Dear Doctor, I've had Bariatric Surgery, Will I Ever get to a Normal Weight?

https://www.obesityaction.org/community/article-library/dear-doctor-ive-had-bariatric-surgery-will-i-ever-get-to-normal-weight/

Health Improvements
The best news is that you don’t have to get back to a “normal weight” to achieve incredible health benefits after bariatric surgery. The average bariatric surgery patient sees a dramatic reduction in the number of medications they need to take to control their obesity-related medical problems and a significant improvement in their quality of life even if their final body mass index is still in the “overweight” or “obese” range. In fact, I find in my own practice that if a patient tries to force their weight down to what would be considered “normal,” many times they don’t feel very good and often times don’t look very healthy (that Skeletor look!). I always encourage patients to focus on getting back to a “better” weight for them, not necessarily what society considers a “normal” weight.
In summary, some bariatric surgery patients will achieve a “normal” weight but most will not. If you don’t reach a “normal” weight, well, that just makes you normal!

Answer provided by:
Lloyd Stegemann, MD, FASMBS, is a private practice bariatric surgeon in Corpus Christi, TX. He is the driving force behind the Texas Weight-loss Surgery Summit and the formation of the Texas Association of Bariatric Surgeons. Dr. Stegemann is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, OAC National Board of Directors, Co-chair of the Convention Program Agenda Subcommittee and is Chair of the OAC Sponsored Membership Program.

Good article, thanks for sharing!

Nobody gas ever accused me of being normal let alone average, but if I can become the bestest slimmest healthiest Frustr8 possible, I will be satisfied with whatever occurs. Of cours3 if I make it down to less than 200lbs let alone the 175lb I truly desire, you will hear me shouting and singing to the farthest reaches of the Universe!

Do any of you know why a healthy BMI usually looks so malnourished and ghoulish?

2 minutes ago, sassfordays said:

Do any of you know why a healthy BMI usually looks so malnourished and ghoulish?

I don't think people in general look bad at a healthy BMI. I do think many of us look bad for a while when we lose weight rapidly. I feel like the woman in the mirror has aged 20 years! Hopefully, as the body fat has the opportunity to re-"settle", my face will fill out a bit and I will look a bit less like my mother. Not that I didn't love my mother, but . . .

2 hours ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

I don't think people in general look bad at a healthy BMI. I do think many of us look bad for a while when we lose weight rapidly. I feel like the woman in the mirror has aged 20 years! Hopefully, as the body fat has the opportunity to re-"settle", my face will fill out a bit and I will look a bit less like my mother. Not that I didn't love my mother, but . . .

It's interesting that you mention the "re-settling" part, because my friend who had RNY 3 years ago, she talks about this all the time. She had surgery in October. She said by that following summer she was at her goal weight. However, she said by the next summer, she was the same exact weight, but she looked completely different. I saw pictures and she is completely right, she does look different. Her weight "re-settled" and she looks smaller to say the least.

Thank you for this. I really want my surgery, never doubt this. But is is strange where I am losing weight, my forearms and wrists? Maybe it is advancing old age nut I now have hope after the shock of weight loss to the Old girl and her body, things will eventually,smooth out. Now when I am mean to me, and sorry,to say, I still am I think Scrawny and SWOLLEN, this just can't be!

14 minutes ago, Frustr8 said:

Thank you for this. I really want my surgery, never doubt this. But is is strange where I am losing weight, my forearms and wrists? Maybe it is advancing old age nut I now have hope after the shock of weight loss to the Old girl and her body, things will eventually,smooth out. Now when I am mean to me, and sorry,to say, I still am I think Scrawny and SWOLLEN, this just can't be!

Well, I'm not likely to be the bluebird of happiness here! So far my arms and shoulders have slimmed way down, but the swelling in my legs is as "lovely" as ever. Mind you, I have lost some weight in my legs, fat (I assume), but it hasn't affected the swelling at all. However, getting rid of some of the leg fat has allowed my true-blue varicose veins to come shining thru!

Edited June 26, 20188 yr by Orchids&Dragons

You are still my bluebird? even on the days you feel like a turkey.
Dang I did want to get rid of my fat swollen legs, no not chop them off, just have the go back to cute and shapely, too much water under the bridge now I'm an UGLY ravine. Maybe it still helps with flood control? Didn't want Arroyo as a middle name, unless a confirmation name and I'm pretty sure the calender of Saints doesn't have a single Saint,of Blessed Arroyo among them. Got a lot of weird unused in the Americas one. There isn't a St Pied-sur'Bouche, by chance is there? That would be French for Foot in Mouth, yeah too much to hope for. Best to stick with St. Peter, he might understand me after all. Would it help if I stuck my feet up in the air? Yeouch there goes the Old spine too. By the time of my age you feel like a bag of doorknobs and left over demo leavings, but then life be what life be! Tomkitten is getting spider veins, told him the next step is variocosities.

5 hours ago, AshAsh1 said:

It's interesting that you mention the "re-settling" part, because my friend who had RNY 3 years ago, she talks about this all the time. She had surgery in October. She said by that following summer she was at her goal weight. However, she said by the next summer, she was the same exact weight, but she looked completely different. I saw pictures and she is completely right, she does look different. Her weight "re-settled" and she looks smaller to say the least.

Maybe that is what I will say after I get my plastics. My weight resettled into my boobs, lol!

4 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

But is is strange where I am losing weight, my forearms and wrists?

My watch and ring were loose on me before my clothes were.

On 06/26/2018 at 22:45, sillykitty said:

My watch and ring were loose on me before my clothes were.

That is awesome news for me! My beautiful rings are in my medicine cabinet from my huge fingers! I’m starting my pre-op diet tomorrow so hopefully rings soon!