Slightly Discouraged

 So, I am 7 weeks out as of yesterday. I am down 26.7 pounds. I feel like it is coming off very slowly. I try to not le it bother me, but when I see others have lost more then I have I get discouraged. I know everyone is different, but I haut question if this is going to work for me. I thought it would be coming off a lot quicker. Any words of encouragement would be great! Thanks :)

You are doing awesome! Never compare lb for lb to someone else. Everyone is different. I haven't had surgery yet but if you're following your teams directions, and are still losing then you're doing awesome.

Keep up the awesome work!

First off, get away from the scale if it is going to discourage you.  At 10 weeks, I have lost 32 lbs since surgery, so if it is slow for you, it is even slower for me.  Remember that the weight did not come on overnight and it will not be lost over night.  As long as your weight is going downward, it is good.  I have had times when my weight, even at 10 weeks would fluctuate up and down a couple of pounds (yes I did say UP and DOWN) but eventually it would go down.  I remember many times when I dieted and my weight would plateau, or I wouldn't lose it fast enough and I would just give up.  You have to remember that this is a lifestyle change and it will eventually come off but it is going to take time. 

I don't think you are losing too slow.  You are losing almost 4 lbs a week/16lbs a month.  Be proud to be on the loser bench.  But like I said, if the scale is making you discouraged, get rid of it and only weigh in at your doctor visits.  I weigh in often but only count my weigh ins on Monday because those other days don't matter.  You are doing a great job.  Have you started exercising yet.  That may boost your weight loss, although it slowed mine down until I realized I needed to add more protein to my diet because of the calories used for exercise, not to mention you need protein to repair your muscles when you exercise.  Don't let the scale rule your life....also, measure inches because when people asked how much weight I lost and I told them, I have always been told I look like I have lost more than that.  YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB....

I also haven't had surgery yet, but it sounds like your doing AMAZING!!  And the other peole that have lost more might just have alot more to lose than you.  I would just keep track of everything going in and what exercise going out.  Wish you the best of luck.  I hope I am as suscessful.

 Well...I'm not sure how encouraging this is but here goes.

I invite you to ask yourself. If this was...say...this time last year. What would have happened in 7 weeks? Would you have gotten on the scale to find a) you'd lost b) you'd gained or c) you were exactly the same weight? for me options b or c were more likely.

So while you perceive yourself as being a slow loser, remember this: you are LOSING. Not gaining, not flatlining (although you're due for a good ol' fashioned LONG stall soon...be warned!). 

Any downward motion is progress. So keep working toward your goal. It's not supposed to be easy and in a way I think we should be grateful for it not being a fast process. I mean, really, are you ready to be skinny today? At this very moment? Mentally? I know at 7 weeks I was not. At four years I'm still trying to figure out what the hell all this means! 

Hugs. You're going to get there. I have faith in you.

Trust me, I understand.  At 7 weeks out I had lost 37 pounds but only 17 since surgery. (I lost 20 lbs on 2 week liquid pre-op diet.

I could get a little discouraged if I let my self because some others lose so much faster.  However, a week shy of 6 months, I have lost 84 lbs and to me, that is awsome. I would be one of those that had gained in this amount of time last year and gained big time.  That's exactly what I did.

Keep up the good work.  I will continue to come off even if it feels like it is happening too slow.  I too, have been afraid it was not going to to work.  I am about to get over that though at this point.

How about this?

Instead of considering how many pounds you've lost, consider how much of your excess weight you've lost.

For example, if you need to lose 100 pounds, then you've lost 26% of your excess weight in 7 weeks, and should hit your goal at about 7 months, maybe 8 to allow for some slow down. That's actually FAST loss.

If you need to lose 200 pounds, you've lost about 13% of your excess weight, and it will likely take you about 1.5 years, which is still very strong loss.

I suspect you may be a "lightweight," or someone with about 100-120 pounds to lose, rather than a "heavyweight" with closer to 200 pounds to lose. Lightweights tend to lose fewer actual pounds per week, but lose about the same percentage of excess weight each week. It's frustrating to hear people dropping 8-10 pounds per week when you're dropping 3-5, but if a lightweight lost at that rate, they'd be skeletal in 3 months and have worse health problems.


Sending you LOTS of encouragement - hang in there, and it WILL work for you.

YOU CAN DO IT!
It may seem slow but it will keep going. I got into a slump when I had a stall and it bummed me out. Stay away from the scale for one week and then check in. You will be amazed what you see. Get ALL of your fluids and protien in daily and it will pick up. I learned this during my stall that if I didnt get those in 100% it slowed me down.

Tell us about your non scale victories (NSV). Sometimes its good to show off!

Please don't get discouraged, I had surgery Apr. 18 and since then I have lost 53 lbs but for the past two weeks I have not lost a pound.  I guess what I am experiencing is the dreaded stall. After surgery I was having a very hard time with eating and I got a flu bug which aided in the weight lose then I couldn't eat or drink for about 6 days and that also made me lose weight.  Before you know it the weight will fall off you, just stay away from the scale and keep doing what you're doing and you will see the results you want.

Hi! I just had my 4 week postop appt. and kinda got "scolded" for my funk about having lost more preop than since having surgery. In my program we don't even look at weight loss for the first month- the surgeon and dietician both focus on healing thru meeting protein and fluid requirements. Remember all the swelling internally from what was done. I was also reminded for the bizillionth time that because I am a lightweight of rny, my loss wouldn't be as fast as those with higher BMI. I try not to stress and this site is so awesome with support and stories from every situation!! I lost 22# preop and have lost 17 in the first month. I am jogging and walking at least 5-6 times a week. Having some struggles with figuring our regular foods, fluids, protein but I have only started that a few days ago, I will get the hang of it!! With all I am doing right, I figure the weight has to come off at some point, lol!! My surgeon said at 6 months I will be asking if I have lost too much- I assured him that may be a concern of his but no mine I am happy to say, my labs are now fabulous!!! I have dropped two full clothing sizes, and I am out of the obese category and under 200 pounds all within this first month!! The scale may not drop in leaps in bounds but my body is changing, dramatically!! Yours will too Good luck and God bless !!