Where does your goal put you

[Humming Bird 275]

greytz, at 5'8" a size 12 looks very good. Everyone carries weight differently, so I can only go by what people I actually know look like. My mother looked very good, and trim at 5'8" and size 12.

[Mrs.Deering 0]

When I reach my goal I will weigh 130 with a BMI of 23. I only have 37 more pounds to go to get to my goal weight

[BetsyB 9]

My personal goal puts me at a BMI near 20. I've weighed close to this amount as an adult, and believe it's attainable and maintainable with the band--but will stop if I am comfortable sooner.

My surgeon's goal has me at a much higher BMI--not obese, but overweight.

While I realize there are obstacles to loss, I am reluctant to accept his goal as a "final destination," so to speak. I understand his rationale; in terms of comorbidity and future health risk, it would represent a significant success. But I don't think I will want to stop there.

My orthopedist would like to see me at an even lower BMI than I have set as my goal, but I'll have to see how I feel before I consider that recommendation; I'm not sure he has a realistic idea of what an hourglass-shaped woman should weigh, actually; he is more accustomed to dealing with taller, more lithe, athletes. Mostly male!

So, I keep my own goal tucked in my mind. Part of it is appearance-motivated ("gauntness," in my experience, tends to pronounced by people who are used to seeing us heavier and are disconcerted by our loss; when it does exist, it seems to be temporary, until the body sort of redistributes at its new weight level). But mostly, I'm motivated by health and, more importantly, my physical comfort. I have serious orthopedic & spinal pain issues that will be vastly ameliorated with each little bit lost.

(Lots of good documentation along the way will pave the way for reconstructive surgery, as well.)

[Band_Groupie 3]

I have a goal range of 10 pounds and that will be a BMI of about 22+ - <24 (both on the high half of normal). I know BMI isn't the only indicator of health, but I don't get the docs setting goals that are in the higher end of the overweight range...if we're doing this for our health then I say go for it and see if you can get into the normal/healthy BMI range. I think the docs just set the goals higher (and still in the overweight range) as they'd be thrilled with their patients losing more than the average bander statistics wise.

I have a lot in common with some of you...I'm 50, I'm 5'8.5" and weighed 164 this morning...so I'm at a 24.6 BMI (Normal). I don't look gaunt and there is still plenty of fat left on this body (I'm in a M shirt, but barely in a 12 pant). I'm plateauing again and the WL has really slowed. Yes, the toning will help, but I'm going to stick to the plan and see where my body wants to end up. I see way more of the unhealthy looking 'gaunt' with my friends that are RNYers when they lose so fast and first get to goal and even they look better after their weight settles out.

Personally, I was thrilled when I got more than 50# off...that's all I've ever been able to do with all my years of yo-yoing, but I'm not hungry between meals, I'm still getting in the Protein, the Water and 1200 or more calories a day and so we'll see where this takes me! Why would I want to stop until my body does? Shoot for the stars!

Edited February 10, 2010 by Band_Groupie

[Jachut 487]

I also think gauntness is a fact of life for some people. Take my DH - he's a very tall, very thin build. Currently he weights about 210lb - should be a great weight for a 6ft 3 male. But for him, its overweight. His face looks great, no fat neck, no double chins, etc, and he's in fairly good health but he has a belly and man boobs and is no bronzed beach aussie. His "ideal" weight, when he last had no excess fat, a flat belly etc was about 180lb. He was very skinny with a bony face and a prominent adams apple. He DID look gaunt, but he had the right amount of fat on his body, the right waist size for low risk etc. Its just his body type.

People are all different, but I just simply dont understand how people can say "no, that goal is too skinny for you". How the frig would they know? Its a stupid thing to say. And the right amount of fat to muscle ratio for you is just what it is, whether that makes you look "gaunt" or not. There's no point looking pleasingly plump in the cheeks if you're still a major heart attack risk, is there?

Anyway, I think in this obese world, many people define normal weight as gaunt.

[greytz 4]

greytz, at 5'8" a size 12 looks very good. Everyone carries weight differently, so I can only go by what people I actually know look like. My mother looked very good, and trim at 5'8" and size 12.

Thanks. I have a chin thing happening that I want to get rid of and I still have some stomach I am working on although it is getting much smaller. I actually decided to wipe the goal thing out of my mind now that I am further along and I am concentrating on muscle toning and trimming now. It will probably take me a little longer to get rid of the rest but that is ok. I am at a point now where I can deal with it so much better than before.

[BetsyB 9]

I just simply dont understand how people can say "no, that goal is too skinny for you". How the frig would they know? Its a stupid thing to say. And the right amount of fat to muscle ratio for you is just what it is, whether that makes you look "gaunt" or not. There's no point looking pleasingly plump in the cheeks if you're still a major heart attack risk, is there?

I couldn't agree more.

I do realize that the doctors' goal weights often *are* based on what they consider to be an acceptable risk reduction. I know when I hit my surgeon's goal, I will have reduced my risks significantly. It'll be a huge victory.

But it will be MORE of a victory to reach a point where those risks are minimized to a much lower level, or removed.

[xavier 153]

My opinion if anyone wants it:

1. We have to get to a place where we can maintain the lifestyle and that may not be what we or our doc expected.We cant live on peas and Water and three hours on the treadmill!

2. The BMI numbers are DIRECTLY correlated with health outcomes...they dont care how you look.

3.Do not take advice from one nurse or even one doc!

4.Many people will tell others they look too gaunt and they may be jealous whether they know it or not.What most of us consider normal-looking is in fact, too fat.

5. A FACT from real medical literature...the only thing that has ever been directly correlated to longevity and good health overall is being around 10% UNDERWEIGHT.

Good luck to all, lets do what feels best for us and be nice to ourselves!

[1unknownperson 0]

It's possible that some Dr's set goals for you in the high range because they are attempting to set a goal they think you can manage... Kinda how we do small challenges, like the Easter challenge I joined to lose 15 or 20 pounds by Easter... Obviously thats not my end goal, but it's a number thats not overwhelming to me... Once I get there, I can set a next goal for like Memorial day, then July 4th, then Labor Day etc etc...... Once you reach the Dr's pre determined goal, if you choose to keep going, then that's great and you can show him you can do it.... Honestly, Dr's see so many people try to lose weight and not make it that they probably don't even set their own expectations too high for us....

My regular Dr has been trying to get me to lose weight and sending me to the nutritionist for years all to no avail... He doesn't know I'm banded yet since he was so dead set against it (I'm sure because insurance tells him to be) so I can't wait to go in and see him and tell him about it and let him see the results for himself! In A few months......

In the long run, you should lose weight until you feel comfortable and happy with yourself... Don't stop because others think you should... For my height and age on the Chart, says I should be about 140, But I'd like to get to 125-130 Pounds or at a size 5... I have always felt really good when I was a size 5...

But hell for now, I have a "date" with a single digit... Size 9, here I come... I'll see you before memorial Day!