I went to a lap band support group last night. I'm still pre-op, but the surgeon's office would like patients to attend two support sessions before surgery. I told the group leader that I had a goal weight of 150. I'm 54 years old and I'm 5'6". She told me I was being unrealistic and that I should only expect to lose 65% of my excess weight. What??? Look, I know I'm not going to achieve the weight I was at 30 years old (130-135 lbs), nor do I want to. I'd probably look awful at that weight now. However, 65% of my excess weight would leave me at almost 200 lbs. That's not acceptable. I'll even relent and say that maybe I'll be happy when I reach 155-160.

Is this 65% the experience of the folks on this list? Do you get where you want to be? I'm not sure if I want to go through surgery if I'll still end up overweight. I know it's suppose to be about getting healthy, but I'd be less than honest if I didn't say vanity play a part too.

I'd really like some honest answers from the group because you all have first-hand experience.

Stina, I've never heard of lean body mass. How is it measured?

debi717: The most accurate way to measure body fat % and lean body mass is, unfortunately, the hardest to obtain. It's called Hydrostatic weighing (underwater weighing), and it uses the Archimedes Principle to come to a percentage. Your examiner first calculates your body density by measuring the amount of Water you displace when you immerse yourself in water. Then a formula is used to calculate body fat based on your body density. The problem is finding a facility (University, major gym or fitness center) which has a hydrostatic weighing tank.

If you cannot find one, the second best method is a caliper test. It's cheap, and your doctor may be able to do it for you.

Some people use scales that send an electromagnetic wave through your feet to measure body fat, but these are HIGHLY inaccurate. I bought one (unfortunately), and it told me that I was about 10% *over* what my fitness trainer measured me at with the caliper test.

I would suggest asking your doctor if he/she knows where you could get the hydrostatic (underwater) test done. If they don't know, ask them if they know how to do the caliper test and if they could do it for you. Or, if you go to a gym, you could ask if their professional fitness staff can do it.

First of all...some SUPPORT group! I'm sure that lady was trying to be objective but telling someone they are being unrealistic wasn't really supportive! Secondly...I, for one, am going to do my darndest to try to lose as close to 100% of my excess weight as possible. I'm sure gonna try! So I say, sure...it's possible. Anything is possible!