WHEN did you start losing?

I am 3 days post-op and I have gained 2 lbs. I can see how that is understandable but I am wondering when I will actually start seeing the numbers going down. When did you start losing and how often do you weigh?

Don't worry, my surgery was 1/31/12 and I gained at first too. About 10 days post-op the scale started to move down. I try very hard not to weigh everyday :)

That's fluid and your body is retaining it as part of the healing process. How quick it stops that and starts to lose varies widely. I have seen people who lose 10 lbs the first week. I wasn't even down to my surgery weight at my 1 week check-up and only lost 7 lbs the first month.

I really started losing the last week of the first month. While that's way later than average, my overall weight loss rate has actually been somewhat quicker than average.

I weigh once a week.

Try to get your fluids in, walk and ignore the scale the first month. I know that's hard - you want to see results NOW - but if you're going to be a slow starter like me it will save you a lot of frustration.

I gained 8 (yes, count um, 8 pounds) in two days in the hospital. I had lost 34 pounds pre-op and it was so sad to see the scale moving the "wrong" way.

It will take your body a few more days to flush out all the fluids that were pumped into it via IV. Your body has just had major surgery. Remember that the more you drink, the more your body will let go of the fluids, knowing that more are coming in. So, sip sip sip and do some walking, and get your rest. The weight will start to come off soon.

Be gentle with yourself.

I didn't weigh myself that early. It's fluid.  Clearly you are not taking in enough calories to have gained 2 pounds.

Guess I am just anxious! hehe I am trying so hard to drink enough fluids but it is so slow going. I will certainly keep trying and try to relax a little bit and be patient! Thanks for the advice everyone and your experiences.

Don't bother weighing for real until you pass your stall at your second, third, or fourth week.

Yes, there's about a 90% chance you're going to stall in the upcoming weeks.  Do not panic, and stay on your plan when this happens.

While I haven't had this surgery, I am a PA. First rule after surgery is the more you walk, the faster the swelling will go away.

Yup, great responses/advise.   I was in the hosp. three days, the 4th morning on release I weighed 15 pounds more then my admittance weight...LOL I didn't buy a scale until about week post op, the genesis of much frustration...  jus****ch your food log instead of the scale, hit your water and protein marks, for me, so far, knowing/managing whats going on with my input has been far more important then the scale....  

I think I had lost 11 lbs by my 2 week checkup. I only weigh once a week on Mondays! Helps me to keep my sanity. LOL!