Update-Surgeon Appointment

Saw my surgeon/NUT today. I have posted that I think I am losing too slowly. However, surgeon was very happy with my progress. He uses your pre-op appointment weight as your starting weight, not what you weighed on the day of surgery. We had to be on an 800 calorie food plan before surgery, so that is why he starts the process with your pre-op appointment which is exactly one week before surgery. His expectation is that his patients will lose 50% of their excess weight by their 6 month anniversary. My excess weight is 172 lbs. Today was my 3 month check-up, and my loss since my pre-op appointment is 43 lbs. This is 25% of my excess, so I am PERFECTLY on target according to his expectations. If I lose another 43 lbs in the next 3 months I will have lost 50% of my excess. My average comes to 3.24 lbs/week lost and he said that is perfect. I reviewed my food intake with my NUT and the only suggestion she made was to add 1/4 cup of nuts every day for one of my snacks. Otherwise I am making good choices, not eating too much, etc. I asked her about calories/fat/carbs, and she said at this point they don't want me worrying about any of that, or counting any of it. The only thing I have to count is protein and fluid. She just wants me to concentrate more on making good choices, planning meals and snacks, eating with awareness, etc. So I guess I will quit worrying about everything and just keep doing what I have been doing. I feel a lot better now about the whole thing.

Sounds like you are right on track. Keep up the good work. Leeanne

keep up the good work and believe in your self, you were strong enough to make the decision to go through with this surgery, you are STRONG enough to make it till the end and be a success!

Patti - thanks for the info! So, you're saying that they look at your highest weight, calculate how much of that weight is "excess", and say 50% of that should be gone by 6 months out? For me, that would mean: Heaviest: 288 Goal per surgeon: 125 Total to lose: 163 I've lost a total of 66.6 pounds 25% of 163 is 40.75 pounds, so I'm ahead...? Or if it's calculated from weight at the time of surgery: Surgery day: 254 Total to lose: 129 I've lost 32.6 since surgery 25% of 129 is 32.25 so I'm right where I should be... I'm not quite 3 months out - my 3 month anniversary will be the 25th, but I like the way these numbers look!! I feel much better now...

YEAH!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!! Your doc and nut sound like they are proud of your progress!! You get major kudo points today! hehehehehe!

Gwen, to figure out the amount of excess weight my surgeon took my weight on my pre-op appointment, and subtracted my "goal" weight. I started at 329. His goal for me is 145. The difference is 172 lbs, so that is the amount of my "excess" weight. He wants me to lose 1/2 that by six month anniversary, which = 86 lbs. Today was my 3 month checkup and I have lost 43 lbs, which is exactly 25% of my excess. And at three months he wants his patients to have lost 25% of their excess. So I am perfect.