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Surgeon's expectations



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I met with my surgeon yesterday and his expectation for me was less than I had anticipated. I am 5'4" and 239. He said 18 months out he would like to see me at 160 and that was his first goal. I guess I anticipated a short term or more attainable goal like 200 at some point, and that 18-24 months put I would be closer to goal of 140. Is this just relative based on how much effort I put in? I'm super motivated, and was very fit and athletic before weight gain from thyroid cancer/issues/thyroid removal.

How did you guys formulate goals? This is so different for everyone, where do we begin?

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Since you have no thyroid, you'll probably be a slower loser than average. Thus, I suspect your surgeon formulated reasonable goals you can actually attain.

Although I still have a thyroid, I've been hypothyroid for the past 12+ years. I take a daily dose of Levothyroxine for thyroid hormone replacement.

I'm 5'1" and weighed 218 pounds on surgery day. With the exception of the first 2 months, my losses were in the single digit range of 1 to 7 pounds per month.

It took 18 months for me to lose 100 pounds. My weight wanted to settle in the 140s, but I had to incorporate daily running and weightlifting to get the scale to keep moving.

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Yes! I assume I will be slower to lose as well, I suppose. I'm glad you're doing well and trucking along. Thanks for your insight.

Sent from my SM-N920V using BariatricPal mobile app

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I still have my thyroid, but i have Hashimotos. My levels are controlled by synthroid. Prior to surgery, my endo tapered me down from 75 to 50. Im at 50 now. My surgeon thinks i will lose 100lbs in 6 months.
Im almost 3 months out and lost 50lbs already. I don't expect anothe 50lbs in the next 3 months bc my weight loss has slowed, but im okay with that. I think if I lose 10 lbs a month im okay.
I started my journey at 287 and am at about 235.

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Just a quickie here, I was 57YO when I had my RNY. I weighed 249#'s and 232 the day of my surgery. My PA told me that I would be 150#'s by Dec. I had my RNY in July and I lost down to 117#'s. But I did have to have 5Endoscopes with 4 Dialations (kind of like scar tissue) I couldn't hold down anything. But by Jan of 2014 I was at my goal (actually a little below 117) I did gain up to 125#'s. Which I have maintained my weight of 125 to 129#'s for 3 and 1/2 years. BTW I do have to take LEXOTHYROID every day. A small amount of .075. He might have wanted you to set your own goals and he expected that in 18 months you would be at your goal weight. Your kind of lucky because my Dr. never gave me a goal weight only to say that by Dec I would be 150#'s which I blew out of the Water. LOL You just take it easy and don't stress even if it does take you a little longer, IT'S ALL GOOD!!!

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Set your own goals. And go for them with everything you’ve got!!!My Dr was conservative too. I blew past his goal!!!! It definitely has a lot to do with how diligent you are with your diet and how much you’re willing to consistently work out. You can accomplish whatever you want. Best of luck!!!


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My doctor only gave me an over all goal that he wants me to be at by 5 years post surgery. So 18-24 months of loss and then maintenance. His goal for me is 170 with 5 pounds of bounce back incorporated. That's the only goal he set for me, the rest of the goals I set myself at his urging.

That being said I'm also Hypothyriod and a slower loser. I lost a lot right out of the gate but by 6 months I started slowing down. Months 9,10 and 11 I literally lost 1 pound each month. I'm currently sitting at 187, so 12 pounds from my over all goal at almost a year out. The way it's going now it will take me another 12 months to reach my goal if my weightloss stays at a pound a month but I'm hoping it will pick back up after this plateau.

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