Setting the target weight debate...advice please

[mangomaid]

How did you set your target weight?

Did you agree it with your surgeon? Or just decide your own targets?

I've noticed quite a variation in target weights/BMIs - and that generally in the UK the target weights are somewhat higher. Of course this depends on your height, age, previous weight, genetics, physique, motivation etc.

When I signed up for surgery I was told that patients in the UK with the gastric sleeve tended to lose 50-70% of their excess body weight. Someone who lost 70% would be seen as doing really well. My doctor also mentioned that UK surgeons tend to create much tighter sleeves than their North American counterparts - a subject of much discussion at bariatric conventions.

Before I left hospital yesterday I asked my surgeon about target weights. He said that I should not aim to get below a BMI of 30 or otherwise I might be malnourished! So at 5 foot 7 inches my target weight should be about 190 pounds (or 13 stone 8 pounds - or 86.2 kilos). So I would still be technically overweight/borderline obese.

The reason, he explained, is that after bariatric surgery we are left with excess skin on our arms, thighs and bellies, which distorts the BMI equation. If I went for cosmetic surgery to have the skin removed then I could aim for a lower target.

He also said that my body would naturally find a comfortable level after 6-9 months if I followed the diet instructions.

Ten years ago, when I did the infamous lighter life programme (a UK protein shake based programme) my lightest weight was 175 pounds, which felt great. With my starting weight of 262 pounds I have a way to go.

So I'm a bit bemused and confused about setting a target.

I'd love to hear how you decided on your own target weight.....

[dachsie]

Mine said at 5ft 7in I should be 155 which is a BMI of 24. Told them they were crazy. LOL I originally said I would be happy at 170 but said ok, I will try for 160. I know some people who go lower than their target weight so I would pick something that makes you feel comfortable and then if you get there and want to go more, do it.

[natty]

I put a target on my ticker, but my target has nothing to do with a number..... It is only a number to me... I want to be healthy and happy. My true target is being able to walk into any store that I want and pick out the clothes that I want!

[midnight]

I picked mine myself at the beginning. I am 5'5 and should hit BMI 30 at 190. Im feeling great at 210 I think my real goal is 180. Anymore than that I would be thrilled. Size 10 would be nice too! But right now I really really want to get under 200

[Munchkin]

When I first pick my target weight, I picked a number that I was able to achive many years ago (like 17 years ago). I am now 10lb lighter than that weight. However, I am the same size because I am wearing the same skirts. Back then, I did a lot of weight training and has a lot of muscle. So keep that in mind. If you do a lot of weight training, you will be heavier on the scale but slim. Weight really isn't everything.

I am now trying to get to BMI 22 if it is possible. It will take a lot of hard work and patience but I am okay with that.

I think if you have many milestones, it will keep you going. My first one was to be lower weight than my husband. The next was get out of obese BMI. Now I am working to healthy BMI weight of 25.

My PCP told me BMI 22 is ideal but don't kill myself to get there. I am happy to maintain the weightloss regardless where I am. Just don't want to see the fat back.

[aclabombard13]

Hi and congrats on your sleeve! I am 5'6" and aiming for 135lbs... I chose my own target weight based on what I weighed in high school even though I know that it's ok for me to weigh a little more as an adult. I will NOT settle for a weight that doesn't put me comfortably in the "normal" BMI range. I have to get to at least 154 to be in that range. I would be very happy if I settled in the 140's but would really like the cushion of being in the 130s. My dr recently told me at me 3 month check up that I should shoot for 140 as my goal weight, I told him I was thinking 135 and he said that would be fine. I also realize that I will probably be saddled with about 10lbs of excess skin and will keep this in mind if I don't make it to my goal weight. Now as far as you go... I would set your own goal for yourself and disregard what your dr said. If you made it down to 175lbs on a fad diet you're almost guaranteed to surpass that with the sleeve. I think it's highly unlikely, if not impossible that you will stop at 190... especially if UK dr's do tighter sleeves as you mentioned. I believe that my surgeon did a tighter sleeve on me than a lot of others because I can eat less and am losing faster. I weighed 260lbs less than 6 months ago and today I weigh 167. Less than 4 months ago I was 230lbs. I think you should shoot for a healthy BMI, even at it's highest end. I'm sure you didn't go through this surgery to still be overweight or obese.... healthy and normal by medical standards is the least that we hope for. Good luck, you can get to whatever number you want.

[pack89]

Go by how you feel! If you feel great at 170 and that's comfortable for you, stop. If not, keep on going until you find what right for you. Ideally you want to be a a healthy weight and stopping while you are still considered obese, doesn't sound healthy to me. Just my opinion.

[SECRETSLEEVE]

I would like to be in the normal weight bmi which for me is anything under 145 pounds. I I feel good when I am below 140, I put a lower target because I like to have some room to fluctuate.

[Anissa Christine]

I am almost 5'8". In 2000 I got down to 167 from 387 (without surgery or medication). So now that I have this tool I want to get to 160! It is just a goal that I set for myself.

[mangomaid]

Great feedback - thanks for all your thoughts and advice.

[Kelly Jo]

For me, there is a difference between the target weight set by the surgeon and the one set by me. According to my surgeon, I am all ready at my goal weight. I started off at 324 lbs. She set my target weight between 210-225. I'm at 218 now, so according to her standards, I have met my goal weight. However, I'm only 5'4". I am still plenty heavy. My goal is 160. Not sure I'll ever get there as the last several months have been quite the challenge and the weight is barely coming off at this time. But that is my personal goal. She doesn't think I'll ever get there. It's 60 more pounds. If it takes me two more years, I'm ok with that. I would just like to get there eventually. I know much of my weight slow down is my own doing and letting lots of old bad habits sneak back in, not drinking enough or exercising enough. I know I really could be at least 20 lbs less than I am now if I behaved better. I'm one of those people who is still hugely battling food addiction, sleeve or no sleeve. I'm struggling.... But officially, if you lose 60% of your EXCESS weight, then you are considered a weight loss surgery success. So take you beginning weight, subtract your "ideal" weight, and whatever 60% of that is, that is the number your doctor uses.

[Grace]

Originally I thought 185 because it just sounded cool to have dropped 150 lbs. Then I got to size 18 and hubby and grown daughters asked if I was almost done because I had asked them to let me know when I started to look odd to them, not like myself as it were and they did. So I have my sights set on loose size 16, and just under 200 lbs on the doc's scale which is about 195 at home. I too am already at my doc's "success" weight. They don't set number goals because they realize each person is different, they are just looking for as much off as possible while still eating in a healthy way and shoot for at least 60% of our excess weight off.... I'd still like to get the last 25 lbs off, even if it takes all this next year.

[Stephy]

My dr said I should be at 100 lbs! Crazy ha...I am only 4'10"...If I get down to 100 lbs, I will look like a lil boy...so I chose 120, because mama likes her curves lol...I would be happy at 130 though. 120 is what I weighed after I had my first child (I was in high school), I loved the way it looked, so that's why I chose that #

[drisner]

I just looked at BMI. 25 is the highest non-overweight BMI, so I set my goal for that. It happens to be 195 lbs which would be cool to get under 200 lbs. My surgeon said to be happy if I get down to 225-230. (Some sites say below 25 BMI to not be overweight, so my goal should be 194 in that case, but when you're talking about 175lbs of loss to reach that goal, I'm not going to care about one pound.)

I'm much happier now with my weight than I have been in a long time, but I would really like to get to at least being "overweight" rather than "obese".

An interesting site is this one: Better Ideal Weight Body Calculations It shows you the "average ideal weight" which is what other people your age and height think looks & feels good. For me that would be 222 lbs. That wouldn't be bad to get to.

That said, I'm keeping my ultimate goal of 195. If I reach it, fantastic. If I don't, I won't feel like a failure or anything. I just want to have a really good goal to strive for.

[mangomaid]

Great website David - thank you!