Question:
How can I find out what my goal weight should be. The nurse says 130 lbs.

My surgeon says this is not realistic. Is there a good chart to help me out? Thanks. RNY 3/18 255/170    — Stacey F. (posted on October 21, 2003)

October 21, 2003
www.thinnerself.com
   — Happy I.

October 21, 2003
Stacy, that might be realistic, but, that is based on the Met Life tables which guide weight for actuaries. Keep in mind, as much as we keep our eye on the prixe (ie weight or size), the main point of this surgery is to GET ONE ACTIVE. Also, the sad truth to the surgery that dtrs barely ever talk about is that only 10-15% actually hit GOAL weight. When I say Goal weight, goal weight is per the Met life Tables. We talked about this a bunch in support group last week. You should aim to get healthy and get your BMI betwwen 20-25. Good Luck, Heather Open RNY 8-15-02 305/183/150
   — heathercross

October 21, 2003
Try this as well as it allows you to put in your body frame, ie: small, medium or large. I think it gives you a much better weight range as it allows you to include this info. http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm Linn
   — Linn R.

October 21, 2003
<b>(I found this on a site) Table 1. Healthy Weight Range for Men and Women Height Without shoes Weight Range Without clothes 4 Feet 10 inches 91-119 pounds 4 Feet 11 inches 94-124 pounds 5 Feet 97-128 pounds 5 Feet 1 inch 100-132 pounds 5 Feet 2 inches 104-136 pounds 5 Feet 3 inches 107-141 pounds 5 Feet 4 inches 110-145 pounds 5 Feet 5 inches 114-150 pounds 5 Feet 6 inches 118-155 pounds 5 Feet 7 inches 121-159 pounds 5 Feet 8 inches 125-164 pounds 5 Feet 9 inches 128-169 pounds 5 Feet 10 inches 132-174 pounds 5 Feet 11 inches 136-179 pounds 6 Feet 140-184 pounds 6 Feet 1 inch 144-189 pounds 6 Feet 2 inches 148-194 pounds 6 Feet 3 inches 152-200 pounds 6 Feet 4 inches 156-205 pounds Source: Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisor</b>
   — Naes Wls J.

October 21, 2003
Like almost everything else having to do with WLS, goal weight is an individual thing. What is a reasonable end result varies depending on starting weight, how long you've been MO, age, lifestyle, ability to and amount of exercise, etc., etc. Often, people go by the Met Life charts, but that's not realistic for many people (WLS or not). People who have larger bones, more muscle, are older, etc. won't fit those tables. Remember that WLS is considered successful if you can maintain a weight loss of about 60% of your excess weight, not whether or not you hit the Met Life chart number. The real goal of this surgery is to get healthy. Anything beyond improved health status is a plus. If you're really concerned about a goal weight, talk to your surgeon. He will have a more realistic notion based on your personal stats. But, at 170, I'd say you're doing beautifully. Keep it up!
   — Vespa R.

October 21, 2003
If you have been a healthy weight in the past, then it is easier to determine a final goal. If not, it is difficult to do so. The Met Life tables are so unrealistic, not even funny. I aimed more for a size than a weight. I reached that size just a few pounds more than the weight goal I had mentally set for myself. Of course, my surgeon had me down for 15 pounds less using the met tables. I simply told him, no thank you.Whatever your goal, make it realistic. Not everyone will reach a size 6 and not everyone should even try. Don't set yourself up for failure.
   — Cindy R.

October 21, 2003
My surgeon said to take the chart weight for my height, 5'2", and add 10 lds for my age, 54, and another 15 for the amount of excess skin on my frame. This makes my realistic goal weight 150.
   — Tawnda C.

October 22, 2003
Set a goal size. You will not be obsessing over your weight that way. When I went in for my pre-op tests I was told because my start weight was 265 (5'7") I would end up about a size 7. This was the nurse telling me this. My surgeon said to expect to be about 165 when all was said and done. Now two years later, I wear a size 6 and weigh 130 lbs. I hit 165 7 months post op. My goal was a size 10. Sadly, I never wore a size 10. I let my 12's get too big and went directly to an 8. :( You can look at every chart in the book, and go off of everyones experiences here and stress out over it till you pull whats left of your hair out. Or you can just take it as is comes and enjoy every pound you do lose. A goal weight is what you would like to have, not a weight that someone tells you that you should be. :)
   — RebeccaP