I think I already know the answer to this, but I'm gonna ask anyway. My start weight is 239. 5'5" bmi of 40. We went overt goal weight and theirs is to be at 185 within 12-15 months. My goal is 140 in a shorter amount of time? Will I really get to MY goal? Their goal is not impressive. Could I just do this myself? Or is this what they have to say to mark it a success? Will I have to exercise like a banshee to get to my goal weight? Why shouldn't I just exercise like a banshee to get to their goal weight and just skip the surgery. Ugh. I'm totally not looking go a magic bullet and look forward to exercising and having a strong body again. I was all set on this and now I'm wondering as I sit in the docs office waiting for my fitness consultation.

One thing to keep in mind is that only 5 percent of people who lose weight thru diet and exercise alone are able to maintain the loss long term. That percentage is much higher for people who have had WLS.

Let me ask you something - have you tried to lose the weight on your own?

I have been dieting since I was 10 years old. I'd be successful in the beginning but eventually I'd plateau and get frustrated, then gain the weight back plus another 10 lbs! It was a vicious cycle and I decided I needed to try something different. I did a lot of research before I opted for the sleeve.

I can't tell you why they gave you an "unimpressive" goal number. It could be for the benefit of their practice stats, it could be something else. You certainly aren't bound to it - if you surpass it and then some then GREAT! My surgeon didn't give me a goal number at all. He said a weight in the healthy BMI range is important but that the number isn't absolute. It doesn't account for muscle-fat ratio. He told me getting my waist size under 30 inches is equally important with my family history of diabetes.

As for exercise - working out like a banshee is required for effective weight loss (surgery or not). There's really not much getting around it. Can't think of too many people who got to goal without regular exercise. I know a lot of people hate to do it but exercise has so many more health benefits than just weight loss. For me, I have been off antidepressants for over 3 years because I started working out 4-5x a week. For me it has been much more effective than pills.

food for thought.

My surgeon and PAs never discussed a goal weight with me. Maybe they will when I am closer to goal. I think they've left it open bc it's really up to me....

I went from 235 to 163 in 6 months!

I went from 235 to 163 in 6 months!

Thank you. I guess I just needed to hear that it IS possible for me to get below 185.!!!! I had read about this in another thread that docs will give you the stats of 60 % weight loss.

Many docs don't give goal numbers. I specifically asked and the PA said 161 is what the computer set my goal at. I'm 5'3" and at 168 currently. I know I will go below their # as I'm only 9 weeks post op. I just happened to lose a lot prior to surgery. So every "BODY" is different. It will find it's comfort zone and settle in.

I'm 5'8" and I weigh 270ish ... they set my goal weight to 150. I guess each doctor is just different.

From years and years is a serious athlete, I believe that goal weights and BMI's are BS. sure they can be directionally good, but to me it ends there.

You should have a goal shape, a goal size and a goal feeling. Those are the things that matter! How healthy are you? How well do your clothes fit? If you gotten rid of the threatening risk factors for diabetes,heart problems, another chronic diseases? Are you comfortable in your own skin? Can you run, play, engage in a normal martial sex life?

To me, that is when goal is reached!

I started at 238.4, I'm not quite 4 months out, exercise practically never, and I'm already at 193.6 (feeling like a slow loser compared to most on here!). So that puts me at within a half pound of your starting weight and already less than 10 lbs to their goal weight in 4 months, and I am by no means super strict about diet or exercise! So I think they're being very conservative. 140 is my goal too and my surgeon expects me to hit it around 12-15 months.