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So...how does someone set a goal weight?

rjbj

rjbj

Member
This is, of course, something I'll talk about with my surgeon/team at my next visit, but, how does one set a goal weight and, once there, how does one keep it level. I see my current food intake as one that will take me on a downward trajectory for a long time. Keeping in mind that there are food and vitamin requirements to be met, how does one pull out of this weight nose-dive?
 
My team helped me set a goal weight range, probably around my 3rd appointment, which was with my surgeon. The first 2 appointments, with the dietitian then the counselor, goal weight was discussed to make sure I was being realistic. They calculated it based on BMI. I made my goal based on where I thought I would be healthy.
I ended up calling my dietitian months after my surgery asking her how the maintenance phase is accomplished because I thought eating as little calories as I was, I would just keep losing. She said there really isn’t a maintenance phase per say. She said that once my caloric intake reached a certain point, which depends on the person & their calories expelled, then weight loss stops. A person who is 5’1 and not super active would need fewer calories than another who is 6’3 and super active, and vice versa.
Anyways, it would be good to base a goal around your brightest BMI healthy weight. I don’t put much credence in BMI, but it will be what your doctors will look at. At my annual physical my BMI was 25 and my doctor said it’s right on the cusp of overweight. I cannot tell you how far back my eyes rolled in my head. She said she wasn’t worried about it, and that I had done amazing in the short amount of time since my surgery. I’m at a steady weight right now. I have a 5 lb +/- range that I usually seeing on the scale, but I’m even ok with 10lbs because I weigh less than what my goal weight range was set.
 
You will only rapidly lose weight for a short period of time. It slows down from a pound or so a day to every few days to a pound every week or so. As you start to eat more, you will find a calorie count/intake amount that works for your body and your activity level. Hopefully, that will coincide with the weight you would like to be at. If it doesn't, one or the other will have to be adjusted. But, for the first 3 to 6 months .. nose dive lol
 
missyinacage said:
I did a bunch of math with the average weight loss statistics etc. And then when it was time for my husband to do it, I found this calculator. It tells you expected weight loss and what percentage of people get to what weight. And based on my own end number, it's pretty accurate too.


Calculate Your Expected Weight Loss From Gastric Bypass (obesitycoverage.com
Click to expand...


I think its funny that that chart days my ideal weight is 115. I would be on deaths door at that point. The skinniest i have ever been is 130 and looked sick then. I do ideally wish I would have lost another 30 pounds but not likely and my spouse is thankful I didn't.
 
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rjbj said:
This is, of course, something I'll talk about with my surgeon/team at my next visit, but, how does one set a goal weight and, once there, how does one keep it level. I see my current food intake as one that will take me on a downward trajectory for a long time. Keeping in mind that there are food and vitamin requirements to be met, how does one pull out of this weight nose-dive?
Click to expand...
Oh gosh, I never even thought about this the entire time. Even months after surgery it still wasn’t on my mind. After the weight just melted off for 6 straight months I was happy where I was and just started maintaining. It’s been 4 months that I’ve been at my current weight. I guess for me it wasn’t about the number but more about when I felt healthy, more energetic, mentally/physically happy, that sort of thing. Sorry, Im not much of a help lol but thought I would share anyway.
 
My doc and I ultimately decided to not set a goal weight. Basically, he said that since statistically, I would probably lose 70% or more of my excess weight, I should just expect that. I'm trying to not weigh myself too often so as to not get concerned with fluctuations.
 
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