Who's gone beyond their surgeon's expectations?
joysie1970
Posts: 415 Member
So I met with my surgeon for my three month check up and finally asked him his goal for me - he told me I have already hit over 40% excess body weight loss and he would expect me to reach 80% and would be very happy with that. I am currently at 212, started with him at 272 and walked into surgery at 249. Don't get me wrong I am very happy with my progress - but he said he would be happy with me reaching 190 to 180, I am not so sure that makes me happy. I mean I should be estactic - my heaviest weight ever was 387, but I was hoping for more like 160 to 150, I am 5'1" - am I being unrealistic and too hard on myself? I don't want to shortchange myself or cut myself out of potential if it's possible, I also don't want to frustrate the heck out of myself it's not. Obviously I still have a good thirty lbs to work on so this isn't something I need to worry about immediately - but it's been weighing on me since I left his office...any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
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I'm not there yet, but *my* goal for myself is about 35lbs less than my surgeon's initial goal for me. Like you, I'm 3 months out and was 241 the day I walked into surgery. My current weight is 195 and my surgeon's goal is 184. Ideally I'd like to get myself down to 150, which is getting into a 'normal' ranged BMI.
My mom did a RNY back in August 2014, and used the same surgeons office I did. Her goal with them was 180, and she's currently down around 160ish. Her loss has slowed in the last 2 months, but she's very pleased with wher she is 11 months out from her surgery. My uncle had his RNY in 2006 and started at 390lbs. He's stayed down at and maintained in the 180's now for a few years. So it is absolutely possible to get down to normal BMI ranges and stay there, if you're staying on your plan and keeping up with your exercise.0 -
I was at 272 when I started this and went to surgery at 256... My surgeon said the same, that she would be happy with me losing about 40-60% of my excess weight, which put me in the goal of around 180 lbs I'm 5'6" ...I too didn't really like that goal, so when I went into surgery my husband asked me what my goal was..I told him 156 was going to be my goal. When I went in to my 3 mo check I asked what they thought of my progress so far and they were very pleased, I asked her if my goal was too much...she told me they would be happy and consider it a success if I was to reach 180, but it is very possible for me to get to my own goal for maintenance. My sister in law hasn't made it to her goal, she has 34 lbs to go and had surgery in December 2012, but she has lost more than the surgeon's goal for her.0
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My surgeon did not set a number for me- he let me do it-- and I chose 225. I am now at 166-167 and have been within 5-6 pounds of that number for about 4 months (I am 18 months out). So obviously, I blew past my original goal. My thoughts? - you are only 3 months out. At 3 months, following the guidelines is pretty easy. The farther out you get, things can get a wee bit more challenging. You might just want to take it 10 pounds at a time...see you how you fell, how you look, etc. You might get to 180 and find your body just will not let you get past that number-- or you might blow by it and end up at 160-- my point is, just do what you can- enjoy the journey, be good to you, and see how it goes. Insisting there is a number you MUST get to before you will be happy might be setting yourself up for disappointment. This is a new process, a new journey for you...so just see where it takes you. Sounds like you are doing great. Keep up the good work!0
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Thank everyone and especially to you Thaeda! Your advice is spot on as always...the last thing I want is more disappointment, let's face it we all have had a lifetime of that and I guess that was point my in this, I don't want to short change myself - I know it's early, so I will just continue to follow the lifestyle and do what I do and need to do and see where this journey takes me. Patience never was my strong suite...wish I had a crystal ball
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My surgeon said that the surgery would be a success if I hit 206. My personal goal was first just to get under 200. Then it was to not be "obese" anymore. Now, at 172, if I stayed here, I'd be happy--but I'd really like to get to 150 and "normal" weight. I believe I'm already "successful", but the real success will be in staying fit and healthy and at a weight that doesn't interfere with having an active life.
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My surgeon did not give me a goal (I am 10 weeks out) but when I asked him what my goal should be, he asked me what I thought it should be. I suppose my question was really, "what should I realistically expect my weight to be?". I know that my weight watcher goal had been 160 and I really would be happy just to be under 200. My HW 366, SW 328 and CW 293. I still have a good way to go. He thought 220, and so I know that I want to go lower than his goal for me. His point was that already, he has done his job and the rest is up to me. I need to take control of this and get things to the level that I am comfortable with. He did tell me not to focus on the number as my measure of success, but to look at NSVs that were the real reason why I decided on the surgery. These are yet to reveal themselves to me. I am going to be patient with the WL and with me.0
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Jill- our numbers are just about identical. Dr. Told me about 220 as well. My personal dream goal is 183; half my starting weight! Though I'll take anything under 200.0
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joysie1970 wrote: »Thank everyone and especially to you Thaeda! Your advice is spot on as always...the last thing I want is more disappointment, let's face it we all have had a lifetime of that and I guess that was point my in this, I don't want to short change myself - I know it's early, so I will just continue to follow the lifestyle and do what I do and need to do and see where this journey takes me. Patience never was my strong suite...wish I had a crystal ball
You are most welcome! Sounds like a good plan!0 -
In my experience the "surgeon line" is typically, "You are a success when you hit 80% of your excess weight loss", Ummm. really big Nope for me! Mine told me I could be "done" if I wanted when I hit around 165-170 pounds, just a 65 pound loss. I was still losing "easily" then and was not "done". I continued with his blessing to a 93ish pound loss (depends on the day\week) which I maintain today, approaching 2 years out. My original personal goal was a 100 pound loss, but I re-evaluated when I hit a size 4 and consciously entered maintenance. I may see that 100 pound mark eventually, but I'm not killing myself to get there. I'm healthy, active and happy maintaining well now. If you have more to lose, it will take longer, but don't short change yourself based on the doc's initial comment about % you'll lose.0
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I have much love for this post and the responses. I was wondering the same thing because my goals are not HIS goals. My bodies goals maybe something entirely different. Guess we will see what happens.0
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My dr gave me a goal of 190 but I'm down to 160. I'd like to get down to 150 but if I don't I'd still be just fine with where I am today.0
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Thanks everyone - glad to see the comments, being relatively new to this journey you just don't know and don't want to do anything wrong...I think I worry most about that LOL0
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