Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Predictors of Not Meeting Weight Loss Goal



Recommended Posts

I have not yet had surgery (RNY bypass) and am doing all I can to prepare (following dr.s orders, started exercise program). I have been reading the weight loss stories in this forum and notice a wide range of differences in "success." While I understand that if you go back to bad habits you won't meet goal (since the surgery is only one of the many tools we need), I am curious if there are things you have done (or not done) that you think helped you meet your goals. In other words...if I do everything I am supposed to, most of the time (knowing slips happen), is there anything that will prevent me from hitting the goal range my Dr. and I set for myself? I.e., genetics? Not exercising every day or hard enough? I am just so worried that even if I do everything I should that I will fail...once again... Interested in your thoughts (and encouragement!). TIA

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

First the average weight loss statistic for sleeve or bypass is about 65% of the weight you have to lose to put you in a healthier range. Of course some lose more & some lose less.

Now the why. The surgery will reset your body’s set point. This is the weight your body is happiest at & is easiest to maintain. Your set point could end up higher or lower than you’d prefer. Life. It can throw crap at you & make it more difficult to lose or maintain your weight (stress, emotions). Health conditions & medications. Some meds are notorious for increasing your appetite & causing weight gain & some health conditions limit your ability to lose all the weight you want e.g, restrict mobility. Personal choice. Some feel happier at a higher weight. Or they make food choices that better complement their life & how they want to live their life. Your body reaches a lower weight but resettles a bit heavier. A bounce back regain of 10+/- lbs can occur. And so on.

I understand your fear of regaining. I mean we all have a lifetime of experiencing weight loss & the inevitable regain. This is the first time in my life (was almost 54 when I had my surgery) I have ever maintained my weight after losing for longer than a couple of months. The difference is I did not go back to eating in the sane way as I always did. I worked out a way of eating that I’m comfortable with, doesn’t make me feel like I’m missing out or making sacrifices, allows me to live my life as I want, is sustainable (very important) & works for me & my body. I changed my relationship with food. My choices may not work for you or others & some may think it too restrictive. I din consider it a die but just how I eat. I avoid as much sugar, sugar alternatives & artificial sweeteners as I can so no sodas & sweets only a couple of times a year (e.g. Christmas). If I want/need sweet I eat fruit. I prep & cook most of what I eat - mostly lots of whole foods & low processed ingredients. I rarely have takeaway & haven’t had fast food since before my surgery. I keep my carbs lowish & choose whole & multi grains more complex carbs. No bread or similar products Pasta or rice (choice & also sit heavily in my tummy). I also chose not to exercise. I didn’t want to have to spend hours in a gym or run or cycle miles every week to maintain my weight. I’m happy with the stretches, resistance band exercises & sit ups I do. (Takes a total of about 25 minutes over a couple of sessions a day & wouldn’t burn 30 calories - LOL!). It works for me & my body seems happy at this weight (set point). I’ve basically maintained my weight since my surgery.

Chat with your surgeon about a realistic goal weight after surgery & what you might experience & your dietician about how your future of eating might look. Research & avoid trendy diets - if they worked & were sustainable no one would have weight issues. You may find this video informative.

You may find this video informative. Dr John Pilcher has many great videos on a variety of topics. Dr Matt Weiner is very good too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've watched a lot of his videos, he's great!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Posted (edited)

14 hours ago, Arabesque said:

First the average weight loss statistic for sleeve or bypass is about 65% of the weight you have to lose to put you in a healthier range. Of course some lose more & some lose less.

Now the why. The surgery will reset your body’s set point. This is the weight your body is happiest at & is easiest to maintain. Your set point could end up higher or lower than you’d prefer. Life. It can throw crap at you & make it more difficult to lose or maintain your weight (stress, emotions). Health conditions & medications. Some meds are notorious for increasing your appetite & causing weight gain & some health conditions limit your ability to lose all the weight you want e.g, restrict mobility. Personal choice. Some feel happier at a higher weight. Or they make food choices that better complement their life & how they want to live their life. Your body reaches a lower weight but resettles a bit heavier. A bounce back regain of 10+/- lbs can occur. And so on.

I understand your fear of regaining. I mean we all have a lifetime of experiencing weight loss & the inevitable regain. This is the first time in my life (was almost 54 when I had my surgery) I have ever maintained my weight after losing for longer than a couple of months. The difference is I did not go back to eating in the sane way as I always did. I worked out a way of eating that I’m comfortable with, doesn’t make me feel like I’m missing out or making sacrifices, allows me to live my life as I want, is sustainable (very important) & works for me & my body. I changed my relationship with food. My choices may not work for you or others & some may think it too restrictive. I din consider it a die but just how I eat. I avoid as much sugar, sugar alternatives & artificial sweeteners as I can so no sodas & sweets only a couple of times a year (e.g. Christmas). If I want/need sweet I eat fruit. I prep & cook most of what I eat - mostly lots of whole foods & low processed ingredients. I rarely have takeaway & haven’t had fast food since before my surgery. I keep my carbs lowish & choose whole & multi grains more complex carbs. No bread or similar products Pasta or rice (choice & also sit heavily in my tummy). I also chose not to exercise. I didn’t want to have to spend hours in a gym or run or cycle miles every week to maintain my weight. I’m happy with the stretches, resistance band exercises & sit ups I do. (Takes a total of about 25 minutes over a couple of sessions a day & wouldn’t burn 30 calories - LOL!). It works for me & my body seems happy at this weight (set point). I’ve basically maintained my weight since my surgery.

Chat with your surgeon about a realistic goal weight after surgery & what you might experience & your dietician about how your future of eating might look. Research & avoid trendy diets - if they worked & were sustainable no one would have weight issues. You may find this video informative.

You may find this video informative. Dr John Pilcher has many great videos on a variety of topics. Dr Matt Weiner is very good too.

Thanks for this video. I am a patient of Dr Guillermo Higa, Dr Matt Weiner's colleague. Wonderful experience with Dr Higa. Dr Weiner has a lot of videos that are very informative. They are located in Tucson, AZ.

Edited by tx2az

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If I could give one piece of advice/lesson learned, it's to push as hard as you can during the first 3 months post-op. That's the "honeymoon" period when weight drops off the fastest.

Weight loss progressively slows down each post-op month, and by month 6 has typically slowed dramatically. Most people stop losing 9 to 12 months post-op. So, you have a short window in which to really take advantage of the "magic" of weight loss surgery.

Research has shown that weight loss at 3 months post-op is a strong predictor of weight loss success.

https://www.sages.org/meetings/annual-meeting/abstracts-archive/weight-loss-at-three-months-post-operatively-predicts-weight-loss-success-at-one-year-for-roux-en-y-gastric-bypass-and-sleeve-gastrectomy/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 3/18/2023 at 11:20 PM, ToInfinityAndBeyond said:

is there anything that will prevent me from hitting the goal range my Dr. and I set for myself?

Adopting a lifestyle within the first gung-ho months that's not sustainable for you in the long run. Too many people are posting about "having fallen off the wagon" after their so called "honeymoon phase" is over because they burnt themselves out.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • GMaJen

      195 weight when I went in for surgery
      199 weight when I got home for surgery
      193.2 weight 4 days after surgery
      If the inflammation from surgery is resolved, I've lost 1.8lbs in 4 days.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • GMaJen

      Had surgery last Thursday, so I've been home for 2 days as of 15 minutes ago.  I weighed more when I got discharged than when I went in despite only having eaten a Jello cup in 2 days, but I put that down to inflammation. This morning I weighed a little less than I went in.  I sneezed last night and my fiance saw me cry for the first time, and we've been together 16 years. I took my multivitamin first thing this morning and threw up. Kept it down after drinking 4oz protein shake. Yogurt gives me diarrhea, water hurts more than the fuller liquids, and my stomach is turning somersaults and I think I'm hungry because I'm used to interpreting it that way, but I have no desire to eat.
      My biggest problem is that I am used to being busy.  I own a business and I've been getting active on these boards, and when I'm on my laptop I forget to drink. Will I hurt myself if I drink faster?  I've been scheduling 4oz every 30 minutes with breaks before and after meals.  Is it too fast to drink 4 oz in 15 min to get caught up on what I missed?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • New To This23

      tl:dr at bottom,
      I could use some advice. I went to see my dietician today (not a bariatric surgery dietician, I can explain why I am seeing her if you want to know). She knows I am going to have weight loss surgery as long as I hit the goal weight my insurance told me I need to be at. I have to be at the goal weight by June 24, 2023, in order for my insurance to pay for my surgery.
      I had a weigh in the doctor's office a couple of days ago and weighed 301, my scale at home said 302. However, on the same day, the scale at a friend's house said 313. 
      I knew I had this Dietician appointment two days later and I knew she would weigh me. I continued to weigh myself at home (after getting new batteries) and I was at 302 then 299 and today at home I weighed 303, right before my appointment, when I got to her office I was weighed and it said 313.
      I am concerned about what to believe since the doctor's office and my scale show similar numbers. I also bought a new scale today and it said 313. 
      The Dietician told me I needed to eat more protein, which honestly I struggle with. she said I needed 150 grams!!  I said are you kidding? that seems like a lot.  She used my weight to come up with this number. 
      Should I really be trying to eat enough protein for a 300-lb person or should I be eating protein for a goal-weight person (mine is 170)?   
      also, my clothing is loose like I lost the 20 lbs mine and the doctor's scale shows, and not 10 lbs like everyone else's scale shows. Also, I have always naturally been more muscular even when I was 120 lbs and did not eat any protein aside from what is in plants. 
      tl:dr- should I be eating enough protein to support a 300lb person or should I be eating protein for a "normal" sized person? AND should I trust the Doctors scale more so than the Dietician's scale? 
      · 1 reply
      1. GMaJen

        I had the same issue. My scale was 6 pounds heavier than my bariatric doctor's. My scale agreed with my nutritionist's scale. I asked my bariatric doctor to have her scale recalibrated and she said it was a really expensive scale, so she trusted it. So, when it comes down to it, the scale that matters isn't the one that's right, it's the one that determines if you get your surgery or not. I would ask her when it was last calibrated and see if she will calibrate it. The difference is I Iost weight so well on the lifestyle change diet that I had to stop losing weight or risk not getting the surgery.

    • Seif_s88

      Post-gastric sleeve, lost 86 kg, gained 30 kg back. Cravings & balance struggles. Any tips? Let's chat! 💪😊
      · 1 reply
      1. Tink22-sleeve

        Hi I can relate... When were you sleeved?

    • KatieB_2706

      Hi everyone!
       
      My name is Katie and I am looking for an accountability partner! I am having the RNY on April 3, 2023 - If there is someone looking for daily communication and support PLEASE contact me! I am so excited for this but I would love to have someone who knows exactly when I'm going through to support / be supported by along the way!
       
      I'm a 34year old mother of 2 living in central Maine. 
       
      Thank you!
      -Katie 💜
      · 2 replies
      1. Sonicnova82

        Hi!

        I would love to be your accountability partner. I had the sleeve in 2021, so maybe I can give you some insights.

        Please message me back, looking forward to hearing from you!

        -Jessi

      2. New To This23

        Hi! How exciting I see that your surgery date is coming up soon!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×