Question:
really bummed and need to rant. . . slowq looser
I apologize up front for this ranting, but I'm really bummed out right now (partly hormones, I'm sure). I am 6 1/2 months post-op and have had to literally fight for every pound. While I'm pleased with my loss (-100), it hasn't come easy. I read, everyday, on here about people who eat at Taco Bell and various other fast foods, or they're eating spagehetti, potato, sub sandwiches, etc., and I can't believe they are losing weight! I have not had any bread, rice, pasta or potato or sugar since my surgery. I stay totally compliant. I get in all my protein, water and exercise. I decided early on that I was going to be as compliant as possible until all the weight was off and then MAYBE add a little more carbs. BUT, I don't think I will be able to. I have hit a plateau and nothing seems to work. I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself because it seems as though so many people eat whatever they want and still seem to lose. I still need to lose 30 to 40 lbs. and I really, really wanted it off by the end of the year (preferably by Thanksgiving). I don't see that happening. I am going to work extra hard working out and drinking even MORE water and see if that helps. By the way, I know my profile is not updated, so please don't scold me. I just needed to have a pity party for a minute. Anyone else in this same boat? Thanks for listening. — Kathy S. (posted on August 12, 2003)
August 12, 2003
How many calories are you eating a day? How many protein grams? How often
are you eating? All those things can make a difference.<p>Believe it
or not, sometimes you get to a point where you need to eat MORE to lose
weight. Also, even though you are not eating refined carbs, I am sure you
ARE eating fruits & veggies in moderation. If not, your body may be
missing some carbs! Also, if you are eating 3 meals a day, sometimes going
to minimeals every few hours will jumpstart your metabolism. And
www.zoneperfect.com has a body fat calculator that also tells you how many
protein grams you should consume in a day. (Mine says 77, but since I've
had WLS I hedge a bit and aim for 100 g.)<p>I hope this helps! If
not, well, it sounds like you are doing everything you can so all that is
left is to be patient. At least you know that you are treating your body
right . . . even if it won't cooperate by losing those last pounds! :P
— ctyst
August 12, 2003
I'm sorry but where does it say you need a pity party after losing 100
pounds in 6 1/2 months?? I'm not scolding...well, guess I am a little, but
please, give yourself a break, you have everything in the world to be proud
of. Not many can remain as compliant as you have (its way too restrictive
for me). The point is, you have a plan, you have stuck to it, and you have
seen great results. I tell new post-ops this all the time, do NOT set
unrealistic goals as far as losing a certain amount of weight by a certain
date. Thats not fair to yourself, and just sets yourself up for failure if
you don't achieve this unrealistic goal. Cheri has some good advice about
changing up your eating patterns, and sometimes eating more calories for a
few days then cutting back or altering the exercise patterns helps to
stimulate things again, but honestly, there is no need to be bummed or even
consider yourself close to being a slow loser. In my book, and I have been
on these boards for well over a year, you are far from being a slow loser.
— Cindy R.
August 12, 2003
I commend your honesty. It is tough to not be where you want to be. When
you are all done with losing those 30 pounds, please think of me as I still
have 200 to lose. I have been super compliant and exercising too. Email
me if you need or want a buddy or encouragement. Ann in TX
([email protected])
— Ann B.
August 12, 2003
I know it helps to rant from time to time, but don't be so hard on
yourself, stick to what you are doing and you will reach your goal. I wish
I had your willpower, I go in and out of carb binges (assuring that my last
30 pounds will still be with me) It is so hard for me, but you sound like
you have a very strong will and a great amount of determination, keep it
up. I wish I was more like you, because what you are doing will eventually
pay off in those last 30-40 pounds, keep it up. Hey, channel some of that
determination my way, would you please??? :)
— Cherese H.
August 12, 2003
I, too, have been bummed about not much weightloss. I am 5 weeks post op
and hadn't weighed since week 2, where I registered a weightloss total of
24 pounds in 2 weeks. However, I only lost 3 1/2 pounds from week 2 to
week 5. I am so depressed and discouraged. At this rate, I will not even
make 100 pounds by 6 months ... so you really have a lot to be thankful
for!!
— LLStroud
August 12, 2003
With 140 to lose and 100 gone at a little over 6 months I doubt anyone
would consider you a slow loser. I am almost two years out and down to 150
from 265. I lost it in about 10 months. One thing I have finally gotten
through my head if saying "I want to weigh ___ by Thanksgiving"
is not a goal. It is a hope, a dream, or even a wish. A goal is something
you have control of. Saying "I will eat all my protein, drink enough
water, and get 30 minutes of excersize five times a week until
Thanksgiving," is a goal. I guess what I am saying is focus on the
things you can control and know the difference, because you can't control
how many pounds you may lose by some date you picked from the calendar.
All you can control is what goes in and how much excersize you get.
— cindy Q.
August 12, 2003
Hi there. Anywhere between 55-100 pounds in 6 months is average. So
technically you are a fast loser. I have to work for every pound I lose
with high impact exercise, but am losing at a normal rate. My friend lost
over 100 in 6 months and then only lost 5 in the last 3 months or so. I
think at the end, you need to fight really hard because the body may want
to stop losing before you do. Whatever you do, don't give up! You will
win in the long run. You were the hare, losing fast. Maybe you will be
the tortiose now. But we all know who won the race.
— mrsmyranow
August 12, 2003
Hi, original poster here. I just had to laugh reading all the replys. The
reason I'm laughing is because I just realized how the Moderator can add
one thing to the question and the answers are completed based on that. I
didn't say "slow loser" in my sentence. The Moderator must have
added that. I never thought I was a slow loser. I'm very happy with 100
lbs. in 6 months. What my complaint originally was, was that I had to
fight for every pound and couldn't eat any of the stuff everyone else seems
to eat. I also mentioned that I was bummed that I hit a plateau. Thank
you all for your replies and please know that I NEVER said I thought I was
a slow loser. I am very grateful for the weight I have lost and I'm
actually feeling better now.
— Kathy S.
August 12, 2003
HI. Think about what you are saying for a second. 100 pounds in 6 months!!
There is NO WAY that is considered being a slow loser. WLS is not a magic
wand, the weight will not just magically disappear overnight, and you are
setting yourself up for disappointment if you expect to lose weight any
more quickly than you have already. In fact, your body is probably
rebelling because of the rapid loss. Most of us will eventually lose
between 70-80% of our excess weight. Some of us will do it fast at first
and then have these tremendously long plateaus, while others will lose
slowly but steadily, and still others will just lose it very slowly with
those maddening plateaus in between. Everyone is different. Yes, some
people can eat at taco bell and still lose weight. Not everyone can. You
need to accept what works for you and appreciate where you are now. You've
done a tremendous thing for yourself by having the surgery. Why minimize it
by being bummed???? Try to enjoy the success you have had. I had my surgery
over two and a half years ago, and I REALLY AM one of the slow losers. How
would you have felt if you had only lost 55 pounds in the first six months.
That's all I lost, yet 2 1/2 years later, I'm still losing. Yes, sometimes
the scale doesn't move for months, but then all of a sudden, I'll lose 2-4
pounds. Someone hit it on the head before talking about having realistic
goals. When you set goals that you actually have some control over, then
you will not feel so bummed and will be able to actually enjoy the feeling
of success. Don't keep sabotoging yourself. Take pride in what you've
already accomplished. Best wishes, Maria Lap RNY 12/11/2000
— Maria H.
August 12, 2003
Hmm...I see that you said you are not a "slow loser" so I will
ignore that part, sounds like you are doing great! Anyhow...I have had a
funny experience with a few things that seemed to change my weight loss. I
am a year and a month out and I have been going up and down the same few
pounds for a few months. I am only 20 pounds from my goal and right at the
goal my doc set for me. Anyhow, I switched my birth control method (from
the shot to NuvaRing) and some weight came off. Also, once in a while I
don't watch my carbs/sugars, etc...and don't exercise for about a week.
Anyhow, it seems after a week of "bad behavior" and then I get
back to the "good behavior" meaning exercise, protein, H2o
etc....I drop a pound or two. Sometimes you gotta shake it up a bit! I also
think that sometimes we are not eating enough calories and that can also
slow us down. Hope this helps you!
— missmollyk
August 13, 2003
Hi there. I'm also not going to comment on the "slow loser"
portion of the post (or title, whichever one!), but am particularly
addressing the "totally compliant" portion in regards to NO
CARBS. Even though I'm only 5 weeks out, I do know it's important to have
SOME carbs, as Cheri said below, such as fruits and veggies. Also, having a
few other carbs here and there is NOT going to kill you. I believe our
bodies need a well-rounded diet, especially at your stage of post-op.
Consider trying to add a few good carbs into your diets, and look at it
this way - you're not losing NOW by staying away from all carbs, so maybe
if you try for a week to add some of the good carbs in, you will be giving
your body some valuable nutrients and fuel it needs. If that doesn't work,
go back to your ban on all carbs. Good luck with whatever you decide, and
congratulations with your excellent loss in such a short time! (PROXIMAL
OPEN RNY, 7/7/03, 227.6/201.0/133.0)
— sweetmana
August 13, 2003
Geez, you'd think if a moderator was going to "modify" your post
they'd at least *spell* correctly! I never knew they did that, don't like
the idea. Anyhoo, this is a DS trick for plateau-busting, I have NO idea
whether it would work for RNY, so I'll apologize in advance if it's bad
advice. Lots of us will eat a Krispy Kreme donut or two! Or similar fatty,
sugary baked good. I never knew why this worked until recently: it causes
diarrhea, which causes weight loss. A normal post-op diet is resumed after
the KK cure and the loss continues. It might be worth a try, if nothing
else it will taste good!
— Chris T.
August 13, 2003
Move over in that boat and make room for me! Almost 10 months out, down 60
lbs and up and down with the same 3-4 lbs since mid-May. Tried upping the
protein, lowering the carbs, cutting out all the "bad" carbs
totally, upping water intake (about to float away). I recently had my Basal
Metabolic rate tested at a local hospital - I supposedly can eat 1600
calories and maintain my current weight. (Yeah,right! We went over a usual
day, the dietician estimated high, and even with some of my
"cheats" thrown in, I'm not going over 1200 calories!) So now I
have added a weight circuit to my exercise routine. (I walk our dog - a 106
lb, 18 month old Rottweiler - for at least an hour every evening. When he
comes home panting and flops on the floor, I know we really worked!)I hope
this works, otherwise I don't know what else to do but accept the fact this
is where I am going to stay! (Would like to lose another 40 lbs.)
— koogy
August 21, 2003
We are all entitled to a pity party now and then. The point of it though is
to have it, then get back to work. I am not all trying to be preacher here,
but if you want to talk about slow loser syndrome, talk to me. At six
months out I had lost 67 lbs and still had 100 left to go. Right now at
month 18 I am sitting at 115lbs lost since surgery. I still have 60 left to
lose to get to my goal. Am I disappointed? You bet. I weighed 313 the day I
was approved for my surgery, lap RNY. I lost 15lbs pre-op, which put me at
298 the day of surgery. It has not been an easy thing to deal with plateau
after plateau. But, I am glad for the loss I have achieved because it was
easiery for me to lose 130lbs this way then it would've been any other
way.Pat yourself firmly on the back and try adding a potatoe to your meal,
it might budge you off this plateau.
— Diana M.
Click Here to Return