getting discouraged ;(

Hey Marcy, Depending on what your surgeon has told you, you should be eatting a very high protein, very low carb/fat diet (unless you had the DS then fat is allowed). Even on the soft diet i ate pureed chicken, fish, tuna etc. The more protein you add, and the less carbs you eat, the faster you'll lose. Although 21 lbs in 6 weeks isn't bad. It's almost 4 lbs a week..YAY. Dont' compare yourself to anyone else on the board, depending on your starting weight, age, sex, etc..you will lose faster or slower then other people. I'm a 33 year old guy who started at 500 lbs, i dropped weight quickly. But then again i have a longer ways to go then most people who have had WLS. On the DS board, i see it posted a lot that you should be a 30% EWL by 3 months out, 50% at 6 months and 80% at one year. I don't know if it's the same estimate for all surgeries, but at 3 months i had lost just a little over 30 percent. But even this isnt' a steadfast rule, people lose at their own rate. Don't get discouraged at least your going down Hopefully this helps scott

Marcy: Hello! Thank you for sharing your challenges with us! This is the place to do so! We care and understand. You are not alone, and this is a common concern/issue for new postops! My view (*how I wraped my brain around it) on WLS is this: It is a tool to help us develop life-long health through healthy habits. Those including eating smaller portions, healthier choices, and exercising more...I see that as the GOAL, and what should be monitored/measured. Wt loss on the on the other hand is a outcome/side-effect of that goal. I also feel this is not a race (of numbers on the scale or better called a HUNKAMETAL), it is a wonderful journey to rediscover yourself and the power to make healthy changes and choices for a life of happiness, wellness and success! We are much more than a number on a scale, that hunkametal has ruled many of us too long, it can not give us happiness or sadness unless we allow i to have that power. It can not dictate our mood or level of confidence or self esteem unless we choose to allow it to! Do you weigh yourself every day? You may be obsessing over the scale too much. This practice can be very discouraging if you're trying to maintain healthy habits *GOAL ONE!* In fact, your weight may change from day to day for many reasons. Shifts in water weight, constipation, the food you just ate, and even the rotation of the earth (LOL) can cause daily ups and downs that may register on the scale. These shifts can be misleading and worrisome if you don't understand them. For a more accurate measurement of your weight, many recommend only weighing yourself once each week and on the same scale every time -- different scales may provide different readings. Or, instead, let the tightness of your belt be your guide. If your clothes fit better and you feel better, then you're getting healthier -- even if the bathroom scale doesn't reflect it. Take photos weekly/monthly, take measurements. Look to the NON_SCALE vicotries as your measure of success! Weight loss takes time and I realize patience is hard. Remember, if you're following a healthy lifestyle plan that is recommended by your bariatric program (diuetary, exercise) the extra pounds will come off -- whether you step on the scale a hundred times a day or never at all. I challenge you to think outside the scale. Think about how you look and feel, how your clothes fit, your frame of mind, your energy levels. Aren't these things worth listening to more than the scale? Your journey can not be compared to anyone elses, there are so many things that affect wt loss....factors to consider, heights, starting weights, men vs. women, individual metabolisms, age, and most importantly if you have any other medical conditions or are on medications!!! Remember the heavier people are the more they will lose (but the farther away one will be from an ideal bodywt..) and the lighter one is the closer to an ideal bodywt you will get, but the less they will loose overall! I always talk about my friend we started around same wt/ht, it took her 2 yrs to get to her lowest and me 7 months, we did the same thing she was a little older than I, but that was it, frustrating for her surely but in the end at 2 yrs we had different journeys but similar destinations! Listen to your doctor; mine said a 2-7# loss a week. Some weeks I lost 5 others none! Plateaus are also individual, some people get them every other week, others once a month and some never! Go figure...we are each individuals and our bodies are stubborn and are going to do what they want! We can only INFLUENCE our wt so much. LOL....As long as you are following your recommendations for food, vits, fluid, and exercise everything should take care of itself! Stay positive and don't get overly focused on the scale and numbers! Get the scale out of the house and weigh once a week somewhere or only when you go to the MD...Do not give the scale all that power! I and many think/thought "I will be the ONLY one WLS willnot work for". It is a common belief but time and patience dispell that irrational thought! Here is a link to a few articles: Why The Scale Lies http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/library/weight/scale.htm Use Measurements Besides the Scale What's So Motivating About Numbers Anyway? http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=104 HUGS & BE WELL! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=c1132518510 "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"