x-post - I have thought alot over the weekend about the surgery

I posted this in the Ontario board, because that is where I am from ...but thought it might be helpful to post it here too!

I had my orientation on Friday and as I have mentioned before, I would certainly be considered a lightweight. I am trying to figure out how much weight I could lose, to see if, in the end the surgery is worth it. I know the numbers should not matter, but it is still a pretty good guide.

I did ask the question, what happens if over the next 4-6 months I do lose some weight on my own, and go lower than the BMI that is required for surgery, before meeting with anyone what happens - the nurse said they would look at my back ground and see how many diet attempts I have had and a decision would be made at that time.

I think, from figuring out my current BMI ( 41.6) and the target BMI ( 24.9) I need to lose 90 lbs roughly ( I am 40 yrs old, 5'1 and currently at 220 lbs). So the nurse also said we could expect to lose between 50-80% of the excess weight - so that would mean I would could lose between 45-72 lbs ... or is it possible I could lose the full 90 lbs?

It's just so hard ... I can just imagine what people will say if I ONLY lose something like 45 lbs doing the surgery! My friends would be like " WE PAID FOR THAT ... through OHIP?" A few of them have had already made a few little comments, so of course it gets my mind racing too. I tried talking to a good friend of mine, who has also struggled with her weight and all she says is " You have tried WW, you have tried that Opti-fast program, you have tried fitness pal ... you just need to find something that works and stick to it, instead of letting the weight come back on". I know, she is right ... I know how all of these other programs work, so then she will look at me as if this is the " easy way out". I told her, it certainly isn't.

After reading everyone's success story and I saw a friend of mine the other night who had the surgery and he totally looks like a different person - I am pumped for it, but at the same time he had a lot more weight to lose, then I do.

Has anyone felt like this before?

Thanks for "reading" my vent, sort of!

Jennifer

I think many of us do think about this but then reality hits and you realize or read that 98% of diets fail in the long term. Let the haters hate and do whatever it takes to get yourself healthy long term.

--gina

 

Most of us lightweights got the same "only xxx pounds" stuff.  If you have done everything, lost it, gained it back or never been able to get it off, surgery is a good option. As a lightweight, your changes are better of getting to a normal BMI or better.   I would have been happy at 140 but am in the 117 range these days.  I love it and have never looked back.  It is the best thing I have ever done for me.

I got the same comments...you only have xx to lose, you don't really need surgery! There are many many people who lose 100% of their EW. Don't settle for 50-80%, go for the full Monty! You can do it! We all can!

How did you set your goal weight of 110?  Just curious! 

 

Completely random. Well...almost I guess. I was at that weight right up until my first daughter was born and it is within the normal BMI range for my height of five ft zero. I would rather get to the lower end of normal BMI to allow for some bounce back that would still keep me at normal BMI. I will be very happy with 120 or even 125 but it would be nice to have some wiggle room for the special meals and splurges! Based on my experience so far it is totally doable.

I think that if this is what you want, you need to go for it. The numbers you are given are a guideline, the doctor's shoot for the highest possible healthy weight so if you don't meet what you thought was your goal, your dreams aren't crushed and you miss out on seeing how far you have truly come.

I'm 5'5" I had gastric bypass when i weighed 229 lbs, my doctor told me I should shoot for 140-145, my lowest weight was 125, and I got there in 9 months. If your goal is lower than your doctor's estimate, remember your surgery is what you put into it, the more you do, the more you'll get out of it.

2 years out I'm between 130 and 135 depending on the day, and I'm perfectly happy here, 125 was a dream I just wanted to touch, but my current weight is sustainable without making me feel as though I'm missing out on anything.

Remember you are doing this for yourself, not for what others might say. My endocrinologist told me I wasn't big enough for WLS, and yet I was and I don't have to see him anymore.

And yes, your body knows when it's lost enough, plus you should be working closely with a doctor, and as I used to tell people who said "My God are you ever going to stop losing weight?!" : I'm under a doctors supervision and he is happy with my progress, until he says I an unhealthy, I will keep on as I am. And not once did my doctor tell me i lost too much weight.

Best of luck to you!

 

I was told by my surgeon not to expect to lose more than 75-80% of my excess weight. That is considered the AVERAGE of all surgeries of that type. Not just lightweights but all the people who have that surgery. For heavyweights, losing 75-80% is a big deal.

Okay, so how did I do? I lost 125% of my excess weight.

Doing it on my own, yes I could lose it...could NOT keep it off. I had finally given up on dieting after trying that route for 44 years. Only ONCE about 25 years ago did I come even close...I hit within 3 lbs of being a normal BMI...lasted ONE day. Most of the time, I stayed between a 33-36 BMI.

I had my surgery to fix my system...put me on a LEVEL playing field with those who have never been obese. (those who never have more than 5-15 lbs to lose). I also did it to get off my prescription medications. Since I am in the Medicare system, my prescriptions cost the taxpayers and getting off 9 out of 11 got me off them. I pay for my own vitamins myself.

When people tell you to try it without surgery, remind them 1) that you are working with your doctor for the best option FOR YOU and 2)  that only 5% of those who lose weight actually keep it off. If a heart or cancer only had a 5% chance of fixing itself without surgery, would they deny the surgery option telling them to "fix it themselves?" While being obese is not as deadly LOOKING as heart disease or cancer, it is still a MORBID (as in deadly) condition.

Keep you head up and focus on the prize.

Liz

 

I guess that is my biggest question, no one has given me an amount yet - so I am just guessing what my excess weight is, figuring that is how much I need to lose for a healthy BMI, perhaps I am wrong with that amount.

Thanks everyone for your input, I totally realize this is for me, and ONLY me!  I still have a long road ahead of me, since I am at the beginning stages - I was just questioning things I guess!

Having my RNY is the BEST thing I have every done for MYSELF!!!!!   Only YOU  can make this decision and only YOU can make it work!!!   Being a lightweight is way easier to get to a Normal BMI if we follow the rules and we get there a lot quicker...usually within a year or less. 

My surgeon wouldn't give me a number so losing 75 pounds sounded good to me which would take me to 125.  I dropped down to 106 (look at my answer that I put on your other post) got scared and increased my calories.  I'm in the 118-120 range now and even though I dream of 115 again it's just a number and  I feel this is where my body wants me to be. 

Every insurance is different.  Some take the before weight and some use the current weight. Most of them do say that you can not gain weight during the waiting period.  I wouldn't lose to much.  Why "diet" before you are having surgery.  I cut out my carbonated drinks, experimented with Protein drinks, and learned as much as I could about my type of surgery (all from the LW board).  I ended up losing 1 pound each month so 6 pounds total.