What am I doing wrong???

I am 12 days out and feel like something has gone wrong.  I was losing weight and had lost 17 pounds by Wednesday.  I've started being able to drink more water now and actually getting in the protein drinks that I am supposed to and I stepped on the scale today and I gained 4 pounds!  Why would that happen?  Should I just stay off the scale???

 Yes - you should stay off the scale. 

Ask yourself a question:

Did you eat 3,500 cal x 4 lbs - 14,000 calories?

If no, you have no reason what so ever to even think twice about the scale going up. 

If yes, you need to go to the ER immediately and see your surgeon because something is very very wrong. 


it's water - the amount of water in our bodies fluctuates a lot on an hourly and day to day basis - no reason to flip out, it's going to happen a lot along the way. You are going to be just fine. 

I feel u. I wonder the same thing. I was banded 4/10/12. I weight 249 the morning i arrived at hopsital, next 2 days of full liguids. I weighted 245. Then hit 240. Probably is im still at 240 over a week later. I eat only 1/3-1/2c of cream soup or thin hot cereal and drink water and low cal drinks mixed w/isopure. I feel i barely take 600 cal or less and plus i walk 3 x a week. So like you, ihope someone can explain! I would appreciate it, i dont think i was given restruction at surgey.

 Average weight loss after surgery is 100 pounds in one year

Month 1 – 20 pounds

Month 2-6 – 10 pounds

Month 7-12 – 5 pounds

Just remember, that your body is having to adjust to taking in less calories.  Right now your body is thinking there is a famine going on, so it is wanting to hold on to every single calorie you are taking in.  This too shall pass.  Just got to give your body time that it's not going to be getting the crazy amount of calories it was getting before surgery.  Plus, stay away from that pesky scale.  I know how tempting it can be, especially if you are like me and are getting asked everytime someone sees you they ask you, so how much have you lost now?  Good luck!

 Thank you all so much!!  I cannot express how helpful all of you answers are!

Don't forget that your body is still healing too. Give it time, follow your doctors orders and you will see things change soon.

I didn't start feeling really well for three weeks and since I couldn't really work out hard until the six weeks was up I wasn't worried about it. Once I was able to work out like I wanted, then I have seen better results. I have had one time that I only lost 1 pound in a week and one week where I gained a pond.

Keep working! My nurse also told me not to worry if I go an entire month without losing, just stick to the rules and your body will adjust.

Good luck!

My RNY was april 10th and for the first week postop i was losing steady. When i switched to modified liquids my second week (protein shakes and thinned greek yogurt) and i also put on weight. My problem is im getting on the scale every morning. I know that if i follow the dr orders, the weight will come off and i need to stop torturing myself with these fluctuations. So youre not alone!

 Don't stay off the scale.  This is an exciting journey.  During the next year you will see the scale going steadily down.  Why would you want to miss that experience.  Make the scale your new friend.  Don't worry about little fluctulations in fluid.  Enjoy seeing those numbers plunge.

I weigh once a week mainly because I'm keeping a log.