Sleevers?

Hi everyone, 

I am scheduled for surgery April 10th and I am a lightweight. I originally wanted the DS surgery but the surgeon is way way to far away and cant afford the trip plus two weeks hotel stay after the surgery PLUS am on psych meds that would be an issue with malobsorption but anyway i think the sleeve is the best surgery for me. I am currently 216 I'm 5'2 and my nut said that I should weigh 110 However bmi calculators do not say so low. My problem is that the nut thinks that my top weight loss possiblity would be 144. My question and concern is WHY???? that is still an overweight bmi. Normal bmi high end range is like 137? somewhere around there. Is it impossible to get to a normal goal. I would LOVE to be 130, I would be mroe than happy with that weight. So why does she think that the last 14lbs wont happen. ALSO, for you sleevers, how long did it take you to loose your weight and how much did you have to loose? Do lightweights take longer to loose cuz i have a friend that had bypass that has lost more than 60lbs in three months. ok thank you everyone. :D

Jen

I'm glad you found us!!!  Congrats on your surgery!!!  Take this time to read and post so you can learn as much as you can and prepare yourself for the change.

It doesn't really matter which surgery you are having it seems like NUTS and Surgeons always predict a higher weight. It could be they don't want anyone to be discouraged or get your hopes up.  Also I don't think they deal with lightweights a lot (that seems to be changing).

No one can predict where you are going to end up.  If you follow all of the rules of your surgery,  find a support group (the LW posters are mine), and are willing to take advice and try new things your body will pick the perfect weight for you.

Thanks, I'm happy to be here and excited to keep reading what everyone posts. I love the fact that there is a forum for light weights because I tend to find most people are a minimum of 150lbs over weight and I myself am only about 80-95 lbs tops to loose. I have also found that some of the bigger bmi starting weights are prejudice against the light weights, which is very frustrating. Just because I'm smaller doesnt mean I dont have the same food issues and weight issues. UGH. anyway, i am gonna follow program to a t and hope for the best. 

Welcome aboard!  

--gina

Those numbers are weird.  Many LWs lose 100% of their excess weight, where as the numbers are not as good for folks who have lots more to lose.  Everyone is individual so don't gauge your progress against anyone else.As a LW, don't expect to lose 60# in 3 months.  but you may lose the same % of your excess weight that she did. 

stick around and read.  Ask questions when you have them.  We are here to help. 

I am a light weight sleever...I only had a BMI of 31 and only had 50-60 lbs to lose. Most thought I was nuts for doing this...BUT I had some underlying issues that made Sleeve surgery a very good option for me. I had to be self-pay and it is the best $$ I ever spent! I am 4 weeks out, and down 22 lbs...almost halfway to goal.

I think the sleeve is a very good option for light weights and great for long term sucess..I know lots of other sleevers, which is how I learned that this might be an option for me.

Once you start losing, you can adjust your goal, so you end up at a weight that works for you an your life. I just met w/ my Dr today and we adjusted my goal weight...Every body is different and you will find your sweet spot when you get there.

Thanks for the comments about lightweights. Every body & every journey is different, but one thing everyone on this website has in common is they are, or once were overweight..which means issues with food, relationships with food, health and many more..no reason to be less than supportive of someone just because they have less to lose. My feeling are we should all be supportive of everyone, and wish them well on their journey to a healthier and hopefully happier life.

But to avoid negative comments, I do not put the "ticker" on my signature.. :)

Welcome to the lightweight board!

Do lightweights take longer to loose cuz i have a friend that had bypass that has lost more than 60lbs in three months. ok thank you everyone. :D

This was written by a friend...

It's not POUNDS, it's PERCENTAGES!
by Carolyn M.

Two people, both 6 months post-op. One has lost only 63 pounds and feels bad about her "slow" weight loss. The other has lost 96 pounds and thinks she's doing great.

They are both wrong.

Person A had only 105 excess pounds, so she has already lost 60% of her excess weight. She is actually ahead of the game at 6 months out and is on track to lose it ALL.

Person B had 265 excess pounds. At 6 months out she has only lost 36% of her excess weight. At this rate, she will end up retaining 28% of her excess weight, enough to keep her in the obese category.

See what I mean? Don't compare pounds to pounds, that's like apples and oranges.

Percent of excess weight lost: pounds lost divided by total excess pounds
Use a BMI of 25 as a goal weight

On track to lose it all is 25% lost after 2 months, 50% after 6 months, and 80% at one year.

Please note: These are averages. Your mileage may vary.

Most programs quote weight loss stats that are average. My surgeon tends to go by individuals and what he thinks they will do. So he told me that I would probably lose 100% of my excess weight. And I did.

I was 225 at my highest, 191 at the time of surgery, and I got down to 112-113 at my lowest. I got to a normal BMI by 6-7 months and my lowest weight at 10-11 months.

Welcome to the LW forum. I am a LW sleever, and I'm almost 5 months out. I am also a stair step loser. I lose a little, pause, shrink in inches, then the cycle starts over again. I will also suggest you check out the VSG (sleeve) forum, it is a busy board and the folks over there are full of information. I personally participate on both.

I love this board because it is like a virtual support group, great people who are incredibly supportive. I love the VSG board because you learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about your specific surgery. The people there are great too. Best wishes.