Question:
3 weeks out and very little weight loss
I had my operation on 11/2/05 and lost 15 lbs the first week. As of today, 11/23/05, I have not lost a single pound! I feel so depressed, like I did this for nothing! How can you be on a 600 - 700 calorie diet and not lose anything? — col381 (posted on November 23, 2005)
November 22, 2005
Hi Coleen -
Don't worry at all! by three weeks out I had lost 22 lbs. but during the
4th week I had gained 2 lbs.! This is not reason for concern. My doctor's
office explained that it's normal. You may find you have weeks that you
lose like crazy and then go through real dry spells that could last for
weeks. IT WILL COME OFF. Hang in there!
— johare
November 22, 2005
Hi, I would take a break from the scale for awhile and just enjoy your new
life and journey. Use a measuring tape and your clothes for a guide.
Don't let the scale be your guide only, it will make you frustrated when
you are on plataeus. The weight will come off in it's one time and it's
own way.
Paula
— shoutjoy
November 23, 2005
Fear not...I had my first plateau at about 3 weeks and I totally freaked
out. Just keep doing exactly what your WLS surgeon tells you. Stay
hydrated, walk as you feel able, and get lots of rest. Chew, chew, chew,
and focus on getting protein.
The weight is about to start falling off in chunks. Look at some of the
"veteran" profiles and you'll see that a plateau at this stage is
very common. Even so, I found it very upsetting. It will pass, and the
wonderful weight loss honeymoon will begin. Brace yourself for an amazing
ride.
— bobbisheahan
November 23, 2005
Hello,
I am 4 yrs. Post-Op. Just wanted to tell you not to worry. Having a major
surgery and change to your body like WLS puts your body temporarily into a
state of shock. It does not know how to act at the moment. But when it
straightens itself out... Look Out..!! you can loose nothing for weeks and
then drop 10lbs in one day..... Go figure... Take a break from the scale
you will drive yourself nuts. Dont weigh untill you go back for check up.
When things start going for you though it is good idea to keep track of
weight in order to maintain but a few weeks of not checking wont hurt. Hope
this helps. Your WLS friend Jo
— Jo_Michalko
November 23, 2005
I am in the same boat right now. I had surgery Nov 1 and by Nov 16 I had
lost 14 lbs, and now I am at a stand still. The blue binder book I got
from my surgeon and also in Barbara Thompson's book, page 196, it talks
about the hibernation syndrome, which says "within two to four weeks
of surgery, the body realizes that it will not be getting the nourishment
that it is used to receiving and reacts to that. Your body just wants to
stay immobile until the old food supply returns. The best way to deal with
the hibernation syndrome is to recongnize the symptons and know that you
are normal. Then start to exercise so that your body becomes used to using
your own body fat as a source of fuel. As soon as your body figures out
that it has ample sources of fuel stored inside, and does not have to be
constantly fed, the syndrome will end. It may take as long as two weeks
for this to happen."
Hope this helps.
— Danita S.
November 24, 2005
Don't get depressed. My weight loss was very slow at first also. It seems
to go in phases. Just be patient and do what was told for you to do and
watch what you eat, you'll do fine.
— Dorothy F.
November 25, 2005
Coleen-- fear not -- my partner is 2 years post op and she will go for a
couple of months without losing a pound. She also went through this after
the first few weeks of surgery. As someone said in a reply to you, stay
off the scaled and use your clothes for a guide. Three weeks and your body
is just healing itself. Once you are at a point were you are can exercise
and eat -- the weight will come off. My partner is exercising to ON DEMAND
FITNESS and HEALTH. They have exerises for your arms, abs, legs, etc. and
alternate between them. Don't be discouraged, the weight will come off --
I see it coming off her all the time and then she looks in the mirror and
goes I'm getting skinny. My response to her -- and fine. Keep it up,
everything will work out. Just go and enjoy life --that is one of the
reasons for the surgery -- isn't it?
— the7thdean
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