I've been watching the weight loss progress in the signature of almost every message I read. How did you determine what your goal weight is?

I'm guessing some of you are adjusting a couple of times till you get to where you think you should be. Others, like me started with their final end weight as their goal.

Before surgery I was aware, but not really thinking about BMI numbers until I discussed the surgery with my family doctor. My BMI at the time was 35. He made me aware that above 30 was considered obese, and that 24 was the top end of what is considered healthy. Based on that I set my goal on here as reaching that 24 figure. That cooresponds to about 183. 20 years ago I got down to 195 and a lot of people said I looked great. That is the lowest my wife of 28 years has ever seen me. She has said that 183 might be too much. I'm wondering if I should have set my goal to 195. However its just a number, when I do reach 195 I guess I'll just continue to try and eat well and continue to live the improvements to my life and see where it goes. I don't see myself as getting too caught up and losing and going into unhealthy levels. I guess maybe what I am really wondering is what I will do when I hit my goal. I'm thinking I'll probably check my weight less often, but still keep an eye on it fearful of returning to where I was.

Nice thread, everybody...

When I was 18 I knocked my weight down from 185 to 133lbs (gained it right back plus more within a year, a familiar story to most of us). The only two times since then when I managed a temporarily escape from obesity, I made it down to 150 (once before my first wedding, and once after my first and only divorce. Again, classic - right?). I felt and looked pretty good there.

When I set my goal, I had those two previous successes in mind. I also figured that 20 pounds or so over what I weighed at 18 (however briefly) sounded pretty reasonable. Coincidentaly, that weight puts me just below a BMI of 25, just inside the "healthy" range. So I decided that 150 would be the goal.

Now that I'm here, I'd like to take my weight down to 145lbs in order to give myself something of a window to play with, but I don't have any desire to go below that. My wife loves my body - everyone else can suffer.

"Goals are dreams with deadlines." ~Diana Scharf Hunt

Edited March 30, 200917 yr by bandpal

My Dr. set mine to 140 pounds. The smallest I ever remeber being is 185-190 and that was my Junior year in H.S. When I started my current job 4 years ago I was at 215 and that was pretty good for me. So, my first goal is that, Second goal is 185, then down to the 140!

Lol I'll admit I'm pretty scared of the pain as well. But not so scared that I'm prepared to live with this 'skirt' of skin forever!

Not everyone has to be unfilled prior to PS. My PS wanted me to be, mainly because he was worried about the obstruction the band would cause if I get sick from the anaesthesia and need to vomit. But I'm getting re-filled 4 days after surgery while I'm still in hospital recovering, so it's not so bad.

Thanks for the good wishes. I promise I will update on how it all goes!

How long do you have to stay in the hospital? How much are you having done? You will be so happy in a couple months!!!