Question:
How did you pick your goal weight?
I have been contemplating my "goal" weight now that I am 17 months post-op. I have lost 147 lbs so far and the weight loss has slowed to around 2 lbs a month now with a 2-month plateau just ending.<p> My Dr. said I should try to lose 210 lbs. to get to the insurance charts goal weight, but I thought that was unrealisticly low. Being that I weighed 378 the day of surgery I said I would be happy to get to 199 on the scale, that way I would break 200 and I haven't weighed less than 200 in over 10-15 years. I figured losing 179 lbs would be my high goal and losing 1/2 of my surgery day weight 189 lbs would be my low goal.<p> Now I don't know what goal to shoot for now that my weight loss has slowed so drastically and I fear that I won't reach either of these goals. I am sure that I will be leveling off soon. Please don't ask if I exercise, get all my protein and water in because I do. I exercise for 45 minutes 6 days a week (aerobics and weight training), I drink 72 oz. of water a day, and get in 80 to 110 grams of protein a day on 1200 calorie a day intake. I track everything food, water, and exercise in a software program. There isn't much more I could improve on. I did make an appointment with the plastic surgeon in May to talk about having some of the excess skin removed on my stomach and back (love handles). I am sure that will result in some more weight loss. I keep reminding myself that I am not a failure. I have lost 147 lbs so far, which is 69% of my excess weight. I am now wearing an 18 compared to a tight size 32/34 pre-op. <p> I would like to know how everyone else calculated their goal weight. Maybe this would help me feel reassured because my surgeon keeps telling me that his patients always lose past the goal he sets for them. However, I had 210 lbs to lose, not the average of 100. I would appreciate any input. Thanks. — ckreh (posted on March 4, 2004)
March 3, 2004
Not all BMI charts are the same. You can look on my profile and see the
difference. I'm very short and most charts want me under 100 lb. LOL
Anyway, I looked at sever charts and came up with my goal. I would he happy
if I stopped at around 130's,that would bring me to a size 12-10, but I'm
setting my goal 120-115. That puts my BMI in a healthy range. Here is a
GREAT site that also helped in setting a REALISTIC goal.
http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm
Good Luck,Robin W
— Robin W.
March 3, 2004
Congrats on your great loss! I never set a goal weight. I set a goal size.
It's wierd - I'm the same size I was in high school but weigh almost 40
pounds more! Go figure that! I'd pick a goal size and shoot for that
since weight doesn't always mean the same from one person to the next and
charts tend to be ridiculous sometimes. Best wishes!
— ronascott
March 4, 2004
My surgeon used the weight chart that my insurance told him to use to
obtain a healthy weight. I am 5'8" and was told that 150 lbs is the
goal weight. I disagree with them, the 150 lbs is in the middle of the
healthy weight, I would like to have my goal weight at 165 lbs, that is at
the top of the healthy weight chart and then I will be needing
reconstructive surgery, a breast reduction, arms, thighs and a tummy tuck,
and that will remove the 15 lbs they want. I also am 52 years old, and
they do not even put factors like that I would not be having as active
lifestyle as a person in there 30's. Bottom line, I think we can use a
chart as a guide, but I think we need to add in our personal factors and
make a guess.
— cindy
March 4, 2004
Kristin, first congrats on the great weight loss! You are soooo not a
failure, girl. My goodness, quite the opposite. I also want to give you a
hearty pat on the back for your dedication to doing everything
right-exercise, protein, water. Your a great example of dedication for the
rest of us. The only thing I would consider changing, and don't laugh, is
to add some calories. If your loss has stopped or even slowed
considerably, it may be that your body had decided that you are trying to
starve it and to try to hoard the calories left. With your work out
schedule, you can well afford to take it a few hundred more a day. Give it
a try for a few weeks and see if you notice a difference.
As for a goal weight, I agree with the poster who went for a goal size.
The insurance charts are ridiculous and I even disagree with the BMI
charts. I think age should be taken in consideration and the amount of
calories you can comfortably live with on maintenance. Losing the weight
is not as difficult as maintaining it. We are all veterans of losing
hundreds of pounds many times over, but when have we ever kept it off?
That is the key. So choose a reasonable goal weight or size that you can
live with as a long term post-op. The lower you go, the less calories you
can consume to maintain or the more exercise needed to burn the calories
taken in. I chose a size 10-12. I could have gone down to a size 8, but
honestly, I would never have been able to maintain that, and even at a
10-12, I have occasions where I gain a few and have to cut back. Your an
18 now, try for an interim goal of 14, and if your happy there, stay there,
if not, go for 12 etc, etc...
— Cindy R.
March 4, 2004
My goal weight kept changing. Was 199 then 170 then 140, 135. I added
them up and divided by 4, and got my goal weight of 160.
— mrsmyranow
March 4, 2004
This is a hard one, huh? I also had a goal size, not weight. My surgeon
set my weight goal at the top limit of a normal BMI. The top limit takes
into account the extra skin and heavy bones/muscles of the formerly MO.
Oddly enough, at his weight goal, I was at my size goal too. That being
said, my first and primary goal was to get rid of my comorbs and get
healthy. Once I reached that, everything else was gravy! Congratulations
to you for doing such a great job on living a healthy lifestyle. You're
already a great success!!
— mom2jtx3
March 4, 2004
I will tell you how I came up with my goal weight of 140. My doctor's goal
based on the charts is 120 for my 5'4" frame. I am African American
and wanted to still have curves. I just added 20 pounds to arrive at my
goal number. 140 is my goal but I am thinking anything 160 or below would
be amazing.
Good luck to you on your continued success.
Ann in TX
— Ann B.
March 4, 2004
my doc set mine at 150. He said because of my age (56) he didn't think I
would look good any lower and i told him I had still been fat at that
weight before and would like to get to 140. He said okay but it is
doubtful. i am 5'1' or 5'2". I like the latter, so my ins. chart
weight is 122. Right now i weigh 128 and feel I am at a good weight.
— Delores S.
March 4, 2004
My doctor never set a goal. She said most people loose about 70% of their
excess, which would have been a wt of about 170, which sounded much too
high. Once I had weighed 138, so I picked that. At 138 I was still
loosing so I decided that 120 sounded good. At 18 months p/o I hover
between 117-120. I think a good goal is wherever you end up, that seems to
be where your body wants to be. If you can easily maintain at that weight
it is a good goal.
— Penny D.
March 4, 2004
Hi.
This is how my PCP taught me to calculate my "goal weight".
First, start out with 100 lbs. for being 5' tall. Then, add 5 lbs. for
every inch over 5'. In my case, I am 5'6", so I have 100 lbs. + 30
lbs. = 130. Then add approximately 13 lbs. for tissue, bone, organs etc.
from being overweight for so long. That puts my goal weight @ 143. I am
currently weighing in at 141, so I am "under goal". :-)
Anything else I lose is just gravy.
Hope this helps. ;-)
— PJ M.
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