BMI

i was wondering how VSG will work with regards to BMI. I googled a bit to look at what my BMI is now, what it was, and most important, what a normal BMI level would be. That normal, not overweight and not obese and not morbidly obese number is so low. If I lose the anticipated amount to weight that is predicted with VSG, then I would never reach normal. Did any of you reach the normal level with this surgery? I'm working hard at being healthy, which is my priority, but I would love to be normal too. As a not, I am 56 so an aging, post-menopausal metabolism isn't going to be a huge help.

You will find many people here who made it to a "normal" BMI, and some of them are also post-menopausal. So don't sell yourself short before you've even gotten started. :)

Remember that the "predicted" amount of loss is based on an average. The low end of the data will show a bunch of people who get to a very low "normal" BMI. The upper end of the data will show people who lose very little, typically because they expect the surgery to do all the work and don't change anything about their lifestyle. I personally think if they could some how exclude the people who are essentially non-compliant with the changes post-op, that the "expected" amount of loss for ALL of the surgeries would be much higher.

At any rate, remember that you are not a statistic, you are not an average. Barring any rare medical disorders, you can absolutely lose whatever amount you are willing to put the work in for. While the "expected" amount of loss was interesting information from my surgeon, I was NEVER going to be happy with that. I am 9 months out and passed my surgeon's "expectations" a couple of months ago. (I am challenged with a couple of chronic conditions that have flared up badly post-op, so my weight loss has been slow compared to many others, but it's been steady so I'll take it.)

To be fair to my surgeon, she emphasized that the "average" was just that, and that her patients who work the plan post-op usually far exceed the "average". So she certainly wasn't like "well, you hit the expected loss, you can stop now".

My personal BMI goal (based on my goal weight) is not quite "normal". It's in the low end of the "overweight" category. I know historically where I looked and felt awesome, and much below that in the past I've looked too thin and maintaining that lower weight required obsessive levels of food monitoring and exercise. I am not willing to return to that obsessive place again.

I don't believe that people should feel like they HAVE TO get to a "normal" BMI. The BMI calculation is good for looking at medical data in an analytic way, and having some benchmarks to measure by that aren't impacted by height. I can't compare weights with someone 10 inches shorter than me, for example, but we can compare BMI. But there is plenty of reasearch saying a little bit of overweight according to the BMI charts can be protective of health. Medically speaking, you're better off to be a couple points above normal than a couple of points below normal.

And, even though I have a good idea of where I want to get to, I plan to keep working the plan and will be happy if I get lower, so long as I don't look too gaunt and physically feel great. Health was my motivator for getting the surgery, the cosmetic stuff has been great but it's icing. Getting off my BP meds, getting off my meds for fatigue, getting off my preventative migraine meds, getting rid of my CPAP, having my auto-immune go into remission -- those are the things that I'm the most excited about. Dropping 10 sizes is gravy. REALLY GOOD gravy, but gravy. So if I don't get to a "normal" BMI, or if I do manage it, I am miles and miles away from where I started, and that's the important part, not the number itself.

For myself my personal goals have been to be "overweight". I feel damn good here at an overweight BMI of around 27-29 (I was at 42) Activity is much easier for me now and I can still make excellent or good choices about food and maintain my weight without a lot of worry. It's an ok balance for me.

Your doc may have some idea of where you should set your goals but IMO that's their suggestion and you can set your own goals. At my 1yr they were happy and stamped successful on my chart. That's statistically successful from their end but also from what I said. I said I was happy and able to be as active as I could imagine wanting to be. I'm playing ice hockey about 3-4xs a week which before was just not even possible to skate much less have equipment that fit me.

You will lose as much weight as you work to lose. The VSG is not a magical thing that will make you lose "x number of pounds." You will have to work and maintain your dedication. But if you do that, you will lose as many pounds as you work to lose.

Many people reach a normal BMI after VSG. Many people stop working (or never work in the first place) and never get anywhere close to a normal BMI.

If you maintain focus and dedication and use the VSG as a tool and get your brain sorted out, you'll reach whatever goals you set for yourself.

I'm RNY not VSG, but I believe the end expected results are pretty similar. I'm 57 (almost 58) so post-menopausal as well. I'm 12 1/2 months out and about 7 lbs. below the high-end of normal BMI so yes it definitely can be done but it takes work. And for me, the hard work is just beginning - that of maintaining. At each post-op visit my surgeon gave me a graph of what I might expect as far as weight loss. It showed the weight expectation for every 3 months - one line was with 80% of excess weight loss (what he considered typical), one line at 100% of excess weight loss, and the line of my actual weight at the visit. I've been pretty much even with the 100% excess weight loss for the last 12 months. I've set/changed my own goals along the journey - 165 was my first goal which put me into the overweight category. I determined that if/when I reached that I would readjust the goal. When I did, I decided that weight was "ok" but felt I could do better and decided to go for a normal BMI - which for me was 137. I reached that and felt good, but my "skinny" clothes that I had from before were still tight. Right now I'm fluctuating between 128 and 130 but would like to lose a little more to allow for a slight regain. I'm happy for the most part where I am, but know from previous experience that I now need to be extremely vigilant. A 5-lb. gain can quickly lead to 10 lbs, which then leads to 20 lbs, etc. etc. Bottom line - you can pretty much set the goals you want (barring health conditions as mentioned by another poster); it's up to you as to how hard you want to work to achieve them. Best wishes!

Honestly, aside from knowing that my BMI was dangerously high, I've never paid much attention to it. I know it was 64 when I started, and I know what it is now (34.7) because OH tells me lol. But I honestly don't care. I chose a goal weight, and when I get there, I'll decide if that feels right or not. If I choose to lose more, I will. If it feels right, I won't. For me, it's more about how I feel, and what makes me happy.

As long as I can move well, feel like I look pretty good in my clothes, and can finally be as active as I want, that's good enough for me.

P.S. I was 56 at surgery, 57 now

My current BMI is 20.4. I had my VSG 15 months ago at 61. I have been at this weight for 7 months so am in maintenance.

I credit the daily support I get here on OH to my success so far and feel that I will only be able to maintain at this weight with continued vigilance. WLS is definitely a great tool, but developing new eating habits, tracking, weighing and on-going support are going to be critical for me in the future.

Hi there

I was the exact starting weight. I am 5'3

i am now 2.5 years out. Lost 100 pounds in 10 months. I have maintained a 19-20 bmi. I excercise most days. Maintenance is work. Use your honeymoon period to get to the lowest you possibly can.

You can lose as much as you are willing to work for.

good luck.

I just am getting frustrated at the slow loss rate. 54 days ago on surgery day I weighed 209. Today, and for the last few days, 195. It is less, of course, but I was hoping for more weight loss.. and I am very diligent about protein, water, and my calories still ranging between 500 and 800, mostly in the 700 level. I am getting protein mostly from yogurt, premiere protein, pure protein, and salmon. I am getting 6000 to 9000 steps a day... so my body is just trying hard to hold onto these pounds. I am going to stay on track. But I thought by now I would be looking at wearing smaller clothes! Think I will measure today to see if I have lost inches.

Is weight loss rate influenced by the type of protein we eat, i.e. Meat vs isolate whey? Is it net calories? I am still keeping carbs very low, and no rice/pasta/bread/sweets.

So you've lost 14 pounds in 54 days? That seems cool to me especially when you'll keep losing if you stick to the plan.

The thing I found with clothes is that it took me a LONG time, like 50 pounds, before I needed to buy new clothes. I figure that this is because my clothes were ill fitting and tight pre-op, because I was resistant to buying a larger size. So before my clothes got too big, they first needed to get to the point where they were the right size! Then they needed to get too big. :P So it took a while before I needed to get smaller clothes.