prep for the leg skin removal. I don't know how much that weighed. I probably have 8-10 lbs of skin to remove on the legs yet and 2-3 on the arms if I end up getting them done. I expect I will settle out around the low 180's. It gives me a buffer to 200 which I would like to stay below long term. I was within 17 lbs of goal weight when I had my first PS (LBL) at 12-3/4 months PO. 19 lbs of skin was removed so technically I came out of PS below goal weight but it took 2 months before I saw it from the swelling/fluid etc. <p>My surgeon and I set a very realistic goal and that is why I feel I made it. According to the height/weight charts I should be 156 - not gonna happen! I have no desire to get that small. Since PS my hip bones and ribs stick out as it is. I am as boney as I care to be on the upper half also. Any excess weight I have is from the thighs down. My legs will always be heavier as I have huge bones, based on the size of my knees, from carrying 442 lbs. I have carried over 300 lbs since about age 18, I'm 43 now. So I will never have petite little knees and leg bones. They are heavy and dense. Consequently it might even be impossible to get to 156 without becoming bulimic or anorexic - which I am not interested in. I am very comfortable in the size 12 misses I can wear now. I was a 36W pants and 4X-6X top before surgery. <p>I'm sure you will make more progress but you may at some point need to accept that maybe your body is not meant to be 160. It seems like a fairly reasonable weight for a 5'7 female but sometimes our bodies know better. It also is not uncommon for the weight loss to start up again after PS. Something seems to happen in our bodies - probably the healing process. I would get to 200 and then start the PS process as it can take a while to get approval and get scheduled etc. If your PS is right about the amount of skin to remove then I would not feel uncomfortable going into PS at 190-200 lbs, but that's me. I know most feel you should get to goal and then wait like 6 months but it can work out doing it other ways also. I have no regrets doing plastics before goal weight, before plateauing and not waiting 6 months. I'm loving my body in a swimming suit this summer and not sweating and stinking from the excess hanging skin. JMO
   — zoedogcbr

July 22, 2004
I too am 13 months post-op. I am 5'5" and started at 336, have lost 157 pounds and am currently 179 -- hoping to get to 155 - only 24 pounds away and have been told I have 5 more months to do it -- that we have approximately 18 months to utilize our tool. I have only lost 6 pounds this month, which is better than the only 2 pounds I lost last month, but am determined to do it -- then have my plastics too -- Good luck on your road -- we can do it!!!! Lap RNY 6/16/03 -- 336/179/155?
   — Nannette

July 22, 2004
It is not only possible, but PROBABLE. I am just a few days past ten months post op, and I have lost a total of 138 pounds. I have 28 more to lose to reach goal. I am 5'8.5" and I started at 332 pounds. I am quite confident that I will reach goal by the end of 2004 and that I will surpass my goal by the end of my 18-month "honeymoon" period. You can do it! Best of luck to you. Hugs, ~Kristy (lap RNY - 9/18/03 - 332/194/166)
   — kristynush

July 23, 2004
Nicky ~ I am 5'8" and started at 336 (highest weight of 342), had Lap RNY on 05-02-03 (14+ months out) and, despite complications that allowed me only a 30lb loss during my first 3 months post-op, I'm now around 155 (sometimes up a few pounds, sometimes down). I don't know what that term "goal weight" is ... everyone is different and I personally don't know why surgeons use such a term, but....my surgeon's definition of success for his patients is a loss of 1/3 your weight. For me, that was 110 pounds. I was considered 'successful' when I saw him at my 9 month checkup (I had lost 120 lbs). I have now lost around 180 pounds. I do not have a 'goal' weight in mind, I'm letting my body figure it out. I eat balanced, try to get exercise every day, I drink my water, get my vitamins in, protein, etc. Do I avoid carbs? NO, but I watch what I eat and keep it balanced. Do I drink protein drinks? No, but I'm not saying that is the right thing to do, I just don't do the protein drink thing. I vowed that I would not diet again and I absolutely do not ingest sugar-free chemicals. Diets do not work for me (or else I wouldn't have been 336 lbs!) and I am going to live now. I eat well because it is good for ME and for MY body. I am 37 years old and want to have 40 more good years, not 40 more years of self-inflicted torture. Will I have a cookie or a piece of cake? Sure, sometimes. But, I will always have veggies every day and protein every day, etc. I am not in a race. I am on my own journey. It will not end until I do, so I best do what I can to make it a positive experience! Take good care of yourself. Give yourself a hug of congratulations and of love and get to know the YOU that you carry inside. I know that I am doing what is good for myself and I hope that you can say the same. If you are doing what is good for your body and for your health, then you are successful - no matter what that number is on the scale. Enjoy your journey. Jodie Lap RNy 05-02-03 336/158 today/???
   — Jodie P.