Expected Weight Loss?

[CaseyP1011 3]

Hey guys, brand new here. Halfway through my bariatrics process, and just a general question, hopefully from people who are around my same size? Started this process at 373 pounds. Goal weight to achieve was 345.6 pounds. Im currently at 337 pounds and still dropping, as I cut everything out of my diet first day after consult. Started fasting, Portion Control, intake control with what I was choosing to eat, and hitting the gym 5 days a week for resistance training. I am 6ft tall. Mainly posting to see what process yall went through in how much expected weight loss. I know all bodies are different, but trying to get a better idea to compensate for loose skin. Still have 3 months to go until im scheduled for surgery due to insurance requirements, and im not stopping now. Im ready for the better side of me I can find. Any information is greatly appreciated! Currently looking at getting the gastric sleeve done.

[SpartanMaker 1,222]

My number one piece of advice would be not to compare yourself to others.

I get it, it's comforting to know someone else went through the same thing as you, but when you factor in genetics, epigenetic, diet, exercise, starting weight, % lean mass, etc. any comparisons will fall short. This will become even more important after surgery when the process becomes really hard and you feel like it's not working like it should. We see multiple posts a month from people who are losing weight, but it's coming off slower than they expected and they want to know why. The response is always the same. Trust the process, we're all different and how we lose weight is going to be different.

I think it's fantastic that you're losing so well right now. Keep in mind that the rate of loss WILL slow down some as you lose more. That's perfectly normal, so don't let that discourage you from continuing to eat well and exercising.

I would caution you about fasting. There's no scientific evidence that it works any better than any other method of calorie restriction. Normally I'd say do what works for you, but fasting is not something you'll be able to do post-WLS (at least early on), so it might not be the best thing for you right now. Especially since your real goal at this point is to learn how to eat better, I'm not sure fasting is the best plan currently.

I also think you need to include more cardio into your exercise routine. I love resistance training for lots of reasons, but cardiovascular endurance is the number one predictor of all cause mortality, so please don't skip it, even if you don't like it as much.

[AmberFL 1,043]

Men’s and women’s bodies are different, but for reference—I started at 297 lbs and am now between 165–170 lbs. I went from a size 20 to a size 4 in pants and from a 3X top to an XS–S. I do have loose skin, but it’s not as bad as it could’ve been because I started strength training about 3 months post-op and never stopped. I’ve always made cardio a priority too.

Here’s what my weekly workout routine looks like:
2 upper body days
2 lower body days
1 full-body HIIT (with weights)
1 cardio-only day

Even on my lifting days, I still include some form of cardio—walking, Stairmaster, biking, or whatever I’m in the mood for that day. It keeps things balanced and helps me stay consistent in my fitness journey.

My biggest advice is really take that time to get your relationship with food in check, even though I'm in maintenance mode, I still have issues sometimes with binging- just being truthful- but I am able to control it and get myself in check the next day. Pre-op I would've just given up and kept the binge fest going. Stick to foods that you know you enjoy but also fuel your body. Track! I know its not for everyone but it sure helps me stay accountable. No diet is perfect, its not a thing- the main thing is if you fall off track dust yourself off and get back at it!

[catwoman7 11,271]

if you lose a ton of weight, you're likely to have some loose skin. I had a ton of it (I had mine surgically removed three years after my bypass). No one but me (and my husband and doctor) knew it was there, though - it was pretty easy to hide in clothes. Even if it didn't have it removed, though, I still would have taken loose skin any day of the week over weighing 373 lbs (and yep - we had the same starting weight).

[WendyJane 45]

Not the same starting weight, but have been obese all my life and this has been the best decision of my life, other than the man I married. He loves me no matter what I look like. But, I did this for health reasons and not to be skinny. I feel healthier, and my diabetes medications are no longer. I had the bypass, because I didn't want to deal with the possibility of GERD. I had some issues with it, but not any more, and mostly because I'm eating the right food. I wish you well.

[Spinoza 1,501]

There are calculators that will help you ballpark estimated weight loss. I loved doing that before my sleeve. They're based on large numbers of people who have the various surgeries, but they are just averages. So some people will lose tons more and some tons less, for various reasons.

Based on those my average predicted end point (based on thousands of people with the same starting BMI/weight but with a multiplicity of different variables, as Spartanmaker says) was around 200lbs (I started at 276 and would have honestly been thrilled with that). In the end I bottomed out at 138 and have maintained for a couple of years at 6-14lbs above that (albeit with a degree of effort because I like this weight and have invested a lot of money in a wardrobe that I just don't want to replace one size up, LOL).

Sounds like you're already doing amazingly with your pre-surgery loss and that's all weight you won't need to use your sleeve to lose so you're ahead of the curve. The exercise you're doing sounds great too. I think you've got this. Can't wait to hear how well you do!

[Bari_Hopeful 3]

I recently came across this expected weight loss calculator/predictor: SOPHIA Bariatric Weight Trajectory Prediction. Thought it was pretty neat!

Sounds like you’re off to a great start!

[SpartanMaker 1,222]

I personally have a somewhat pathological dislike for those calculators. I just tried the one @Bari_Hopeful posted and supposedly I should have stopped losing around 225 lbs. Even using the interquartile range listed, I shouldn't have made it past 200. I don't think of myself as exceptional in any way, though this calculator might make it look like it. If anything, I'm maybe just more stubborn and was willing to do whatever was needed so I could finally get to a normal weight. Settling for just overweight instead of obese was not really an option for me.

I guess it just seems to me we set our expectations too low when we use an average like this. I know it's hard, but everyone can potentially make it to a "normal" weight range if they are willing to work at it.

[catwoman7 11,271]

I sort of hate to mention "averages", since everyone is different, but most people end up "overweight" or "class 1 obese", which is not very obese. But you'll always find a few who make it to normal weight (about 13%) or who never make it down to "class 1 obese". But that might at least give you an idea..

[Arabesque 7,565]

As @SpartanMaker said don’t compare yourself to others. Doing so can lead to much angst as it messes with your head. But being human I get that you might want to have a bit of an idea of what you might expect. Your team can advise you on this too.

if you use a calculator to try to predict your weight loss and you understand it’s based on averages and only gives you an idea of how much you MIGHT lose then it’s okay. A calculator is not a guarantee of how much you WILL lose. So don’t use it against yourself and you don’t match those numbers especially those giving time frame losses. For example I’ve done a couple of those calculators & I beat them on both weight loss (more) & time frames (faster) but that was me.

Generally the average weight loss after a sleeve or bypass is around 65%. Averages for other surgeries are higher (70-75%). Of course factors like age, gender, height, medical history, current medical status, genetics, lifestyle, activity levels, etc. will influence your final weight loss. And even those aren’t guarantees.

My advice is to count every pound you lose as a blessing & Celebrate their loss.

Edited yesterday at 03:47 AM by Arabesque

[Bari_Hopeful 3]

12 hours ago, SpartanMaker said:

I personally have a somewhat pathological dislike for those calculators. I just tried the one @Bari_Hopeful posted and supposedly I should have stopped losing around 225 lbs. Even using the interquartile range listed, I shouldn't have made it past 200. I don't think of myself as exceptional in any way, though this calculator might make it look like it. If anything, I'm maybe just more stubborn and was willing to do whatever was needed so I could finally get to a normal weight. Settling for just overweight instead of obese was not really an option for me.

I guess it just seems to me we set our expectations too low when we use an average like this. I know it's hard, but everyone can potentially make it to a "normal" weight range if they are willing to work at it.

Your post gives me great hope of making it to a “normal” weight - with a sigh of relief that it’s really possible! I thought I’d also be settling for overweight.