Waiting for things to be different...

Tomorrow makes my one month surgiversary.  I've lost 16 pounds since surgery, 30 total including pre-op.  I'm thrilled with the lack of hunger and what I've accomplished so far. My weight loss has occurred in a "stair step" fashion that is not unfamiliar to folks who've been around - more than a little frustrating at times, for sure. I'm in kind of a weird place at the moment.  My life has definitely changed since surgery; I'm very careful about planning my meals, checking nutrition labels, trying to schedule all of the eating and drinking. So far I've had a very easy road compared to many others who've shared their journey on this and other sites - no pain or nausea to speak of, ever really.

And, yet, I'm feeling a little disappointed today that I don't see a bigger change in my body, in my clothes, on the scale, in my energy level.

I totally get that I'm being impatient (and hormonal, most likely). I can't eat what (little) I eat and not see a change eventually.  I keep telling myself that over and over again. I so appreciate this forum, because I know that this is all in my head, and being able to share it with people who have gone through the same things keeps things in perspective.  So, I guess my question is - when did you notice that your life was different?  Was it a gradual thing or did you wake up one day and feel different?

For me it was both.  Gradual at first for sure- the first month brought a nice amounc of loss, but not even close to changing a size in clothing.  That in fact took quite a while.  It also took a really long time for people to notice, because like so many of us being that large meant losing a lot didn't translate into a high % lost.  So for sure that part was gradual.  What changed that was trying on a much smaller sized pair of pants- my "goal" pants... tried them on every so often to help guage my progress.  First time couldn't get them much above my knees, but in just a few months I was wearing them- far earlier than anticipated.  So that was sudden.  The day those fit I really took in how much I had already changed physically and my fitness level.  Fitness wise I had to start slow.  Just slow walks at first.  Then 2 minutes on the elliptical... worked up to 40 minutes or so after a month of working at it.  Little things like that caused me to wake up one day and realized just how far I had c ome.  But it took a while, so hang in there!

Ha! Ditto on the "goal pants"!! Great minds... ;)

Thanks, happyteacher! I have a few "along the way" clothes that I've been trying on once a week or so. I can't wait until they fit. :)

Ohhhh, goal pants.  I need to do this!

I think that, for me, the "life change" was more mental as a result of the physical changes. My confidence level is the highest it's been in years! I think things really started changing when I was able to fit into my "goal jeans" in January. Something just clicked and I was able to really see the change in my body.

It is different for everyone. I think it took me so long because I didn't really change the way that I dressed until I was able to fit into those jeans. At that point, I really decided to carve out a new style for myself. That's also when the confidence shot up!

You'll feel it before you realize it. Just keep on trucking along. You're doing great :) As for the size changes, I didn't really start moving down in sizes quickly until the first 50 pounds were gone. Plus sizes didn't change for me until another 20 pounds were lost. Now, 10 pounds and my pants are too big!

As for your energy level, it'll get better every day. I didn't have much energy for the first 6 weeks. You're normal ;)

Best of luck, dear! Keep us posted!

Thanks, Chrissy! It's awesome to hear from people who have done this (well) before me. You guys have definitely raised my spirits. :)

My life is very different in several ways - mostly I am fit and active, but there are subtle changes, too, like my self confidence is far greater than it was as a morbidly obese person.

As for body changes, some people experience them quickly. Others, like me, don't. I lost almost 50 pounds before I really began to notice major body changes. Then it was losing the last 30 pounds that made the most difference in my appearance. I kid you not - the last 30 pounds saw me lose 4 to 5 pants sizes! I went from a large and XL shirt to a small and some mediums.

Give yourself time. We all lose at different rates and our bodies react differently to weight loss. If you have a good plan and support, trust the process and the rest will follow.

"Trust the process." I needed to hear this! I know I need to have more patience and faith that this will work. I think it's hard in the beginning, because I'm coming from a place of weight-loss failure.  Thanks for the reminder.

I've had this happen in the past, during some of my hundreds of weight loss attempts.  I would lose 40 pounds and no one would notice.  Then, when I reached 45 pounds lost, everyone would notice and my clothes would finally feel a bit loose.  And then I'd get constant compliments and the inches would melt away.  So be a bit more patient.  The changes, they are coming!

Congrats on your weight loss to date!