Question:
I have slowed down my weight loss to about 7 lbs a month.should I be concerned?

I have been exercising 20 min every day and a 30 min sit down exercise video every day. will my weighloss kick in soon again or will I keep up this pace for the rest of my time? My surgeon said that he would rather I eat carbs than fats.I will keep doing what I am doing protien first then a few bits of other things.I get 80 oz of water a day and 80 grams of protien a day.does this seem fine?    — Sheryl M. (posted on November 27, 2002)

November 27, 2002
Aloha!! I am also 16 weeks post op and I have noticed the slowdown also. I work out for an hour each day, drink 3-5 liters of water a day. Get in about 70-90 grams of protein. I am doing everything that I am supposed to...but the weight loss still slows. I was worried about it initially until our program's Behavioral Psychologist talked to our support group about Plateaus and Slow Downs. He put it into perspective for me!!!! Initially, we lose weight rather quickly. Our body, at times, also goes into a protective mode because it is designed to protect you. The slow down in weight loss does not mean YOU are doing anything wrong. It is just your body adjusting to the weight loss. Don't worry!! The weight WILL come off. I think that we generally want to see instant results and unfortunately, are a bit impatient. When the scale is not moving, try to find other ways of measuring how you are doing. Not with pounds...but with other things such as measuring yourself. We have found that when we aren't shedding pounds, the inches tend to come off. See how you are fitting into your clothes. Were they snug last week and now a bit more lose? THAT is a positive measure... versus waiting for that scale to move down. I found that even though people are telling me I am a rapid loser, I still get very anxious about the scale. I swore I would weigh myself once a day at the most. Then when the slow down started, I found that I was doing it far too often. Now I look to other things to see how I am doing. I know in my intellectual mind that I am doing well...but unfortunately there are times when the emotional side of me thinks I am not. That I will somehow fail at this. My advice... put away the scale for 2 weeks. Don't weigh yourself. Just keep doing what you know you are supposed to be doing. I am sure that after a couple of weeks, the scale will move.. OR you will be able to see changes in your body in other ways. Hang in there!! You are doing great!!!! It can be really tough.. but know that we are here for you!!! Hugs, Kathie (in Hawaii).. Open RNY /08-07-02 Down 93 Pounds!!!
   — KathieInHawaii

November 27, 2002
Sounds normal to me. I lost 22 pounds a month for the 1st 3 months, then in the next 3 months only lost 34. However, at my 6 month checkup and the scales said - 100 pounds...I was doing the happy dance. This month only 3 pounds in the last 2 1/2 weeks. Good luck
   — Sharon H.

November 27, 2002
I'm not anti-carb, only anti-sugar. Fat satisfies, sugar makes you hungry. Perhaps you can find a balance. Fat won't make me fat again, but sugar will do it in very short order. Don't ask how I know this!
   — vitalady

November 27, 2002
Hi Cheryl: You do not say how far out you are, but I would think that is pretty normal. At least I hope so, because I only lost 9 pounds in my second month, and 11 in my third. It seems it gets less as the months go by.
   — Grace H.

Click Here to Return