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My goal weight put me at a BMI of about 23. I’m at about 19.6 now but was a little less. I’m an outlier & initially lost about 137% of the weight I had to lose. I maintained that for about a year. At the end of last year, my HRT dose was increased & I had to increase my protein intake (absorption issue) & I put on a good 2 kgs in the same month. I’ve lost a little of that but have maintained that new weight for about 6 months now making my loss about 132%. I look at BMI as a guide only. I chose my goal weight based on a weight I was always able to get down to in the past - I used to bounce between 60 & 75kg until menopause. Too many factors can influence what is the ideal weight for you. Age, skeletal frame, gender, level of activity & muscle mass, health considerations, etc. Plus, & most importantly, you have to be happy & able to enjoy your life. If the dietary restrictions or exercise regime you have to follow to maintain a lower weight are too restrictive & limit how you want to live your life it won’t be sustainable.

Hello! Seeking some help with hair loss. I know it was bound to happen but I’m losing chunks every day. I meet protein goals, take my vitamins. Anything that has helped with some of you?

You're doing amazing. That's really good weight loss for such a short time! We all lose at different rates. I started out pretty fast for me and lost most of my weight the first year, but after about 6 months is slowed down considerably, but I still lost all the weight I wanted to lose (over 200 pounds) by my 2 year surgiversary this past July. Sent from my Pixel 5a using BariatricPal mobile app

I understand, but the problem is that for most obese people, the number these simplistic calculators spit out is way too low. None of them take into consideration that obese people have things like enlarged hearts, denser bones, more blood volume, extra skin, etc. in addition to the fat. While some of those things will eventually change over time, it's not nearly as quick as the fat loss, especially for bariatric surgery patients. I've seen way too many people shoot for weights that are unrealistic and frankly would be unhealthy for them. That's why I said pick a higher number and reassess there.

I don’t disagree. It’s just helpful to have some reference point for goal setting. And for better or worse, most data on weight loss surgery outcomes is based on ideal body weight and BMI.

You and I have essentially the same stats. I also have bipolar disorder. I’m currently at 167, and I would love to get to 159… ideally 150. I’m ahead of the curve, but my loss is definitely slowing down. And I’m needing more calories to be satiated. Just wondering how realistic it is to get to 150.

How did your weight loss stop? Did you choose to go into maintenance mode, or did your body just decide you were done?

I am so sorry that anyone would make You feel this way. Being a very strong Christian I would never make anyone feel that they did something against GOD. I had the surgery at the end of September last year and have loss 95 pounds I also had a hip replacement, had 4 COVID shots and believe that our GOD us the intelligence to be able to help people with surgery and medicine. I commend you for having the courage to have the surgery. I know I am proud of myself for having it and taking my life back!!

EWL = Excess Weight Loss: the difference between staring weight and ideal body weight. If your starting weight is 300, and your ideal body weight is 150, you have 150 pounds of excess weight. If you lose 75 pounds, you have lost 50% of your excess weight (% EWL). Ideal body weight calculator - https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

My surgery was 8/3, week one post op I had a weight loss of 16 lbs. second week I was down another 1.3… making it a total of 17.3. Weighed today & I’m up 2 lbs…. Talk about discouraging… has this happened to anyone else?

Catwoman has a good idea. If your insurance requires a six month medically managed weight loss you can do that in the mean time. You will likely have to do it even if they do approve you to get it earlier.

Congratulations on your loss so far. Awesome NSV and good excuse to enjoy more concerts and festivals. Gotta build up that wardrobe.

I had my weight loss surgery through UW-Madison. I lost over 200 lbs, but then, I was VERY compliant with the program. Average weight loss with bypass is 70% of excess weight, with sleeve it's 65% - although as with any average, you'll find people who lose less or more than that. I would have been fine with a 70% loss (but I lost more than that). message me if you want to chat about the program.

Congratulations on your weight loss! I had my bypass in May and I'm down 45 pounds from when I had the surgery. I just dug out a bunch of shorts in smaller sizes that I haven't fit into in years and was so excited that they fit. My own personal NSV was being able to get into a kayak without plopping down like Pooh Bear, ha, ha.

Just to update everyone...I don't speak to them anymore. I have lost almost 70 pounds in 3 1/2 months. I work out, watch my diet, I'm strict about doing everything I'm supposed to. I take my vitamins and supplements. And the last straw was when they told me my weight loss didn't count because I took the easy way out and let the surgery do all the work for me. They said anyone who has most of their stomach removed can drop a ton of weight, so I shouldn't be acting like I accomplished anything. That was it for me. I was done. And I haven't looked back since!!

Prior to deciding on surgery how much weight loss has been common for everyone? Last fall I was at least 260 pounds. Decided to join the local YMCA and swim with a great friend. Gained another to swim with us. Last fall was swimming at least 3 times a week. This spring and summer has been crazy only about 2 times a week. Now at stalling out on the weight loss.

I think he was concerned about additional weight loss, malabsorption, etc. If this doesn’t work, he still plans on bypass as the solution. I was 45 pounds from his goal when I had my endoscopy and lost 20 since the hernia repair. I was just diagnosed with severe anemia too. I’m still not back to a regular diet yet. No reflux symptoms or meds needed so far. It took a while to get a diagnosis. I moved to another state shortly after my sleeve and couldn’t find anyone that would do my follow ups. I was on PPIs for 8 years and all my PCP offered was to try a different medication. She just was not educated enough on WLS to know something more serious was going on than just GERD.

I just was sleeved on 8/16. I have been over 300 pounds for YEARS… but as long as I was able to do what I wanted and needed to - I didn’t see the need. Last year I hit my heaviest weight ever at 382… and I was like NOPE this isn’t happening. I worked my butt off to loose weight and had a good start. Then I got sick and we found out my liver was enlarged (like 3x the size it should be) and my fatty liver was progressing to NASH and my liver function tests were concerning my drs. Finally I was ready to consider surgery. I lost about 55 pounds from my heaviest leading up to my pre surgery diet (over about 9 months). I had a few set backs with having covid during that time. My endocrinologist was pleased with my liver reduction (through palpitations) and knowing I was scared about surgery told me if I kept making progress I could hold off on surgery if I wanted. But I was to worried that there would always be another “set back” and my liver wasn’t anything I wanted to mess with. I lost another 12 pounds on my pre op diet. I asked my surgeon how my liver looked after surgery (there was a chance I was also going to end up with a liver biopsy in addition to a hernia repair) and she told me my liver looked fantastic and to keep doing what I was doing - no need for the biopsy. There’s no guarantees that weight loss would reverse my liver condition - but it was my best shot. However I was told if I did nothing it certainly would continue to deteriorate. I’m not quite a week out. I’m sore - occasional movements hurt, at times a bit nauseous (not horrible) and I’m sick of the liquid diet … but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. I have confirmation I’m on the right track and that means the world to me. I’m not looking to be a particular size or weight, I’m working towards being healthy and that includes my liver, joints and over all well being. My husband was supportive right from the beginning to do whatever I wanted to do. At times I wavered because I was scared - but he was my rock and honestly I think not doing something scared him more that the surgery (he was scared too). He sat in my drs appointment when the dr explained what the progression of my liver from NAFLD to NASH meant and what to expect if I didn’t make some real changes. My only advice is find a bariatric program you are comfortable with. It took me two tries. Have your boyfriend come along if he’s able and if not take someone you trust to be objective and SUPPORTIVE. Having that support helps. Also if you have a therapist talk to them about it - your concerns, fears, hopes for the outcome. And if you don’t have one, consider finding someone who deals with bariatric health. I see mine every two weeks and we always touch on where I’m at in the process - it has helped. No one can tell you what the right decision is for you, but I do hope you have support whatever you choose to do. Best of luck and please update how you are doing no matter what you decide.

I'm right there with you. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the more severe form: nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are both pretty common for obese people. Note that about 25% of people with NASH develop cirrhosis. Thankfully weight loss surgery is pretty successful in reversing NASH, as well as a host of other issues like GERD, sleep apnea, diabetes & heart disease. At the end of the day, only you can decide if surgery is the right thing for you. If you do go the surgical route, you'll find lots of supportive people here.

I am five months from finding out I have issues with my liver. Seeing fatty liver clinc this month. They are suggesting weight loss surgery. I started swimming in Sept. 2021 and was at 260 now I an at 240. I have a history of Gerd, lymphedema, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, psoriatic arthritis too boot. Boyfriend does not think I need surgery. He comes from a family where his mom is very obese. I have a good friend who is 3 months out past surgery. Sent from my SM-G990U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

elevated liver enzymes don't necessarily mean anything is wrong. It's very common to have them the first year or so post-surgery. It's because rapid weight loss is really hard on livers.

Feeling discouraged. Sleeve surgery 7/20 and lost 30lbs by 8/3. Started having chest pains and neck pains- turns out to be pancreatitis. Admitted to the hospital 8/7 and got out on 8/13. While in the hospital, I gained 24lbs back in fluid weight because I was NPO for a week so that’s all I could have. I lost 4lbs the first day I came home then about 10 more in the last couple of days and now I’ve gained 6lbs. I haven’t changed anything except added more protein and eating more soft foods instead of liquids, so why am I gaining weight now? I was so excited to see the weight loss but now I’m discouraged because I saw a BIG gain in a weeks time. I spoke with my PA and Dr and both agreed to let me start taking Lasix again but a smaller dose to see if it helps get more weight off because I’m swelling something terrible in my feet and legs. I try to keep my sugar below 10g a day because I think sugar is the culprit but I haven’t had much and the only other thing I can think of is my sodium intake. Any suggestions? Any pieces of advice to keep my head up? It’s so hard because I saw such a quick drop in weight and now I’ve gained 6lbs quickly 🙁

I don’t have any experience with anything like what you are going through but want to just say I’m sorry that you are experiencing all that. They do have some newer weight loss drugs that are said to be good if you just have a few pounds to lose but they are still having a hard time getting them covered by some insurance. I guess they are really diabetes drugs and they would be covered but for that use. Hopefully they do cover them soon for weight loss but it’s worth looking into. Maybe your one of the lucky ones that your insurance will cover it now.

I was very close to your size when I had my surgery. My surgery was covered completely by my insurance because I had very difficult to control type 2 diabetes in addition to HTN, and dyslipidemia. For diabetes prior to surgery, I was taking metformin, Bydureon, 80 units of Levemir insulin twice daily and 20 units of Novolog with each meal & snack. If you are familiar with insulin, you know these are really high doses so we are talking extreme insulin resistance. After the surgery, I was immediately off of insulin and rapidly lost weight for the first 3-4 months and then stalled out after losing 50lbs. I stayed stuck between 160-170 for about 3 years and then when the Covid pandemic started, my husband was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer. My stress levels went through the roof (I work in a hospital and was watching people die left and right thinking that at any time, my husband would be next). Anyway, I wound up regaining back up to 185 and started requiring insulin again at low doses. Then last year, I started on Ozempic and wound up starting to lose weight again and came off of the insulin again. After several months of Ozempic, I am now below my goal weight. I think that you will be pleasantly surprised to find that you will initially lose weight very easily. The weight loss should help reduce but may not resolve your insulin resistance. Keeping the weight off long term may be more difficult but is still quite doable.

Hi SWW - I'm also pre-op (my gastric bypass surgery is on 31 August) and planning on following Dr. Weiner's diet in the future. Have you watched his videos on YouTube? Tons of content there, his explanations helped me to understand weight loss surgery and finally make the decision to go forward with it.