Questions for the Vets - Goal?

I agree with Gial, if you are a numbers guy, get a dexa scan and find out your lean tissue/ fat ratios and make a goal based on those facts. Are you working out? Muscles look good, especially on men

I don't follow the weight charts...

I set my goal weight based on a weight I was comfortable at over 15 years ago.  I hit that goal, and am now 10 pounds under it (goal was 145 and I am at 135).  I am super skinny now--according to the charts, I am high end of "normal".  I should mention that I have a very large frame.

You can't go by the charts..you should set a realistic goal based on your body and how you feel.

Hey Rhearob, I know I'm coming into this way later in the day, but I had to cause this is a great topic!

First, you are far more entitled to the label VET than am I! You are much father along in the journey. That said.....

I'm getting mighty close to my goal weight myself. My surgeon did not set a goal weight for me. It is my understanding we will discuss that later. But I don't see him again until June and that's only if he's in the office when I meet with his MD who will be checking all my labs, evaluating my weightloss, etc...

I am lucky enough to have once been at a weight that I thought was very healthy for me. I was in my 20s and the weight at which I was so comfortable was 166. I got down to about 162-163 and was trim and had visible definition of abs - not a cut six pack, but..... Then as I hit my late 20s and got into my 30s it all went to hell! LOL!

So 166 lbs is the goal I have set for myself.

My body does not work with the BMI charts. My surgeon, PCP, trainer, nutritionist, EVERYONE agress I don't fit into the range. I have a large frame and am naturally densely muscled. My current BMI is 28, but my body fat is 23%. (Not usually such a disparity between those two numbers I'm told.) Given my current stats the projection is that at 166 lbs my body fat will be between 18 & 19%. For a man my age I think that is pretty good. I think shooting for 15% body fat is just a little too much for me to deal with right now! Who knows - maybe not.

So, as of today, I've got 18 pounds to go to make my goal of 166. My PCP suggested 185. I'm 184 today and am not where I think I should be, so I'm going on down. I have promised myself to evaluate how I feel at 175 lbs and I will, but I am pretty certain I will push on down to 166.

I really think so many things factor into this decision. There is a very heavy emotional component to goal weight, as well as a physical one. I think goal weights really need to meet both physical emotional needs limitations and expectations. It's really about the total package - goal has to work on a gut level, logic level and physical level. Everything needs to come together and just feel right in so many ways. I think having a number, but being flexible with it will work very well for you. You come across as such an intelligent, thoughtful and even keeled guy and being a numbers guy, you might have some fun documenting your feelings about the goal weights you "try on".

Thanks for a terrific post and the opportunity to chime in on this one!

Hey buddy -

I feel you - I'm a numbers driven guy too, AND I wanted that "normal" BMI too AND I strugged with this myself.

The real answer is "whatever".   You are overthinking, but this is normal and I did the exact same thing.

So unsatisfying, I know.  But honestly, it doesn't matter whether you do or don't trust the man who has sliced up your guts - what weight you want is really a decision you have to make, not your surgeon.  Oh, I tried to get my surgeon to pick my weight, and sure, he helped me with some ranges, but the ultimate goal has to be up to you - after all, the surgeon wants you in a range - where to be in that range is your choice. You can be a little more twinkish, or a little more bearish.  Doesn't matter.  You're healthy - that matters.

So people like us, number driven, have to be careful.  The point of the surgery is to be healthy first, and perhaps secondly to be happy with your appearance.  As long of you cut that weight so your heart and joint and pancreas has a break - that is what matters.  And like others have said in the thread, your goal weight may change over time anyway.  And that's ok.  I think many of us have to change our goal weights especially since we 'look fatter' in our head than we really are.

If you want to still be numbers driven, then allow body fat percentage to be your guide over BMI.  This is going to be a more meaningful tie to health anyway. 

Assuming you're a male under 40, try to get under 20% body fat.