How much weight will we expect to lose? Gastric Sleeve

[BurBur 113]

Before surgery, I felt like dieting was the equivalent of holding my breath. I could do it for a while, I could see super success, but eventually I had to breathe! I couldn't hold up the massive amount of will power necessary to continue on a path to a healthy life. It was like contending with an insatiable monster in my tummy who was always hungry and always in control of my thoughts and actions. I felt like I could not win no matter how hard I tried, and each attempt I made to over throw the monster left me weaker and fatter and sicker until I weighed 474 lbs and suffered from diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. It's been a little over a year and I weigh 265 now and I lose about 10 lbs a month still. I've lost the percentage that is normal, but I plan to continue losing. Sure, my dream is to make it all the way to 160, but this surgery was enormously successful already! Even if don't lose another pound. My diabetes is in remission, my hypertension is gone, my cholesterol is low, I don't take any meds, but the most amazing part is--THE MONSTER IS DEAD! When I eat, it feels like a choice I make for myself and that feeling is soo good, so incredible to me. I know if I'm careless, I could let the monster back in. That's a scary prospect that pops in my mind from time to time, but presently, the surgery helped me to overcome something I just could not do on my own.

As you think about your own decision to proceed with surgery, consider not only what it can do for you right now, but what it may help you prevent for your future self. Sure, it's possible you might not get to your goal weight and/or maintain it for life, but you may never see yourself get bigger than you are now. You may prevent future health problems, and it will absolutely give you a stronger shot at success that you might not be able to achieve on your own volition. This is a big, big decision and goodness knows, I had major problems with my sleeve that resulted in terrible stent experience and ultimately a revision which I just had done, but I would do it all again knowing all that I know now. Very worth it!

Consider that the the average weight loss for "most" is with little effort and happens in the first 6 months after surgery. If you are willing to risk the surgery and put in effort through diet change and exercise, you WILL reach your goals and be happy. Cheers!

[lzucks 232]

@BurBur this was so well said! Congrats on the amazing success you’ve had.

[sideeye 1,440]

Your psychologist is correct, and also being responsible in telling you that 60% of excess weight is the average expectancy. She’s also not a “beeyotch” - she’s a medical professional allowing you to make a factual decision based on statistics. If it doesn’t match with your expectations, then re-examine your expectations because those are the facts. Basing expectations on hope or aspirations is not a winning strategy.

Many of us here have lost that 60% or more. We’re a self-selecting success group and overrespresent in the bariatric pool, since those who didn’t lose what they expected are less likely to spend much time in a community like this one. Similarly, the “this is how you achieve 60%+ loss” advice is coming from that same biased pool, which might indicate correlation rather than causation. Not saying the advice is wrong, just that it’s not foolproof.

If the 60% metric is actually changing the way you think about the surgery, then it’s a good thing you heard it now.

[summerset 5,261]

9 hours ago, sideeye said:

Many of us here have lost that 60% or more. We’re a self-selecting success group and overrespresent in the bariatric pool, since those who didn’t lose what they expected are less likely to spend much time in a community like this one.

I think this is something to keep in mind (like really keeping in the mind): "self-selecting success group", especially when it comes to the old timers.

How many not-successful old timers are there writing regularly on the boards? Not many, if any.

Sometimes someone with regain after several years of having WLS pops up but they never seem to stick around for long, only for a few posts (and I can absolutely understand why they don't want to hang around).

[allwet 868]

21 hours ago, sideeye said:

We’re a self-selecting success group and overrespresent in the bariatric pool, since those who didn’t lose what they expected are less likely to spend much time in a community like this one. Similarly, the “this is how you achieve 60%+ loss” advice is coming from that same biased pool, which might indicate correlation rather than causation.

If you remove the WLS from this post you are talking about Social Media in general and our current culture. Self selecting for the only the outcomes we agree with.

So much truth in that post

[jesseycakes 103]

When I went to talk to my surgeon, he asked me what I wanted my weight to be. It is half of what I started out as. He told me it was completely doable. 265 down to 130ish. The 60% loss is just an average. If you want it, work at it. Of course I am just starting out, so I can't tell you I've done it. But he also told me that he had to go in and fix someones sleeve because the person went home and ate a full thanksgiving dinner and busted her stitches. So... There are those who can't do it. They are the ones who only lose the little amount.

[LadySin 404]

1 hour ago, jesseycakes said:

...he had to go in and fix someones sleeve because the person went home and ate a full thanksgiving dinner and busted her stitches. So... There are those who can't do it. They are the ones who only lose the little amount...

Sorry if I'd been on call that night I would have been pissed. Off. Royally. Would not have said a word outside my head, but inside? Baaaaby! A terrible place to be indeed!

Edited December 18, 2018 by LadySin

[summerset 5,261]

It shows just how strong food addiction really is. It's a bit like seeing a patient smoking a cigarette the day after he lost part of his leg due to arteriosclerosis.

[Darci kendall 87]

Everyone is different it all matters what weight you start at and how committed you are .I started at 217 I’m going into my 8th Month down 70 lbs .Went from a 16 w to an 8 but prefer a 10 for the fit .

[summerset 5,261]

On 12/17/2018 at 1:24 AM, sideeye said:

If the 60% metric is actually changing the way you think about the surgery, then it’s a good thing you heard it now.

These 60-%-studies are also usually about longer time spans, e. g. 5 years. That's a (maybe quite depressing) thing to remember as well.

[madscientistmommy 124]

I am 48, 5’5” and I was 255 lbs at my highest. I lost 21 lbs before surgery on May 9, 2018 and I am now around 153, give or take a lb. I want to get to 145 but I was slowed down by a bum knee and also the holidays. My surgeon just said I am a super responder, so I think I have lost more than most.