Surgeons who won't set a goal?

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

Worrying about the future is 'borrowing' trouble, you don't want this to be a 'I have to get to goal ' battle or you might feel like a failure if you struggle long and hard to get to a number. So many factors will influence your end goal - health, heredity, lifestyle, etc. So relax and take the journey, appreciate all the steps, and follow the guidelines and be good to yourself. It's not willpower - that suggests you are deficient and have to correct a defect, it's commitment to yourself which is a positive - like committing to school or marriage....good luck.

Edited August 20, 2017 by Sosewsue61

[pwrtp 41]

My surgeon refused to set a goal and now I understand why. Everyone is different

[KartMan 58]

I would say set your BMI goal to the upper und of normal (24.9). You can always reassess once you get there.

[KartMan 58]

Weldone! I alsohad the reduce blood preasure, i had melignent hypertention, blured vision headaches, on high dose of meds. was completely of my meds in under 2 weeks , because my bp was going low ! [emoji4] so amazing. i have not even lost much but the change is just amazing

Good for you! Weight loss is only part of the story. Reducing or ending those comorbidities is equally important.

[leebick 448]

We never set a goal. I cranked along, lost weight steadily, for about 6 months. Since then, life has intervened, I've been pretty lazy about hitting the gym, had 3 vacations this summer, etc. I haven't gained any weight, but I haven't lost any more, either, and my 1-year visit is in a month. I need to get back on the wagon and move further into health!

One thing my surgeon did at my 9-month visit which threw me a bit: She asked me what I want to weigh! I'd never thought about that! I told her probably about 160-165. She said that sounds like a good goal for me, given my age, etc. She said I should shoot for 106-175, with 170 being the "warning" point. Well, I've not gotten down that far yet, but today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I'm working on it again.

I decided I'd not worry about weight goals and such, just stick to my eating plan and get back to the gym. I have spent my entire life focused on what I weigh, what the numbers on the scale say, and letting that dictate how I feel about myself. I didn't have this surgery so I could spend the rest of my life focused on these things, too. I feel good, I like how I look, and I am happy. If I never lose another ounce, I am SO glad I had this surgery! (but I know I can lose another 20 or so pounds!)

[Zillah 8]

No real plan from my surgeon or nutritionist, but they give tips on how to keep the process going. Everyone's body is different and it will stabilize, but I have my own goal and plan to get there. Maybe it may be better to consult your primary doctor to determine height/weight goals and a plan.

[sunmeadow 82]

My surgeon didn't give me a goal either. He said we should wait to see how things go and kept repeating not to drink my calories and to make sure I'm exercising.

His nurse said "keep your goals close", which I took to mean short-term, easily attainable goals. I told her I don't really care about goals as long as the numbers continue to go down.

I think that right after surgery, the only goal is to get your Protein and fluids in and get moving. It's not the time to be worrying about the long-term big picture.

I'm at 5 weeks and I'm still struggling with getting back to semi-normal eating. After being restricted for so long between the pre- and post-op liquids and the early post-op stages, it's hard to remember what I was doing when I was eating normal, healthy food (I lost almost 40 lbs. in the 4 months before I started the pre-op liquid diet just from following the nutritionist's guidelines and tracking).

[SpindleCity 9]

After meeting with the dietician today, she explained the practice feels strongly that it is success to get their patients stably below a BMI of 30, which eliminates a significant amount of the comorbidities. Beyond that, they don't want patients to get derailed by specific weight loss goals that will be achievable at different paces for different people.

That said, she referred back to the 60-70% of excess body weight average for sleeve/bypass WLS as a general guideline of what to expect following the program.

So, my weight goal would vary between 149 if I was targeting a "healthy" BMI of 25 for my height; or 169 if I was targeting an "overweight, not obese" 30 BMI; or 180 if it was about losing 65% of excess body weight; or ... So, yeah, I guess I get their point. They want me to focus on the process right now, and reforming my habits/thinking.

[Sullie06 1,047]

My surgeon gave me a range he thought I could sit comfortably in which was 175-190 based on my height and build. I'm currently bouncing between 192-195 so I'm pretty close. He also stated he did not want me below 170 as he thinks it would be to drastic for my frame.

My NUT based her goal on the percentage of excess fat that people typically lose with the sleeve and I've surpassed that already so according to her if I went into maintenance now I would be "successful".

[sassy683 184]

My surgeon asked me what my goal weight was and I told him 165-170 and he then asked me would I be comfortable at 155-160. I told him yes and pretty much that was it

[LittleLizzieLilliput 919]

for me a goal weight is totally arbitrary and unrealistic. Ive been obese since I was 19, the idea anyone would know what is a good weight for me is unrealistic. I have pounds of extra skin, Ive never been at a healthy weight as an adult and we have no idea what i will look or feel like as I get closer. Now that I'm in striking distance of the mid to low 100's i'm setting a size goal of size 6. We have NO idea what that means in lbs and I feel it's healthier for me to not set a goal weight that I may not be capable of meeting.