What is a realistic WL monthly target?

[BajanSleeve 244]

I am now 4 weeks and 1 day post VSG. I am not really loosing further weight and I know I have to reign in on my calorie tracking and start an exercise routine I joined fitnesspal to track calories and I am starting the treadmill for 30 minutes a day from tomorrow (my doctor recommended exercise from 4 weeks)

For all you VSG'ers, what would you say is a realistic WL target to set monthly? Or what did you personally loose each month for the first 3 months post surgery? I know we are all different but just wanting to hear individual experiences as a guideline. I was told that the first 8 months after the VSG is the magic window when I should focus on loosing as much weight as possible and being strict with myself.

I have set 10 lbs as a goal to have lost by the end of July. That is 2 lbs per week. Being that I am only supposed to have a maximum of 1000 calories per day more like 900 idealistically, I figure 2 lbs a week is realistic.

Looking forward to your feedback, especially female VSG's in your late 40's (like moi)

[LaLaDee 519]

I think having any expectation around weight loss is difficult. It’s really going to depend on:

- how long ago your surgery was (it’s faster right after, it definitely slows down after 6 months

- age/height/gender (never ever compare yourself to a 20 something male!!)

- current weight (if your BMI is very high, you can reasonably expect a higher loss)

- activity levels and exercise

- your diet (how closely are you following it? What are your calories/macros? Some plans target faster weight loss, eg Keto, some aim for you to lose slow and steady.

- other factors, eg your hormones, gut microbiome).

Even then, there will be fluctuations. Some months you will lose more and some less. This is a long road for some of us. And you will stall, and then suddenly you will drop a few rounds really quickly. And it will be annoying.

My advice is to be patient and honest with yourself. If it is weight loss is slow, assess how you can improve without beating yourself up!

[GreenTealael 25,599]

I agree, there's no exact way to tell how much YOU will lose BUT ultimately your success will depend on your physiology and commitment. One thing you are in total control over so go hard core with following your plan.

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

I'm with @LaLaDee. My goals are more about eating on plan and exercising regularly and just let the weight fall where it will. What happens if I miss my "number" but drop a pant size? Do I Celebrate or sulk? I think we should set goals that are within our power to accomplish. None of us can control the weird-a$$ fluctuations of the demented scale!

[Happy2lose13 14]

I just had my 5 week follow up today and they said they want to see 35 percent of excess weight lost by 3 months. My excess weight from day of surgery was 100 lbs, so I hope to be down at least 35 pounds by 3 months. Today at week 5 I’m down 22 lbs so I’m on a good path.

[Seahawks Fan 771]

Realistically I lose inches when I don’t have weight loss. There’s no real answer to this question.

[Sleeved36 356]

Everyone is right, there is no exact answer.

If you follow your surgeon's plan, work with the nutritionist, and exercise you will lose weight and inches.

And gain so much more! Checkout the NSV thread, it is my favorite

[magpie26 244]

Your surgeon gives you goals, or in my case, my nutritionist. She said about 2 pounds a week. But with stalls and Fluid retention and all the stuff that happens in life I don't think there is a goal. After 2 stalls in only 11 weeks I've just said to myself, "it's going to be what it's going to be" because I know I'm doing what I'm what I'm supposed to be doing, although I'm not getting enough fluids sometimes and I should exercise more but I do more everday. My mom, who had WLS, 13 years ago keeps saying, have you ever lost XYZ amount of pounds in X amounts of time? The answer is always no, so now I roll with it.

[Happy2lose13 14]

On 07/05/2018 at 07:00, Sleeved36 said:

Everyone is right, there is no exact answer.

If you follow your surgeon's plan, work with the nutritionist, and exercise you will lose weight and inches.

And gain so much more! Checkout the NSV thread, it is my favorite

Which thread?

[Sleeved36 356]

Non scale victories

Everyone posts all the wonderful ways thier lives have improved since surgery. Good read!

[YeahOkay31 652]

I will be the first to chime in with numbers. This came from the nutritionists within my surgeon’s practice. You should expect to lose 8-12 pounds a month for the first 6 months. Then 6-8 pounds for the next 6 months.

That being said everyone is different and if you are coming in with only 50 pounds to lose it’s going to go much slower. Try not to compare. It will drive you crazy.

[SleeveinIL 386]

My doctor gave me an average. He said many people lose between 10 - 20 lbs a month. He added the caveat that doesn't happen for everyone. It is dependent on the person, how much they have to lose, etc. I tend to get hung up on the scale and the numbers but now if I see I don't drop any pounds for a few days, I am not so obsessed with it. Trust me, I was obsessed - weighing myself multiple times/day. Inches are coming off when I am not losing. I am eating correctly and am exercising and I feel great. As long as you follow the program, you will lose.