Average weight loss: worth it? Starting to feel discouraged...

[Wendyfm 494]

So, I lost 100 pounds, about 66% of my excess weight. I'm still considered obese, my bmi is 31-compared to a bmi of 49. After a year I stopped losing and have maintained this weight pretty easily for over a year. Was I disappointed that I haven't lost more? A little, but was it worth it? Hell,ya! I feel better, I look better, sleep Apnea gone, high blood pressure gone. I can cross my legs, walk forever and I just feel great. So. 90 pound weight loss is definitely worth it.

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[Cari Dickenson 148]

I want to chime in here I have lost well in excess of what I was told I would Lose. I was 351 pounds. tried to lose the weight before having surgery nine months in the gym on the recumbent bike.. lifting weights eating food I didn't like much. Went to my endocrinologist and was like what am I doing wrong I only lost 30 pounds in nine months... I was insulin resistant... had physical limitations... and bad eating habits.. Weight wasn't going to come off.. no matter what I did on my own. I had the surgery expecting to lose about 80 pounds is what they told me... I was in my head well 80 pounds is better then being 351 pounds. They allow you some carbs... I ate none... on a regular basis... For those who say well I want a mall treat. I always allowed that... kids birthday a single bite of cake... just one and I savored it...Fast food I ordered either the grilled chicken patty.. or the meat with sauces but no bun and I use napkins to wipe the majority of the grease off... I take my small portable scale with me when we eat at a real restaurant and I eat steak. ( and it feeds me 2 or 3 meals depending on the size weight of the steak).. Costs a little more but it is so tasty. There are options you don't have to never eat a treat again. this is about changing it to fit your needs and still enjoying life even more than before because now you can do things that before were a struggle. I till enjoy myself.... But no breads no pastries which were my favorite... But whats wonderful is not being hungry all the time.... and I seem to have lost my taste for sweets...yeah weighing measuring food kinda stinks sometimes it gets old boring but what doesn't is going from a 5 x to a 12.... in women's and a 13 in teens. look at my before pics.... Those " percentages are only what you let them be" I took them and broke their limits and you can to

[Debbie Penny 1]

I'm having surgery November 17th....anyone else near my date or in the Antelope Valley?

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[Cari Dickenson 148]

I'm having surgery November 17th....anyone else near my date or in the Antelope Valley?

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I'm not in the Av anymore.... I lived their most of my life.. cali just became to expensive.. You can do this... It works its amazing .

[charlene29 13]

I take ibprophen all the time never heard that you couldn't.

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[Aggiemae 739]

I actually burst into tears when my surgeon told me the AVERAGE weight loss for someone my age and weight.

Hardly seemed worth having major surgery. But at 8 weeks post op I am just 8 pounds from the "average" 6 month weight loss. I had the surgery and decided NOT to be average.

[Cari Dickenson 148]

You can do this!!

Edited December 27, 2016 by Cari Dickenson

[JupiterinVirgo 846]

First of all, averages mean little to the individual. I have been on this form for almost 2 years, and I would say that it seems to me that most of the people on here who have had their surgery 9 to 12 months ago have already lost well over 100 pounds. Including me. We all have the fears that you expressed, but in the end I think most of us came to the conclusion that when we were honest with ourselves, we knew we needed this more than we were afraid of changing. I know in my own personal case, my body had gotten so big in my life had gotten so small. I was terrified- but it was even scarier to imagine that I was going to soon be so big I was going to need a wheelie cart to buy groceries. And I have seen many people on this forum expressing their joy in meeting their goals. I only have 30 more pounds to lose! Like you, my initial goal was to lose 150. And I'm almost there! And if it takes another six months who cares? My life is so much better now!

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[Dairymary 533]

Like others mentioned, statistical averages mean nothing to an individual when it comes to WLS. the surgery simply alters your physical ability to eat large portions and/or absorb nutrient. The real success lies in the psychological changes you make. I "should" have only lost 90 pounds. Instead, I chose to utilize every resource available, including support groups, self help books and a personal therapist to beat the odds and become a rock star. I lost all of my excess weight and then some....160 pounds....and kept it off going on 6 years now. Don't let other people's numbers scare you....It's entirely up to you if you want to be average or not.

[oztish 0]

So I've had my first pre-op appointment for a VSG on 11/03 and left there terrified. I learned that the average or expected weight loss is 60% of your excess weight. For me that is only 90 lbs. 90lbs. 90 lbs!!

I've read these these threads and you guys are a fantastic group! I see so many of you with losses well beyond the 3 digit mark (for me I would be ecstatic with a 150 lb loss) and really enjoyed your positivity and willingness to help or just cheer on! I am hoping there is anyone (hopefully a lot of you) who have surpassed the average?

I am actually reconsidering the surgery altogether today. This is going to be a major life change.

All along I've thought, 'no big whoop'! I'll have to change my lifestyle and eating habits to be healthier! New diet=new me! But today I learned about all of the other things. Like no more ibuprofen, forever, sort of things. (Which is something I take on a regular basis for another non weight related issue ) so many things that you cannot do for years if not forever.

And am starting to wonder if a lifetime of thinking about or documenting every morsel of food that enters my mouth, or constant concerns about whether or not I can take this drug or drink that drink, making sure I don't forget all of these daily Vitamins, I am talking (if I am lucky) another 30 years on this earth, for 90 lbs?

Yes I know this is a lot of weight, but I've lost 30 already while going through managed nutrition in the last 6 months.

Should I still go through this irreversible surgery?

Am hoping there are others who have lost more than the average and are willing to share how? I'd like to know that there are some who actually have reached a full weight loss goal and not just 60%of their excess.

~~so confused help?

My surgeon said that ibuprofen is perfectly fine and I've had it a few times post op.

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[Shana Lee 24]

The only thing that limits you to only losing 60% of your excess weight is you. I've lost over 100% and am maintaining easily. I eat whatever I want whenever I'm hungry....protein first, then veggies, fruit and whole grains. But I also eat ice cream, desert, bread, alcohol, cake, etc.... just everything in moderation. I do not excercise and I've never tracked or counted or measured my food. I didn't have surgery just to be on a diet the rest of my life. I do make sure I drink at least 64oz of Fluid and I do take my Vitamins (but I've always taken Vitamins, so this is no change)

Other than making much healthier food choices, my life isn't a whole lot different than preop. Unless you count Having a normal BMI, shopping in regular stores for clothes, not being in pain everyday, spending a lot less money on groceries, and being able to hike, climb stairs, etc without getting out of breath, Perhaps I am an anomaly, but I just wanted to let you know that there is more than one way to be successful and postop life does not have to be all that complicated.

VERY VERY encouraging!!! Thank you for your post!

[Travelher 915]

Just a quick question about "excess weight" - did everyone determine their excess weight on the BMI chart? Just curious.

@Lauriep I believe the sky is the limit with weight loss. For me, this is a 100% lifestyle change. The surgery was just apart of this process.

• surgery
• healthy diet
• exercise

I started at a very heavy weight (351 lbs.) and have lost about 100 so far. I feel great now! The difference in how I look and feel is amazing. I can't imagine how I will feel when I'm at 60%, 70%, 80% or even 90% (my goal!)

I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything. I've gained never having headaches anymore, no more body aches in the morning, no more snoring, and a perfect BP.

Something happens when you start losing weight, for me, I just want to eat healthier and healthier.

@@bella86 awesome! Truly inspiring!! Thank you for sharing.

No the doctors usually use a formula. I've heard it is 100lbs for a woman at 5' tall, then you add 5lbs for every inch. So at 5'6 they would use 130lbs. Take your current weight, subtract 130 and the calculate 60%of that to be your weight loss estimate

[Chutes Away 0]

I am new to this forum, but I've started the prelims for gastric sleeve surgery. This topic was my question exactly! Thanks for all of the insight and encouragement that 60% is just an average, not a set in stone number!

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[NewAdventure2016 131]

No the doctors usually use a formula. I've heard it is 100lbs for a woman at 5' tall, then you add 5lbs for every inch. So at 5'6 they would use 130lbs. Take your current weight, subtract 130 and the calculate 60%of that to be your weight loss estimate

I'm blown away by that formula. I'm 5'6", medium build. I've lost 52 pounds and am at 146 pounds and wear either a Small or Medium too and about size 8 pants. My friends and family have lovingly told me I'm getting pretty thin now and to start maintenance. I can't imagine losing 16 more pounds. Personally I would be a skeleton!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I'm 5'5 and some change, almost 5 foot 6. I am around (keep bouncing) 190 ish and wear a 10 sometimes an 8, I'm dead in between sizes. At 130 I would be shopping in the kids dept or dead.

Edited March 25, 2017 by OutsideMatchInside