Question:
Is it possible to get to your ideal body weight when you start at 400#?
Im 5'8 and 400 pounds my goal is to be 155 pounds then i willhave an ideal BMI is it really possible after RNY surgery if i eat right and do everything correctly to REALLY GET DOWN TO MY GOAL??? is it really possible?? — [Anonymous] (posted on February 10, 2001)
February 10, 2001
From all that I've read and heard about this procedure, NO. The success
rate for this is 60-80% of your body weight. That's not to say you won't
hit your targeted body weight, but the surgery alone will NOT do it for
you, if I understand correctly. But hey.... 60-80% is nothing to sneeze
at! *G*
— capodo
February 10, 2001
Hello,
I, myself, am pre op and 400#. I belong to a list that is primarily
"supers" (400 or over). This may be a place for you to meet
people who can help you with your answers.
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/WLS400plus
— janetlynne69
February 10, 2001
I am having the DS procedure next Friday 2/16 and it gives a 80-85% weight
loss. My surgeon does the RNY and DS depending on what is the best
procedure for each patient. For more info on this procedure check out
Dr.Dennis Smith's website at:
http://www.mini-surg.com/duodenal_switch1.htm
and
http://www.duodenalswitch.com
Hope this helps.
— TJSmith
February 10, 2001
Absolutely, dont let anyone discourage you. You can get to your goal
weight.. i know several people starting at 400-420# reach their goal
weight.. I am having surgery this week at a pre-op wt of about 350 and I
plan to get to my ideal weight FOR SURE!! LEts do it!
— Gail M.
February 10, 2001
I am pre-op so I can't really speak to whether or not you can actually
reach goal weight; however, I sure am hoping so! I have no desire to be
skinny and I don't think that I am looking to achieve any unrealistic goals
but I sure do want to be within a healthy range and if I can get to that
point I will certainly be a happy woman. I'd just like to remind you that
there are people in excess of 400#, such as myself, so don't feel like
you're alone or that it can't get any worse....because it can! Best of
luck to you - I'm hoping to have my surgery in April of this year.
YIPPEEEEE!
— Sharon R.
February 10, 2001
I'm close to 4 months post op and I've lost over 80 lbs! I started @ 448
lbs and I had the BPD/DS with Dr. Hess in Ohio. With the DS, studies show
you can loose "80-85% of your extra weight"....But, keep in mind,
that from hauling around this extra weight for so long, other studies have
shown that our muscles and bones have become more dense to be able to
physically handle carrying that weight, therefore THEY weigh more(up to 20%
i've heard).....so when you weigh 200lbs, you'll look like you weigh 175lbs
or even less. I'm 6'tall, and my surgeon said I'll be able to get to at
least 200lbs....but I know i'd be giddy with 250lbs. :-) I'm excited to
see where I do end up. Feel free to contact me if you have specific
questions. Also check out : www.duodenalswitch.com for in depth info on
the "DS" surgery. Do your research and good luck!
— Beth W.
February 10, 2001
I'd also like to "second" what Janet said about the WLS400Plus
group. It's a e-mail list that is restricted to people starting out with
WLS at 400+ lbs or a BMI over a certain amount...(can't remember the
digits!lol) It's a great bunch of people who have all "been there,
done that"....it used to be an "e-group" but since yahoo
bought them out, the new site address is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WLS400plus Hope to see you there!
— Beth W.
February 15, 2001
I, too, weighed 350 when I had my surgery 10 months ago. I now weigh 195
& am in size 14 jeans. Please don't forget what a HUGE difference this
is!! I can do hundreds of things I couldn't do 6 months ago. I can lead a
normal, healthy life for one thing. I, like Barb, look smaller than my
actual weight. I have bones sticking out all over...collars, shoulders,
back bones, hips, shins, everywhere. I can see tendons, muscles, & even
my pulse in my wrist! By the way, my blood pressure seems to have
stabilized at about 115/68 & my pulse is around 65. I can walk, jog,
run, exercise, ski, swim, bike, cross my legs, touch my toes, reach the
middle of my back (& every where else, too),and all without pain or
even a bit of discomfort. At 5'9", my goal was 165#, 35 still to go. I
would like to lose a little more, but would also be happy if I stabilized
at this weight. I am hoping for more loss, tho! The loss has slowed down a
lot, but I am still losing. I had hoped to make my goal weight, but now am
wondering if I might be better off at around 175 to 180#. I kind of think
my body will stop when it's time. The days of losing 20# a month seem to be
over, but then again, 5# shows now like 50# used to. So a few more months
of losing 5 or 6 pounds could really add up. I guess what I'm saying is I
don't know if you can actually reach your "goal," but if you're
like so many of us, you will lose enough to feel SO much better that that
doesn't really matter so much. I am less interested in the
"number" that I am in how I feel..... and I really do feel great.
Ummm, that's enough for me! :)
— Kathy W.
February 16, 2001
First of all, I want to thank Beth for her answer. It answered a question
for me that I have always wondered about. Why do I look thinner at 120
pounds now than I did at 115 pounds 20 years ago when I was 21. The answer
seems to be the bones and the density. I never realized that but have
wondered about it for months now. Thank you so much Beth, that makes alot
of sense.
As for another answer, about not being able to get to goal weight and
just losing 60-80 percent, I have to say that that is only a number. It IS
possible to lose all of the wieght. It might not happen with everyone, but
possible???? yes. Anything is possible. Please don't go by numbers or
percentages. I so wanted to be a size 2 and end up at 105 pounds. Well, I
got down there and guess what? I looked AWFUL! I looked anorexic and
actually, for awhile there, I think that I did have an anorexic mentality.
I just wanted to be thinner and thinner and nothing was enough. I have now
purposely gained 15 pounds and look great. 120 seems to be the magic
number. I am happily in a size 4 or 6 and look fine. Please don't get
into the numbers game because it can honestly make you sick like it did to
me. You might or might not lose everything but, you will certainly be more
healthy either way. Good luck to you.
— Barbara H.
February 18, 2001
Is you goal a certain number on the scale or is it how you'll feel? Will
you consider yourself a failure if you don't get down to a certain weight?
I think once you start losing weight and start becoming healthier and able
to do more things that the number will become less important. Just
concentrate on health, not weight, and you'll be fine.
— Kellie L.
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