Extremely frustrated

Monday will be 4 weeks since surgery. Dr. B started me on Stage 1 food two weeks ago. I've progressed my diet as we've been told since then. Problem is....scale hasn't moved since I started Stage 1. In fact, it's gone up a bit. I'm not eating much; scrambled egg, string cheese and then some chicken and a bite of veggies. I've been in Niagara Falls, so we did a lot of walking. It has been difficult to get all 64 oz in, but I'm getting close. I'm about to scream. Sitting at 200 and it won't budge. I'm starting to think the only way I'm going to loose is on liquids and that's frustrating. I can't live that way. I don't know what to think and can't help but wonder if I've made a $10K mistake doing this. It's the exact same as it was before surgery. Any suggestions????? Thanks for listening.....Cindy

I dont know much about VGS but with RNY I lost a bunch the first two weeks and then it stopped for a couple of weeks....I got frustrated....then I realized even though I wasnt losing weight, I had lost inches instead.  My body was just trying to catch up to the weight that I had already lost.  I wouldnt get discouraged because it will continue to come off, it just goes in spurts...the body has to catch up some way....you are doing great so far and continue the good work.  It will happen and before you know it you will go weigh yourself and it wont just go below 200 by one pound but by more than one all at once.

Cindy: Hey girl!  Hang in there!!  This WLS thing CAN be frustrating to say the least! Here are a couple things I would suggest you start with: 1.  Journal everything!!  Food, Water, Exercise  (if you don't want to track by hand use an online source - there are some very good free ones out there) 2. Make sure you get all of your water in daily!  It is so very important, especially with the temps increasing. 3. Call or write Jessica for help!  Schedule an appointment if needed to go over your journal and see if something needs to be tweaked. Remember this is not an exact science and each of our bodies are extremely different.  The dietitians can give you a template but you are going to have to work the tool to make sure that something is happening. On top of everything, know that you are NEVER alone in your journey!  We (US) will make sure that you always have someone to laugh, cry, kick if you need them!! (((((HUGE HUGS))))

I had a stall at 2 weeks out and didn't lose anything for almost 2 weeks.  It then started back.  It was right about the time I started the mushy food also.  My doctor warned me that alot of people stall at this time as there body adjusts to the weight they have already lost and all the changes that have happened.  I think him telling me in advance kept me from feeeling your frustration. I have followed all the stages and have had great success.  I do not know about your doctor or nut but mine have stressed that it is extremely important to follow the progression of stages.  Your goal is to get back to eating healthy regular food.  It will happen!!

 

Sherri

On the VSG board a lot of fols report a stall at about this point.  I know it doesn't make it any less frustrating though.  Hang in there!  You will lose the weight.  It is physically (and mathematically) impossible for you to not lose on the number of calories yu are eating in a day.  Journal what you are eating and drinking and show it to Jessica.  At this point your body is still freaked out about the drastic changes in diet and tiny little tummy. You are goign to be gorgeous!  It will happen.  Big hugs! I am sure my turn is coming so remember what you do whenit gets going again so you can advise me. Denise

I had surgery six weeks ago and only lost 5 lbs in the four weeks after the liquid stage, so I know what you're feeling.  Dr. B said to just be patient and I would start losing again.  He also said to try and up my liquids a bit.

Boy, do I ever hear you! I contacted one of the  registered dieticians at OWLO and she said a stall at this point is very common. She suggested that I continue my exercise routine, continue to get my fluid goals met, and to increase my caloric intake since my body had probably gone into starvation mode and was slowing my metabolism. Previously I was only getting in maybe 400-650 calories per day. She requested I try to get at least 850 or even 1000 calories per day. Since doing that, the stall broke and I'm losing again ... slowly, but losing. Also, try to get your protein goal each day, too. Call your dietician for help in your specific situation and I wish you the very best ... and that we all have patience for this journey! : )

I didn't weigh for 12 weeks after my surgery because I traveled a lot during that time and I knew it would be up down with water retention and just generally adjusting to surgery, new routine.

I think it takes a good 2 months for your body to get over the shock of what (to it) is a big big deal (major surgery) and realize that you aren't going to starve it.

Also, and I am not a doctor, but I think much of anything below 1000 calories is asking for trouble-you want your metabolism to be a flaming furnace!

Cindy, I am SO there with you... my surgery was one week before yours, and since I went back to eating food, my scale has barely moved.  It has been waffling between 303 and 301 for two weeks.  I'm beginning to have dreams about seeing something less than 300, but then when I get on the scale - NOPE...   Dr. Walton warned me that it was likely to happen, but even with that, if not for everyone here at OH-OK and over on the VSG board, I would probably have lost my mind by now.  I have been journalling everything (thanks, Ruth) at www.thedailyplate.com .  It has been an excellent site for me to use.  I seem to be hanging around 700 calories of mostly protein and fat per day.  (fat coming from my cheese...)  Logically, my brain tells me that at 700 calories per day, still as active as I was before, I MUST start losing again soon.  If only my brain would tell my body. Here is something that helped me a bit... online I went back to a random pre-op calendar date and logged in sort of a generic day's worth of pre-op food.  Just a general idea of what I used to eat before I got with the program... it added up to almost 4000 calories in one day!  And that wasn't even a real bad day...  good grief! Check out the profiles of some of the OK VSG'ers who have gone before us... ScrapHappy and Pearbait are two that come to mind that I know have had the same significant stall issues that we are experiencing right now and broken through to keep on losing. It's just a matter of time before our bodies give up control to us again.  Hang in there - we'll all get through this together.  I keep consoling myself with the fact that probably by the time Kim and Denise hit this same stall I'll be moving on.  John 

John!  I had you pegged for one of the nicest guys in the world!  What happened?  Did the stall make you cranky!?  LOL!