Realistic Goals

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@Sharon1964 - I made a list of things I wanted from my surgery when I started this process. The purpose was to help me from freaking out and keep my eye on the prize. It was an interesting list, and it did have a number which I am fairly sure I can't hit without surgery. I may never do the surgery because frankly I am quite happy where I am. I accomplished all the goals I had initially and am maintaining where I am. I don't think of my weight as a limitation for anything and I can't find any health benefit in losing more. So you might want to factor in my experience as you ponder with coffee.

[CHM 1,011]

My doctor's suggestion for a goal weight is 20 pounds above what I thought it should be.

Mine did the same. When asked if I had a goal weight in mind I'd said 150's (higher end of a normal BMI for my height), but she said she'd rather see me in the 170's on account of my naturally muscular build. I don't care - I'm not commited to any particular number. Once I get below 200 I'll assess how I feel every 10-15 lbs or so to decide when I want to switch to maintenance.

@@Sharon1964 I agree that your new goal is more practical for this stage of your life. Plus in my opinion, its always better to aim a little higher and possibly beat it than it is to aim lower and be disappointed if you don't reach it.

[Julie norton 2,850]

Everyone has their own goal imho .... It could be high school weight... Or just that " I feel normal now" weight.

I believe it is whatever you want your image to be in this world. Hopefully it is healthy for your body size.

It seems to me to also be dependent on where you started... 200+ start is different from 300+ start and also there are those that start at 400+

all those factors mean to me that we each have a goal to be comfortable in this world in our own skin!

[Margie122 845]

Sharon I think you've done amazingly well and if you want to change your goal weight you should. I am thinking of changing mine too. Set it to whatever makes you feel good/comfortable

[nieuwevis 294]

daisee, we're only a few days apart in our surgery dates. you've rocked it girl!

sorry if this has already been mentioned, but what are your plastic surgery goals? i'm 150 this morning (1 lb from "normal" bmi...have never been a normal bmi!), and i love my reflection i always said i wanted to have the figure of a plus sized model, and i'm in an 8 now, but i think with the extra skin gone i'd go down one size, which seems pretty perfect.

@@VSGAnn2014 - no she just meant that given we will likely all have extra skin that 27 BMI is a more realistic goal than say 23 or 24 BMI before we have skin removed due to the extra weight the skin adds. She is none too pleased with me talking plastics yet though. She says to wait until I am at least 18 months post-op minimum. I am 11 months now. I intend to wai t until after summer but not likely until December.... At least for the first round.

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[Daisee68 2,493]

@@nieuwevis - Thanks! I have actually met with a plastic surgeon and scheduled my first surgery just this week for October 13. I went to him when I was at 180 (I am 5'10"). He said I had good muscle tone and felt I was ready to move forward with surgery whenever I was ready. He said IF I was going to lose more, then 5-10 pounds at MOST or I would start looking gaunt (which I DO not want). I have now lost that 10 pounds and am at 170 meaning my BMI is just barely in the "normal" range. My bariatric surgeon said at my 1 year post-op that I had lost 100% of my excess weight and she was happy for me to do plastics whenever. (My NUT says I should wait until at least 18 months post-op but I am not going to wait. All other drs are on board.). I will likely lose a little more after plastics but hopefully can tone up enough (our even gain back a little) that it won't be a problem. My first surgery is a lower body lift (which includes outer thighs, butt lift, extended Tummy Tuck including muscle repair and Mons lift). He will also do arm lift during this surgery. It is and 8-11 hour procedure! My second surgery will be minimum 3 months later and will be breast lift/augmentation and vertical thigh lift. It's a lot of surgery but I am a mess and I am excited for it!!

Did that answer your question? If not, feel free to PM me...

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[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

OK, I gotta ask (not to be a downer, but out of medical curiosity): Is it dangerous to have an 8-11 hour surgery when you're sedated for that long?

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I put down 150 because it sounded good and my surgeon was fine wit it. When I mentioned a goal weight to my PCP he said he would be thrilled with 200. I consider my "goal weight" a pretty arbitrary number for now. Ask me again when I get closer.

[Daisee68 2,493]

@@VSGAnn2014 - To be honest, that is my biggest worry. I have discussed it at length and with a few of his other patients who had the same and apparently it is quite safe. Sounds scary though, doesn't it? Dr assures me it is safer (and cheaper) than going under several different times. He is a specialist with Massive weight loss skin removal / reconstruction. Dr Peter Fisher in San Antonio, TX. I'm trusting his expertise.

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[nieuwevis 294]

@@Daisee68 thank you, it did answer my questions. i'm so excited for you! i hope you'll share that journey with us