Question:
Am I being realistic? Is this possible?

I would at 5 monts, 2 weeks and 2 days post op SO like to reach my goal weight of between 110-125 (doc says 125) by at least July 2003. I'm 5"2'and my WLS *anniversary* is in September. My surgeon's nurse and my co-workers seem to think I'm doing okay...Just okay? Am I being realistic? Do you think this is possible? I'm not losing well at 1200 calories/day~seems like once again, it's slowing down. Not complaining mind you, but I'm still doing all of the right things, water, protein, change in exercise variables and would appreciate some good advice.    — yourdivaness (posted on February 19, 2003)

February 19, 2003
Is there a special reason for July? It's so hard to say, because we all lose at different rates, but you are considered a light-weight to begin with (don't you hate that term?), so that would be over 100 lbs. in 10 months. I'd say that with hard work, that it could happen, but I have found (from my experience) that you should set easier goals to attain and go with it. I am at 6-1/2 months and am now working at increasing my calories to 1000 a day (Dr wants me on 1200-1500, but there's no way I could do that yet). You are also reaching a point where the weight loss is going to slow down. I hope I'm not bursting your bubble, but so far you have done great. Keep up your hard work, and it will continue, but maybe not as quick as you want. Good luck though!
   — Dana B.

February 20, 2003
My advice: Please don't set yourself a date for your end goal. You may be realistic or not, but if you don't make it you have set yourself up for feeling like a failure. That, in turn, could cause you to get depressed and perhaps that would trigger comfort eating. <br> That said, perhaps you could jump start weight loss by going back to the liquid diet for a day. If you can't, try reducing your calorie intake. It seems high compared to what other people your size eat at approx. 6 months out. Also, although you've been good about changing exercise variables, perhaps it would help to try something new and a bit more strenuous. <br> The thing to remember is that many people's weight loss slows at about 6 months. Most patients run into plateaus. You can do everything right, and sometimes weight loss is like pulling teeth-- you probably know that already from before the WLS. So, try what you can to jump start yourself, but what every you do, support yourself. Praise yourself for what you have lost. Try to lose more as best you can, and don't get depressed if it comes slowly. And please don't set a time goal for your weight loss. Realize that as hard as you try, you may not lose all you want-- but that you will still be a success for losing what you do. Just don't lose faith with yourself.<br> I'm rooting for you! Beth
   — Beth S.

February 21, 2003
Your question doesn't say how much you've lost so far, but from your profile it appears you've gone from 235 (pre-op) to 184 as of the end of January ... so that was what, about 50 pounds in the first 4-5 months or so? To get to 125 by July, you'd need to lose roughly another 60 pounds in the second five months? I agree with the previous posters ... it's not impossible, but it may not likely that you'll keep losing at the same or faster rate than you did in the beginning. There's no reason the overall goal isn't attainable, though. It's just a question of asking, "What's the rush" to July.<P>My biggest concern when I see posts about getting to a particular goal (especially when not yet close to it) is, that to me -- just based on my *own* head and prior diet experience, not necessarily yours! -- is that's a "diet mentality" and not a "lifestyle change" mentality. We all have goals we want to achieve -- I'm definitely not knockin' that!! -- and I think your goal is attainable so long as there isn't an artificial (and possibly unrealistic) timetable behind it. The danger is that in the meantime, every plateau ... every indication of slower weight loss (which is still LOSS) ... every episode of wrestling with food demons ... could trigger a real backfire in your dedication to changing your lifestyle IF you feel like hey, at this rate, I'll never get to goal, so what's the use. And at five months out, you will have many phases ahead of you where you probably experience feeling lots of hunger and will learn you can eat more (in variety and volume). We all know those phases are coming, and we have to hunker down and prepare for those, as well as keep working towards a goal. If the goal looms larger than the rest of the picture, I think there's a danger that problems will follow (such as anger over not getting to goal fast enough ... believing it's not possible without "being on a diet for the rest of my life" ... being frustrated as others lose faster, though they may not be as light ... etc.). Just be sure your desire to reach goal isn't a "red flag" that's distracting you from the far more important goal of KEEPING the weight off (regardless of where you land) and NOT getting back on the 'ole diet rollercoaster of "I can't get there...so why bother."<P>One last thought -- I have only been able to take in 1200 calories a month starting at around 7 months or so (that's counting two protein shakes that total 320 calories a day, so still, I'm *eating* less than 1000 a day in food). I wouldn't reduce calories if you're comfortable at 1200, but I've been told 1500 is maintainance for many of us, so that'll be another factor in weight loss rate.
   — Suzy C.

February 25, 2003
Original poster here...I initially started at 265 pounds and then went on a dumb starvation type diet to get to 235 pounds. along with those dreaded diet pills..I'll never do that again...won't have to now. I was 265 around November (I think-1998) I updated my file to reflect this because I was at this weight prior to seeing my WLS doctor. My real reason is to see if I can reach my goal of 125 by (I should have said August-I just soo want to have reached this goal weight within a year~which will be September 2003). I KNOW I can do it safely, it's just MY personal,let's say, *prayer & wish*. I talked it over with my therapist, and was told "anything is possible", but to do all that I am supposed to do AND exercise, and BELIEVE it can be done. So what's wrong with setting a "goal date, family?" To me, that's having a positive mind, whether the goal is achieved or not. At least I will have HONESTLY tried and I don't give up easily. It will be the first REAL honest accomplishment (where my weight is concerned) without dangerous "helps" that I have done in a lloonnggg time..
   — yourdivaness