Question:
Complete frustration, why is weight not moving?
I am aprox 7 weeks post op RNY/LAP. I started at 275 lbs and 5 foot 7. I am currently stuck around 242. I want to cry. It seems like this isnt working for me at all. I excercise on my bike 7 miles or 40 minutes almost nightly and walk every other day. I am getting in 64 oz of Crystal Light (cant stand the water). I am eating all the "right" things, no sugar,fats, carbs, etc. But I am beginning to think I am the one who this surgery isnt going to work for! Example meals for the day am-3 oz FF yogurt, lunch 2 lunchable crackers, w/cheese & turkey, dinner 1/2 of crab stuffed sole and maybe 2-3 bites of veg. Does this sound like too much? Or am I just too impatient? Please help. — Dee W. (posted on September 30, 2002)
September 30, 2002
At this rate you are losing over 1/2 pound per day. Oh my gosh, I don't
think you realize what an accomplishment this is. You may be on a small
plateau. Hang on and keep up the good work!
— MARSHA D.
September 30, 2002
I've posted this in length before so I'll give an abbreviated version of it
here. THROW AWAY THE SCALES. My surgeon asks his patients to only weigh
when they come for check-ups or at support group meetings. That way, you
only weigh once a month at the most. My first weigh-in was at 12 days
post-op, the next was 2 months later. But I did what he asked and didn't
weigh in between. My next weigh-in was at a support group meeting and
since then I've weight at meetings or at his office only. I started out at
346 (5'5") so I have a lot more to lose than you do. I am 10 months
post-op and have lost over 150 pounds but if I had been a slave to the
scales, I think I would have driven myself nuts. I did have a 2 month
period where I only lost 5 pounds and I almost cried but then the next time
I weighed it had started up again. So, if you don't weigh frequenly, you
don't know when you hit the frustrating plateaus - and you will hit them.
Having said all that, I agree with the previous poster - your weight loss
is great. Don't beat youyself up - it will only hinder your progress.
— Patty_Butler
September 30, 2002
I'm 7 weeks also, and believe me, the scale will move! I agree with the
other posters---put the scale away. You can't help but lose weight on what
little we eat. It'd be impossible not to. I go through 2 week plateaus
but then BAM--I'll lose 5 lbs. I'm convinced alot of it is in myu HEAD
when I plateau--so I don't weigh anymore. I can tell in my clothes that I
am losing. Don't obsess...the weight will come off. Besides when in your
lifetime of dieting have you lost 32 pounds in 7 weeks???? Relax. Don't
be impatient---I was asking this same question about 2 weeks ago. It'll
happen!
— Kay S.
September 30, 2002
Take into consideration that you are probably building muscle with all the
excercise you are doing. You are doing just fine.....good luck
— barbara A.
September 30, 2002
You are right on track. You have lost a good amount of weight for only 7
weeks. I am 11 weeks out and have lost 42 pounds, compared to some, that is
not much, but when you think about it, I am losing about 4 pounds a week
average...no diet would work that consistently! I too am a daily weigher, I
think it is an OCD of mine, anyhow...I plateau about every week and a half
and then nothing for about a week and a half then BAM! -4 pounds. You are
doing great. Possibly cut out the crackers...and measure yourself by the
fit of your clothes and a tape measure. I exercise too and find the inches
are melting away. Write if you need support!
— missmollyk
September 30, 2002
You have to be patient. This is no overnight cure for obesity. It does
work, and it IS working for you. EXPECT plateaus, they are a normal phase
of losing weight, no matter how you do it. And enjoy the shorter plateaus
now, later on they will get longer and longer. I had one that lasted 6
weeks! I thought that was IT for me! But it started again. I understand
completely the feeling of being discouraged. We have failed SO MANY times
on diets in our past, that you believe that this too will fail. Try to be
patient, its working!
— Cheri M.
September 30, 2002
Please, beware ... you need to avoid the "diet mentality" that
has trapped you for a good portion of your life. Change your lifestyle,
and the weight WILL fall off. It just takes time and patience. Throw away
the scales! Weigh in once a month or so, and you will be THRILLED with
your progress. I committed to only weighing myself at my doctor's office
during the first 6 months post-op. At three weeks, I had lost 27 lbs. At
6 weeks, I had lost 60 lbs. and at 3 months, I had lost 100 lbs. The last
91 lbs. have floated off SLOWLY over the last year. I just really wish I
could stress to you that it is VERY HARD to fail at WLS. You would have to
purposely choose the wrong things and overstuff your pouch routinely. You
would have to refuse to exercise and basically disregard your doctor's
guidelines. Unless you have a staple line disruption, the weight WILL come
off if you're doing your part. Don't worry - this surgery WILL work for
you. You are already doing great, especially considering the fact that
you're a "lightweight" (barely 100 lbs. overweight). I was 220
lbs. overweight myself, which meant a very rapid initial weight loss ...
but the rest of my weight is really taking its time coming off! I think
God's trying to teach us patience with this thing. I know I've just had to
learn to relax, live my life, and try to be happy, regardless of my weight.
Don't judge your worth by the numbers on the scale!
— Terissa R.
October 1, 2002
It certainly doesn't sound like your eating too much...maybe you're not
eating enough for the amount of exercise you get. My surgeon recommended
that I eat 6 times a day, small amounts each time. I eat a protein bar for
a snack or breakfast, some fruit for a snack, part of a Lean Cuisine for
lunch or dinner, etc. Also, I have found that if I drink Crystal Light or
anything with artificial sweeteners, I retain fluid and will actually gain
weight if I do it without getting the correct amount of water. I know you
said you don't like water. Try filtering it with a Brita pitcher and use
ice and a straw. I can drink 3 times as much this way. Just don't drink
with your meals, wait at least 30 minutes after eating to drink anything
and try really hard to limit the artificial sweeteners. Get that water in
and I believe you'll see a difference. Also, try eating 6 times a day to
get around 600-900 calories a day. It worked for me. Especially when I
heit my first plateau.
— Teri D.
October 1, 2002
You answered your own question. Yes, you are too impatient. Plateaus are
a fact of life for all of us. Everyone gets them and they last for
different periods of time. Just stay the course, continue your exercise,
protein first, lots of water and the scale will move again. Sometimes
increasing your food intake is what it takes to "trick" your body
into getting back on track. By the way, my nutritionist says you have to
have some fat and carbs in your diet-might want to reconsider that...
— Cindy R.
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