Just a quick question if I may. I lurk big time and only post occasionally. But I am getting more motivated to get a referral to my WLS doc-of-choice as the lbs keep stubbornly hanging in there!

Anyway, to stop rambling and get to the point - my WLS doc-of-choice says that we should expect to lose no more than two-thirds of our excess weight - so, if we are 100 lbs overweight then to expect a loss of about 66 lbs.

Is this what you are told in the US? Maybe he says that so we are pleasantly surprised when we lose more, but it sounds a little short-sighted to me.

Whaddaya think? Maybe he doesn't expect really overweight folks to get down to really tiny weights. I dunno.

Hi Mish!!!

You should post more often so that we can get to know you!

I think that I have heard that the number is 70% of your excess weight, but I have read about alot of people who have gotten to their goal weight. It takes work and exercise and determination. My doctor set my goal weight at 140 but I can't imagine that. Be nice though!!!!

you can ramble as much as you want!!!

peach

hey there mish!!!! yep.. i've heard as low as 50% and as high as 75%. a lot depends on how motivated the person is to follow the rules. and remember, these numbers include people who lost almost nothing and people who drop way below their goal weight.

i've lost about 90% of my excess weight... so a lot of it is up to you!!!!

Thanks Jiffypop and Peach, that does ease my mind. I definitely don't want to be one of the ones that doesn't lose any weight!

I am planning to have the lap band done. I'll be seeing my PCP at the end of January, and I have an appointment to see the surgeon on Feb 10th. But this is all very early days so there is lots of time for me to post a lot and become really irritating!

Some more info about me:
I am nearly 40 (!) and am 5'9 and 309lbs. I've spent most of my life not succeeding at diets, or shall we say succeeding temporarily only for it all to come back with more. I'd be happy with anything around about 200lbs, 190 would be fabulous! (My BMI tells me I should be in the range of 140-170, but I haven't seen any of those numbers since junior high!) I'm a librarian, very happily single and I have a gorgeous little cat.

I'm really seeking wls because I just can't do it myself and I am getting sick of being unfit and sweating so much! In lots of ways I would be a size-acceptance person but when you are wearing the largest size the stores have and are starting to get some aches and pains then it is time for ACTION!

In some ways I feel kinda bad because I still feel I "should" be able to do it myself. But it ain't happening so here I am!

Looking forward to getting to know you all.
Michelle.

Hi Michelle! I've also heard doctor's say, "I'll give you 100 pounds, the rest is up to you."

I started my journey at 360 and I'm now weighing between 211-219. I'm two years out TODAY! I'm very, very comfortable where I am. I "think" I look good, so therefore I do......right

I see many people go into this, with the attitude that they want to be a size 2, 4, 6.....you get my drift. That was never my goal. As a matter of fact when the arse who did my surgery wanted to know my goal, I told him anything around 200 would be good.........the rest would be gravey. He told me I should end up around 175. Had I not spent the first two months (following complications) gaining weight due to high calorie tube feedings.......that is probably exactly where I would have ended up.

As for, "I should be able to do it myself." Hey, if we could do it ourselves, there would not be an epidemic of obesity in this county.

post often!

Im really a lurker but i had to jump in and say "Happy Aniversary Deb".

Yeah, happy anniversary Deb! So inspiring. I would be really happy if I could get results like yours (without the problems, of course!).