Question:
Seeking Those 5'4".. How Did You Set Your Goal Weight?

My weight right now is 269lbs. and I am 5'4" what is a realistic goal weight for me. How much can I look to lose with help of surgery? I was just wondering if anyone else is post-op and started about the same as me. Thankyou...    — Lynne W. (posted on March 20, 2003)

March 20, 2003
Go to the browser for this site and click on FOR YOU. That will let you figure your bmi and another click will tell you what you should weigh and how much you can expect to lose. But, I think most docs use the metropolitian height and weight charts. I am 5"1' and my weight should be 105 but i dont think I will get that. my doc has set 132 for me. i will be lucky to hit 150 I think.
   — Delores S.

March 20, 2003
Lynne, its based on alot of thinks, what your doctor thinks, what you feel comfortable at and past experience. I am 5'5 and 32 yrs old. I started out at 305 on my day of surgery (8/15). I was 305 day of surgery and am 205 now, down 100lbs. I was 150 in high school and thats where I like myself best. Accoridng to the Met Life tables and the weight planner on this site, I should be 132. I was 135 in high school, and YUCK, too skinny. For me, its more about a SIZE than a wieght! Good Luck to you!
   — heathercross

March 20, 2003
Hi, First I would like to say goodluck with your future, you will do just fine. I was 249 the morning of surgery , my surgery was in 2001 and I have been a steady 143, I am working towards 135 but you what I am very, very happy with what I have already done, I feel great!!!!!!
   — Rho

March 20, 2003
I set mine by figuring out what 70% of my excess weight was. THat is the amount that my surgeon expected me to lose. Now, i have lost 80% of my excess weight, so I have surpassed my goal. But, I wanted to start out with an attainable goal...
   — Vicki L.

March 20, 2003
I'm also 5'4". Average weight for someone our height is 133ish. You can expect to lose about 70% of your EXCESS weight. Your excess weight is about 136 pounds. 70% of that is about 96 pounds so your expected/realistic weight COULD BE 173. If your looking at BMI, a 24.9 BMI would be 145 pounds, which is JUST in the normal range. Basically, its up to you and your doctor to set a goal weight. MY doctor gave me a goal weight of 155 (started at 255), a 100 pound loss. I'm at about 135 now.
   — Lucky Gal U.

March 20, 2003
I am also 5'4. I went into surgery at 304, now I am 258. My end goal is 130, although the surgeon would like to see me at 125 because I am small framed.
   — SarahC

March 20, 2003
I was 5'4" and 427 pounds at the time of my surgery. The surgeon never really set a goal weight for me - just said that losing 30% of my original body weight (i.e. 129 pounds for me based on my original weight) would make me a "success" as far as HUP's bariatric program was concerned. I set my own goal at 213 pounds - if I reach it, I will be 1 pound over 50% loss of my original body weight. At this point, as of my last weigh-in, I am at 270 pounds. This is a loss of 157 pounds in 8 months and puts me at 57 pounds away from my goal...JR
   — John Rushton

March 20, 2003
I'm 5'3 or 5'3 1/2. I set my goal to be at the mid normal bmi range (129 and a size 30 jeans). I'm 22.5 months out and could only lose 160 pounds. I got to about 160 pounds (84% of excess weight). My weight fluxuates from 162-168. So I have'nt been able to lose to goal (30+ pounds away) and 4 inches from jean goal. I envy these people who actually get underweight. Yeah, probally it would be more reasonable to set goal at 75% instead of 100%. But I've always been an all or nothing personality. So I feel like a failure.
   — Danmark

March 20, 2003
I'm about 5"4 1/2 and my starting weight was 319. I'm now 2 years post op and sitting on the scale around 178, but my goal is to get to 160 before the end of the summer...i've been fighting the same 5-8 pounds for 6 months...going back and forth between them...can you get 100%of your excess off, probably, but you're going to have to bust your behind more than you'll ever realize...and even then it might not happen...i'd guess you could lose about 70-75% but your goal is between you and your Dr. Just my .02
   — Amber1981

March 20, 2003
I am 5'4" had surgery on 10-16-02. Started at 320, I have lost 115 in just about 5 months!!! I hope to get to 140.
   — Patricia F.

March 20, 2003
What is a realistic weight for you may not be what the weight tables say. I am 5'3 and weight 153. I'm in a size 10-12 and don't plan on losing more than another 10 pounds, if that. I'm sure the tables say I should be around 130 or so, but frankly, I would look sick at that weight. The lowest I ever weighed was about 135 and a size 8 and I looked so sick that everyone urged me to gain weight. So, for some, they can go down to a size 6 or lower and look and feel OK, and for others, it wouldn't work. So, you can set a goal per the insurance tables, or by your BMI, but when you get to a size you feel comfortable with, thats probably where you should stop.
   — Cindy R.

March 20, 2003
Hi. I am 5'3 1/2". My surgery date weight in Oct 2001 was 287. I had weighed 340 at one point in my life. I have stalled in the 140s, anything from 141 to 148. I wear a size 8.
   — Julie S.

March 20, 2003
Hi...I'm just about 5'4, was 259 the morning of surgery, and now (4.5 months later) am holding steady at 200. My goal is 145, but my doctor doesn't think thats realistic without plastic surgery...I'm not losing much in my chest. He says if I get to 160 or so I can consider plastics. We are all different...good luck!
   — Tamara K.

March 21, 2003
I am 5' 4" and started at 297 (open RNY 5/30/02). I am down to 157 now, and wear a size 8 or 10. I really didn't know what to set as a final goal, but my tentative goal is 145, which would make me not "obese" anymore. I am really more concerned with how I look and feel, and what size I can wear, than an actual weight. I would like to wear a 6 which I think is a reasonable goal considering I am not even one year out yet, but honestly, this has gone so far beyond what I could have hoped already! I thought at first if I got down to a 14 and could shop in the Misses dept. I would be happy and consider it a success, so everything from here on out is gravy!
   — Sheryl S.

March 21, 2003
I am 5'4 & I started at 263.... I am now 3 months out & I'm down to 214. My doctor said that my goal is 150 BUT I would love to see 140. I think everyone's goal is alittle different. Me personally I can't imagine being under 175! So whatever I end up at... 175, 150 or 140 ... I will be oh so happy! Good Luck!
   — Beth G.

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