I ask bc my surgeon really didn't give me a goal number. She just said I would get to 225 with little effort. My primary are doc wants me to land in the 130s. I'm 5'6 and started at 314. I was sleeved on 2-3 and my goal is

137. How realistic is it for me to get to 137? I am cleared to start cardio on Monday (can't wait). Plz tell me what you have done to lose the weight??

Dairy Fairy & Madam, thank you

Wags, well I'm now in Missouri, so KU is the arch enemy to Mizzou (my grad school:)

Well, my goodness! NOW we have to be arch enemies!! :-). Now I know why you have ZOU in your name :-) !!!!

Well, my goodness! NOW we have to be arch enemies!! :-). Now I know why you have ZOU in your name :-) !!!!

Yep guilty, I'm a Mizzou girl we may be arch enemies for college sports, but we will always be sleeve sisters

I'm 5'6" starting weight 254 and I've been at 135 almost two years. At 19 I weighed 118. I set my goal weight higher because I'm nearly 60 and I didn't think the smaller size would look good on me now.

Your starting weight is higher so I suspect you may have more weight in extra skin when you get to goal. Mist doctors are happy if you get to overweight BMI. 135 puts you at 21.8 BMI squarely in the middle of normal.

I followed my plan closely, eating lean Protein, nonfat dairy, no starchy veggies and fruit in that order. I didn't eat any grains for several months following surgery and when I do eat them it's mostly whole grains. In maintenance, I eat around 1200 calories per day.

Lynda

Yep guilty, I'm a Mizzou girl we may be arch enemies for college sports, but we will always be sleeve sisters

You are right! Sleeve sisters we are :-)

I have another sleeve sister who was sleeved on the exact same day I was and her name is Mizzougirl!

I guess I'm bound to be friends with some Tigers after all :-)

Linda

You are right! Sleeve sisters we are :-)

I have another sleeve sister who was sleeved on the exact same day I was and her name is Mizzougirl!

I guess I'm bound to be friends with some Tigers after all :-)

Linda

We tigers are pretty easy friends to be made

I'm 5'6" starting weight 254 and I've been at 135 almost two years. At 19 I weighed 118. I set my goal weight higher because I'm nearly 60 and I didn't think the smaller size would look good on me now. Your starting weight is higher so I suspect you may have more weight in extra skin when you get to goal. Mist doctors are happy if you get to overweight BMI. 135 puts you at 21.8 BMI squarely in the middle of normal. I followed my plan closely, eating lean Protein, nonfat dairy, no starchy veggies and fruit in that order. I didn't eat any grains for several months following surgery and when I do eat them it's mostly whole grains. In maintenance, I eat around 1200 calories per day. Lynda

Hi Lynda, we are so similar! 5' 6" and started at 253. (Even the same name - mine is Linda). I am at 153 now at 9 months out. My goal is 150 - 24.9 BMI, but secretly I would like to go lower for wiggle room. 135 would be a dream. I have never been small. I think I weighed 118 when I was born! (My poor mom) :-)

Linda

Wags, was it easy to feel the restriction during the puréed phase? Just curious

I didn't feel great restriction until I was in the solid food phase. I wasn't really hungry during the puréed and soft food phases, but the real strong feeling of restriction happened with solid food.

Hi Lynda, we are so similar! 5' 6" and started at 253. (Even the same name - mine is Linda). I am at 153 now at 9 months out. My goal is 150 - 24.9 BMI, but secretly I would like to go lower for wiggle room. 135 would be a dream. I have never been small. I think I weighed 118 when I was born! (My poor mom) :-)

Linda

Just keep working it. I don't recommend having much wiggle room. For me, wiggle room lets me overeat till I hit the new high weight I've decided is OK for me. Ever vigilant, ever at goal is working for me so far. If I'm not vigilant, I'm not at goal. I still love to eat junk and snack between meals so I have to keep an eye on that behavior so it's a treat, not a day to day thing.

Lynda

Wags,

Who do you root for, for March Madness? I went to the University of Kentucky, was there when Pitino was there, basketball is a religion in that state, so I'm a Kentucky girl at heart

Born and raised Kentucky girl. You're right-basketball is a religion here. :-)

My doctor says that 30% of body weight is easily lost with surgery realistically. The remainder had to be lost through determination and will. I was slightly discouraged when I first heard him say as I have definitely loads more to lose than 30%. However, I truly believe as long as I strive on, I will definitely be able to make it.

Wow...130's? My doctor set my goal at 180 and I'm 5'4". He said that would be a healthy goal weight and if I wanted to go lower that was up to me. It sounds like you are doing fabulous so far and you are on the right track! Just keep up the great work. A number on the scale is just that, a number on the scale. : )

My doc and I discussed goal weight and nothing was set in stone. He said to focus on eating the right things (obviously Protein first) and exercising. My surgery was 2/10 and so far, have lost 15 pounds since the day of surgery and I lost 10 pounds during the pre-op diet. While my weight loss has not been as significant as some, 25 pounds in 5 weeks for me is, well, it has never happened before. I set a goal of 139 and I am only 5'2" however I am blessed with genes that allow me to put on significant lean muscle with resistance training. I am treating myself to a gym membership right down the road from my house so I can really focus and track my actual activity. I also chose that weight because I have been there before and was comfortable at that weight. I think it just comes down to the individual and where the comfort zone lies for that person.

Sometimes setting such rigid goal weights upon ourselves ultimately leads us to feeling like failures if we do not meet them. Perhaps figuring out a bit higher weight goal just for yourself might be a little better on your psyche. Not to say you'd never make your lower goal... it's just that I've been around a long time and I've seen those who don't make their super low weight goals suffer mentally for it.

All that said, I do believe that with the VSG any goal is achievable. But I think that everyone's number one goal should just be to become fit and medically healthy.