Struggling to see my success

Hi everyone, i just joined this site. My name is Julie and I am about to turn 27 in Nov. I have struggled with my weight since I was a child. I remember being teased by the other children in the first grade for being "fat." I finally decided to make a change in my life.

Back in April 2015 I had my Roux en Y surgery. Before surgery I weighed 363 lbs. As of today I now weigh 257 lbs. I know that I've lost a significant amount of weight. I went from a size 30 pant size to 18/20. I'm also now in a xl-1x top from my 3-4x top.

I know that this is great and I should be proud of myself. Yet I look at the fact that I lost 13 lbs this month, and I feel like I should have lost more; I should have done more.

I eat 3 meals a day, mainly of protein. I go to the gym 4 days of the week doing cardio and strength training. I probably don't get quite enough water in, but I try to.

My doctor said back in July that I could lose 20 lbs a month, and then when I went in on Sept 25 and had only lost 33 lbs from my last visit, he said 10 lbs a month is good. I feel like he changed it to 10 lbs, because I failed to meet the monthly goal of 20 lbs. I felt very ashamed and like I let him down.

Has anyone else felt the way I am feeling?

How much weight did you typically lose per month in the first year?

Is there anything that you suggest I change or do?

I really appreciate any feedback you guys can give. ^^

Hi Julie

I too just didn't "see" it. If you have not done so, take a photo of you in the same pose, room once a month. If I looked in the mirror I didn't see the new me, but when I compared photos side by side it was as plain as day how much I had lost and changed.

Pull out your before photo and take a new photo and place it here, we would love to see it and we can let you know just how great you look!!!!

Regards,

Kathy

Member Services

You are doing great. 20 pounds per month might have been realistic when you weighed 363 pounds, but its not at your current weight. The more weight you lose, the slower it is going to come off. This happens because the more you weigh, the more calories you burn just by doing nothing. Now that you have lost so much weight, you are burning fewer calories. Three pounds per week is really good, but you can expect that eventually your loss will slow even more. This is normal. Just stick to your plan.

I started surgery at 210. I lost 16-17 pounds the first 2 months, this month, only Month 3, I will be happy to see a 10 pound loss. The less you weigh, the slower it comes off. Plus you lose the most weight in the first 6 months. Keep doing what you are doing and it will come off, just not as fast.

Thanks so much guys, I never really thought about the fact that my weight loss would slow down because of my weight being so much lower than when i started.

Just stay on your plan. Take your suppliments,( zinc! Calcium/magnesium!) get your protein. Know there may be times that you don't loose, but it will begin again...just Keep on Keeping on! You will get there, you just have started, you have the rest of your life to continue, the more fit you become , the easier to exercise, the more calories you will burn..

After the first few months, you were never going to see another 20 pound loss in one month. Here were my monthly losses:

Gastric bypass surgery weight on 08/21/12 was 359.
Month 1 (08/21 - 09/21) -24 pounds (335 lbs)
Month 2 (09/21 - 10-21) -21 pounds (314 lbs)
Month 3 (10/21 - 11/21) -19 pounds (295 lbs)
Month 4 (11/21 - 12/21) -21 pounds (274 lbs)
Month 5 (12/21 - 01/21) -13 pounds (261 lbs)
Month 6 (01/21 - 02/21) -21 pounds (240 lbs)
Month 7 (02/21 - 03/21) -10 pounds (230 lbs)
Month 8 (03/21 - 04/21) -16 pounds (214 lbs)
Month 9 (04/21 - 05/21) -10 pounds (204 lbs)
Month 10 (05/21 - 06/21) -8 pounds (196 lbs)
Month 11 (06/21 - 07/21) -6 pounds (190 lbs)
Month 12 (07/21 - 08/21) -5 pounds (185 lbs)

Everyone is right- you are doing an amazing job.

Here were my numbers:

Highest Weight: 339 (BMI=53)

Surgery Weight: 311

Month 1 (9/2-10/2) -30 pounds (281 lbs)
Month 2 (10/2-11/2) -18 pounds (263 lbs)
Month 3 (11/2-12/2) -18 pounds (245 lbs)
Month 4 (12/2-1/2) -14 pounds (231 lbs)
Month 5 (1/2-2/2) -12 pounds (219 lbs)
Month 6 (2/2-3/2) -9 pounds (210 lbs)
Month 7 (3/2-4/2) -12 pounds (198 lbs)
Month 8 (4/2-5/2) -9 pounds (189 lbs) * "overweight" bmi
Month 9 (5/2-6/2) -10 pounds (178 lbs)
Month 10 (6/2-7/2) -8 pounds (170 lbs)
Month 11 (7/2-8/2) -11 pounds (159 lbs) * "normal" bmi
Month 12 (8/2-9/2) -7 pounds (152 lbs)
Month 13 (9/2-10/2) -5 pounds (147 lbs)
Month 14 (10/2-11/2) -7 pounds (140 lbs) * reached goal weight (BMI=22)

You are doing fine; one of the things you need to learn about is not letting the number on the scale define you as a person.

Keep up the good work.

You are right! I need to remember how much better I feel, and how I am a better wife and mother now.