Determining GW?

[lacylou 21]

I have been so pleased seeing posts of people who have made or surpassed goal weight. I am very curious as to how you set a specific goal. My doctor and his team of thousands has never talked to me about this ideal weight. Is it determined by BMI? Is it a personal goal set by a life occurrence (example - your weight when you got married)? Is it a realistic % weight loss from your high weight?

I am also curious that some people change their goal weight as they lose.

I would love to hear from you about how you established your goal weight.

Wishing everyone gets to their goal weight and when you get there, that you are truly happy!!

[JamieLogical 8,708]

My goal was set by my nutritionist. She asked me about 1000 questions about my weight history, weight loss history, activity level, etc. At first, I had hoped to get below 155, because that would put me at a "normal" BMI. I did actually get down to 153 at one point post-op, but felt uncomfortable there. So my nutritionist was right. 165 is my happy place!

[losergrl75 277]

My surgeon never real set a "goal weight" he just told me what is normal BMI and gave anecdotal information as to what he usually sees most patients lose in the first year. With that being said, when I told him what I had set my personal goal weight at ( which is still technically overweight according to BMI) he conceded that most people are not in what is considered an normal BMI range anyway and that most patients will have their co-morbidities improved if not completed resolved just by getting into the middle of the overweight BMI range. And he was dead on, all of my co-morbid conditions were resolved once I hit about mid-way into the overweight BMI range.

When I first had surgery I set my goal weight as 165 ( I'm 5'2") because at the time it seemed like such a huge amount of weight to loose. Once I saw how quickly I was going to hit that initial goal, I adjusted it to 150 and finally settled around 145 which put my BMI at 26 which is on the lower end of the overweight BMI. However, I have maintained at this weight since around the 9 or 10 month mark without any issues doing so ( I fluctuate between 142 to 147). I talked about it with my nutritionist and I did not want to set myself up on a lower goal weight and then constantly struggle to maintain. I have no issues staying at around 1300 calories a day at this weight ( this is my BMR) and bump it up a little on heavy work out days. And for nothing more than pure vanity, I lost most of my boobs and butt and I wanted to preserve just a little bit of it . 125 would have taken the little bit I have left with it lol

Edited January 31, 2017 by losergrl75

[Alyssa_T 30]

Hi. My Nutricionist set my goal weight based on my height, weight, history and age. My surgeon never talked about it either. When I asked him how much wait I will lose, he replied: as many as you want. What an answer! Fortunately to me the nutritionist did set the goal weight.

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[Newme17 3,444]

Nothing was said to me, but my healthy weight 9 years ago was about 145. Because I still do weights and my body has changed since having babies, it's probably more realistically going to be about 160, even though I put 145 as my goal. I think I'll be happy at 160 though, simply because my lean body mass will be heavier with the muscle.

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[LittleLizzieLilliput 919]

I made the choice by essentially throwing a dart to a board. lol! I have no idea what my goal weight should be. I have a high muscle density, I'm short, I've been overweight my whole adult life. I'd like to be 110-115 when all is said and done, that includes skin removal surgery. I set my goal for 130 because I want to be at least 20lbs above my final goal which is what is needed for surgery. But honestly? I have no idea what I will consider my final goal. I want to be a size 6 or so, that sounds good. I don't want to be super tiny. And even then, what does "size 6" mean? lol! I have no idea what that looks like on me.

So I have "goals" of getting to the point I feel amazing. I'm trying to place a number or size to that now so I can have the "goal" to aim towards but in reality it's a moving target that I won't even really know what it looks like till I'm much thinner. I'm a size 16 right now. Each drop in size is a new experience so I don't even pretend to know what I will eventually be at. Even when Nuts or docs have a general suggestion I always feel like it's much too soon to know what my final "goal" pre-skin removal will be. And that's OK for me.

[Pam_2-06-2017 375]

I am having surgery on Monday. My surgeon did not want to set a goal weight. He wants to wait until my 2 week check and then evaluate my body composition muscle/fat ratio and then set one. At my 6 mo check we will set a goal weight again. I have a number in my mind but we shall see.

Ready to fly!!

[AK_Bookworm 116]

I originally had my goal weight set to the high end of a normal BMI for my height... I was comfortable that I would be able to hit it but recently changed the procedure I will be getting (originally was going to do SADI-S but decided I'm more comfortable with VSG with my surgeon being in Mexico) and decided it was best to change my GW because it's very possible I won't meet that with VSG. So I've upped it to 150 and though I will be considered overweight based off my BMI I'm confident I can get to my goal (maybe too confident lol) and realize that my original goal weight may not look right on me anyway (which was also a deciding factor into switching to VSG). Ideally I'd love to be 140-145 but I'm going to set my GW at 150 and hit it and then go from there.

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[lacylou 21]

Wow, sounds like there is no true formula for a GW. I should probably consult with my nutritionist (although I don't really like her - she has done nothing but read the WLS manual to me which I had already done myself. Hate to pay someone for their expertise when they are completely unhelpful).

It definitely seems that the goal is part personal and part science. I am glad that the goal is adjusted to suit your personal needs and is not just a number on a height/weight chart. I had no idea that age, body composition/muscle mass, and, most surprisingly, past weight loss history, were all true considerations.

I can understand why the surgeons don't want to define this weight. Their main goal is to get us healthy, lose those co-morbidities and prevent future medical problems. When people like us live off the number, it is a hard habit to break. I have defined how I feel for years based on that digit on the scale.

Guess I'll know my ideal weight when I get there, when I like how I feel and look.

[Jen-2+1 131]

I set my goal weight at 180. My starting weight was 299. I figured that 180 was a good goal because I would be my lowest weight since age 18.

My surgery was four months ago and my doctor gives me a goal for each visit. My next goal (for my six month post surgery check up) is to be under 200. I figure I don't really need to set a goal as long as he is telling me what he thinks I can accomplish by my next visit. So far I have been just under what he expected for each visit. This time will be a bit more of a struggle since I am getting further out from surgery, but I am doing my best and am thrilled with my results so far.