how much weight will i lose?
Regardless of which weight loss surgery you choose, you can expect to lose a certain amount of weight from bariatric surgery. The MBSC has developed a Bariatric Surgery Outcomes Calculator that can predict a patient's individual weight loss, comorbidity resolution and complication rate after bariatric surgery.
The calculations are based on average weight loss per procedure. To lose the average amount of weight, you’ll need to follow your surgeon’s pre-operative and post-operative guidelines.
Long term diet and exercise changes along with other habit changes can lead to weight loss that exceeds the averages used in these calculations.
please note:
This calculator will calculate your expected weight loss based on the average excess weight loss for each procedure. Many people do much better than the number calculated. Tracking your food intake, following your diet guidelines, and implementing exercise will lead to weight loss that exceeds the average.
Non scale victories
Bariatric surgery is not a cosmetic procedure. You will lose weight and may look better. But the success of bariatric surgery should be based on a reduction of co-morbidities, improved longevity, and an improved quality of life, not numbers on a scale. Are you happier, healthier, and going to live longer?
Let’s take a look at some non-scale victories.
When you don’t need the extender belt on an airplane.
When you can shave your legs without a struggle or mirror.
When you make it up the stairs without breaking a sweat.
When you are not embarrassed to take a picture.
When you get to wear that dress that you’ve had in your closet for years.
When you can cross your legs.
When you aren’t the biggest person in the room.
When you fit comfortably in a seat.
When you can wrap a standard bath towel around your body.
When you don’t have to shop at plus size stores.
When you can get in and out of booths easily at restaurants.
When your joints don’t hurt at the end of the day.
When you are not the ‘fat’ member of your group of friends.
The list can go on and will be different for everyone. Losing weight does so much more than just improving medical conditions and lowering the number on your scale.
But you have to stay focused, and you have to change.
Celebrate your non-scale victories. Make a list of the things you want to do that your weight has prevented you from doing and reward yourself when you reach those goals. Don’t reward yourself with food. A manicure, tickets to a concert or sporting event, a night out with the friends are great rewards.