Lean Muscle/Bone Mass
During my 6 month follow-up, an interesting question came up. The
scale my surgeon’s office also measures body fat and lean muscle/bone
mass. The Head Nurse told me that out of my 436 lbs, about 291 lbs
was lean muscle/bone mass, and the rest was fat (about 33%).
Now I had been told years ago that my ideal weight (at 6′1″) on
my frame was about 230 lbs. And shortly after surgery, I asked my
surgeon if 230 was a realistic goal, and he saw no problems with it.
So as I talked to the Head Nurse, I mentioned that even if I
didn’t add any muscle weight (and I’m getting ready to start a
weightlifting routine) and I lost almost all of the fat on my body, I
would still be about 300 lbs. I asked her, that does mean I’m going
to lose 70-80 lbs of BONE, does it? She had no answer, but she agreed
that 300 lbs couldn’t be an entirely healthy weight to maintain.
Does anyone here have any answers or ideas?
Monte in Virginia
LAP RNY 1/30/02 Dr. Gary Harrington/Commonwealth Surgeons
Pre-op weight - 660 lbs
8/20/02 weight - 436 lbs
Goal weight - 230 lbs
September 29th, 2004 at 9:13 pm
Monte,
Don’t let the nurse convince you that 291 is healthy. A scale, no matter
how “accurate” is not a realistic estimate of bone mass or muscle
density. Your “mass” will change as you lose weight. Give yourself some
time. Once you get going on a exercise program, your body will tell you
where it wants to go.
Also check out obesityhelp.com. They have a BMI measure that is a little
more realistic than a bone mass scale. If you insist on going with bone
mass or muscle density scales, get to a clinic that does water testing or
a more reliable estimation. And remember that it is an ESTIMATION!
I went from 318 to 166. My BMI went from 54.6 to 28.5. I have about
forty pounds yet to go. People keep telling me not to lose more weight.
But my body is telling me that it has a ways to go to be happy.
Set some goals for yourself. Mine range from the simple (to climb the
bluff on the Fourth of July - which I did!) to being able to buy a dress
for my daughters weddings this fall without having to pay extra for
“large” sizes. (Yes, both my girls are getting married within the next
three months.) to walking the Christmas Celebration (a 15 mile walk/sing
through the city to raise money for the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter).
Do some reading and some research before you set a goal for yourself.
Your doctor has been doing this for some time, if he says 230 is
realistic, trust him.
Mary