Hi,

I began my journey towards being healthy again one year ago, at a starting weight of 308lbs at 5'6", on two BP meds and still with a BP of 140/90, and also on cholesterol meds.

When asked what my goal was, it was just to be healthy, and I thought it would be great to lose enough weight to get off all my meds.

So I began seeing a nutritionist late May, 2018, and started modifying my eating habits, went back to the gym, and did the pre-requisite doctor visits and tests to get approved for surgery.

By December I was down 34-35lbs. and feeling good with a surgery date of January 2, 2019.

Soon after surgery I was able to cut back on my meds. Was happy about that. By early April I was off them completely. Goal accomplished.

So I then said what is my goal. So I picked 215, since I was in pretty good shape when I was at that weight nearly 20 years ago. Beginning of May came around...check. Then I said to myself, I'll strive for a loss of 100lbs. Check.

So then I decided to lose a bit more, to accommodate the inevitable bounce-back.

Today I'm at 199lbs, down a total of 109lbs, and even gained back some muscle. I haven't been this light in 26 years.

So my question is, how do we determine what our final goal should be? I don't go by BMI because I have a rather large bone structure. I've even have the beginnings of a six pack.

How did everyone decide on an ultimate goal?

Hey you look awesome!

I have a goal of getting down AT LEAST 125lbs. Starting weight was 320 so 200lbs for a first goal seems realistic as well as attainable. Once I get there I will reevaluate how i feel and look and then maybe I'll tweak my goal a bit. I was never on any meds like you, but I really like that goal you set. I just want to get to a place where I feel good and I can maintain it too.

Literally me and my Goals... Lol

I'm just going to see where I land

51 minutes ago, Johnny B said:

Hi,

I began my journey towards being healthy again one year ago, at a starting weight of 308lbs at 5'6", on two BP meds and still with a BP of 140/90, and also on cholesterol meds.

When asked what my goal was, it was just to be healthy, and I thought it would be great to lose enough weight to get off all my meds.

So I began seeing a nutritionist late May, 2018, and started modifying my eating habits, went back to the gym, and did the pre-requisite doctor visits and tests to get approved for surgery.

By December I was down 34-35lbs. and feeling good with a surgery date of January 2, 2019.

Soon after surgery I was able to cut back on my meds. Was happy about that. By early April I was off them completely. Goal accomplished.

So I then said what is my goal. So I picked 215, since I was in pretty good shape when I was at that weight nearly 20 years ago. Beginning of May came around...check. Then I said to myself, I'll strive for a loss of 100lbs. Check.

So then I decided to lose a bit more, to accommodate the inevitable bounce-back.

Today I'm at 199lbs, down a total of 109lbs, and even gained back some muscle. I haven't been this light in 26 years.

So my question is, how do we determine what our final goal should be? I don't go by BMI because I have a rather large bone structure. I've even have the beginnings of a six pack.

How did everyone decide on an ultimate goal?

Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment.

So my question is, how do we determine what our final goal should be? I don't go by BMI because I have a rather large bone structure. I've even have the beginnings of a six pack.

Goal is finding a weight you feel healthy at and can maintain long term. BMI is only a guideline.

How did everyone decide on an ultimate goal?

I never really had an ultimate goal. Honestly, I would have been fine at a BMI of overweight and healthy.

My first goal of 140 I pulled it out of the air. Its what I weighed in high school. My lowest weight was 125. I've maintained in the 130's for five years.

You look healthy and happy now…First year out, You can continue to lose and see how you feel. If you don’t feel comfortable at a lower weight you can always gain some back. I wish you the best in what ever you choose.

yep I picked a number I remember feeling good at. I have since lowered that number lol GOALS I usually don't set them.

I wish I had taken more before pics but usually never allowed myself to be on camera. have begun taking progress photos

you look great,.stop when it feels good!

Oh wow, you've lost so much so fast. Way to go! I chose a number in the range of the BMI chart that would be middle-ground for me in the regular weight category (140)

I chose 140 because I remember what I looked like at 140 and I loved it. It's the high-end of the BMI chart for my height (and over on some BMI charts... I have no clue why they vary).... but I don't care. I liked the way I looked then and felt good. If I go lower, then okay. If I am a little over, then okay. 140 is when I was in the midst of my "omg I am sooooo fat" angst, so I want to get there and be like HELL YEAH I AM 140 NOW and appreciate what I had before.

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by mousecat88

15 minutes ago, GradyCat said:

Oh wow, you've lost so much so fast. Way to go! I chose a number in the range of the BMI chart that would be middle-ground for me in the regular weight category (140)

Thank you.

The BMI chart says I should be 150lbs, which would be way too low for me.

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by Johnny B

1 hour ago, Healthy_life2 said:

aCongratulations on your amazing accomplishment.

So my question is, how do we determine what our final goal should be? I don't go by BMI because I have a rather large bone structure. I've even have the beginnings of a six pack.

Goal is finding a weight you feel healthy at and can maintain long term. BMI is only a guideline.

How did everyone decide on an ultimate goal?

I never really had an ultimate goal. Honestly, I would have been fine at a BMI of overweight and healthy.

My first goal of 140 I pulled it out of the air. Its what I weighed in high school. My lowest weight was 125. I've maintained in the 130's for five years.

You look healthy and happy now…First year out, You can continue to lose and see how you feel. If you don’t feel comfortable at a lower weight you can always gain some back. I wish you the best in what ever you choose.

Thanks, I am very happy now. I feel like a much younger and healthier person.

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by Johnny B

37 minutes ago, Avery's Mom said:

yep I picked a number I remember feeling good at. I have since lowered that number lol GOALS I usually don't set them.

I wish I had taken more before pics but usually never allowed myself to be on camera. have begun taking progress photos

you look great,.stop when it feels good!

Yes, that is what I did at first, but now I'm not sure what is right. My general practitioner originally said 215lbs, but I'm below that now.

21 minutes ago, Johnny B said:

Thank you.

The BMI chart says I should be 150lbs, which would be way too low for me.

yeah mine says something ridiculous like 22. I am 5'11" no way is that happening. My current goal is 200 but IDEAL would be 170 if I want to hit that BMI of 24 to be "Normal"

Edited May 30, 20197 yr by Avery's Mom

the normal BMI range for my height tops out at 154 lbs, so I decided I'd shoot for 150. When I got there (actually, when I was about 145), I had a DEXAscan to see how much body fat I had to see how much more I could afford to lose. Answer - not much, since my body fat was at already at 22%, which is OK for women but definitely on the low end. So surprisingly, I was already at my true goal. If you get a DEXAscan (which is one of the better ways of measuring body fat percentage), you have to go to one of those commercial places or places that do them for athletes (e.g., some universities do them). The kind they do at medical clinics just check for bone density - not body composition. Sports/commercial places check for both.

Initially I worked out 60% excess weight loss and rounded to nearest easy number - 30kg. That is a middle range loss based on research across all sleeve patients in a couple of studies and didn’t want to hope too hard that bigger loss would happen even with hard work. Look set to hit that by end of June (sleeved 21st Jan HW 263 SW 258 CW 199)

Pic demonstrates how obsessive I can be when motivated :-). When I got close to that target (2nd target cos I’d set an initial one for first post surgery check up) picked highest end of my BMI range as new ultimate goal, but ramped down expected rate of loss for each 3 months knowing that reduced deficit cos my smaller body will burn less, will have to be offset by extra exercise I may not manage. Will monitor as I go. If more is a miserable slog after goal 4 (12 months) I’ll reassess.

First, you look A-MAAAAAY-ZING. Good job!

Second, regarding goal weight, at first I chose 130 lbs, which was the top end of the healthy BMI range for my height. Then once the weight started coming off, I lowered it to 120 lbs, which is the mid-point of said range.

Just recently I hit 127 and decided to stop going for 120, because I feel like I'm getting too small for my liking. Trying to find my maintenance groove but I seem to still be losing so I may hit 120 anyway...

18 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

First, you look A-MAAAAAY-ZING. Good job!

Second, regarding goal weight, at first I chose 130 lbs, which was the top end of the healthy BMI range for my height. Then once the weight started coming off, I lowered it to 120 lbs, which is the mid-point of said range.

Just recently I hit 127 and decided to stop going for 120, because I feel like I'm getting too small for my liking. Trying to find my maintenance groove but I seem to still be losing so I may hit 120 anyway...

Great job. You’ve lost a tremendous amount of weight. Thanks for the encouragement.

@Johnny B

since the time i was a wee little baby, i said "when i grow up i want to weigh 145 lbs" ?

(i did get to that weight when i was in my 20's for "awhile", then we all know what happened, up up and a way my weight went up!

pre-op i decided i wanted to weigh 145 lbs again!

As i was closing in to goal weight, i knew i could/should lose a little more. Got down to 130 lbs, i look terrific. (cute as a button)? maintenance, little fluctuations

you look great - amazing transformation

love the pic of you and your dog. Both of you look wonderful!

keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life☺️

kathy

congrats