So just a little history: I am 42, , 5’11 and spent a good 10 years of life competing in women’s bodybuilding and also did trail running and half marathons before injuries, peri menopause, and a car accident caused me to gain a lot of weight over a few years. My surgeon is insisting that my goal weight be 150-155 lbs. I have not weighed this even when I was bodybuilding and completely shredded with a full 6 pack. He even tried to get me to switch from VSG to bypass because he felt it would help me lose more weight. I started out at 339 pre surgery and am down to 308 at 4 weeks post. There is no way that I feel I could ever weigh 150lbs as I would be skin and bones! Has anyone had a higher goal weight being taller or having more muscle mass than an average person? Did your muscle mass help or hinder your progress with weight loss? I have my long term goal weight in my head as 199lbs and I’m being told that I would still be obese at this and it isn’t a good goal for me to have.

Im almost 37 and 5'11 and my starting weight is 294. When I was given my goal weight it was 185. Like you I just wanted to be 199! Im surprised our goal weight is so low. I have surgery on the 19th so Im still pre-op but every appointment I go to my goal weight has never changed. They figured it out for ma based on a math equation. Good luck.

It's your body.

Good luck,

Tek

I am 5'10" and have always been tall and solidly built. Even in high school when I was athletic, I weighed 160-170. My HW was 374. I lost 50 lbs on my own prior to surgery and 80 since. I had RNY in December 2020.

I had a follow up appointment last week and asked a question similar to yours of one of the program doctors. I asked what my goal weight was as I didn't recall ever being given one. I said I realized that to be considered normal BMI, I would have still have to lose a considerable amount. I said that while I still am actively losing, if I never lost another pound, I would consider the surgery a success given the improved health and ease of movement that I've regained. The doctor stated that my program does not give goal weights nor rigidly follow BMI guidelines as every individual is different. Improved health and wellness is what the goal is.

If I ever see 199, I'll be thrilled just to say I was once again in the 100's. I can't imagine being 150-155. I don't aspire to be that just so I can be considered a success in someone's statistics. It IS my body. I am 100% working the program provided to me. Even during preparation classes, questions were answered with what the best practice is for any situation but they also addressed the questions from a realistic standpoint. Coffee and alcohol were examples: the advice was not to consume but the realization was that we make our own choices and provided suggestions on how to manage if we were to consume.

Wow, I’m one inch shorter than you and we started out at the exact same weight- 339. I’m 5’10 and I’m currently at 210.4. I feel like I look pretty good right now even though I’m still obese. Just posted my progress pics.

I feel like setting a goal weight is kind of a hard thing for a lot of us who have been obese for a long time- like how should I know what I want to weigh, I’ll know when I get there I guess. I picked 165 as a number, but I might be happier higher or lower, I’ll have to see.

I feel like a lot of weight has to do with body frame rather than height. I tend to not be very muscular even when I work out and lift, but I have friends with amazingly athletic figures that look fantastic at a high BMI. In the end it’s our bodies, and a goal isn’t set in stone!

Thank you for the feedback everyone! I guess I was taken back a bit by my surgeon’s dead set idea that I’m going to be obese and have health issues for the rest of my life (I was relatively healthy even pre op at 330 plus) if I don’t get down to this unattainable goal weight. I do know better, but it’s nice to see that others feel the same. I do agree with you blackcatsandbaddecisions, some people just naturally have a bigger or different frame. I follow someone who is 5’5 and 200lbs on another site and she looks absolutely amazing. Just goes to show that BMI really doesn’t apply to everyone.

My doctor told me I will never be in the proper BMI for my height since Im somewhat athletic and broad shouldered. He literally said to me I would like sunk in and sickly. Im 5'8" and he suggested 180-190 to be my goal consider the amount of muscle I have ( residual from being a collegiate athlete) but my bmi would still be in the obses range and he is okay with that.

You need to do what is right for your body!!

5’11” and 150 lbs for me is skinny and unhealthy looking. I have weighed that in the past. I have a medium to large frame.

On 5/3/2021 at 11:07 AM, Soon2bFit21 said:

So just a little history: I am 42, , 5’11 and spent a good 10 years of life competing in women’s bodybuilding and also did trail running and half marathons before injuries, peri menopause, and a car accident caused me to gain a lot of weight over a few years. My surgeon is insisting that my goal weight be 150-155 lbs. I have not weighed this even when I was bodybuilding and completely shredded with a full 6 pack. He even tried to get me to switch from VSG to bypass because he felt it would help me lose more weight. I started out at 339 pre surgery and am down to 308 at 4 weeks post. There is no way that I feel I could ever weigh 150lbs as I would be skin and bones! Has anyone had a higher goal weight being taller or having more muscle mass than an average person? Did your muscle mass help or hinder your progress with weight loss? I have my long term goal weight in my head as 199lbs and I’m being told that I would still be obese at this and it isn’t a good goal for me to have.

I’m very similar to you (although a guy). I’m 43, 6’6’ and HW was 492, two weeks pre op. I was a college baseball player and athlete from young age thru mid 20’s. I Met an Italian girl with a huge family (food porn to say the least lol) got a desk job, stopped playing sports and gained about 250 lbs and the rest is history. It’s crazy to think I was in pretty decent shape at one time. I’m just over 6 weeks post op and from the 492 two weeks pre op until now, I’m down to 416. My goal weight is 250 but if I’m honest, I’ll live with being 292. That would be a 200 lb weight loss and almost 50% total. I also don’t think the scale matters in the long run. If your health stats are good and in normal ranges and you feel good about yourself then what’s 199 vs 169 or 149? I’m sure many would disagree with this but when all the dust settles, your health matters more than the number on the scale. As long as you have good, normal ranges then I don’t care I’m I’m 292 or 250. Just my opinion though. Good luck!