I'm convinced my RNY is broken :(

I feel stupid for even coming here and posting this, but I knew that you all would understood, even if no one else could. So my surgery was August 27, 2012....a little over 3 months out and I am not pleased with the results. I've tried staying off of the scales with no expectations, but it's kind of hard to not have expectations when you go through such measures to have this surgery done. Well of course after going through 25+ pre-op appointments and waiting 6 months prior to approval, I have expectations that this tool will work. As for me, I must say that I can say with confidence that I am doing EVERYTHING within my control to make this thing work (70 g protein per day, drinking water, exercise 5 times per week, staying on plan). So pre-op I was 245...I was 238.2 the day of surgery. Well for the past two weeks I have been bouncing from 187-189 but no real loss. At this rate, i will not meet my goal of 175 by the end of this month...which will screw up all of the other goals that I've set. When I set the goals, I thought that they were quite realistic, but I guess I should just say .5lb per month from this point out. will be realistic for me. I am in tears because I've been sticking to plan so well...and this morning I had an overnight 2 lb gain. I'm so devastated and depressed....that I feel like I cannot even go to work. I should have known. You always here about people meet their goal within 6 months, but I should have known that those results would not be typical for me. Things never are easy for me. I was hoping that the one thing that I could control in my life would be my weight loss, but I cannot even seem to control it. I can control only the input, but not the output and it's frustrating as hell :(

1) It isn't broken

2) Everyone is different. Do not compare your weight loss with anyone else.

3) Lightweights lose differently than others. Some will lose steadly but slowly each month to goal...others bounce their way down a stair case...one month losing, the next NOT losing. I even gained a time or two. But a 2 lb gain overnight is 99.999% chance of jus****er.

4) We all have slowdowns/stalls (difference is how long it lasts.

5) UP the amount of protein, 70 grams isn't enough. Try for a minimum of 100 g a day...some of us need upwards of 200 grams!

6) Make sure you are getting enough fluids in...a minimum of 64 oz daily here.

7) Post your daily intake on Roz's Miles & Minutes thread here...the ones who post there may have some ideas that are not obvious.

Now, step AWAY from the scale as well...do NOT weigh more than once a week. Also, if you haven't already, take measurements...people report inches lost even if the scale isn't moving.

You haven't broken it..

Liz

I often think that about my DS so I can understand.  I just want to send you a ((hug)) and hopefully some RNYers will chip in with some good advice.

(((HUGS)))  It took me over a year to get to goal.

I tell people it's the best roller coaster ride I have ever been on.  Ups and Downs, bumps along the way, and my emotions can change in a second. 

First off being anxious and depressed can hinder your weight loss.  2nd..Stalls are perfectly normal and usually during that time we lose inches.  3rd..many of us who have lost and are successful on Maintenance take in over 100 grams of Protein a day.  Personally I believe in Protein drinks and I drink over 125 grams per day plus I base most of my meals on Protein. I eat very few"bad" carbs.

When I was in a stall I would increase my protein for 3 days and then drop back down and it would usually the scales would start moving again.

Without any information about your plan is I can't really give any more advice.

could you post a daily menu for us? maybe we could help you tweak it. Not knowing what is on your plan,I would ask are you keeping you carbs to 30 or less a day?

also,I have recently found out that dairy products were keeping me from losing . once I cut out all dairy,I am again losing and hope to get to goal,NEARLY 3 YEARS POST OP>

So three months is way too soon to be feeling discouraged and giving up. actually,giving up should never be an option. the tool works if you work it.

Thanks guys (((hugs))) I'm not sure why I am so emotional about this. it really has ruined my entire day. I hope to get myself together and start over fresh tomorrow. Thanks so much for listening....Just the responses I needed.

Here is a typical menu:

Pre-workout: Sip on Elite Protein shake 52 g of protein (this protein shake only has 2 net carbs)

Breakfast: 2.5 oz cottage cheese with  1.5 oz of pineapple or strawberry cut up in it...i don't go over 4 oz total

Lunch: Turkey Chili. 1/2 cup

Dinner: 2 slices of turkey (1 oz each) 1 oz mozarella stick, 1 sliced pickle (1 oz)...

So yes, my carbs are quite low. I try to include no more than 20g (usually in veggies/fruit)

I am thinking of going back to all liquid (protein) and just sip on that throughout the day. Wonder if that will restart the loss. I feel like such a hopeless case.....One good thing is that my husband weighed himself and found that the scale was not calibrated properly...he got on three times and got three different readings with a 3 lb range. We are looking into getting a digital scale today that will measure within .2 of a lb. If we get it today, I will weigh first thing in the morning and then not again for at least a week. This is tough :( I'm trying to hang in there.

Thanks again.....

i would skip the cottage cheese and fruit,and the turkey chili which doesn't really have a lot of protein and replace them with more dense protein,even for breakfast.

as far as the fruit goes,it is pure sugar. it turns into simple sugar,the form the body utilized as soon as it hits your mouth,where digestion starts. as long as you are giving your body ready fuel ( simple sugar= fruit), your body won't burn stored fat.

I

 think you need more dense protein and less soft ones. You might even consider adding another protein shake in there somewhere.

I did some quick figuring on the diet you posted.

protein shake  pro 53

cottage cheese pro 16 gms carbs 3

pineapple  pro 0 carbs 6.5 and sugar 4 gms

strawberry pro 0 carbs 3 sugar 2 gms

turkey chili with beans pro pro 9.5 carbs 13 without beans pro 10 gms carbs 8 gms

part 2 ... these figures add up to

pro 32.5 Carbs 35.5  sugar  7 gms just in the fruit

i didn't add in the turkey and protein shake and cheese and stuff cause they are pretty much ok. with the 52 gm shake you are getting around 72 gms of protein which isn't bad but i think it is too much soft stuff. notice that in your breakfast and lunch,you are eating more carbs than you are protein. When you add in the carbs from the rest of your dinner,it might be more carbs than you realize.

do u use a tracker to track your intake? it can be very helpful in really seeing what your totals are. you might also post on Roz's menus and miles thread on this forum every day. great way to see what others are doing and get some ideas for food.

can u eat eggs/ great source of protein and many ways to fix them.

Gl

Let's put things into perspective.  You surgery date you were 238.2.  3 months later (13 weeks) you are bouncing around 189-187.  So, since surgery, you have lost 49.2 pounds.  That comes out to 3.78 pounds per week.  With all due respect, what were you "realistically" expecting to lose?  This is a phenomenal weight loss, even if you weren't a lightweight.  But you are!  So cut yourself some slack!!  You've likely hit a small stall - we all have them.  But, overall, you are doing fantastic!

So exit that pity party, and acknowledge that you have, and are doing, great! 

I am seconding your comment because I had surgery August 31st and was 207 on date of surgery (lost 30 before) and now am 166. I have INCREASED my calories during the last 2-3 weeks and dropped quite a few pounds (4). My body isn't thinking it is starving as much as before. I would stay at the same weight for as long as 2.5 weeks and then drop several pounds at once. 

Here's the math (just like you did for her): 41 pounds lost since surgery  ~  2.9 pounds per week if divided out by 14 weeks and I, too, go up a pound now and then.

I think she is OK and needs to not worry as much. My message: Don't beat yourself down. I'm losing a little less than you are per week (when divided out) and I'm very happy. Remember, the pro's here say a true stall lasts for 4 weeks. Here's a big hug..