How do I?

Hey there!! I hope this post finds everyone doing well.  I've been doing a litte reading and talking with people and am trying to figure out.....How do you set a realistic goal weight? My weight right now is 290.  Someone in chat said I was supposed to be able to lose down to 65% of my current weight that would put me down to about 130, an excellent weight that I would be extremely happy with.   and Then, I read on this site that  "Most weight-loss surgery patients will lose about 60 to 80 percent of their excess body weight with the gastric bypass procedure. "  I am at 290 now.  The physician's charts say I should be around 151.  So, doing those calculations, my excess weight should total out to be 139 pounds. 290-151=139. Now, 60% of 139=83 and 80% of 139=111. According to those calculations, my goal should be somewhere between 201 (at 60 %) to 179 (at 80 %), both of which are completely NOT acceptable to me.   I remember 201 and I wasn't confortable at that weight, either. I don't remember 171, at all....but am thinking that it, too is a little high.  I'd rather be a little under the physician's target weight.  Is that realistic? Help me, please!!  I have never been thin (was 115 in third grade!!) and am trying ro set a realisitc goal for the psychological evaluation paperwork, but have no clue on where to begin. Thanks, in advance!!! Have an AWESOME day!! CosmiKelly :)

Hi Kelly -

While statistically many will only lose 60 to 80 percent, you should know that many lose much more. If I were to only lose 60% of my excess weight I'd have gone from 233 to 172. I'm under that now. Projecting 80% loss would take me down to 151 ... I'd be okay with that, but if I go to 137 I'll be at 100%. Honestly, since I have resolved my major health issues, it would be "okay" if I never lost another pound, but I'm still working on getting that last 25 lbs or so gone.

I think that this difference in those who lose 60% or so and those who lose all (or most) of their excess weight, is whether you just "coast" or you work on it. I think that working at it will also make the difference once you get the weight off. I know that none of us ever want to find any of those pounds again.

So... set your mind and body to work. You'll get there. Try using www.thinnerself.com to track your progress once you have had sugery. It has some calculations based on statistics that can give you a very good idea of how well you are doing percentage wise.

I truly believe that you will do well.

Barb

I wanted to avoid putting myself in some pigeon-hole trap that I might not attain, so I set my FIRST goal at 199, a number that doesn't have a "2" in front of it.  Once I get to 199 and see Onederland, THEN, and only then, will I start setting smaller increment goals.  On the WW charts, the high end for me is 169. BUT, I read on my chart where my doc noted my weight should be 149.  I just think that for me and my build/height, that is just too low and unattainable.  If I get to 169, or 179 or 189 and quit losing and FEEL good and am happy there, then THAT will be my goal weight.  If I lose down more than that and feel good, then that's OK too.  I've seen folks who have lost TOO much weight and don't look healthy at all either by WLS or by other diets, and I don't want to be one of those folks.  I've been guilty of saying (to myself)... "good grief, she'd (or he) look SO much better with 10 or 15 lbs. back on. " I want to look in the mirror and like what I see and I also want others to see the new me as looking healthy, and not sunken in the face like some folks.   I'm not going to tell you or anybody what to do, but for me personally, Goal ONE is 199 on the scales.  From there, I'll set 10 lb. mini-goals and see what happens. 

Amen!  Alice