Hey my fellow sleeve victims.

I had my 18 month post op follow up visit today. Nothing unusual to report. Everything is fine. I've lost 83% of my excess body weight and gone from a BMI of 52 to 28. It's hard to believe I can it's been 18 months, time flies. But it's been a great time and the best decision I've ever made. This pic I think says it all.

I've come so close to changing my "goal" on my ticker. But if I did that what would I have to b***h about???

Hah I have a feeling you would find SOMETHING to b***h about! ;-P

You said it... Not me!

I'd like to burn that damn chart too.

Some days I'm like why am I chasing this stupid number?? My body is so happy where I'm at right now.. And I look pretty ok. I've come so close to changing my "goal" on my ticker.

But if I did that what would I have to b***h about???

Once I realized I was 2 inches taller than you (I'm 5'6) and that you are now 150, I'm wondering if I've set mine too low.

btw, I've said this before I know, but I think you look AMAZING and if your body is happy, who knows? Maybe you go lower just to prove to yourself that you can, and then come back to this weight

Once I realized I was 2 inches taller than you (I'm 5'6) and that you are now 150, I'm wondering if I've set mine too low. btw, I've said this before I know, but I think you look AMAZING and if your body is happy, who knows? Maybe you go lower just to prove to yourself that you can, and then come back to this weight

Umm.. Yes you set it low!!

Once I realized I was 2 inches taller than you (I'm 5'6) and that you are now 150, I'm wondering if I've set mine too low. btw, I've said this before I know, but I think you look AMAZING and if your body is happy, who knows? Maybe you go lower just to prove to yourself that you can, and then come back to this weight

Umm.. Yes you set it low!!

Hubba hubba!

Laura, thanks for the table, not seen it before but my range on it is 122-153 - and I am currently 144 and aiming for 136-ish. Makes me feel a bit better :-)))))

Hubba hubba!

Girl, step off my man...

Laura, thanks for the table, not seen it before but my range on it is 122-153 - and I am currently 144 and aiming for 136-ish. Makes me feel a bit better :-)))))

I like that chart, at 47 and 149 pounds it puts me at a "normal" weight..

A member here posted it and I actually saved it to keep me in check..

They had a men's version too, I wish I had saved that one also

Hubba hubba!

You seem to be doing quite well yourself. Congrats to you.

You said it... Not me!

I'd like to burn that damn chart too.

Some days I'm like why am I chasing this stupid number?? My body is so happy where I'm at right now.. And I look pretty ok. I've come so close to changing my "goal" on my ticker.

But if I did that what would I have to b***h about???

I've also come close to changing my goal. That "normal" number really does drive me....but not sure how accurate it really is. I like the chart you posted better, and I think it's probably more accurate. At my current weight, I look fairly "normal", though I know I would be better of with another 20 pounds gone. I'm having a hard time picturing myself at 145, which puts me just barely in the normal BMI category. Right now, I'm still "obese". I guess I'm just going to play it by ear.

I've also come close to changing my goal. That "normal" number really does drive me....but not sure how accurate it really is. I like the chart you posted better, and I think it's probably more accurate. At my current weight, I look fairly "normal", though I know I would be better of with another 20 pounds gone. I'm having a hard time picturing myself at 145, which puts me just barely in the normal BMI category. Right now, I'm still "obese". I guess I'm just going to play it by ear.

It's interesting for me to watch all of you who are further along wrestle with the BMI chart. I'm seeing how much it drives all of us, and wondering what others ways there are for us to set our goals.

I mean, some alternatives could be:

• you get to a certain size and then you stop. I think I might shoot for a size 8. that seems reasonable? I don't know. the size 8's look tiny to me now but that might change as I get closer to them.
• you get to a certain body fat percentage. I am currently aiming for 25% which is well within healthy ranges.
• you get to where you can eat about 1300-1500 calories a day and not put on weight and you can maintain your weight easily. That seems like a decent amount of food for women, yes? Quite "normal"?

Have any of you considered setting goals based on these or similar criteria? Wondering if that is a realistic approach.

It's interesting for me to watch all of you who are further along wrestle with the BMI chart. I'm seeing how much it drives all of us, and wondering what others ways there are for us to set our goals.

I mean, some alternatives could be:

• you get to a certain size and then you stop. I think I might shoot for a size 8. that seems reasonable? I don't know. the size 8's look tiny to me now but that might change as I get closer to them.
• you get to a certain body fat percentage. I am currently aiming for 25% which is well within healthy ranges.
• you get to where you can eat about 1300-1500 calories a day and not put on weight and you can maintain your weight easily. That seems like a decent amount of food for women, yes? Quite "normal"?

Have any of you considered setting goals based on these or similar criteria? Wondering if that is a realistic approach.

So something that my surgeon said at a bariatric "motivational" speech (aimed at all his post-op peeps...from the 3 diff. types of surgeries he performs) was this: (I will summarize)

I don't care about the BMI chart ...and frankly I don't care what you "weigh". (He went on to say he wished that they didn't even have to weigh us at all of our appointments...) Are you happier NOW (post-op) than you were when you first came to see me? Are you out living the life you thought you wanted, and are you doing the things that you weren't able to do before, when the extra weight was holding you back?

So as much as he is still a surgeon and still all about the "numbers" he gets it. He gets that all this number chasing is really NOT what this journey is about. It's about being happy with WHO you are, and enjoying the success that comes with losing the extra weight. Not to say you shouldn't strive or try harder or be about the numbers, but life, to me, is MORE than the number blinks up on my scale each week.

Especially since this is posted in the Vet's Forum...let's all do a little more happy dancing about losing weight. No matter where we ARE or what we WEIGH, we are all a lot better off than who we "were" when we first decided to step into the office of a bariatric surgeon. And that is a GOOD thing!

You look so much younger Butter, and sporty! You have really made this all work for you, and have been generous to others on the way. Congrats!

M2G, always pleased to do a little happy dance, helps get my exercise in:-)

Love what your surgeon says - being happy with who you are is a life changer. Will keep those words.

And, for me, being happy makes me less likely to slide back. It's a great life as a recent veteran sleever, as I groove around the room doing a slinky happy dance - more Tinkerbell, less Dumbo for the first time in my life :-)))))

I think that's why my surgeon didn't set a "goal"

For me.. That number was picked by me because of the info you put on this site.... Hey it's Alex's fault!!

***Laura runs to get a pitchfork to lead an uprising against the man***

This surgery was about getting healthy.

I'm off my meds I'm not going to kill over from a heart attack anytime soon. Oh an I look damn good compared to last year... GOAL!!