Question:
Is my goal weight reachable?

I'm still a pre-op, having surgery one month from today. Horray! I have recently decided on a goal weight of 143 lbs, which we be right in the middle of my healthy bmi range. I am 5'8". I am wondering how many people have reached their goals and how many have had to settle with not reaching goal. I feel like my goal is not reachable. I am starting at 312 as of today. I'm hoping to reach 300 by the time surgery rolls around if at all possible. So, I guess my question is this: Is it realistic to belive that I will be able to lose a total of 169 pounds which would be over 54% of my current body weight? If so, how can I use my tool to the fullest to ensure maximum weight loss?    — kristynush (posted on August 18, 2003)

August 18, 2003
Kristy, yes it is very possible. I had surgery on Apr 29th 2003 and as of today 8-18-03 am 130 pounds down from the 468 pounds I started at. My goal is 225 pounds so I am better then half way there in just 15 weeks.Don't ever give up the fight and stay determined..... Good luck.... Phil.S
   — Philip S.

August 18, 2003
I'm only 5 weeks post op so can't fully answer your question. I will tell you that this is an incredible journey. For me just getting all these liquids and the right foods (soft/pureed, etc.) and all the right medications is a full time job. And you sleep a lot. I think you might be taking the cart before the horse here. I'm very impatient too, but you just need to take one step at a time, doing the right things as you go. The big losers, who get to their goal, are those who exercise and follow a low cal food plan. You just have to decide if you want to be one of those or one who's just happy with a 65% weight loss (average amt).
   — Margaret G.

August 18, 2003
My friend had surgery in October of 2002. She was 5'8" and around 320 lbs. Right she weighs 140 lbs. YES....YOU CAN GET THERE!!!
   — S A.

August 18, 2003
Yes, it's possible, but it may involve some decisions on your part about how hard to work your tool and your body. I started out at 5'7 1/2", 268, and lost 12 pounds before the surgery. I aimed for 147 lbs. as my goal weight only after it dawned on me (at around 180 pounds) that I could probably surpass the 160 pound original goal weight I had set. I reached and passed 147 and am now somewhere between 125 and 130 (still not stabilized), at 14 months out.<P>From month three post-op until month 12 (which was three months after I reached my original goal), I wrote down **everything** I ate on fitday.com. That way, I never grazed or failed with my protein without KNOWING that I had (and of course, there were times when I did fail, but there wasn't a day I could fool myself about it). I recommend doing that, to truly help retrain your eating habits from the beginning.<P>I also started going to the gym at about three weeks post-op (when I was cleared by the doctor), starting slowly. Over many months, I hit the gym 4-5x a week, regularly, increasing my level of exertion and type of exercise. Eventually I became a runner and a weightlifter. Running was something I never did before.<P>Because I know exactly what I eat now (even when it's junk), and there's no foolin', and because I keep up with my exercise (just 3x a week or so now), I reached and passed the 140s. (Didn't particularly want to weigh less, but I do anyway.)<P>I also use protein shakes every day (at least two), and have done so since I was a relatively fresh post-op. They remind me to keep protein intake my goal (and nutrition), so that I don't fall into the simple act of calorie-counting, which always, ALWAYS, failed me on previous diets.<P>Try to figure out what you will do differently in terms of food and exercise THIS time, and you will have taken your very best shot at getting where you want to be. With a little luck, too, you'll get there. ;-) GOOD LUCK!
   — Suzy C.

August 18, 2003
I have real issues with setting a number as "goal weight." JMO, but please don't set yourself up for disappointment. Sure, it's possible, but many dont hit that magic number, and it's a recipe for disappointment and feelings of failure. Instead, why not set goals in incrememnts..like make the first goal maybe getting under 200 pounds (that's a biggie!), then maybe 175, then it usually goes a bit slower, so maybe 10 pounds incrememnts. If you look at it like have 5 credit cards maxed out, paying them all off seems hopeless and impossible. But, if you take one card at a time, and pay a little extra each month, pretty soon that one will be history. Then take another, do the same thing...see what I mean, baby steps. I know this method won't work for everyone, but I cringe when I hear about people setting these numbers for their goals. It's just not realistic. We're all so different, whether it's genetics, age, the amount of yo-yo dieting we've done, whatever, there's no way to know where our bodies will stop. I don't mean to be a downer, but I've seen too many people say they've stopped losing way before they expected, and they feel like failure. So, I know it's easier said than done, but try not to dwell too much on the numbers, just think of how much better you feel. Good luck!
   — Leslie F.

August 18, 2003
I am 6 months out at 5'7" and am now just about 160. My sister, LC is I year out and is 152 and we are both still losing, although slowly. I would think your goal is realistic if you stick to the program. Good luck!
   — Fixnmyself

August 18, 2003
I agree with Leslie: don't set yourself up to feel like a failure. You already have doubts about the goal number, why put yourself through it? This surgery is considered medically successful if you maintain a loss of 65% of your excess body weight. Based on the numbers you provided, you will be considered successful at around 202 pounds. Start there. Chances are, especially if you're dedicated to it, you can lose more. But take a number that meets the standard of success, and gradually work down from there. As you get close to 202, set another slightly lower goal, and so on. Eventually your body will figure out where it wants to be. That may be 200; it may be 143; it may be something else. You also have to decide what you're willing to do to get to and stay at a "magic" goal weight. Are you willing to live a life that requires constant vigilance, eliminates many of your favorite foods, and requires a lot of exercise? Now, mind you, you will always have to watch what you eat, and should always exercise, but how much are you willing to give up? Is that too much? Have you traded one misery (being overweight) for another(a life you can't enjoy)? Also, I've found that the success of this surgery is measured in so many more ways than the scale. Count as victories your improving health, every medication that you get to reduce the dosage of, or stop taking, the ability to fit into regular-sized chairs, every ache that stops being chronic, the day a seatbelt fits comfortably, the day you stop thinking about being the largest person in the room, the day you can buy pantyhose at the grocery store, the compliments you receive on your looks, the extra energy you have, the way you lose your protective shell and begin to enjoy socializing again, the delight a loved one takes in being able to get their arms all the way around you in a hug, and so many, many more things. They are more valuable measures to me than the scale ever will be. This is hard enough. Don't set yourself up to be disappointed on one measure when you can easily count all your successes.
   — Vespa R.

August 18, 2003
There are just too many unknown factors to take into consideration for any of us to tell you definately yes. Your age, bone structure, how long you've been overweight are all considerations. I'm 5'8" also, though I never chose to have a goal weight. As I was on my way down, I had mini goals of 10 pounds. When I went from 280 to 270...that was a cause for celebration. I had intermediate goals, and the big goals of under 200 and 100 pounds (which were within 5 pounds of each other). Anything after that was gravy. Well, I've reached 195...and have been holding at that weight since I was 12 months post-op (which was 8 months ago). Nothing I do seems to make a difference. I'm scheduled for an abdominoplasty next month, and the surgeon is estimating I have 10 pounds of excess skin/fat on my stomach. Even with that off, I'll still be in the "obese" BMI category. I've realized that in order to take off anymore, I would have to become a fanatic about what I eat and how often I exercise, and that's not the lifestyle I want. I'm figuring - at best - my weight will never go below 180 and I'll never get below a size 14. But I'm happy and healthy now - and to me - that's all that matters.
   — Cyndie K.