Question:
what do I really weigh????? wearing sz 6-8 . How much weight for extra skin?

Are we supposed to deduct for the extra skin that we now have for instance if scale says 149 HOW MCUH DO I REALLY WEIGH???    — ezbnmeroe (posted on October 23, 2006)

October 23, 2006
I would say deduct 15 -20 pounds depending on how much skin you have. I know I weigh 170 and am I size 10-12. So without the skin I would probably weigh like 150 or so. Jeannie
   — jjeanniespets1

October 23, 2006
what??? Are you serious??? That is amazing..everyone is telling me not to lose anymore but I want to weight 135-140..THANKS A MILLION FOR RESPONDING.
   — ezbnmeroe

October 23, 2006
Congratulations on a fantastic weight loss! I hope to get down to your weight, but still have a few pounds to go. Don't give in to the tyranny of the scale! Never mind how much you weigh, worry more about how you feel. The only thing you should use the scale for is checking that your weight is not going up (or too far down, gee, what a problem!) Size six is an awesome achievement, rejoice in that! How much the skin weighs is a function of how much you have flopping around, which is related to how much weight you lost. I guess the only way you'll know for sure is when the surgeon weighs it! Good luck! -- Mary
   — mwilson523

October 23, 2006
Keep in mind that depending on how long you were overweight you probably have heavy dense bones and muscles from carrying all that weight. I know I do - I weigh more than I look. Weight bearing builds bone mass - so I know that I'm able to weigh more and not be "overweight". I agree, don't be a slave to the scale. Go by how you feel and how big around you are and your body fat %. The scale may truly be lying to you now!
   — Lori J.

October 24, 2006
I think that 15-20 lbs is an excessive estimate for most wls patients. Most I know who started out with 125-150 to lose who have had PS have usually had 8-10 lbs taken off. More extreme cases see 15-20, but usually they end up having lost 200 lbs or so. It also depends if you carried all your weight in one section, say the belly, as opposed to all over. Looking at your profile, I would consider the lower end of that. But the other poster stating about the bone density - I have heard that before and think it sounds logical, although I haven't seen any scientific studies or papers on it. Seems to make sense. But the most important thing has been stated over and over - how do you feel and how do you feel you look? That is the biggest measure of your success!
   — Dinka Doo

October 24, 2006
First- does it really matter what the "actual" number on the scale would be absent the redundant skin? Secondly- even after losing over 300 pounds and needing reconstructive upper thigh work (after varicose vein surgery) and a panniculectomy (performed after two hernias were repaired), I only had removed less than 6 pounds of "excess skin".
   — SteveColarossi

October 26, 2006
Skin LOOKS like it's heavy and weighs a lot (and it sure does FEEL heavy too! Weighing down my lower belly!) But, the sad truth is that excess skin doesn't weigh all that much. It's more matter than it is mass. I know of at least 8 people who lost anywhere from 100-250 pounds after their WLS, and went to have major plastic surgery on loose skin. The average weight of their excess skin that was taken off, ranged from 6-12 pounds. The thing is, though it may not WEIGH a lot, (you won't lose lots of weight from Plastic Surgery) You WILL lose a few dress sizes! (I know of people who had *only* 8 pounds taken off, yet went down 4 dress sizes!)
   — AmandaLeigh =)