Weight Loss Slowing Already? And Several Other Questions

So im 6 weeks out, 7 on Wednesday, and this past week I only lost 2 pounds. It was just going to fast that 2 pounds seems like nothing, and after a WEEK. I had been weighing myself everyday and some days I was losing 3 to 4 pounds a day. I know i shouldnt do that, and ive stopped, just weighing myself once a week now. But still....does it slow down this quickly?

Im also a little concerned about drinking with meals. I honestly have tried and tried and it almost seems impossible for me not to drink at my meals. I have to take a little sip of something or I feel like im going to choke. Is this going to be a problem? I dont sit there and chug water while im eating, but ill take a little sip now and then just to wet my mouth.

Another side note, when you all go out to eat do you take measuring cups or anything to measure how much you eat? Ive noticed the past few times that I seem to be eating what looks like more than 4 ounces of food. Im worried that I may be able to eat too. And are Tortillas okay? I know that Bread and grains should be avoided till around 6 months (atleast thats why my Dr says) but I see a lot of people eat wraps and things on here.

Just a few ramblings, hopefully someone can help on one topic, or all. Thanks y'all.

I am four months out and I agree that not drinking with meals and waiting an hour after is one of the toughest things to get used to. That said, when you start feeling hunger again it is absolutely essential! It is essential right away in my opinion...keep working toward it. I learned a lot about my pouch by following this rule!

As for what to eat...I have found that it depends on your doctors program combined with what you can tolerate. I've seen so many variations in my time on here so follow your doc and keep reading. I have had a few chips but not until two months and not more than a few times.

weight loss will vary week to week and there will be weeks when you don't lose anything. you just have to look at percentages and averages. 2 pounds in a week is still great! have patience and do the math. If you lost 2 pounds a week how long would it take to get to goal?

I only know one person on here who drinks with her meals and is successful, maybe there are more and they don't comment but only one that is vocal about it, but she is also very strict on her diet to maintain.

I thought it would be harder to not drink with meals but if you do something for a month it will become a habit. The way I made it a habit was to drink up until I ate and then I removed the drink from my presence when I got my food. If it wasn't there I couldn't grab it. While it may not be a problem now, it definitely could be and a lot credit their regain to it. It pushes the food out of the pouch and allows you to feel hungry again too soon, in the long run it can lead to overeating. I found by eating moister foods or dipping them in juice or sauce when I eat them negated the urge to drink a little bit for me. Also once you are allowed fruits I saw someone suggest once freezing grapes and having one at the end of their meal they claimed it helped with the no drinking rule.

I don't take measuring cups to go out to eat but I don't eat out often either. The more you measure at home the better you'll be able to eyeball things when you are out. I tend to eat steak when I'm out and it's typically sold by the oz on menus, I divide it into portions to come up with what i need. So if it's an 8 oz steak I eat half, a 12 oz steak 1/3 etc.

If your dr plan says avoid breads and grains til 6 mo I would say that means tortillas as well. Once you are cleared for lettuce you can use a lettuce leaf as the "wrap"

Please don't live by the number on the scale if you are going to define your success by it. You WON'T lose every day or every week. Your body is in shock!! It may stop losing pounds for a while at any point, but that in no way means that you are done losing or that the weight loss is grinding to a halt. If you read this message board every day like many of us do, you will read posts from people several times a week posting on just this subject.

It is recommended often to take measurements instead of weighing yourself. I never did but wish that I had! Those that have, report that when the scale isn't moving that their measurement show a movement. As far as the pounds go, my Dr told me to expect a 2-3 pound a week loss. At first I freaked out a little "JUST 2-3 POUNDS?!?!?!" Well, he was right, that is just what I lost which was almost 75 pounds in 6 months. Many will lose more than that and a few less. If you have more to lose you might lose faster than that. I never lost 3 or 4 pounds a day, but that in no way made me a failure. Remember that his is not a race it is a journey. 

As far was the question about tortillas goes, I keep the white carbs out of my diet while I wanted to keep losing and only added them back in gradually after that. I didn't NEED them and honestly didn't have room for them after having my protein and veggies. Drinking with meals will make the food that you have eaten go through your pouch faster. Watch this video, it will help you to understand why it isn't a good idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR0VM3mnsgM 

Martha 

Your weight loss will probably be erratic throughout the whole journey.  Stalls and temporary slowdowns are common.  Permanent slow downs usually don't happen until about 6 months and the again between 9-12 months out.

if you cannot avoid drinking (even sipping) when you eat, don't have any liquid at the table.  Seriously.  Have a glass with a single ice cube so that if you really feel that you must PHYSICALLY add moisture to avoid choking, you can suck on the ice cube for a minute.  Chances are, though, that the urge to drink is psychological not physical, especially if you are chewing everything to mush before swallowing as you should be.  If you chew to mush, your saliva will add moisture AND you will completely eliminate the possibility of food getting stuck.

tortillas are not any healthier than bread and may also sit very heavy I  the pouch.  They also take up a LOT of room that you need for protein.  Eat the items you would normally put in the tortilla with a fork instead of putting any kind of flour product around it in order to eat with your hands.  I am almost 6 years out and -- even at a restaurant -- I still eat the "guts" out of a burrito, etc. and leave the tortilla. This is a lifestyle change not just a diet we do for a couple of months until we are "allowed" certain foods again.  Don't go back to the foods that made you obese.  Find other things to eat and other WAYS to eat (eating the centrr of wraps, sandwiches, etc, eating toppings only from pizza, etc.) f you want the best chance for success long-term.

Lora

Hello.  My name is Lynn and I am a close****er drinker with meals.  I have been drinking a lot of water with meals since I was young.  I remember my mother telling me not to wash my food down.  None of my weight issues were from drinking with meals back then as I was not overweight.

I cannot get through a meal without a few sips of water.  I try to drink as little as possible and I am okay not drinking for 1/2 an hour after I finish a meal, but I really have tried and this is the best I can do.

I know I am probably not getting enough protein in but I do my best.  I have also been cheating with the carbs.  I now feel guilty about the quesadillas I was going to make for dinner.   I guess I will just have chicken, cheese and some sauce.