So, I am down 180 pounds since I started this journey...130 of that since being sleeved last September 24th. I set a goal weight pre-operatively of 180 pounds. I am 36, 5'8", and have a fairly sturdy frame (yay viking blood). I picked 180, wanting to be safely below 200 pounds. I am 15 pounds from that goal. I am now able to wear a size 12 and anywhere from a medium to large up top, and large to extra large on the bottom. Last time I was this size was before junior high! I am really happy at this size. I've got droopy skin and a squishy midsection yet, but my face, neck, shoulders, forearms and hands are looking almost gaunt (for me). I don't really mind if I stay this size, and I am actually a little afraid of getting too scrawny looking in the above mentioned areas. I am going to see my family doctor and talk with her about this, but am interested to know what those who have reached goal and are maintaining think. Should I keep fighting for this last 15, or should I focus on maintenance? Is this just a number I'm hung up on? Thanks!

This is the calculator I found.

http://www.obesitycoverage.com/gastric-bypass-vs-gastric-sleeve-surgery/

LOL! Here's what that calculator (complete with typos) predicted for me:

GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

Your can expect to lose 76 lbs. from gastric bypass surgery. Your new weight will be159 lbs. after gastric bypass surgery.

Learn more about gastric bypass

GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY

Your can expect to lose 65 lbs. from gastric sleeve surgery. Your new weight will be170 lbs. after gastric sleeve surgery.

Learn more about gastric sleeve

LAP BAND SURGERY

Your can expect to lose 54 lbs. from Lap Band surgery. Your new weight will be 181 lbs. after Lap Band surgery.

Surprise, surprise, surprise! I've lost 100 pounds after VSG surgery and now weigh 135 pounds.

Bam!

Great job!!

My original goal was to be at 199# and I dreamed of being 180#

I never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be below 180# ever!

Here I am at 165 looking and feeling great (yet secretly thinking i should be 150# - no one else wants me at that weight)

So it's just a numbers thing for me. My negative body image still plays head games with me - daily.

The struggle for me is real, BUT I am very aware it's not realistic.

If I could afford plastic surgery just to remove all my loose skin, I'd easily be 140#.

But would that make me have a better image of myself??? Probably not.

My goal started as a number - but now my goal is to stay healthy. I just use the scale now for accountability, not to see how far I am away from 150.

So I'm sitting 184-186 these last few weeks...this last 4 is a bugger! Still not sure if I will try for another 6 to make my total weight loss an even 200. But am thinking it is soon time to try for maintenance as I'm starting to get comments about being too skinny and wasting away! Lol

IMHO, you should "try for maintenance" when you are good and ready to do so.

Others' perceptions that you are "too skinny" are grounded in their having seen you for years while you were overweight and obese. Your new look is making them uncomfortable.

Make yourself comfortable! Please yourself.

I haven't had my surgery yet, vent even been to the orientation actually. I know that my goal will be fairly low. Underneath all this excess weight is a tiny person! I'm 5"3 and can still fit my fingers around my wrist and wear a size 6 ring. From what I've read these are indications I have a small frame. However I've been over weight my whole life. Right now I weigh 280. I believe my ideal healthy weight will be in the 120-130 range. I weighed that when I was 10!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I presently am about the size I was at 10 or 12 years of age. I have a ring my mom bought me when I was 9 that in junior high I could only wear on my pinkie, then not at all. Now it's almost too big for me to wear on any digit!