Question:
If you were heavy all your life, are you less likely to reach goal?

I know two people who were normal weight as young adults, then gained a lot of weight over the years and now are back to being small after weight loss surgery. Now, I have been heavy all my life - starting as a child, and having one heck of a time losing anything past 60 lbs, which is about 40 lbs from my goal. Post ops: if you were heavy all your life, did you finally make it to a goal weight, or did your weight loss stop before you got to where you wanted to be? How long did it take to get there? If you were relatively normal weight during your early adulthood, did you get to your goal weight, and how long did it take? (Sort of a very unscientific poll here. My theory is that is that the longer you were heavy, the longer it takes to reach a goal weight, if it ever occurs, even if you were a light weight to begin with.)    — koogy (posted on September 30, 2003)

September 30, 2003
I've been overweight since I was 6 years old except for about 10 minutes in my senior year of high school. I was a chubby child, a pudgy teen, a chunky college student, and it just went on up from there. I started over 300 pounds, and never reached my "dream" number, but others consider me slim now as I'm in a size 8 at 5'7". It was a struggle though, and I still battle food addiction everyday, but it's possible now, and worth it!!
   — mom2jtx3

September 30, 2003
A doctor put me on my first diet when I was 6 so yes I've been fat my whole life. I'm 11 months out and 11 pounds from gaol. It can be done. ~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 115+ and counting
   — Siddy I.

September 30, 2003
Very good question. One, that I wish would be more scientifically measured. I would imagine that it does make a difference. To never have known real physical fitness, and to try to achieve it with the little guidance that we are given as post ops is a nightmare to me. I was a chubby child, a fat teen, and an obese adult...and now...I am trying to grapple with what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. However, all the old impulses to over eat and eat badly are pounding me with full force, and I truly have to white knuckle it to make it through the day. Many days I fail...I have already gained 15 lbs....and I'm so afraid that I'm going to let all that I've accomplished unravel. I have never learned what it means to be thin, and the quick crash course we get during our rapid weightloss isn't enough for me. Pure anger has kept me from gaining anymore, but I don't know how much longer before I resign to the "old me". -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 282/145/125
   — KimBo36

September 30, 2003
I truly believe you can reach your goal weight if it is something reasonable. Not many people will likely get their weight in the range of the Met Life height.weight charts. You can get there but it will take a lot of diligence and probably some dieting for the last 20 lbs. For me I set a very realistic goal weight. I am not to goal yet but I have no doubt I will get there, no matter how long it takes. I started at 442 am down to 268 in less than 8 months and have a goal weight of 200 lbs. I am 5'9 and both my surgeon and I feel I can carry that weight really well. He even said I could get into the 180's but it would take a lot of effort on my part. If I ever get there fine, but it's not a priority for me. Technically I should get down to about 153 as I'm a medium frame. It ain't gonna happen as I would not feel comfortable at that size. I'm wearing 20's more and more in pants and 1X or 16-18 in tops, so 68 more lbs and PS will likely put me in the 12 range for pants which is just fine with me. I started gaining weight at about age 8. At age 11 I weighed 197 and age 15-238. Age 42-442 lbs. I did lose about 200 lbs when I was 33-34 but gained it all back. Set some smaller goals along the way. Set goals that relate to health and things you can do instead of weight. That really should be your guideline as to when you've reached the weight you should stay at. I personally think the more a person becomes obsessed about reaching a particular number on a scale the harder it can be to get there, whereas if it a list of things you want to be able to do and once you have accomplished it you know you have arrived. This will play a lot better on your head also. Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr

September 30, 2003
I don't know about this. I was first overweight at age 2/3 then, grew and gained until I was about 12/13, staying overweight the majority of the time. By the time I was in high school (15/16) I finally slimmed out some and got back down to 150-160 pounds....but, that was by working out for 1-2 hours a day! From the day I set foot on the college campus (16/17) I started to gain weight and don't think I've stopped much since! Of course, having three kids in three years doesn't help much either. Anyway, so far, I have found that my weight seems to be coming off fairly steadily. I am now 8 months post-op and down 116 pounds with 11 pounds to go until I reach my 'normal' weight of 147. So, who knows....it will be interesting to see what the 'consensus' is though.
   — eaamc

September 30, 2003
I agree with the poster that said anyone should be able to reach their goal if their goal is realistic to begin with. I think those who are heavy all their life do not have a realistic expectation of what their goal weight should be (with bones that weigh heavierfrom being heavy all their lives) and if they don't reach that ridiculous insurance table weight goal, they think they are failures. And if they struggle to get down there and somehow make it, they then turn around and gain back 15 or so, and get scared they can't stay a size 6 or 8. Well, hello, perhaps your body is not meant to be a size 6 and a size 10 is more realistic for your age, frame and what amount of food you want to eat (less calories to maintain a lower weight...ya get to eat more to maintain a higher weight!!) Sigh..don't get me started. Anyways, I was normal sized most of my life, gained weight steadily (gained and lost and gained more)in my 30's and 40's . I am 2 pounds from my realistic size 10 goal and so far maintaining nicely. Now if I tried for that size 6, I'd be miserable and starving!
   — Cindy R.

September 30, 2003
i love this question as it has also been on my mind. i am 20 months post op and have lost 85 lbs with 20-40 more to go. i was heavy since age 6 and i have noticed that alot of the wls people i have met that got to goal were not obese as long as me. i get very frustrated because i really thought i would get at least to a size 12 and lose 100 lbs.in the first yr. preop my goal was to lose one pound and keep it off. i was told that i would lose easily and get to 150 with no problems.didnt happen. but i got spoiled by the honeymoon period and when my window shut, i was devastated.. by scientific studies, my surgery is successful cause i have lost at least 75% of my excess wt, granted, i dont exercise or limit my carbs and i have stayed at this weight for a long time now. i am healthy but not happy. i thought i would get to goal quickly and effortlessly but wouldnt have to worry about keeping the wt. off until i hit goal. totally unrealistic expectations on my part and of course very lazy of me not to work with my tool. anyway, i wish there was a study that compared long term obesity vs short term or later in life obesity in wls success. patsy in las vegas
   — PATSY N.

September 30, 2003
I have been heavy since the age of 5. I did have a couple of short periods where I lost weight (for about a year) and then put it back on with another 50 pounds attached. I'm 5'2 and I now weigh 125 pounds. I had NO problem getting down to this weight by watching my calories and exercising.
   — Patty H.